Town-Crier Newspaper June 3, 2011

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INSIDE Okeechobee Focus Of Workshop Session

Volume 32, Number 22 June 3 - June 9, 2011

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES Local communities observed Memorial Day on Monday with ceremonies honoring veterans and recalling fallen heroes. (Left) State Rep. Mark Pafford, Ben Mille and Stephen Peterson from Boy Scout Troop 111, and Royal Palm Beach Mayor Matty Mattioli at the Royal Palm Beach observance. (Below) Members of American Legion Chris Reyka Memorial Wellington Post 390 march in Wellington’s parade.

ROYAL PALM BEACH PHOTOS, PAGE 2 WELLINGTON PHOTOS, PAGE 14

Representatives from CalleryJudge Grove and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves held another workshop Tuesday to hammer out a settlement agreement over the town’s proposed comprehensive plan.

Discussion focused largely on future development of Okeechobee Blvd. Page 3

Local 211 Information Referral Service Seeing Uptick In Calls For Help

The Palm Beach/Treasure Coast 211 information referral service has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of urgent calls from people who are suicidal, having domestic issues or unemployed and desperate t o find work, according to Palm Beach County Community Relations Specialist Patrice Schroeder. Page 7

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN AND LAUREN MIRÓ/T OWN-CRIER

Holiday Cookout At Whole Foods Market Supports The Troops

Whole Foods Market in Wellington hosted its “Support Our Troops Cookout” on Sunday, May 29. Forgotten Soldiers Outreach accepted items to make care packages to ship to troops overseas, while cookout attendees wrote them messages. Page 20

South Florida National Cemetery Ceremony Marks Memorial Day

The South Florida National Cemetery off State Road 7 west of Lantana held its fourth annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 30. The event was sponsored by the Palm Beach County Veterans Committee and featured several special guests. Page 22

OPINION Don’t Get Caught Unprepared For A Storm

With June 1 the off icial start of the Atlantic hurricane season, preparation should be on everyone’s mind. It’s hard to imagine that it has been nearly six years since South Florida was last ravaged by serious hurricanes. However, as more time passes, too many people seem to be falling into a sense of complacency and looking at 2004 and 2005 as a fluke.

Don’t let yourself get caught unprepared! Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 15 OPINION ................................ 4 CRIME NEWS ........................ 6 NEWS BRIEFS .......................8 SCHOOLS ..................... 16 - 17 PEOPLE........................ 18 - 19 COLUMNS .................... 27 - 28 ENTERTAINMENT ................33 SUMMER CAMPS ........ 34 - 35 CALENDAR...................36 - 37 SPORTS .......................41 - 44 BUSINESS ...................45 - 47 CLASSIFIEDS ...............48 - 53 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Western Communities Ready As Hurricane Season Returns

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report With hurricane season underway as of June 1, local leaders say they have not been lulled by six years of inactivity.

Indian Trail Improvement District Administrator Tanya Quickel said her staff has made all the necessary preparations.

“We awarded a debris removal contract to Tag Grinding Services last month, and that would be in case of a serious event,” Quickel said. “They would provide major debris removal services, so we’re happy to have that in place and ready to go.”

Tag will provide both grinding and hauling services. “They are the primary vendor,” she said.

“We have a secondary vendor if that should become necessary, which is Byrd Brothers Emergency Services. We have met with them so that we are familiar with their procedures and what we would need to do to have very

quick turnaround.”

ITID has also prepared an updated hurricane disaster manual for staff members to follow.

Further, the district has been taking advantage of the extremely dry conditions and low water to clear canals of debris, which will enhance drainage, Quickel noted. “Canals have been so low during the last month, we’ve been working on removing trash from some of them,” she said.

ITID also entered into a contract for two cycles of mowing road easements. “One cycle has been completed, and this includes trash pickup, as well as weed-eating around culverts and driveways, which is a new addition, so that has gone very well,” she said. “We will be starting the second cycle hopefully the first of July, so that again, we will have the majority of trash picked up from our swales, and that’s a huge part of our drainage.”

Quickel said ITID is also en-

couraging residents to stay caught up with brush cutting so there is not a glut of yard trash to be picked up right before a storm.

She added that the district has completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency culvert crossing project, which involved the replacement of 18 major culverts. “That has gone very well, so we’re very pleased with that,” Quickel said.

The district also replaced two of five engines at the M1 impoundment station, where a major portion of stormwater from The Acreage is pumped. “That was a major investment, approximately $400,000,” Quickel said.

ITID also improved telemetry so pumps can be turned on and off remotely, which she said is a major improvement for storm situations when ITID staff cannot go out and activate them.

“We have automated several of the gates and structures that preSee HURRICANE, page 4

Wellington Starts Storm Season With A New Operations Center

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report With a year of unpredictable, devastating storms across the south, coupled with the appearance of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season’s first low pressure system forming in the Gulf of Mexico this week, Wellington officials are encouraging residents to prepare now for possible hurricanes ahead.

Meanwhile, Wellington is preparing its own municipal complex

— the new site of the village’s emergency operations center — to house staff in the event of a storm.

“We’re replicating the EOC,” Deputy Village Manager John Bonde told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “We’re moving in the necessary equipment.”

He said he expects the conversion to be finished by June 15.

The new building was built to meet higher hurricane standards, Bonde said, making it the best location in Wellington to house the

emergency center and staff. “It’s equipped with generators so it can be run independently of the power grid,” he noted.

The portion of the building now home to the council’s offices will be taken over in the event of an emergency, Bonde said. “Their offices will be used by incident command staff, logistics, planning and other staff,” he said.

Other than a change of location, Bonde said, Wellington will conSee EOC, page 4

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Property Value Drop Slowing Down In Area Municipalities

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Municipalities in the western communities anticipated a continued decrease in taxable property values for 2011, and the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s preliminary figures released June 1 reflected that, although it was not as bad as expected.

Loxahatchee Groves’ total taxable value estimate for 2011 is $178 million, down from $198 million last year, a drop of nearly 10 percent. Royal Palm Beach’s real property value is estimated at $1.83 billion, down from $1.90 billion, a decrease of about 3.5 percent. Wellington’s total value estimate for 2011 is $5.36 billion, down from $5.40 billion in 2010, or just under a 1 percent decrease.

Royal Palm Beach Village Manager Ray Liggins said his village is in its fourth consecutive year of value reductions. “We’re down almost a half-million [in revenues] based on the estimates this year,” he said.

The village peaked at $5.5 million in ad valorem property tax revenue in 2007. “We’re down to $3.3 million now,” Liggins said, pointing out that the village has also been reducing the tax rate.

“Obviously, we have other revenue sources, but the sum of all rev-

enue sources, we’re down $480,000 this year. Our property values in 2007 were $2.8 billion, and we’re down to $1.8 billion, so we’re down a billion dollars in assessed property values. It’s significant.”

Liggins pointed out that Royal Palm Beach is in a good position in that it relies on property taxes for less than 20 percent of its revenue, whereas most municipalities depend on that revenue for almost 50 percent. “Even though our reliance is less than 20 percent, it’s still the only line item we can control, which is sort of a doubleedged sword,” he said.

Next year’s budget will be presented to the council at the end of June. Liggins pointed out that the village “crossed the line” on the budget last year when it borrowed $500,000 from reserves to balance the budget and still award a small tax rate reduction.

Liggins said that with a continued decline in property values and revenue, the budget will be less than 1 percent larger, with the RPB Commons Park project and the recreation budget having the only increases.

Liggins said there have been minimal reductions in the levels of service, despite revenue reducSee PROPERTY, page 4

RPB ROTARY DINNER

The Royal Palm Beach Rotar y Club held a dinner and ceremony to install new officers and honor club members Saturday, May 28 at the Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. Shown here, Mike Gauger, Mair Armand and Terri Wescott receive the President’s Citation. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO B Y DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Gov. Scott Vetoes Money For Campus

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The sum of $7.3 million allotted for a fifth campus for Palm Beach State College was among $615 million Gov. Rick Scott cut from the state budget last week, but college officials say they are continuing their pursuit of a campus serving the western communities.

Possible sites under consideration for the campus are the Simon property in Loxahatchee Groves, Callery-Judge Grove and Wellington’s K-Park. A PBSC board of trustees workshop scheduled for Tuesday to further consider the sites was canceled after the veto announcement.

Dr. Grace Truman, college relations and marketing director,

said the $7.3 million was Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) money for building construction, not for land, and that the only candidate currently willing to donate land is Callery-Judge Grove, which owns almost 4,000 acres of largely fallow farmland. CalleryJudge has offered 75 acres north of Seminole Ridge High School if the college can begin construction in a timely manner.

PECO is the primary source of state financing for new construction, as well as remodeling, renovation, repair and site improvement for educational facilities, Truman said.

“It would have been used to construct a classroom building on the new campus,” Truman said.

See CAMPUS, page 22

‘Wellington 2060’ Gets Spotlight At Planning Congress

By Chris Felker Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington is galloping toward a sustainable future in which it is no longer defined solely as a winter equestrian destination or just a “bedroom community” providing homes for many of Palm Beach County’s middle-class workers.

That’s the message staff members told the Palm Beach County Planning Congress on May 20, at its fourth annual Seminar on Planning Challenges of the TwentyFirst Century. The community has a bright future, Wellington Principal Planner Bill Nemser said, now that it has all eight components of the Wellington 2060 Plan on track to becoming reality.

Planning Congress President

Seth Behn said the speakers were invited because, “Wellington is not willing to rest on its laurels, recognizing the fact that their balance between being what was historically a bedroom community versus a vibrant community that has a balance between jobs and visitors was something that they needed to focus on, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.”

The Wellington presentation, including a music video introduction created by Jim Barnes, the village’s director of operations, followed a breakfast for the roughly 75 professional planners and municipal staff members who gathered at the City of Boca Raton’s 6500 Building. Two programs preceded Wellington’s:

Ned Murray, associate director of the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University, spoke about “Creative Economic Development in Florida” and how planners are uniquely positioned to affect how their cities cope with the recession; and Lois Frankel, former mayor of West Palm Beach, described how the city evolved during her two terms in a presentation on “Creating Economic Opportunity in West Palm Beach.”

Barnes’ video vividly illustrated the identity challenges that village planners began to envision back in 2007, when the local economy — based for so long on building more housing and accommodating a large equestrian popula-

tion — began to falter. To steady the ship, he said, they needed to envision “the next step” in Wellington’s growth. “We decided that we needed to be a little bit more,” he said.

Barnes described Wellington’s brief history, from its beginnings in the 1970s, through its incorporation in 1996, to the latest census information, which puts the village’s population now at 56,508.

Barnes then recounted the process Wellington’s planners followed to get the ball rolling on developing a new vision for the community.

“The first thing you need to do is ignite that leadership, ignite the private leadership and the public leadership to make a decision,

make some determinations and commit to that vision of which way to go,” he said. “The next step in that process is to go ahead and ‘create the place,’ whether it be like Mayor Frankel’s statement of creating a sense of place, or just plain eradicating the ugliness. As former Mayor Frankel said, ‘You’ve got to have someplace where people want to be.’”

Barnes lauded the Wellington Village Council for having the vision to “put your money where your policy is.”

“We went ahead and invested in a redevelopment effort and a development effort for city facilities, hoping that then, public investment would spur and bring in See 2060 PLAN, page 22

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NEWS

ROYAL PALM BEACH HOSTS MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE AT VETERANS PARK The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 30 at Veterans Park. Local dignitaries spoke about the meaning of the day, prayer s were said and moments of silence observed. Refreshments were prepared by Butt erfields Southern Café and served by Young At Hear t Club volunteers.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

Boy Scouts from Troop 111.

Jenna, Grace and Paige Kercheville.

Pastor Glenn Graves from Potter’s House Church.

Tony Harris, senior vice commander of Chapter 717 Military Order of Purple Hearts.

Francis O’Dea with Francis and Gigi Esterby.

Stat e Rep. Mark Paf ford (second from right) with Royal Palm Beach Village Council members David Swift, Mayor Matty Mattioli, Martha Webst er, Richard Valuntas and Fred Pinto.

Deputies Dorothy Rander and Timothy Kennedy of the PBSO Honor Guar d conduct the flag-raising ceremony.

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June 3 - June 9, 2011

Page 3

NEWS

Wellington Agrees To Fund Renovations At Six Village Park Fields

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council voted last week to spend more than $350,000 to renovate five soccer fields and one baseball field at Village Park on Pierson Road.

The item was pulled from the consent agenda May 24 after Councilman Howard Coates expressed concern about the cost and necessity of renovating the fields all at once.

The agenda item requested authorization for Wellington to piggyback on the City of Deland’s contract with Sports Turf One Inc. for approximately $370,000.

Director of Operations Jim Barnes told council members that the project would include site preparation, installation of new turf and improved drainage.

“It’s a project that has not been completed on the facility since those fields were constructed,” he said. “Last year, we did the same work on fields six through 16.

This year we propose completing the same work on these fields.”

Coates said that, in light of budget cuts, he wondered if all of the renovations need to be done immediately. “I understand it has to be done,” he said. “But my concern is the timing. Could we stretch out our maintenance over two budget cycles?”

Coates worried that because financing for the project was coming from operating costs, it could harm other areas of the budget, notably staff. “The human cost of repairing a field versus losing a job in a down budget year could be pretty significant,” he said.

Barnes said that if the work is not completed, the village would have to spend money simply to maintain the fields and later pay for the renovation.

“The need for the renovation at this time is that we have poor subsurface conditions that were the result of the original work… combined with poor drainage,” he said. “As a result, the fields are down longer and the grass does not recover as quickly.”

Barnes said that previously, Wellington was able to mitigate the issues with the fields by using “top dress,” a substance that helps the roots while smoothing out ruts and other hazards. With falling budget revenue, however, the village has not continued to do so.

“We’ve really run out of Band-

aids to keep [the fields] in better condition,” he said.

Barnes said that maintaining each field so it’s playable costs about $30,000.

“We don’t have the budget for that,” he said. “That’s why we recommend doing this project. We’re stripping it and fixing the problem rather than treating the symptoms.”

Mayor Darell Bowen said that the field renovations are necessary.

“I don’t think that we can afford to let our facilities deteriorate,” he said. “I have been out there, and in my opinion, that baseball field is not safe. One injury is worth any amount of money that we’re talking about.”

Bowen noted that it would cost twice as much to continue main-

taining the fields with their current problems only to have to renovate later.

“We should do it and get it done right,” he said. “In two years, we spend more in dressing it than it costs to fix the problem.”

Coates said he wasn’t saying that Wellington shouldn’t fix the problems but, rather, just split up the cost over two years.

“That’s giving them what they want,” he said, “just stretching it over a period of time.”

But Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said that the village already has stretched the project out.

“We did the first half last year,” she said. “This is the second half.

I just don’t want to see us fall behind on the parks.”

Coates said that the council has more information about budget

shortfalls now than it did earlier, so they should consider cutting costs to be able to afford other items.

The council voted 3-1 to approve the contract with Coates dissenting and Vice Mayor Matt Willhite absent.

In other business, Coates requested that the council address the issue of additional signs outside the WellingtonAmphitheater.

“I know there’s a lot of discussion about whether the sign we have now is adequate and whether it can be read,” he said. “Rather than us pussyfooting around the issue of signage, let’s bring it before the council. If we need some additional signage, let’s make a decision.”

Coates said he believes that the See SIGNS, page 22

Okeechobee Dominates Workshop Between Town, Callery-Judge

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Representatives from CalleryJudge Grove and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves held another workshop Tuesday to hammer out a settlement agreement over the town’s proposed comprehensive plan.

Discussion focused largely on future development of Okeechobee Blvd., the connection at the intersection of E Road and 140th Avenue North in The Acreage, and the number of residential units the town will allow over the next 15 years.

Town officials, Callery-Judge

Grove General Manager Nat Roberts and his attorney Andrew Baumann met for the second time in a month to try to avoid taking their issues over Callery-Judge’s challenge to the comp plan to court.

After going over previously agreed draft wording, and adding new wording, both sides agreed

Bid Process Delays Planned PBSO Move

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report It could be the end of summer before the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 8 substation in Wellington moves into its new digs at the old municipal complex on Greenbriar Blvd.

As part of Wellington’s contract with the PBSO, it is required to pay for office space. Currently, the village rents space in the original Wellington Mall for all of the substation’s operations.

But when Wellington’s administration and staff moved into its new municipal complex late last year, the old municipal complex building was designated for the PBSO once a few adjustments were made to the location.

The move originally was set for April, but Deputy Village Manager John Bonde said that the decision to put the project out for bid delayed the construction process.

Originally, Wellington was not

planning to take bids on the project, Bonde said. However, members of the Wellington Village Council expressed concerns about using other contract approval methods for the project.

Because they chose to go with a bidding process, the project and move were delayed. The bidding process requires notification, time for contractors to make proposals and time for review.

“We will be bringing the issue to the council in June for contract approval,” Bonde said. “Once it’s approved, it should take about 60 days to complete. It’s not a very big project.”

Bonde said that he hopes to see the contract approved, with construction to begin shortly thereafter. If everything goes according to plan, the new substation should be ready by Sept. 1, he said.

The substation will occupy two of the three permanent buildings, while the village will use the third

for storage. Wellington plans to turn the old village meeting hall into a gym, a process that will encompass most of the modifications needed at the site.

Plans include building locker rooms and installing plumbing and drainage for showers in the gym as well as retrofitting both buildings to meet the needs of the substation.

Bonde said that the larger location would be better for the deputies and the village alike.

“It’s a great location for them,” he said. “Our public works department is right there for fueling needs, and it gives us an increase in security.”

One issue to be solved by moving is parking, something that poses a problem with limited spaces at the current location.

“There’s no place for them to park,” he said. “It will be better for them and better for residents.”

to meet again Monday, June 6.

Town Attorney Michael Cirullo said the Department of Community Affairs in Tallahassee had granted a continuance until Aug. 1 for both sides to come to a settlement.

Part of the Callery-Judge challenge centered on the town’s determination to keep Okeechobee Blvd. two lanes, which the large adjacent property owner is concerned might impede its future development.

Councilman Tom Goltzené asked about language in the settlement draft referring to increasing the future capacity of Okeechobee Blvd. if it becomes necessary. “My question is who determines ‘necessary.’ What are the criteria and who is the determining party?” he asked.

Councilman Ron Jarriel pointed out that Okeechobee is a county road. “I think if it becomes necessary, it’s going to be the county saying it’s necessary,” Jarriel said.

“It will be up to us and whoever wants to help us to prove that it’s not necessary.”

Goltzené said he would prefer to make Okeechobee Blvd. an improved two-lane parkway, rather than a four-lane thoroughfare.

“We’re only at two-thirds capacity on Okeechobee right now, so ‘necessary’ isn’t where we’re at today,” he said.

Jarriel said the county has advocated as large as a six-lane road,

while the town has agreed to four lanes if needed, specifying that discussions start with an improved two-lane road including rights of way that would accommodate two more lanes.

“Everybody knows that Okeechobee needs to be repaired, recovered or whatever,” Jarriel said.

“Hopefully, we can convince the county to start the ball rolling. I’m sure they have funds right now.

They may not have enough for a four-lane, but they’ve got enough to put in a median like we want and enough to put two new lanes in... but they’ve got to build it so they don’t [later] tear it up and start all over again.”

Councilman Jim Rockett said he wants Okeechobee to be a landscaped, two-lane parkway with turn lanes for safety. He added that improving Okeechobee Blvd. does not make as much sense as improving other roads, such as Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and State Road 7.

Cirullo said specific improvements to Okeechobee would have to be determined in future discussions among county, town and Callery-Judge officials. “You’re going to have to have continued dialogue on many points,” he said.

Roberts said Callery-Judge’s concerns regarding Okeechobee Blvd. improvements are over future growth in the town, which the agreement limits to 479 units, with 179 units available beginning in

2011 and no more than 20 units accruing per year after that through 2026.

Roberts said Callery-Judge would agree to a two-lane, improved parkway if the town adheres to that formula and agrees to phasing in four lanes in the more distant future.

Participants also discussed not allowing additional driveways off Okeechobee, saying that if larger properties are subdivided, the owners should find a means of sharing existing driveways. Baumann said that policy would reduce pressure on Okeechobee.

Goltzené was uncomfortable with a clause in the proposed agreement that said the town would continue to support the extension of SR 7 to Northlake Blvd.

“The City of West Palm Beach does not support the extension of State Road 7 on its current alignment,” Goltzené said. “Its current alignment goes through a wetland, through a natural area that provides their water supply.”

Mayor Dave Browning pointed out that the town has already gone on record supporting the SR 7 extension. Jarriel said the town has also indicated to the Indian Trail Improvement District that it will support its efforts for the extension.

“Those people are desperate to get a reliever road, and we have an obligation to the western comSee CALLERY, page 22

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June 3 - June 9, 2011

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OUR OPINION

Don’t Be Caught Unprepared Should A Hurricane Come Calling With June 1 marking the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, preparation should be on everyone’s mind. It’s hard to imagine that it has been nearly six years since South Florida was last ravaged by serious hurricanes. The back-to-back blows dealt by Frances and Jeanne in 2004, followed a year later by Wilma, put the region on alert indefinitely.

However, as more time passes, too many people seem to be falling into a sense of complacency and looking at 2004 and 2005 as a fluke. Others see the opposite; that the past six years were the anomaly and that we’re “due” for a major storm. While neither view is rooted in fact, the latter at least is likely to result in the person being prepared. And with the 2011 hurricane season underway, preparation should be on everyone’s mind.

For anyone not yet prepared, the federal government has a web site (www.ready.gov) that shows all the steps you need to take while there’s still time. It includes a list of supplies needed to assemble a hurricane kit, from the basics such as water, battery-powered radio, can opener, etc. to other items like cash (or traveler’s checks), personal hygiene products, a full change of clothes, refills on all your prescriptions and many more. Once you have a kit assembled, the next step is to make a plan. This includes establishing an out-of-town contact and making sure everyone in your family has that person’s phone number, as well as a way to make contact (cell phone, prepaid calling card). You’ll have to decide whether to stay home, go to a shelter or leave town, and the web site has plenty of information to guide you along the way.

Should a major hurricane make landfall in South Florida this year, it would be devastating to us as individuals and as a state, but we’re hardly alone in that predicament. So far this year, there have been all manner of natural disasters tearing through the United States.

Whether it’s a flood, earthquake, wildfire, mudslide, tornado or even a volcano, there really is no “safe” place to be.

Every state has the potential for a calamity. This is why we continue to support the creation of a national catastrophe insurance program that would spread the risk of all disasters across the nation. It was one of former congressman Ron Klein’s major initiatives that unfortunately is stalled at the moment due to the current political climate on Capitol Hill.

We know the line: “How can we even think about more government during an economy like this?” The simple reality is that disasters will continue to happen, and they will continue to cost money and ruin lives. It makes more sense to pay these costs up front, rather than after the fact, after the governor declares a state of emergency. It’s a way to encapsulate all the risk and make homeowners’ insurance more affordable across the nation. The government will end up being the insurer of last resort anyway, so why not set up a policy on the front end?

Hurricanes cross state lines. Tornadoes cross state lines. Earthquakes cross state lines.

It’s time we have a national disaster insurance system that does as well.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Rethinking Tax Breaks And Medicare In response to the letter from Shirley Bass in last week’s TownCrier (“Protect Seniors, Not ‘Big Oil,’”), I must agree that we deserve answers, but we must ask the right questions. She suggests that legislators are pushing for Medicare cuts. However, the cuts have already occurred; $500 billion has been cut by Obamacare. That will cost seniors.

Although I am not suggesting we also give tax breaks to socalled “big” oil companies, I have heard from some that the oil tax breaks are not for big oil companies. That aside, the tax breaks may offer all consumers lower gas and food prices, not simply seniors. So, if I were to side with one

over the other, I would take the tax breaks for oil companies and not cut $500 billion from Medicare. If the tax breaks actually lower the cost of gasoline, then the benefit to our overall economy is also a benefit to seniors and, more importantly, lower socioeconomic individuals, some of whom are also seniors.

So, maybe the question is, “How do the tax breaks lower gas prices?” Higher gas prices increase the cost of goods to us all.

Not good. As far as Ms. Bass’contention that legislators are cutting Medicare, that responsibility lies on the last Congress. I agree that we should not cut; however, a redesign of Medicare is a plan worth considering because to do nothing will add to the mound of straws on the camel’s back that will soon bankrupt our country.

So, how do we change the de-

livery and costs of Medicare? That may be a good question to ask.

Steve McGowan Wellington

Constitution Is About Liberty, Not Charity A letter in last week’s TownCrier criticized budget-cutting efforts as targeting the programs that “protect and enrich our lives” and asks, “... what else [but these programs] justifies having a government in the first place?” I would refer the writer — and others who think that “government exists for the sole purpose of ensuring the common good, and taking care of the people they serve” — to the Declaration of Independence. It is the first document to be subscribed to by the United States of Ameri-

ca. Here is what it establishes as the purpose of government. “[All men] are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure [emphasis mine] these rights, Governments are instituted...”

This was and should be the primary purpose for our new government. No other government in the history of the world was founded on this principle. It was not founded to “take care of people” or to “protect and enrich our lives.” It was founded to secure our fundamental rights. It is up to us to pursue our own happiness and enrich our own lives, using the liberty that the government secures.

As to “ensuring the common good,” that phrase nowhere occurs in our founding documents. The Preamble to the Constitution cites

“promote the general welfare” as a purpose for uniting, but that is a far cry from “ensuring the common good.”

One of the reasons that our country is in the terrible, debt-ridden state that it is in these days is because too many people believe that the purpose of government is

to take care of us and ensure the common good. No, its purpose is to secure our right to liberty in order that we may properly take care of ourselves and ensure the common good each in his own way.

Phil Sexton Wellington

SEND IN YOUR LETTERS The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090; or you can e-mail letters@goTownCrier.com.

NEWS Hurricane

Area Is Ready

continued from page 1 viously were not,” Quickel said.

“That’s an ongoing project, so we’re very happy to have improvements in the telemetry area.”

Royal Palm Beach Village Engineer Chris Marsh said the village’s public works department has a schedule for trimming rightof-way landscaping to minimize the amount of debris the village has in the roadways after a hurricane.

RPB has also been working with the county on an interlocal agreement to prepare traffic signals on the perimeter of the village so RPB staff members can plug in generators in the event of power failures.

“We have developed a plan with Palm Beach County Water Utili-

EOC

Training The Staff

continued from page 1 tinue to plan for hurricanes in the same manner it always has.

“This year we’re doing the same thing we’ve always done,” Bonde said. “We will have 100 percent of our staff trained in how to respond during hurricanes.”

To do this, Bonde puts on what he calls a “hurricane road show,” in which he goes to different departments to educate staff about the procedures during a hurricane and what they might be required

Property

Smaller Drop

continued from page 1 tions. In the draft budget, they were able to make next year’s budget work because the debt service on the Commons Park construction begins after the project gets started.

“That actually gets us through next year’s budget, but the year after that, we’re going to have a significant difference between revenue and expenditures that we’re going to have to correct with a change in revenue, a change in

ties that deals with sewer and water now where we will actually move generators into place and move them from station to station in the event of a power loss,” Marsh said. “That was one of the issues we saw with other cities being serviced by them and the amount of sewage backing up into the roadways. We want to avoid that.”

RPB has also used an in-house GIS system to identify some of the problematic drainage areas within the community, Marsh said, explaining that some of the older areas have storm drains that tend to clog up during major rainstorms.

“What we’ll do is come out with rebar and put markers on top of them, so once they are underwater, they’ll be easy to find,” Marsh said. “Part of our initial deployment is to make sure those get cleared and stay clear.”

Marsh said the priority is to get

roads cleared after a storm. “Obviously, in order to get emergency vehicles to respond, we need to have our roadways cleared,” he said. “We take our list of roadways, and work our way down from major roads to the subdivisions and smaller roads, giving priority to our emergency buildings, police and fire department buildings.”

The village has liaisons from Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office who will be accessible immediately after the storm to coordinate street clearing priorities.

The village’s new training center, designed to sustain 155-mph winds, will serve as the central emergency center during the storm, Marsh said.

“That building houses all the computers, all the mainframes, for the city,” he said. “We would ride the storm out initially in that

building, and, after it is safe, we would attempt to move operations over to our public works building. We would then turn the training center over to the police for them to run their operations if necessary.”

Royal Palm Beach has also learned from previous hurricanes, Marsh said, such as replacing removable shutters with accordion shutters, which take less time and labor to install and remove. It has also used high-impact windows in newer buildings, including the training center.

The village also has trash haulers approved who are bonded and FEMA-compliant.

Marsh added that the village’s insurance provider, through the Florida League of Cities, has created a turnkey system where it has contractors in place that will do damage estimates to release checks almost immediately to begin repairs.

Loxahatchee Groves Town Manager Frank Spence is the community’s designated county emergency operations center representative.

“I’ve undergone training, and I have experience, most recently as the town manager of Mangonia Park,” he said. “I was in charge of operations during the hurricanes that hit in 2004 and 2005,” Spence said.

The Town of Loxahatchee Groves, being a rural area, relies heavily on a Citizens’ Emergency Response Team (CERT), he said.

“They are our front line to providing any emergency assistance to our residents,” Spence said.

The Loxahatchee CERT has a “tabletop exercise” scheduled for Friday, June 24 at the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District office that will involve the coordination of all involved parties, headed by Mayor Dave Brown-

ing and Councilman Ron Jarriel, a 31-year fire-rescue veteran.

Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Administrator Clete Saunier will also participate, Spence said.

“We are very self-reliant,” Spence said. “Residents have their own power saws, their own frontend loaders, their own Bobcats, and they’re going to clean off the roads as quickly as they can and be self-reliant until any outside help arrives.”

At their next meeting on Tuesday, June 7, the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will review proposals for new hurricane debris removal contractors and debris removal management, Spence said.

“We will have vendors on contract in case we need them, but, knock on wood, we haven’t had a hurricane in the last four years that we’ve been incorporated,” he said.

to do. “Working in a government job isn’t the same as other jobs,” Bonde noted. “They might be required to help during and after hurricanes.”

The training acts as a brush-up for some but is crucial for new employees and those who were not with Wellington during the devastating storm seasons of 2004 and 2005.

Since then, Bonde said, there have been changes in technology, including radios and the county’s emergency contact system.

“They’re using a new software called Web EOC,” Bonde said.

“It’s an Internet-based system that requires local governments to go

online to make requests for help.”

He said that keeping the EOC online shouldn’t be a problem with modern technology and connections, including fiber optic cables.

Another big concern during and especially after a storm is keeping track of the money Wellington spends on recovery, Bonde said.

“We have to fill out the paperwork properly or we could lose millions,” he said. “We take time to prepare our accountants and keep track of spending so that we receive every dollar we’re entitled to get.”

With Wellington’s government

prepared, Bonde encouraged residents to prepare now and not when there’s a storm on the horizon.

Although the village can help, Bonde noted that in the event of a particularly problematic storm, Wellington would go into “recovery mode.”

“We have to get the roads cleared,” he said. “We have to get things running.”

But to assist residents who may live alone, or need extra help preparing for a coming storm, Wellington offers a Hurricane Helpers program fueled by volunteers who can do everything from putting up shutters to clearing debris or sim-

ply checking in on someone after a storm.

Residents can sign up for the program — either to volunteer or to receive help — until June 30 by calling the Safe Neighborhoods Office at (561) 791-4796.

Bonde noted that there are two parts to prepare for — weathering the storm and possible recovery afterward.

“Prepare yourself not to be a victim,” Bonde said. “That means preparing your homes now. Sometimes you don’t get a lot of notice. Make sure your shutters fit and are easily accessible, follow the hurricane guide and get necessary supplies.”

And Bonde said that the supplies should be enough in case of a real emergency.

“We encourage residents to prepare not just for 72 hours after the storm,” he said. “We know from the situation in New Orleans that the federal government may not be able to help for more than three days. We want them to have supplies for seven days.”

Also, he said, it’s better to prepare now when there’s no immediate danger rather than to rush to get ready before a storm hits.

“Early-season storms can come quickly,” he said. “You might not have two or three days to prepare.”

expenditures or going deeper into reserves,” Liggins said.

The tax rate for 2011 will likely be kept at 1.92 mills, the same as last year, he said.

Wellington Deputy Village Manager John Bonde said he was happy that his community seems to have largely dodged the devaluation bullet.

“We were somewhat pleased the values as reported by the property appraiser were not down as far as we had originally estimated,” he said. “Our finance folks do a good job of conservatively estimating what we intend to get from tax revenue and what the valuations are going to be.”

Bonde said staff members are now in the process of reevaluating the coming 2011-12 budget in light of the new figures.

“Clearly, this means we can give the council more options in terms of the budget,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a great deal of money, but there is a difference.

In terms of what we do with millage or in terms of what we do with the budget, we are certainly in a better position, not a worse position than we were before June 1.”

Bonde said the current goal is to keep the tax rate steady at 2.5 mills, which would have had the budget about $600,000 short of its $73.4 million, which is down from

$76.8 million this year.

“We still had our pencils to sharpen and our erasers to work on in order to close that gap,” Bonde said. “With this information, it basically holds us about right. Essentially, we have closed the gap. The real estate market is obviously depressed, but apparently it has not gone that much lower in Wellington. That’s encouraging news.”

Wellington Finance Director Mireya McIlveen said the budget picture is relatively bright considering anticipated increased ad valorem revenue, in addition to budget cuts by staff. “When they go through the list of total cuts, they

might say, ‘Hey, since we don’t have to go down as far, maybe we can add something back,’” McIlveen said. “It’s pretty much up to the council at this point.”

Loxahatchee Groves Town Manager Frank Spence said his community’s estimate was pretty close to what had been predicted.

“We’re still in a good position because our millage is so low and we’re a new city,” Spence said, explaining that the decreased value for Loxahatchee Groves will be sufficiently covered by contingency funds.

The preliminary budget has gone to the town’s Financial Ad-

visory and Audit Committee and will be presented to the town council in June, Spence said. It currently keeps the tax rate at 1.4 mills, the same as it was last year.

“If people’s property values went down, then you apply the same 1.4 mills, they’re going to see a small reduction in their property tax, at least from the Town of Loxahatchee Groves,” he said.

The total budget proposed for Loxahatchee Groves for 2011 is $1,991,719. Spence said the town has not yet received state revenue estimates, which include gas and telecommunications taxes.

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NEWS

THE ROYAL PALM BEACH ROTARY CLUB INSTALLS OFFICERS FOR NEW SEASON The Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club held a dinner and ceremony to install new of ficers for 2011-12 on Satur day, May 28 at the Mayacoo Lakes Countr y Club. District 6930 Gov. Dr. Laile Fairbairn installed the new officers, including Mike Fehribach, who will ser ve as president for the upcoming year.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

The newly installed Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club officers.

Sue and Roland Amateis with Steve and Vivian Logan.

Incoming President Mike Fehribach with outgoing President Eric Gordon.

Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, 2010-11 board members Joan Scherer, Terri Wescott, Mike Fehribach and Scott Armand with Eric Gordon.

President’s Citation recipients Tony Armour, Mike Gauger, Mair Armand, Terri Wescott and Tony Endler with Eric Gordon.

Terri Wescott receives the Service Above and Beyond Award from Eric Gordon.

WELLINGTON HOSTS ‘LAUGH OUT LOUD’ COMEDY SHOW AT THE AMPHITHEATER Wellington hosted a free Laugh Out Loud standup comedy show Friday, May 27 at the Wellington Amphitheater. Audience members relaxed on the amphitheater lawn as the various standup acts took the stage. For more information about upcoming events at the amphitheater, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

Audience members enjoy a small par ty on the lawn.

Frannie Sheridan (left) and Alan Shuman (right) bring the funny.

Leslie Gray Streeter, Peter Wein, Neil Berliner, Ev an Jacobs, Craig Selinger, Alan Shuman, Frannie Sheridan and Scott Zervitz.

Page 6

June 3 - June 9, 2011

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CRIME NEWS

Two Men Arrested After Incident At Veterans Memorial

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report MAY 30 — Two Wellington men were arrested late Monday night on charges of drunk and disorderly conduct and theft following a suspicious incident at the Wellington Veterans Memorial near the intersection of Forest Hill and South Shore boulevards. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a witness called the Wellington substation at approximately 10 p.m. to report that he observed two men urinating on the memorial. A deputy arrived at the site and observed two men fitting the description given by the witness securing a large standup fan to a stolen CVS shopping cart in an attempt to remove the fan from the site. The fan had been rented for the village’s Memorial Day ceremony earlier in the day. According to the report, the deputy made contact with 40year-old Eric Ware and 45-yearold Robert Rieskamp, and noticed that both smelled of alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated. The deputy recovered several beers that were still cold. Ware and Rieskamp were arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.

According to the report, during a search Rieskamp was asked to remove his shoes and socks. After doing so, he threw his socks at the deputy. Both Ware and Rieskamp were charged with petty theft and drunk and disorderly conduct, and Rieskamp was also charged with battery on a law enforcement official.

••• MAY 25 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to BJ’s Wholesale Club on State Road 7 last Wednesday in response to a theft. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 5:35 p.m., a loss prevention officer responded to an emergency exit alarm and observed an unknown black female loading a computer into a green minivan. According to the report, when the officer approached the minivan, the suspect got into the van, dropping her cell phone in the process, and fled the area at a high rate of speed. Surveillance video footage showed three black females putting several computers into two shopping carts, and then walking away toward the emergency exit. The officer was able to provide the deputy with a license plate number and the cell phone dropped by the suspect. The stolen items were valued at $2,689.96.

MAY 25 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested late last Wednesday night on charges of drunken driving following a traffic stop on Okeechobee Blvd.

According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation was on patrol when he observed a silver car traveling westbound on Okeechobee Blvd. The car then attempted a Uturn and struck the sidewalk with the passenger side of the vehicle, causing both tires to drive up on the grass. The vehicle continued into a nearby shopping center, where the deputy initiated a traffic stop. According to the report, the car continued through the plaza and made a right turn, striking the curb, and then came to a stop.

The deputy made contact with the

driver, 31-year-old Fung Hung, who appeared nervous, had glassy and bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. After a series of roadside tasks, Hung was arrested and taken to the county jail where breath tests revealed he had a blood-alcohol level of .177. He was charged with driving under the influence.

MAY 27 — The owner of a restaurant on State Road 7 called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Friday to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between Friday, April 15 and Monday, May 23, someone entered the vacant restaurant by damaging the door on the west side of the building and stole an exhaust fan and two compressors.

The stolen items were valued at approximately $9,260. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

MAY 27 — A Wellington man was arrested last Friday night on charges of drug possession following a traffic stop on Pierson Road. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was on patrol on South Shore Blvd. when he received a call regarding a white pickup truck driving erratically on State Road 7. The deputy then observed a truck matching the description turn onto Pierson Road and began to follow the vehicle. According to the report, the vehicle pulled into a shopping plaza but did not stop, then returned to the road where it swerved between lanes. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, 55-year-old Jeffery Ville. According to the report, the deputy asked Ville to complete a series of roadside tasks, which he struggled to complete. The deputy observed a bulge in Ville’s Tshirt near his left-side pocket and asked about it. Ville retrieved a small silver pill bottle, which he said contained Xanax. According to the report, Ville did not have a prescription for them. Ville was arrested and taken to the county jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

MAY 29 — An Acreage man was arrested late last Sunday night on drug charges following a suspicious incident behind the Super Target store on Okeechobee Blvd.

According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation observed a white pickup truck at the rear of the store. Because of recent thefts in the area, the deputy followed the truck when he observed it had illegal blue tag lights. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, 41-yearold Christopher Perron. According to the report, the deputy could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search revealed a multicolored glass pipe with burnt marijuana in the ashtray, as well as a small plastic bag containing approximately .4 grams of marijuana in Perron’s left front pocket. Perron was arrested and taken to the county jail where he was charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams.

MAY 29 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a business on 105th Avenue North last See BLOTTER, page 22

Crime Stopper s of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Sean Ridge is a white male, 5’11” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on both arms. His date of birth is 11/14/86. Ridge is wanted for violation of supervised own recognizance on a charge of dealing in stolen property, false verification of ownership, burglary and grand theft, and failure to appear on charges of burglary, dealing in stolen property, and false v erification of ownership to a secondhand dealer. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Sugar Pine Trail in Wellington. Ridge is wanted as of 06/02/11.

• Artur o Rubio, a.k.a. Ar turo HernandezRubio, is a white male, 5’9” tall and weighing 140 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 09/01/76. Rubio is wanted for violation of supervised own recognizance on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation.

His occupation is laborer. His last known address was Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Rubio is wanted as of 06/02/ 11.

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.

Sean Ridge

Arturo Rubio

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

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Page 7

NEWS

RPB Building’s Colors Raise Red Flags For Zoning Commission

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The colors of a building in the Waterway Plaza posed a problem Tuesday for several members of the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission. The commissioners requested a change in the color scheme before they would give final approval for a new sign.

The request by Jupiter Speedi Sign Inc. for approval of a building and monument sign on the structure that currently houses a Dunkin’ Donuts store prompted a discussion about the building’s clashing colors.

Jupiter Speedi Sign representative Jeff Weiss initially requested approval of green and red LED signs for a new restaurant, Mom’s Grill and Pizza.

At present, the building, located on the west side of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. north of the Village Royale shopping center, houses a Dunkin’ Donuts with its signature orange-and-pink signs, as well as

a psychic boutique with matching pink signs.

“We wanted to make it a little bit different from the Dunkin’ Donuts,” Weiss said. “They’re hard colors to really match to, and if we matched it, the signs are so close together that they would look the same.”

Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin, who presented the item, noted that previously the space was occupied by CharHut, which had a mustard yellow and red sign.

“There isn’t really a consistent pattern to the signs in there today,” he said of the plaza. “I don’t know what the board might suggest differently to match.”

Commission Alternate Janet Ellis recalled that when the psychic boutique came before the commission, members agreed to a pink sign to match the Dunkin’ Donuts.

“They’re so coordinating,” she said. “And then you’re going to have totally different colors in

between. To me, that’s not pleasant.”

Commissioner Tinu Peña and Commission Alternate Michael Newkirk supported the colors.

“From a business standpoint, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t look like Dunkin’ Donuts,” Newkirk said. “As long as it’s not distasteful, it’s going to be to their advantage.”

But commissioners Barbara Powell and Darrell Lange expressed concern with the signs in contrast to the existing colors on the building. Currently, it has a teal roof, left over from when it housed a Miami Subs restaurant, and an orange awning.

“Part of this board is for aesthetics,” Lange said. “And this building, on its sixth evolution, still is a mess. It’s a teal roof… with an orange canopy, and with a monument sign that doesn’t match.

When do we, as an aesthetic board, start requiring this building to be aesthetic?”

Lange said he didn’t have a

problem with the sign itself, except that the monument sign contained a phone number, but with the building and its inconsistent coloring.

“You did a nice job on the sign,” he said to Weiss. “But this building is a mess. It does not match, and that’s the problem. If someone wants to change the roof, and someone wants to change the canopy and start making this a continuous, harmonious building, we can consider it. I don’t understand why we keep allowing this building to be outrageous.”

Building owner Manny Andrade told the commission that he plans to remodel the building, which would come before them at a later date.

“The awning is going to be gone,” he said, noting that instead, it would follow modern Dunkin’ Donuts color schemes with a light and dark brown building and trim.

But Commission Vice Chair Jackie Larson worried that the

suggested colors would clash with the teal roof.

“I think the problem is that there’s too many colors to begin with,” she said. “And I’m really trying not to focus on the teal roof.

We all know that’s an expensive change. All we’re saying is that your awnings and your colors should work with the teal roof.”

Lange said that although he didn’t want to deviate from the decision at hand, the color scheme wouldn’t bring the building together. He said that although he understands it costs money to make major changes, he couldn’t impose standards on one building but not another.

Andrade said that in working with Dunkin’ Donuts, it is hard to deviate from its color scheme.

“I’m dealing with a company that has 12,000 units,” he said. “They have an image all over the world.

So I’m trying to please this board and them. And you have a big voice on this.”

Andrade said that he would

consult with the commission before coming before them with the new colors.

Lange suggested that the commission approve the sign with the conditions that the building undergoes remodeling. “This sign on this building doesn’t work,” he said. “This sign on this building renovated in 30 days might look terrific.”

Erwin said that the commission couldn’t condition it, but that Andrade could agree to it as a condition of approval.

Lange made a motion to approve the sign package with the conditions that the phone number on the monument sign be removed, that the building signage be a temporary banner and that the applicant would have 60 days to return to the board with a coordinating color palette. “That allows you to keep the colors you wanted originally if you can coordinate them,” he said to Andrade.

The motion passed unanimously.

211 Information Referral Service Seeing Uptick In Calls For Help

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach/Treasure Coast 211 information referral service has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of urgent calls from people who are suicidal, having domestic issues or unemployed and desperate to find work, according to Palm Beach County Community Relations Specialist Patrice Schroeder.

“We’ve had an increase in the number of domestic violence calls and suicide calls,” Schroeder said.

“Obviously, people are really struggling with the economy, so we’re getting financial assistance requests, for electricity, utilities, rental assistance, mortgage assistance.”

Suicide calls during 2010 numbered 2,446, far higher than the 1,659 calls in 2009, Schroeder

said. One call to 211 might result in several referrals for the caller to try to meet their needs. “People have multiple needs right now,” Schroeder said. “We don’t have an intense increase in the call volume, but we’re seeing that the calls are taking longer, there’s more emotional content, so there’s a different tone to the calls now.”

The agency used to get suicide calls in the middle of the night, but now they are coming at just about any time of the day.

“We’re here 24 hours a day, so we’re here to take those calls,” Schroeder said. “It could be somebody who needs to relieve some stress. We have a lot of caregivers who are sandwiched, they are taking care of small children and an elder parent, and sometimes they just need to know there is someone there to listen to them.”

Schroeder stressed that 211 is much more than a referral service.

“We do triage when people call in,” she explained. “We do an assessment to figure out which agency would be the best fit for them.

If there isn’t an agency available, of if there isn’t funding available, we will do creative problem solving for them. Perhaps if we get them to a food co-op, it will free up some of their income to help.

Obviously, we want to address that most critical piece first. If it is a diabetic about to get his electricity turned off, we’re going to really work to keep the electricity on.

It depends what the family’s need is.”

The United Way and the Children’s Services Council are 211’s umbrella agencies. It also receives smaller amounts of funding from the Department of Children &

Families and various foundations.

Schroeder said that hundreds of agencies, public and private, profit and nonprofit, are listed in the 211 database.

The agency will also try to help jobless people with employment.

“Everybody knows that the economy is really tough, but we work closely with the Workforce Alliance, Goodwill Industries and some other agencies. If they are veterans, there are some veteranspecific programs,” Schroeder said. “We lean on them pretty regularly.”

She said one of the 211 agencies that works specifically with veterans, Faith, Hope, Love Charity, has an event coming up Saturday, June 4 at Dan Calloway Park in Riviera Beach that is open to veterans, the homeless and the community at large. More infor-

mation about the event is available at the 211 web site at www.211 palmbeach.org.

About 20 percent of the 211 calls, or about 30,000 a year, are from elderly people, she said. “We help them navigate the system and answer their needs,” Schroeder said. “We help with Social Security cards, Meals on Wheels, transportation — whatever their needs are.”

The agency also handles hurricane calls and during emergencies will serve as a referral hub.

“The phone calls here went up exponentially during the hurricanes,” Schroeder said. “Whatever comes our way, we’re working closely with the county, the emergency operations center and all the counties that we serve, to have that information available for individuals preparing for the storm. Ob-

viously, we are there for emotional comfort and counseling during a storm — it could be an elder who is isolated and doesn’t have anybody, or maybe there are people out there with severe handicaps who are living alone, or families that have never experienced hurricanes before, but they can call us and we will stay on the line as long as they need.”

After a storm, 211 staff will get out information to callers about facilities open for medical treatment, boil-water orders, roads that are blocked and whether schools are open. She said some of the county public service announcements will be posted on the 211 Palm Beach YouTube channel (youtube.com/211pbtc) in Spanish, English and Creole.

For more information, call 211 or visit www.211palmbeach.org.

Palms West Hospital Announces Frist Humanitarian Award Winners Palms West Hospital recently honored three individuals with the Frist Humanitarian Award: Winsome Myrie, employee recipient; Dr. Edward Becker, physician recipient; and Debbie Delorey, volunteer recipient.

The Frist Humanitarian Awards are given annually to the employee, physician and volunteer at every HCA hospital that have epitomized the extraordinary spirit and care for the welfare of their patients, fellow staff and community. The award was established in recognition of the philanthropy of one of the founders of HCA, Dr. Thomas F. Frist Sr. In his memory, nominees are selected from the over 250 healthcare facilities that make up the company, with three individuals being chosen from the facility award recipients for the company-wide honor.

Myrie has worked at Palms West Hospital as a cook for 10 years. There is no job too big or too small for her. She always comes to work with a big smile on her face while motivating and encouraging her co-workers to do the same. Myrie’s co-workers describe her as kind, generous, compassionate and caring. She is always one of the first employees to volunteer for fundraising events. In addition to her full-time position at the hospital, Myrie also volunteers her time at her local church where she is an assistant pastor. She is an avid member and is well respected in her church.

Myrie and her family partner with the organization Food for

Families to provide meals to those less fortunate. Myrie takes pride in providing quality hot meals for the homeless community. She has been involved in doing so for over 10 years and enjoys it tremendously. Myrie enjoys doing for others and mentors those in difficult situations, lending an ear whenever necessary. She works hard at collecting clothes for those in need and sends what she collects to family and friends in Jamaica.

Becker was one of the founding physicians at Palms West Hospital. He has made the western communities his home, practicing medicine here for the past 25 years. The hospital feels he is a wonderful physician, both clinically and in terms of his bedside manner. Becker is compassionate and cares about each and every individual person. He sits down and talks to each of his patients at their level, explaining all options and every procedure each step of the way.

In addition to the devotion Becker gives to his medical practice, he is also a great humanitarian. For the past 10 years, he has spent time every year in countries such as Bolivia, Guatemala, Columbia and Honduras providing surgery for people so poor that seeing any doctor would be impossible. Becker has worked with organizations such as Light of the World Charities and Medical International Missionary Aid (MIMA) for these mission trips.

On each trip he tirelessly performs continual surgeries for the week

Frist Award physician recipient Dr. Edward Becker with Dr. Carmine Priore and Palms West Hospital CEO Bland Eng. he is there, usually completing between 40 to 60 urological procedures for those who could not afford such services. Becker is modest about his volunteer work.

“This time spent is good for the soul,” he said. “I actually get more than the people I treat. There is nothing like the thrill that comes from being able to improve someone’s life through surgery.”

When mothers come to him with tears in their eyes because he has fixed a problem that will now let their sons live longer, far happier lives, he feels “at the top of the world.” Becker noted that as an added benefit, his group is able to work with Bolivian doctors. “I work closely with a young urologist who learns some of the latest techniques by working with me for the week,” he said.

Delorey has worked at Palms West Hospital since 2008, volunteering two days each week at the

main admitting/ER desk. Delorey is a vital member of the team; she does everything from answering phones, to delivering flowers to patients, and facilitates getting patients to the ER and admitting.

She is described as a very positive, personable, outgoing lady.

In addition to the two days Delorey volunteers at Palms West Hospital, she also volunteers two days each week at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola Outreach Program in Palm Beach Gardens.

The clients served by the outreach program are all very poor and many are homeless. There are close to 1,000 people helped by the outreach center. Delorey works each day to help people looking for basic necessities such as rent, clothing, school supplies, utilities, car repairs, jobs or whatever it takes to give them dignity and help them to become self sufficient. Additionally, she helps

Frist Award volunteer recipient Debbie Delorey with Palms West Hospital CEO Bland Eng and Lisa Gardi.

(L-R) Palms West Hospital CEO Bland Eng, Frist Award finalist Roxy Caballero, Frist Award employee recipient Winsome Myrie, Frist Award finalist Evy Terron, Chief Nursing Officer Silvia Stradi and Chief Operating Officer Mike Patterson. many elderly from being exploited physically and financially.

When asked about why she volunteers, Delorey said that she loves it. She said she leaves her volunteer shift knowing she

helped at least one person and it makes her feel good.

Palms West Hospital is honored to have these three dedicated and giving people serving its patients and community every day.

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NEWS BRIEFS Upcoming Events At Temple Beth Zion In RPB

Joyce McLendon, Dr. Ronald L. Davis and Judy Goodman at the recent reception host ed by Scripps Florida.

PHOTO BY CORBY KAYE’S STUDIO PALM BEA CH

Brain Expert Speaks At Scripps Florida Event In Palm Beach Scripps Florida recently hosted an afternoon reception and presentation at the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach with featured speaker Dr. Ronald L. Davis, founding chairman and professor in the department of neuroscience at the Scripps Research Institute.

Davis addressed 150 guests about his research on learning and memory in a presentation titled “The Secrets of Memory Formation: You Must Remember This.”

One of the nation’s leading experts in the biology of the brain, Davis explained the importance of research on memory formation.

This field has broad implications for many psychiatric and neurological diseases, including schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer’s dis-

ease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug abuse, age-related memory decline and more.

Davis’ team has captured powerful genetic approaches using the fruit fly, Drosophila, to discover genes and their protein products that make up the molecular machinery the brain uses to form and store memories. Their work has also shown that this same machinery is utilized by mammals such as the mouse, and that “memory” genes discovered in the fly can help predict which human genes are involved in neurological and psychiatric disorders. The researchers’ end goal is to find treatments for disease by identifying drugs that can assist the function of memory proteins.

Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach will host a Shavuot community yizkor service Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m.

There is no charge to attend.

The memorial service, called yizkor (meaning “remember”) is recited four times during the year, on Yom Kippur, on the last day of Passover, on the second day of Shavout and on the eighth day of Sukkot. This is based on the Jewish belief in the eternity of the soul.

Although a soul can no longer do good deeds after death, it can gain merit through the charity and good deeds of the living.

Yizkor is said by every person who has lost a Jewish parent or other loved one. Temple Beth Zion’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Bertram Kieffer, will chant the traditional memorial prayer, “El Malei Rachamim” (“God, full of compassion”) as part of the brief service. This prayer is said on behalf of all the deceased for whom Yizkor was said. This same prayer is recited at funerals and at the synagogue on the anniversary of a family member’s death.

Following the community yizkor service, a special Shavuot program, “Walking the Bible with Ruth & Naomi,” facilitated by Rabbi Janie Grackin, will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Book of Ruth is traditionally read at Shavuot and Rabbi Grackin will offer a modern (and surprisingly sensual) exploration of this ancient text while guests enjoy cof-

fee and dessert. Thanks to a generous sponsor, there is no charge for the program.

The community is also welcome to join Temple Beth Zion on Thursday morning, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. for the traditional Shavuot morning services. Yizkor will be recited after the Torah reading and will be followed by a traditional Shavuot luncheon of dairy dishes.

In other temple news, Rabbi Kieffer invites the community to “Shabbat Services at the Beach” on Friday, June 10. Attendees will meet at the Palm Beach Municipal Beach at Royal Palm Way and South Ocean Blvd.

Bring your own beach chairs, blankets and picnic dinners, and arrive at 6 p.m. Services will start at 7 p.m. Bathing suits or shorts are expected. You can also bring your friends and neighbors. Everyone is welcome.

For the “landlubbers,” a traditional Friday evening service will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue, led by Rabbi Craig Ezring.

On Tuesday, June 14, Temple Beth Zion will host the Jewish Business Connection, a free, monthly networking event for Jewish men and women who conduct business in Palm Beach County. The meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. and include coffee and dessert. Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to tell everyone what services you offer.

Temple Beth Zion is an innovative, contemporary synagogue that has served the western communities since 1980. It is located

at 129 Sparrow Drive, Royal Palm Beach, just north of Veterans Park.

For more information and directions, call (561) 798-8888.

St. Michael To Break Ground On New Sanctuary St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new sanctuary Sunday, June 5 at 11 a.m.

Work will begin soon after on the 250-seat sanctuary that will also include a church nursery and choir room as well as a spacious entryway for people to be in conversation before and after worship and for other church events. A groundbreaking luncheon will follow the celebration.

“What an exciting time for the congregation,” Pastor Marjorie Weiss said. “The vision for a new sanctuary began in the late 1990s, so this is a culmination of a long process. The members and friends of St. Michael have been very generous in contributions to fund the building, which has been the blessing that we needed to make this a reality.”

In other church news, community children from age 3 through having completed the sixth grade are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School at St. Michael Lutheran Church from Monday, June 6 to Friday, June 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The theme is caring for creation in a week called “ReNew: The Green VBS.” ReNew Vacation Bible School invites kids to learn about Jesus,

help build the community, and grow as they become stewards of God’s creation. At ReNew, kids will explore God’s word through Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and learn about God’s creation and what they can do to care for it.

“Each evening kids will sing catchy songs, play teamworkbuilding games, plants seeds and nibble theme-oriented snacks for the low cost of only $5 per student,” Pastor Weiss said. “There will also be an offering received each night that will be used to plant a tree at the congregation’s new building.”

To register, contact (561) 7934999 or e-mail pastorweiss@bell south.net.

Worship services in the summer take place at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 1925 Birkdale Drive in Wellington. For more information, visit www.stmichealelc.com.

Donations Sought For Labor Resource Center Wellington Cares Clearinghouse is currently seeking donations to support Buena Fe, a labor resource center in Loxahatchee Groves.

Donations are needed of longsleeved shirts, T-shirts, jeans, new socks, sneakers, work boots (sizes 6-7), work gloves, tools, overthe-counter medicines, microwaves, suntan lotion and bedding.

If you have new or gently used items to donate, call Ellie Caldwell at (561) 790-5499. Wellington Cares Clearinghouse tries to give a hand up, not a handout.

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NEWS

Elbridge Gale’s Afterschool Program Produces Another Musical Hit Elbridge Gale Elementary School’s afterschool production of Disney’s High School Musical 2 Jr. was performed May 6 on the Palm Beach Central High School stage.

With more than 35 elementary school students taking part in the production, it was no easy task. Rehearsals began last year in the afterschool program setting. “All of these students worked extremely hard, and we are so proud of them,� program director Patty Vico-Montalvo said.

High School Musical 2 Jr. picks up where High School Musical ended, with Troy Bolton, played by Tauben Brenner, and Gabriella Montez, played by Isabella Marshall, still dating and looking for summer jobs to earn money for college.

Sharpay Evans, played by Kelly McLaughlan, and Ryan Evans, played by Nick Constantino, plan to spend part of

the summer at their family’s country club in Lava Springs. As the twist and turns of young summer love unfolds, musical numbers such as “What Time Is It?� (performed by the entire cast), “Fabulous� (featuring McLaughlan) and a solo number “Gotta Go My Own Way� (performed

by Marshall) left the audience amazed at the musical talent showcased by the elementary-aged students.

Elbridge Gale Elementary School’s afterschool production was directed by Anai Colyer and choreographed by Shenise Nuùez with the full support of Principal Gail Pasterczyk, Assistant Principal Heather Alfonso and Vico-Montalvo. It was done in cooperation with PBCHS Drama Director Gail Marshall and the running crew of PBCHS drama students, drama stagecraft and concession stands, and the Palm Beach Central Bronco Players.

The entire cast of Elbridge Gale Elementary School’s afterschool production of Disney’s High School Musical 2 Jr. PHOTOS COURTESY ADAM MARSHALL/BELLAMIA PORTRAIT STUDIOS

(L-R) Donald Tuckwood, Michael Rodriguez, Lilana Gonzalez, Liana Gonzalez, Lorenny Abad, Preston Figueroa and Amber Bir t.

(Above) Tauben Brenner and Isabella Marshall. (Below) Kelly McLaughlan performed the role of Sharpay Evans.

(Above) Student Nick Constantino on stage as Ryan Evans. (Below) Choreographer Shenise NuĂąez, Program Director Patty Vico-Montalvo and Director Anai Colyer.

Madison Pompos, Hayley Alfonso, Haley Friedman, Madine Austin, Isabella Perez and Georgia Brooks.

(Top to bottom) Della Gaylor, Katrina DeSorbo and Isabella Marshall.

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NEWS

Multicultural Day Gives Binks Forest Students A Bigger World View

By Jackson Wolek Town-Crier Staff Report It was a multicultural extravaganza on Friday, May 20 at Binks Forest Elementary School. For the second year, Binks Forest observed a Multicultural Day, which featured a variety of cultural activities to give children a better understanding of the world around them.

The one-day event featured a steel drum band from Binks Forest’s sister school, Gove Elementary School in Belle Glade, that performed different types of Caribbean-style music in front of an audience of 500 students and teachers.

Javier Del Sol tells students a story.

The purpose of sharing the music with the students was for them to learn more about Caribbean culture and develop an appreciation of music from other nations.

Gove students were brought over for the second year to Binks Forest, and they hope to return again next year.

In addition to bringing instruments, the group also taught the students of Binks Forest how to say “hello” in different languages by singing a song of greetings in Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Creole.

The other headline act for the day was special guest Kevin Locke, a Lakota Indian hoop dancer and indigenous Northern Plains flute player from South Dakota.

Locke has performed at schools, museums and cultural centers throughout the world, and was delighted to come to Binks Forest for the multicultural event.

While showing the students the music, dance and culture of his Native American background, he also emphasized the fact that being able to learn about other cultures is vital to a person’s life.

In the hoop performance, he used hoops made of wood and connected them into shapes of different animals on his body while dancing. He also allowed some students and teachers to try a hoop

Students learn Caribbean dancing.

Lakota Indian Kevin Locke explains to student the impor tance of learning about different cultures.

PHOTOS BY JA CKSON WOLEK/TOWN-CRIER

dance for themselves at the end of the show, saying that participation in a different cultural activity is really the best way for young children to learn about a new culture.

Principal Stacey Quiñones took ideas from what Royal Palm Beach Elementary School did with its multicultural celebration when she was assistant principal there and started Binks Forest’s event last year. The activity was so successful that Quiñones decided to make it an annual observance.

“We would love to make it a whole week dedicated to different cultures, but there just isn’t enough time,” Quiñones said.

There was still adequate time, though, to allow students to learn and have fun.

Randi Schietz, a guidance counselor and expert on Israeli culture and history, guided the children in playing games and creating crafts while he talked to them.

Two teachers gave dancing lessons. Teacher Stephanie Thompson taught students about the pop-

ular Latin dance style known as merengue. Christine McDermott, another teacher, described an iconic feature of American culture, square dancing.

Finally, Javier Del Sol of Lake Worth, a master storyteller of Cora Indian descent who is an artist-inresidence at Palm Beach State College, told tales about many different world cultural traditions. In one of the stories, he recalled when he was a student in elementary school in Tijuana, Mexico, and stressed that even though he

was from a different culture, he still went through many of the same problems that students go through in America today. His ancestors hail from Acaponeta, near the Pacific coast in Nayarit state, west-central Mexico.

Judging by how well the day’s activities went this year, it is safe to say that the students could see more events like Multicultural Day at Binks Forest, as long as they involve students experiencing learning in a fun, interactive way.

RESIDENTS OF OLYMPIA’S THOMSON VILLAGE HOST MEMORIAL DAY GATHERING The second annual Thomson Village Memorial Fun Day took place Sunday, May 29 in the Shepard Place cul-de-sac in Wellington’s Olympia neighborhood. There was a bounce house, w aterslide and water balloons for the kids to keep cool, as well as plenty of food and fun for the adults.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

Ron Lemons with his Army boots worn during Desert Storm, which sit atop the entrance to Thomson Village.

Reinerio Faife, Celeste and Ron Lemons, Linda and Harold Wellman, Linda Lynch, and Jim Mullis.

Smit Viroja and Eric Lemons play ball.

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NEWS

WELLINGTON COMMEMORATES MEMORIAL DAY WITH PARADE AND CEREMONY

It was a standing-room-only crowd Monday, May 30 for Wellington’s annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony. The village honored those who have lost their lives in the line of duty with a parade along Forest Hill Blvd. followed by a ceremony and the laying of the wreaths at the Wellington Veterans Memorial.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/T OWN-CRIER

The parade begins, heading along Forest Hill Blvd.

State Rep. Joe Abruzzo lays the wreath for the Coast Guard.

The Freeman and Buchanan families show patriotic spirit during the parade.

Wellington Councilwoman Anne Gerwig and her husband Alan march in the parade.

Congressman Tom Rooney and Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Carmine Priore lay the wreath for the Army.

Keith Ullman and Tom Clapp lay the wreath for the Navy.

Regis and Tom Wenham lay the wreath for the Air Force.

The presentation of the flags.

Members of Paws 4 Liberty with their canine friends.

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Page 15

NEWS

WESTERN EXECUTIVES, REFERRAL NETWORKING SOLUTIONS HOST EVENT IN RPB Western Executives and Referral Networking Solutions hosted a power networking event Thursday, May 26 at the MarBar Grille at Madison Green. There was a putting cont est and a raffle, as well as a cash bar with free hors d’oeuvres.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

Brad Neider, Brenda Ammon and Tom Brophy.

Donna Sczebanski, William Brasmar and Raina Ruelle.

Referral Networking Solutions’ Brenda Ammon, Western Ex ecutives co-founder Troy Webster and Madison Green Director of Sales and Marketing Bob Still.

Madison Green General Manager Ron Miranda advises Raina Ruelle, while Bob Still and William Brasmar look on.

Brenda Ammon has Bob Still draw a winning ticket.

Erin Downey, Frank O’Brien and Jennifer Ryan.

United Way Recruits PBCHS INTERACT NETS $1,500 FOR CANCER SOCIETY Volunteers For Disaster Assistance Training The Palm Beach Central High School Interact Club raised $1,500 for the American Cancer Society during its “Dodging Cancer” dodgeball tournament. The money was split evenly between the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society’s ROCK (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) Camp.

The United Way of Palm Beach County is seeking volunteers to help in disaster assistance should a hurricane or other disaster strike the area. Two training classes will be held at United Way’s office in Boynton Beach, one on Tuesday, June 7 from 5 to 7:45 p.m. and the other on Wednesday, June 8 from 9 to 11 a.m.

New volunteers and previously registered United Way disaster volunteers are invited to attend.

For those already registered with the United Way, the training will serve as a refresher course.

The United Way of Palm Beach County is the lead agency for Palm Beach County emergency management volunteers. As such, the United Way coordinates voluntary

services to support the county’s relief effort before and after a disaster. The responsibility includes operating a volunteer reception center to mobilize volunteers and to assist in relief and recovery efforts.

During the training session, volunteers will learn how to staff a volunteer reception center. Volunteers will also learn how they can volunteer with the Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition.

Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. To volunteer as a disaster assistance volunteer, call (561) 375-6621. Volunteers may also register for the training session by visiting www.unitedway pbc.org.

Interact faculty Sponsor James King presents American Cancer Society Community Representative Teri Lane with the check.

Palm Beach Central High School Interact of ficers during the dodgeball tournament.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Dream Middle School Celebrates Shakespeare Walking through the Dream Middle School last week was like taking a step back to medieval times. For a brief period, sixthgrade students transformed themselves into bards, wizards, knights and ladies for the school’s annual Shakespeare celebration.

Director and language arts teacher Tom Dyde said this year’s event is about “invigorating love and passion for Shakespeare and his work. The version of Macbeth the students are performing focuses on the characters and humor in

Shakespeare’s, writing which makes it much more fun for them.”

In planning this musical comedy, Dyde tried to keep it as authentic as possible by bringing in everything from period costumes to troubadour’s reciting lyrical poetry. Voices of fair maidens filled the air with medieval songs accompanied by recorders, trumpets and whistles.

Each student in the sixth-grade class was assigned a role and a musical number to perform. They

practiced diligently for several weeks to make sure they were well prepared for the evening’s event.

“It’s important to me that students are putting life back into Shakespeare,” Dyde said. “For them, Macbeth is not just a play or a story. They’re experiencing Shakespeare’s work in a way they can appreciate and enjoy. Because it’s fun for them, they understand much more about this famous playwright than they would simply by reading about him or reading one of his plays.”

Claire Romine and Alexandria Borrell entertain during the Shakespeare celebration.

Panther Run Students Meet School’s Mascot Crestwood art teacher Jerianne Johnston with Royal Palm Beach Mayor Matty Mattioli.

Crestwood Artists Showcased At RPBHS All feeder schools for Royal Palm Beach High School were invited Tuesday, May 17 to display artwork at an exhibition titled “Wildcat Artists: Present and Future.”

The ages of participating artists ranged from first-graders through high school seniors, and artwork created in a variety of media was

featured. Entertainment was provided by the RPBHS jazz band and chorus, and refreshments were served. Crestwood Middle School displayed “The Elements and Principles of Design,” which are books created by students showcasing all of the fundamentals of art they have learned this semester.

The Panther Run Elementary School Student Council got a big treat Monday, May 23 when they met with their school mascot “Charlie” in person, along with many other big cats at the Panther Ridge Conservation Center in Wellington. Though he is the Panthers’ mascot, Charlie is actually a cougar.

The students, along with fifthgrade teacher and student council leader Karen Kostik, were given a tour of the facility. Panther Ridge founder Judy Berens spoke about the animals and answered questions. She noted that the center is home to 15 large cats and is dedicated exclusively to exotic felines that have been abandoned, abused or unwanted. Now at Panther Ridge, their needs are met for the rest of their lives.

The students’ first stop was to visit a cheetah named Charlie. The

cheetah is the fastest species of large cats. It was learned that Charlie has a 25-foot stride and can run faster than a sports car. However, cheetahs are also endangered. After visiting Charlie, the group moved on to Isabella, a two-yearold Jaguar.

The students next moved on to see two clouded leopards from southeast Asia named Ming and Suki, and Amos, a black leopard.

They were anxious to see Charlie, but first there were two other large cats to see: Cody, an ocelot, and Duma, a serval, with his very odd ears. Finally, it was time to see Charlie the cougar. After observing so many different cats with outgoing personalities, the students noticed that Charlie was somewhat shy. He had lost his playmate not too long ago, and Berens said he has been a lot shyer since then.

Student council members with Judy Berens (left) and teacher Karen Kostik (right).

Charlie was the first big cat to come to Panther Ridge. Before then, he was a sick little cub that lived in someone’s garage. Berens heard about him and immediately knew she could give him a better life. So she did. After months of medical treatments, he fully recovered.

Throughout the entire school

year, teachers, students and their families have been donating money to Panther Ridge to help with the upkeep of Charlie and the other cats. During last month’s Spirit Week, students contributed to the donation box.

For more information on the Panther Ridge Conservation Center, visit www.pantherridgecc.org.

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Page 17

SCHOOL NEWS

Seminole Ridge Biotech Academy Students Win eCybermission Gold

Biotech students from Fast Food Frenzy: Casey Hankins, Danielle Lagos, Danielle Livingstone and Janae Moodie.

Seminole Ridge High School’s freshman biotech academy team Fast Food Frenzy has been awarded first place statewide in the annual eCybermission contest, a virtual online science fair competition sponsored by the U.S. Army.

Each student on the team receives a $1,000 savings bond and the opportunity to complete a paid internship in a research lab this summer.

Fast Food Frenzy researched customer preferences of chicken from McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Chick-Fil-A. Using the online tool Survey Monkey to obtain over 100 fast-food preference and nutrition beliefs, the team tested the fat and protein content of each chicken item using dyes, reagents and spectrophotometry.

• SRHS Brain Camp — Seminole Ridge will hold its inaugural

summer “brain camp” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 1 through Thursday, Aug. 4.

The $15 camp, geared toward students new to Advanced Placement programs, is open as well to any Hawks who want to train their brains for success in rigorous coursework. Topics of study will include advanced critical thinking skills, digital media learning tools, exam preparation, project creativity, research skills, speed reading, study skills and time management.

Register on the school’s Edline page at www.edline.net/pages/ seminole_ridge_community_hs or e-mail Kara Macsuga at kmacs31@gmail.com for more information.

• Biotech Grad Talks Up Internship — Class of 2009 graduate and former biotech academy student Paige Spence returned to

her alma mater to talk with current “biotechies” about her research internship at the University of South Florida. Spence spoke about her experience in the USF lab, college life, studying abroad and her upcoming internship in the research labs at Cornell University.

• Hawk Battalion Racks Up Hours — The SRHS Army JROTC Hawk Battalion has reported 13,146 total community service hours the cadets have logged this school year.

“This doesn’t include the hours we’ll add for our graduation ceremony and the South Florida National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony,” JROTC instructor Lieutenant Colonel Hans Hunt said. “I think this is hoo-ah!”

• Hawks Again Honored for Blood Drives — Florida’s Blood

Centers once again have honored SRHS and its National Honor Society chapter for its blood drive efforts, and the school will be recognized in Jacksonville next month at the Florida Association of Blood Banks conference.

In this school year, Seminole Ridge had the largest blood drive of any high school in the county, with 188 units collected. The school also had, at 16 percent, the highest participation percentage of any district high school. And the Hawk senior class had the highest participation in its category statewide, earning SRHS the blood centers’ Superintendent’s Award for the third consecutive year.

SRHS congratulates the students and staff members who have contributed to saving lives through donating blood.

Elbridge Gale Chess Team State Champions The Elbridge Gale Elementary School chess team competed May 20-22 in the Florida All-Stars Tournament in Palm Beach Gardens. The tournament was sponsored by the Florida Scholastic Chess League.

Elbridge Gale became the only school in the state to capture three team trophies, one each in the K1, K-3 and K-5 divisions. This achievement is especially impressive because the school did not have a finalist in the top ten categories of any age group.

The Elbridge Gale team’s talented depth, motivation, parental support and year-round enrichment programs have increased participation in the chess club and

contributed to the program’s success.

During the 2010-11 school year, Elbridge Gale captured awards at every chess tournament. Chess has become the school’s most popular club, with more than 100 students in kindergarten through fifth grade participating in fall, winter and spring chess club activities.

Elbridge Gale is the Palm Beach County and district champion and finished as one of the top three teams in regional and state competitions.

The chess program is directed by Antonis Loudaros, founder and longtime director of chess programs in Palm Beach County.

Marisa Giardina with par ticipating students.

The Elbridge Gale Chess team celebrates with their new trophies.

Broncos Earn Scholastic Foundation Scholarships

Alexis Shankman, Maria De La Rotta and Rianna Penn.

Palm Beach Central High School students Alexis Shankman, Maria De La Rotta and Rianna Penn recently were awarded $1,000 college scholarships from the Scholastic Achievement Foundation of Palm Beach County.

These three students are among 29 scholarship recipients selected from the 171 outstanding high school seniors who attended the foundation’s 33rd annual student recognition din-

ner held at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.

In addition to the Scholastic Achievement Foundation of Palm Beach County, businesses and individuals supporting and sponsoring scholarships for these three students include the North County Section of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Ned Shandloff, and Neil and Nellie MacMillan.

Additional sponsors for the event and other scholarships in-

cluded Bank Atlantic, Bank of America, Maxine Battjes, Balfour, Joe Griffin & Associates, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heckrodt, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Jensen, Linda Orr, Mr. and Mrs. George Elmore, Janet Perry, Harriet Secrest, Vincent Burkhardt, Madeleine Ripley, Quail Ridge Country Club, the Rotary Club of Delray Beach, the Tom and Patty Doar Foundation, the Delray Beach Rotary Club and the Robert J. Bauer Family Foundation.

New Horizons Students Get Lessons In Etiquette New Horizons Elementary School students have been learning social skills from retired Wellington resident and school volunteer Marisa Giardina.

Giardina has been using table etiquette as a means of teaching social skills to fourth- and fifthgrade students each week after school, as part of the School-Aged Child Care program. She has been teaching them the skills of properly setting the table, correctly using utensils and tableware, suitably sitting and politely speaking to each other.

In order to create a realistic formal table setting, Giardina sought

donations of dinnerware, flatware, glassware and table linens from Macy’s.

Students enjoyed the sessions, especially the culminating dinner of salad, ziti and brownies.

Giardina explained her reason for teaching these skills. “When you have something nice, pass it on,” she said. “What better way to pass it on than to our children because they are the future of this country?”

Next year, Giardina plans to expand the popular New Horizons program by teaching the children conversational Italian to use during their table talk time.

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

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

FUN-FILLED DAY AT OKEEHEELEE PARK FOR WELLINGTON’S TEMPLE B’NAI JACOB On the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, more than 100 people gathered at Okeeheelee P ark for Tem ple B’nai Jacob’s annual picnic.

Temple members and their friends, young and old, celebrated the end of school and the coming of summer with a fantastic barbecue and game-filled day. Congregant Earl Jacobs handled grilling duties, with picnic chair Cari Sukienik as his sous chef. Activities included a spirited game of flag football, sack races, a hula hoop contest, face painting and the crowd favorite, a watermelon-eating contest. F or more information on Temple B’nai Jacob, call (561) 793-4347.

Adults and children enjoy a fun flag football game.

Temple members take a break from the activities.

Kids compete in the watermelon-eating contest.

Loxahatchee Letter Local Girl Scouts Making Parks Tobacco-Free Carrier Helps The PBSO Catch Thieves United States Postal Service Loxahatchee rural letter carrier Cliff Richards is credited not only with saving the life of a postal customer, but in providing information that led to the arrest of thieves who had broken into the customer’s home.

Richards, who has delivered the same route for 26 years, was on his appointed rounds when he found customer Bruce Arentz on the ground in front of his house.

Arentz had returned from the store and surprised four thieves inside his home. Two attacked Arentz, knocking him to the ground and kicking him in the head. Arentz was able to dial 911 before a burglar ripped the cell phone from his hand. The burglars sped out of the driveway, nearly broadsiding Richards’ LLV as he pulled up to the mailbox.

“Bruce’s son yelled out the front door ‘that car, that car’ so I quickly figured out what he meant and got a description of the vehicle,” Richards said. “I tried to get the license tag number, but couldn’t.

I had noted the direction that the getaway vehicle had fled.”

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived and, thanks to information provided by Richards, the four thieves were caught and arrested. Arentz went to the hospital, but upon his release

Cliff Richards said he was confident that stolen property recovered would be returned to him, as well as to neighbors whose homes also had been burglarized that day.

“Thanks to Cliff’s quick and decisive actions, a burglary ring has been stopped dead in its tracks,” Arentz said. “I can’t offer enough thanks to express my gratitude, and that of untold others, who were victimized by these thugs. The spirit of service to the community instilled and fostered by postal employees lives strong in Loxahatchee.”

Girl Scout Troop 20244 at Panther Run Elementary School has been working on a tobacco-free parks project in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Health Department.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students Alexis Blumberg, Haley Johnston, Tabatha Levy, Emma Romano, Jill Rooney and Gabrielle Thaw began their project last September, when they participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, volunteering at Lake Worth Beach.

It was there they met Janiece Davis of the Palm Beach County Health Department, who attended their meetings to discuss the dangers of tobacco and explain the work she does in the City of Lake Worth to create tobacco-free parks.

Having discovered at the beach that a large majority of the trash they found was cigarette butts, they became interested in doing something to clean up the parks and help create smoke-free environments.

The girls joined the effort of Davis and others from the health department, to help enact laws to make parks and beaches tobaccofree and safe places for all children to play.

The scouts learned about the processes by which laws are changed, including obstacles that need to be overcome. They made posters to help with community awareness to gain support for smoke-free parks. Copies of these posters are currently on display at Panther Run. The girls are happy to report that on April 19, the Lake Worth City Commission unanimously passed a policy to make their parks and beaches tobacco-free.

On Wednesday, May 25, Panther Run Principal Scott Blake hosted a meeting for the Girl Scout troop with Wellington Director of Operations Jim Barnes, Wellington Parks & Recreation Director Bruce DeLaney, Davis and Troop Leader Tanya Thaw.

The meeting was held so the girls could discuss a proposal to

Girls Scouts — (Front) Gabrielle Thaw and Haley Johnston; (back) Wellington Director of Operations Jim Barnes, Janiece Davis, Panther Run Principal Scott Blake, Emma Romano, Alexis Blumberg, Jill Rooney, Tabatha Levy, Wellington Parks & Recreation Director Bruce DeLane y and Troop Leader Tanya Thaw. implement tobacco-free parks in Wellington. DeLaney and Barnes were receptive to their ideas and will be working with the girls in the near future to bring the pro-

posal to the Wellington Village Council as well as looking to increase signage and community awareness about smoke-free parks in Wellington.

Miranda Hubbard Completes Navy Training Navy Seaman Recruit Miranda L. Hubbard, daughter of Lisa and Kenneth Hubbard of Wellington, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Hubbard completed a va-

riety of training, which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot

camp is “Battle Stations.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet.

Battle Stations is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical ap-

plication of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. The distinctly “Navy” flavor of Battle Stations was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.

Hubbard is a 2007 graduate of Wellington High School.

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

CUB SCOUT PACK 120 HOSTS CROSSOVER CEREMONY, ‘RAIN GUTTER REGATTA’ Royal Palm Beach Cub Scout P ack 120 held its Crossover ceremony May 22 at H.L. Johnson Elementar y School. The scouts who completed all the requirements for their rank crossed over to their new rank for next year. After Crossover, the scouts and some of their siblings participat ed in a “rain gutter regatta.” The scouts sailed small wooden boats they had made down rain gutters filled with water. The regatta was just for fun and not competitive. Pack 120 has several activities planned for the upcoming summer before beginning a ne w year in the fall.

Scouts race boats in the rain gutter regatta.

WOODRUFF, BURNS TO WED NEXT JANUARY Tim and Dianne Woodruff of Lox ahatchee have announced the engagement of their son T.J. Woodruff to Kerry Burns, the daughter of Bill and Nancy Burns of Melbourne. T.J. and Kerry have chosen Jan. 7, 2012 to begin their journey together as a married couple.

Webelos I scouts cr oss over to Webelos II.

Bear scouts cross o ver to Webelos I.

Quantum House Benefit Fishing Tourney June 18 On Saturday, June 18, the Jupiter Light Lodge 340 F&AM (Free and Accepted Masons) will host its fifth annual fishing tournament to benefit Quantum House. Funds raised from the tournament will assist the local hospitality house where “hope has a home” for families while their children are receiving treatments for serious medical conditions in Palm Beach County.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the enthusiastic membership of Jupiter Light Lodge,” Quantum House executive director Robi Jurney said. “The organization has made a lasting impact

for charities like Quantum House in the community.”

The eager fishermen will start their engines for a 7 a.m. bimini start from the Jupiter Inlet. Anglers will be hopeful to catch the largest kingfish, dolphin and snapper/ grouper.

After a busy morning on the high seas, the boats will head back to land for the 2 p.m. weigh-in located on the east side of Burt Reynolds Park. An exciting awards presentation and delicious barbecue will begin at 3 p.m. to celebrate the fishermen’s catches. Cash and prizes will be awarded for the largest

fish caught in each category.

All participants will be able to enjoy a raffle highlighted by an assortment of incredible items that any angler would love. Boats may register for the tournament; see additional rules and regulations at www.quantumhouse.org. Organizations interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2011 charity tournament should contact Mike Loeffler at (772) 201-0682 or e-mail mjl1220@aol.com.

The Jupiter Light Lodge, established 50 years ago, has served countless organizations in the community. The mission of the lodge is to make good men better.

Tournament Director Mike Loef fler

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NEWS

HOLIDAY COOKOUT AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPORTS OVERSEAS TROOPS

Whole Foods Market in Wellington hosted its “Support Our Troops Cookout” on Sunday, May 29. Forgotten Soldier s Outreach accepted items to make care packages to ship to troops overseas, while cookout attendees wrote them messages. All the money raised went to FSO to sponsor the care packages. Whole Foods matched up to $250 in donations. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/T OWN-CRIER

Sawyer, Riley, Hope and John-Mark Phillips write to soldiers.

WRMF DJ Jennifer R oss, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach’s Jeanelle Knecht and Whole Foods Market’s Lauren Belinsky.

Baby Miss Florida Bailee Bonick and mom Vikki give their donated care package items to FSO’s Brooke Badicicco.

Fran Carlton enjoys a portabella sandwich.

Wellington Senior Travel Expo June 7

Amateur Radio Field Days June 25-26

Learn about great destinations around the world and save up to $500 off your next cruise or guided tour by attending Wellington’s Senior Travel Expo presented by AAA Travel.

The event will take place Tuesday, June 7 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center, located at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Approximately 20 travel companies will be in attendance with presentations, information about specials and door prizes.

“Today’s seniors are more active and many enjoy the adventure of both foreign and domestic travel,” said Howard Trager, Wellington’s senior services advocate.

“Our goal is to provide our seniors and all residents the opportunity to learn about some of the options out there.”

The Senior Travel Expo is open to all residents, including non-seniors. For more info., call Trager at (561) 791-4785.

South Florida “hams” will join with thousands of amateur radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities June 25-26.

Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events worldwide. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, amateur radio — often called “ham radio” — was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer hams traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, amateur radio people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications.

The Palms West Amateur Radio Club will be demonstrating amateur radio Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26 at

Okeeheelee Park. The club invites the public to visit any time between noon on June 25 and 2 p.m. on June 26 and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

On the weekend of June 25-26, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Palm Beach County ham radio operators and see for themselves what the amateur radio service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the United States will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called “Field Day,” is the climax of the weeklong Amateur Radio Week, sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards

(Front) Nicole Bauman, Suzanne Sehim and Lauren Belinsky; (back) Omar Rufino and Kevin Kitching.

Chad Mitchell with his daughter Georgia.

around the country. Their slogan, “when all else fails, ham radio works,” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, the Internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

“We hope that people will come and see for themselves this is not your grandfather’s radio anymore,” said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. “The communications that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives when other systems failed or were overloaded. And besides that, it’s fun!”

There are more than 685,000 amateur radio licensees in the United States and more than 2.5 million around the world.

Through the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services program, ham volunteers provide both emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies and non-

emergency community services too, all for free.

To learn more about amateur radio, visit www.emergency-radio.org. The public is invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern amateur radio can do. They can even help you get on the air.

Next P.W. Chamber Lunch June 13 The Palms West Chamber of Commerce June luncheon will take place Monday, June 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) featuring guest speakers State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto and State Rep. Joe Abruzzo, along with the presentation of the Business of the Year awards.

Tickets cost $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Call Mary Lou Bedford at (561) 790-6200 or e-mail marylou@ palmswest.com for more info.

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NEWS

South Florida National Cemetery Ceremony Marks Memorial Day

By Jackson Wolek Town-Crier Staff Report The South Florida National Cemetery off State Road 7 west of Lantana held its fourth annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 30. The event was sponsored by the Palm Beach County Veterans Committee and featured prestigious speakers, honored guests and representatives of veterans organizations.

Guest speakers were Rabbi Alan Sherman, Maj. Gen. Wayne P. Jackson, National Cemetery Administration Chief Financial Officer Ronald E. Walters, and

congressmen Ted Deutch (D-District 19) and Allen West (R-District 22). Cemetery Director Mishelle Kochel, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center Director Charleen Szabo and master of ceremonies Pat Rielly, the veterans committee vice chairman, spoke as well.

The event began with the singing of the national anthem by Lou Galterio, who is known throughout the country for his voice and has sung at many major sporting events in South Florida.

“I come in contact with different veterans who come up to me

Clayton Hutcheson, grandson of late Vietnam vet Dennis Koehler, and Eagle Scout Anthony Nguyen recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Campus

Governor Vetoes Money

continued from page 1 “The college is still looking at properties for a fifth campus, and the board will continue to discuss land acquisition. The need is there.”

This is the second year that funding for the campus has been vetoed. Former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a $19.8 million allocation last year.

Truman said that Gov. Scott’s veto, as well as cuts to other higher education projects in the state, puts more pressure on existing facilities.

“Actually, more pressure is on students who are trying to complete their education in a timely manner,” Truman said. “Our classes fill up very quickly, and students who are not registering early have difficulty making a fulltime schedule, if that is their goal.

Even if they are part-time, if they only have a specific time slot and all the classes are full in that time slot, it puts them in a bad position to try and move forward.”

2060 Plan

Wellington Initiatives

continued from page 1 private investment to show that the progress was there, that the city leadership was in place and had the vision to take us into the future,” he said.

Barnes noted pointedly: “We don’t have a job base. We accepted that shortcoming and realized that we needed to bring that in.”

The goal of the Wellington 2060 Plan was to look at what Wellington had in place and build on it, aiming for “low-hanging fruit” — assets already in place.

Nemser followed Barnes’ look at Wellington’s identity crisis with a sober assessment of potential long-term problems that the down real estate market posed. Wellington revenues had been falling due to reduced property-tax receipts and impact-fee losses.

“In 2007,” Nemser said, “we

Callery

Another Workshop Planned

continued from page 3 munities, more so than we do to the eastern communities,” Jarriel said.

“We also have an obligation to the environment,” Goltzené said.

“I personally have seen the spot where they want to put the road, and I never would agree to that.”

Roberts said support of the SR 7 extension speaks to the fact that ITID also wants to reduce traffic through its neighborhoods.

Jarriel pointed out that the language only supports the SR 7 ex-

Signs

More Visibility?

continued from page 3 amphitheater needs additional signage.

Gerwig and Bowen said they would want to see what an elec-

and thank me for singing to honor them, and I’m pretty much blown away when a veteran of WWII, the Vietnam War, or anyone else who has served thanks me,” Galterio said.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Anthony Nguyen, an Eagle Scout from Troop 395, and Clayton Hutcheson, grandson of Vietnam veteran and former master of ceremonies Dennis Koehler, who died April 25 after a long battle with cancer.

Before the speakers took the podium, Kochel thanked everyone attending to support local

veterans and honor those who died.

“We’re here to honor the veterans; today is a day to remember and memorialize those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” Kochel said.

There was also a remembrance for Vietnam POW/MIA Bill Arcuri, and presentation of the colors and a wreath by several activeduty soldiers. The Wellington High School band played patriotic songs throughout the one-hour event.

The featured speakers went up one at a time, each giving his per-

Rabbi Alan Sherman addresses the crowd while congressmen Ted Deutch and Allen West look on.

Truman said the college has had five consecutive years of enrollment increases. “It’s a very steady growth, and there are fewer and fewer state dollars to deal with it,” she said.

In a prepared statement, PBSC President Dr. Dennis Gallon said: “Because education is so critical to economic viability, we are extremely disappointed that the governor vetoed $7.3 million for classroom building construction on Palm Beach State’s next campus. We were hopeful that Gov. Scott would recognize the importance of this funding. The PECO allocation would have allowed Palm Beach State College to address a significant, escalating need in our county.”

Gallon said that five years of enrollment increases has left the college “bulging at the seams.”

“The college is serving more students than ever, and this will only continue as more residents find themselves needing additional education and career training to compete for jobs,” he said. “We will continue to assess possible options for the development of a fifth campus, which in itself would create hundreds of private-sector construction jobs as well as longterm, sustainable employment.”

As the only candidate offering a site for free, Callery-Judge General Manager Nat Roberts said it was his understanding from conversations with officials that the college is looking into starting a fifth campus without the PECO funds. “It is possible, with the offer of free land, that they may still be able to do the project,” Roberts said. “It might be slightly smaller in its first phase, or it may not be because all the money they would have spent for land is now able to go for buildings.”

However, placing the campus on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road is expected to require millions in infrastructure improvements.

Roberts noted that this is one of the cheapest possible times to build. “Obviously, they will get more for their money than at any other point, and I think they know that they need a fifth campus,” he said. “I think they are looking very hard at ways to build this, and the offer of free land is more useful to

asked ourselves some hard questions. We wanted to acknowledge that we had some difficulties. Our economy was clearly development-driven, and unfortunately, in our situation, when everything came to a halt for us, all the impact fees and all the associated revenue dried up right away.”

That led Wellington to assess what else was out there.

“We talk about being a community for a lifetime; well, that’s great, but if you’re not bringing your children back here to work, are you really building a community for a lifetime?” Nemser asked. “And why weren’t they coming back, or why aren’t enough of them coming back? I think that a lot of times, particularly in what I call the Sun Belt economy, we end up with a job base that really doesn’t support the lifestyle that a lot of people like to have in Florida. It’s OK, as long as housing prices are low. But all of a sudden, we have a… gross mismatch between wages and

housing. What are we going to do?

We decided that we need a plan.”

In inventorying its assets, Nemser said that the first recognition was that Wellington had good demographics, including a “tremendous concentration of wealth in individuals, but also largely a cross-section of normal Palm Beach County,” with high educational attainment and family-oriented neighborhoods — “people who plan on raising their families here, who enjoy the idea that they can stay in one place, they can have all these amenities, and it does have a hometown feel.”

He listed as other assets the thriving equestrian communities, the two local hospitals, State Road 7’s “huge drive-by traffic,” with some available vacant land and existing industrial areas.

“The first thing we decided to do was to capitalize on some of the programs that we had that were already underway,” Nemser said.

“Some of them were defunct or stalled, some of them were not

tension and does not specify location. Browning said the county has done a good job so far in minimizing the impact to wetlands.

“They kept it very close to the housing, and they bermed it very well,” he said.

Councilman Ryan Liang pointed out that the SR 7 extension would also mitigate traffic on Okeechobee Blvd. “If we’re looking to keep the lanes to a minimum, we should think about that seriously,” he said.

Baumann pointed out that the language reiterates a passage in the town’s comp plan stating that since the town had a possible E Road-140th Avenue connection taken off the county’s thoroughfare map, it would look for viable alternatives.

Roberts said that although the thoroughfare connection is off the map, some improvements are needed at the E Road-140th Avenue intersection.

“We do believe that the connection should stay open,” Roberts said. “It can be controlled at your discretion, but it should be open, because people are using it; otherwise, you will be driving people onto other roads like Okeechobee.”

Roberts said he would like it to be stipulated that E Road-140th Avenue remain open in some capacity, pointing out that some factions of the town want the connection closed. Jarriel pointed out that members of that faction are not on the council.

Goltzené said he was concerned

tronic sign would look like in front of the amphitheater before being asked to approve it.

Village Manager Paul Schofield said that he could have the vendor bring out a sign for them to test.

“You can see it in place,” he said, “and then we can have an item on your June 14 agenda.”

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Carmine Priore said he wanted to see the item officially on an agenda so that there could be public comment.

Schofield said that he would arrange for the vendor to bring something, as well as draft a purchase contract should the council decide to go ahead with an electronic sign.

them now that the governor has vetoed the $7.3 million.”

Roberts pointed out that there are currently an elementary, middle and high school on CalleryJudge property donated to the School District of Palm Beach County. “They are all A-rated,” he said. “The middle school and elementary school were built either on time or ahead of time and under budget. Our site is easy to build on. It’s clean; it doesn’t have environmental issues or other complicated issues. From an engineering standpoint, it’s pretty easy to know what you’re getting.”

Roberts added that CalleryJudge has always advocated for education.

“We are strong believers that education and schools are good for an area,” he said. “They started with an elementary, middle and high school. College for the whole western area would be terrific. It needs to get done. We need the jobs. We need the fifth campus.”

sonal perspective on the meaning of Memorial Day. “If people can’t understand why today is important, then they have lost out on the essence of what it means to be an American,” Jackson said. “Today means that we can enjoy freedom and liberties because we have men and women willing to give their sacrifice.

We should remember that every day, not just on Memorial Day.” West, who served in the Army, was last to speak.

“It’s an incredible honor to be able to speak at the South Florida National Cemetery. Any time you

get to stand here on sacred ground and talk about the sacrifices that men and women have made so that we can live free is special,” West said. “It’s personal for me because I think about the fact that my mother and father are both buried in the national cemetery in Marietta (Ga.), and I hope somebody’s paying homage to them, too.”

The South Florida National Cemetery was the fifth national cemetery built in Florida and 125th in the nation. It is the only one serving South Florida’s veterans.

Barry Tutin and Charlotte Rebillard.

PHOTOS BY JACKSON WOLEK/T OWN-CRIER

Sheriff’s Office Aims For ‘Harmony’ With Local Youth The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is providing a free weeklong day camp that allows children to participate in various outdoor activities and develop positive self-esteem. “Harmony in the Streets” is a community program for boys and girls that emphasizes respect for others and promotes healthy relationships with local law enforcement officers.

The Harmony in the Streets day camp will be held June 6-10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westgate Community Justice Service Center, and June 13-17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palm Beach Colony and Lake Worth Masonic Lodge.

A maximum number of 60 children can participate in the program. Funding for this local program is provided by dedicated individuals, community-based groups and a strong commitment from Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent

juvenile delinquency and develop lawful, productive citizens through a broad range of familycentered services. Since 1957, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has served thousands of boys, girls and their families.

This charitable, nonprofit corporation was founded by the Florida Sheriffs Association and operates four residential childcare campuses and two youth camps.

Additionally, it provides community-based services and family counseling to as many of Florida’s neglected, troubled children as funds will permit. Voluntary contributions are the primary source of funding, especially thoughtful gifts made through special bequests in wills and trusts.

The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc. is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. and the American Camp Association. For more info., visit www.youthranches.org.

above the radar… We had an industrial area, and we couldn’t really do much to expand it, but we said, ‘Let’s go ahead and create a flex zoning district.’ We also had our greenhouse gas reduction strategies underway, and I think we were one of the first municipalities to have them incorporated in our comprehensive plan.”

Another of the first big decisions, he said, was to seize the opportunity to create “our main street” — Forest Hill Blvd. “We said, ‘Let’s create an entrance,’” using money that had been set aside for a new municipal complex. It opened on Jan. 3.

What they arrived at, Nemser said, were eight economic development initiative concepts: • Residential Redevelopment — “A huge residential renaissance in a couple of our older areas.”

• Midtown — A “community destination with everything from family amenities to government services,” including the municipal complex and recreational facilities

such as the new amphitheater and playground.

• Medical Arts District — A 210-acre tract on SR 7 in immediate proximity to Wellington Regional Medical Center, where the village created “a zoning district that was exclusive to that area and allowed higher density.”

• Commercial Redevelopment — Plans for “under-performing asphalt;” space that is “not living up to its potential.”

• Equestrian Community — A “huge component of Wellington where we have a number of different lifestyles, everything from polo to hunter/jumper to dressage… just a huge part of the community that we want to enhance.”

• Education & Job Creation — Attracting higher education and encouraging new industry.

• Regulatory Framework — This is aimed at “streamlining our permitting and zoning processes while not losing control over it and not doing anything that’s going to harm the community.”

• Sustainable Development — A theme to be included as part of each of the above concepts.

Nemser noted that Wellington has a master list of vacant land inventory available online to make development easier for builders, and a “medical school that is committed to coming into Wellington to work in our Medical Arts District.”

He said that much of the planning that went into the document was done without any real budget and that he and other officials had to work the task into their existing workload. Much of it began in the fall of 2008, when an economic development department was created.

“And right now, each of our original eight economic development initiatives are well underway, and we’re very proud of that,” Nemser concluded.

The 2060 Plan is detailed on Wellington’s web site, at www. wellingtonfl.gov/departments/ wellington-2060.html.

about language stating that if a settlement is reached, CalleryJudge would support the town if the plan is challenged further.

“I just want to point out to people on the council here that if we are to agree to this agreement, that is not necessarily the end because other people within the town could be filing a lawsuit against us,” Goltzené said. “I’m wondering if

you will join us in defending any such challenges in a 50-50 agreement to help us out in a lawsuit, or in what way are we talking about defending such a challenge?”

Baumann said the town’s attorney had asked whether, if an agreement is reached, CalleryJudge would support the town if it is challenged. “The answer is,

yes, we will do that,” he said.

Cirullo said he has asked that language to that effect be added so the town would have support if the agreement is challenged.

“You would each have to defend it the best you could,” he said.

“The town would not just be floating out there on its own defending this thing, but there was no mention of cost-sharing.”

driven by 55-year-old Raymond Chodkowski traveling at 74 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and observed the vehicle nearly strike the curb three times. According to the report, the deputy made contact with Chodkowski and detected the smell of alcohol coming from him. According to the report, a second deputy arrived to administer roadside tasks and found Chodkowski asleep in his vehicle.

After a series of roadside tasks, Chodkowski was arrested and taken to the county jail where he refused to submit to a breath test.

He was charged with driving under the influence.

MAY 31 — AWest Palm Beach man was arrested Tuesday after he was caught stealing from the Wal-

mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation was dispatched to the store after a loss prevention officer observed 31year-old Scott Ehrenpreis conceal several DVD sets in a Walmart shopping bag and attempt to exit the store without paying. According to the report, when the officer identified himself, Ehrenpreis fled on foot west across State Road 7, north across Belvedere Road and then back east toward South University. The deputy was abe to locate him and recovered four sets of Tru-Blood DVD packs valued at $189.84. Ehrenpreis was arrested and taken to the county jail where he was charged with petty theft.

‘The college is serving more students than ever, and this will only continue as more residents find themselves needing additional education and career training to compete for jobs.’

Dr. Dennis Gallon

Blotter continued from page 6 Sunday regarding a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 9:45 and 10:10 a.m., someone entered the business and stole two computers and a surround sound system. The stolen items were valued at approximately $3,200. A neighboring business owner described the suspect as a white or Hispanic male driving a newer model black Dodge pickup truck.

MAY 29 – A Boynton Beach man was arrested early last Sunday morning following a traffic stop on State Road 7 near Lake Worth Road. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was on patrol when he observed a car being

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Breathtaking events are par for the course.

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Dressage Trainer Esposito Offers Unique Approach

Dressage trainer Charlene Esposito, owner of Equissance in Loxahatchee Groves, uses a variety of training techniques, including classical long lining and working horses in hand. Part of what makes Esposito successful is her use of psychology, both human and equine. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 27

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Broncos Suffer 21-15 Loss To Davie Western

The Palm Beach Central High School varsity foo tball team lost to the Davie Western Wildcats 21-15 at home during the Broncos’ spring game Thursday, May 26. The Bronco varsity team was replaced by the junior varsity in the fourth quarter, and they nearly pulled out a win. Page 41

Shopping Spree A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

Business Royal Palm Beach-Based Bloomingtails Provides Full-Service Dog Grooming

Since childhood, Bloomingtails co-owner R ose Phelps displayed a passion for animals. It was this passion that eventually brought her to pursue working with animals as a career. Shortly after graduating college, Phelps decided to start her own business. So, with her mother Phyllis Cross on board, Phelps launched Bloomingtails, a full-service doggrooming salon. Services include washing, cleaning, hair drying and more. Page 45

Sports Seminole Ridge Tops Treasure Coast 43-14 At Home Spring Game

The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity football team defeated Treasure Coast High School 43-14 in its spring football game May 27 at home. Though the Titans fought hard, the Hawks showed strong offense and defense, and made key plays to pull off a win. Page 41

THIS WEEK’S INDEX COLUMNS & FEATURES .......................27-28 DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ..................... 33 COMMUNITY CALENDAR .....................36-37 SPORTS & RECREATION ......................41-44 BUSINESS NEWS ................................. 45-47 CLASSIFIEDS ....................................... 48-53

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FEATURES

Dressage Trainer Charlene Esposito Offers Unique Approach Charlene Esposito has always had a passion for horses. She grew up riding in Broward before moving to Palm Beach Gardens four years ago and opening Equissance, her own training business on E Road in Loxahatchee Groves.

“I’ve spent years figuring out a logical, methodical approach to training all sorts of horses,” Esposito said. “I’ve watched other trainers and gone to a lot of clinics, and I wasn’t always thrilled with what I saw. I knew that a systematic approach would yield better outcomes. My methods are logical. They make sense to both horses and riders. I have clients showing in dressage, as well as some from other disciplines looking to increase their skill set, from jumpers to polo players.”

Esposito said that part of what makes her work so fascinating is that the educational process never ends.

“Each case, each horse, is an individual,” she said. “There is no cookie-cutter solution, so I tailor the work to suit each client. I’ve made a name for myself correcting problem behaviors and starting very young horses calmly. I stress the basics.”

Esposito uses a variety of techniques, including classical long lining and working horses in hand. She said it is sometimes better to teach on the ground before adding a rider’s weight, which can compromise a horse’s natural balance.

“It’s highly rewarding. I love seeing clients’ expressions when they’ve been struggling with something, then they come to me

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg and see a huge change in their horses and realize how easy it can be,” she said. “So often they tell me, ‘I never thought my horse would be this good!’”

Part of what makes Esposito successful is her use of psychology, both human and equine. She points out that dressage has roots in psychology. Her aim is to address the source of the problem instead of masking it with a quick fix.

“Some riders want a quick fix,” she said.

“They want the change right away. But sooner or later it unravels, and they end up back at the basics again, trying to reestablish the correct foundation to allow proper advancement.

In the end, those quick fixes end up taking longer.”

Esposito excels in improving a rider’s position and ability to properly cue her horse.

Symmetry and a secure position go a long way toward building a rider’s confidence.

Sometimes just a tiny detail needs adjustment to elevate the riding to the next level.

“I create horses that are light and fun to See ROSENBERG, page 28

Trainer Charlene Esposito runs Equissance in Loxahatchee Groves.

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FEATURES

Facebook Serves As The Front Porch Of This Millennium Facebook has restored my faith in the world.

My daughter had nagged me to establish a Facebook account for months but, just like many of the rest of the geriatric set, I resisted.

“I prefer speaking to people face-to-face,” I haughtily replied (over the phone). “By the way, you haven’t sent me any pictures lately.”

“I post them on Facebook,” she said. “I bet I’ve put a hundred of them on there.”

“What?!” Pictures I hadn’t seen? So curiosity won out, and now Facebook allows me to see her photos and the photos of all my friends. In fact, it looks like I was the only geriatric not on Facebook.

But here’s the best thing about it. When you review what people are posting on this social network, it’s not the doom and gloom we have come to know as “news.” It turns out that most of the stuff going on each day has not a single crime at the heart of it! Not even malevolence! That’s news in a nostalgic sort of way.

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER Facebook is the front porch of this millennium.

It’s like way back before air conditioning and suburbs were invented, when people used to sit out on their porches at the end of the day and talk. Mom and dad would recap the day’s activities over a glass of lemonade and, likely as not, grandma and grandpa lived within walking distance, too.

All the neighborhood kids would be out there as well, playing right under the noses of the older folks. Kids are fun to watch and they like being watched, and they turn out a lot

better when they are watched — not in a sneaky, judgmental way, but in a “look at the perfect throw Tommy made with that football!” kind of way.

The whole neighborhood felt pride in Tommy and was interested in his life. Would he play professional ball? Would he marry that young lady watching shyly from the sidelines?

Would he go off to war? The whole neighborhood had a vested interest in this developing human being.

Today, Facebook allows us to watch a lot of kids growing up. You might have to pop over to YouTube to see a perfect football throw, but there are plenty of postings of birthdays and vacations and childhood mischief that proud Facebook parents are willing to share with the rest of us.

It has only been a year for me, yet I can’t imagine a life before Facebook, a life where I just sat in front of my individual computer screen, working like mad or losing at video games or reading scary headlines while de-

pression slowly set in. I still work madly, lose at video games and read the scary headlines, but I find Arnold and Maria’s impending divorce a lot less compelling than a photo of my daughter’s two new dogs both cramming themselves inside her other dog’s crate. It’s like seeing two very different definitions of the word “jealousy” — and one is much more amusing than the other.

So from now on, I am going to make a concerted effort to seek out happiness. It’s not that I will cut everything unpleasant from my life — that’s not realistic nor even possible. But if visiting someone makes me happy, I will visit that person. If reading “fluff” improves my mood, I will read fluff.

If going somewhere puts a smile on my face, I will go there.

Somewhere along the line, I had adopted the misconception that to live as an adult, one must be serious and fairly morose.

The Facebook neighborhood reminded me that there’s much more to life.

‘Hangover II’ Offers Little Plot, Lots Of Lewd Comedy The problem with a copy is that it never is as sharp as the original. And so it goes for The Hangover: Part II. Since the first movie was the most popular R-rated comedy of all time, there had to be a sequel. And if the writers just didn’t have much in the way of new ideas for it, what difference does it make?

When we saw it, the lines to get in were very long.

In the film, good-natured Stu (Ed Helms) has his two best friends, Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha), with him at a pre-wedding brunch at IHOP. No way is he going the route of the party before Doug’s wedding. But the two buddies convince him to invite Alan (Zach Galifianakis) to the wedding in Thailand; Stu’s fiancée is Lauren (Jamie Chung), a Thai-American. And, of course, thanks to Alan (again), several wake up in a dump, unable to remember what happened the previous night with one of their members, Lauren’s kid brother Teddy (Mason Lee), missing with a finger left behind.

After that, well, think of the first movie and you pretty much have this new one.

The “wolf pack” runs around searching for

Rosenberg

Charlene Esposito

continued from page 27 ride and who enjoy their work. In dressage, we often talk about the ‘happy athlete,’ and that’s my goal,” she said. “I want to see the horse’s expression and personality come through the movements. At the shows, if a horse is sour or stressed, I can spot it a mile away. Additionally, I can usually tell how that horse was trained just by seeing how the muscles have developed in the neck and top line. Horses that were trained with short cuts and gadgets are easily spotted, and their test scores often suffer. Those horses don’t move as fluidly, they lack expression and presence.”

the kid brother, meets up with a drug-dealing capuchin monkey, discovers Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong), the drug dealer from the first film, in their room and race through the slums of Bangkok. Although there are some pretty shots of a beach resort in Thailand, the slums of Bangkok could essentially be any city in the world.

The writers/director seem to believe that as long as they keep some action coming fast, the giant holes in the plot will not be seen. As they try to find out what they did the night before (and, just as in the first movie, they see photos of the adventures during the end credits), no matter what trouble they found, it always gets worse.

The ending was simply unbelievable. Lauren’s father, who openly despises Stu, suddenly decides to accept him because he seems a bit of a bum. But it does end the film quickly, with a nice chance to look at the snapshots of the forgotten night.

The audience laughed throughout, more from the oddball situations than because anything was actually funny. Finding out that straight-laced Stu chased around with a low woman again was only topped by discovering that the woman was actually a pre-op transsexual, allowing for a screen shot of fullfrontal nudity, followed by a description of their sexual escapades. This is definitely an R-rated movie. Keep that in mind when it comes out in DVD format or On Demand if you have younger kids around.

The acting required very little real expertise. Alan is a mess. Inviting him to be part of anything demonstrates insanity. Even before he provides the drugs that set the action going, he is impossible. Why some people think Galifianakis is a wonderful actor is beyond my understanding. He essentially just keeps a straight face through whatever happens. Coo-

per just tries to keep his cool, managing to do it even as he is shot. Helms is the butt of most of the jokes and craziness until close to the end. Jeong plays the same hysterical drug dealer he did in the first film. The best performance, actually, comes from the monkey. Perhaps in Hangover Part III it will be the central character, although it might be smarter than Stu and not invite Alan.

Did I enjoy the film? Well, it is a guilty pleasure. And there are few enough enjoyable movies around where there are real laughs. I don’t hate myself the morning after, however, and I do remember all the events of sitting in the theater. I spent a few minutes comparing this to Bridesmaids. The women seemed to relate to each other far better; the men basically just seem to exist in the present, trying to find the missing person. And, even there, the similarities in plot are remarkable. But there is very little shown in the way of relationships except for the camaraderie. Men are really different from women!

So, if you really want to go to the movie, why not? You can munch your (overpriced) popcorn and get some dirty laughs.

Lynsey Baggs has been working with Esposito for two years. She describes her as calm, quiet and easy to understand.

“I like how she works with horses,” Baggs said. “Even after our first session, I saw major differences in Remy, my Quarter Horse. He went from grinding his teeth in stress to being totally relaxed — and he had a lot of issues. I couldn’t clip his ears; he would rear and kick out on the cross ties. It was impossible. Then Charlene worked with him. Now he lets me clip his ears, and I don’t even have to put a halter on him. I’d highly recommend Charlene to anyone who wants to learn how to ride or improve their riding skills.”

Jim Pedley is another client. Last January, he went through a bad patch. Sadie, his jumper mare, foundered and had to be put down.

But he still had three other horses and wanted

to continue training. An acquaintance recommended Esposito.

“I’ve only had two lessons with her so far, but I can’t wait to have more,” he said. “Even after the first lesson, I saw tremendous results. She has a fabulous eye. She can spot problems, make simple adjustments, and the improvements are amazing and immediate. She even noticed that my saddle wasn’t fitting correctly.”

Pedley has high hopes for the future now that he is working with Esposito.

“The mare I’m riding now, Shanti, is an Appendix, half Quarter Horse, half Thoroughbred,” he said. “She’s quick, fast and very responsive. After working with Charlene, I’m able to collect her very easily, and she’s extended her trot more than she ever could before. Charlene is very professional, a happy,

positive person. She listens to my goals, and really communicates what and how and why I should do something in a way that makes total sense. She also plans her lessons in advance. My last trainer made me very dependent upon him. Charlene trains me in a way that makes me better and independent. She has a lot to offer.”

It is a story Esposito hears often.

“I’ve worked with a lot riders who are at the end of their rope,” she said. “My greatest satisfaction and goal is to see a horse and rider combo that is confident and happy go out there and dance across a dressage arena.

When I see that it is easy and it flows without effort, that is when it is art, and I know that I have done my job well.”

For more info., call Charlene Esposito at (561) 577-2245 or visit www.equissance.net.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

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• ACADEMY F OR CHILD ENRICHMENT — In the heart of Royal Palm Beach, the Academy for Child Enrichment offers free VPK. Infants through after school day and night care, 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. Meals included. Se habla Español. Special rates for fall registration. Visit www.smallworldpbc.com for more info. The academy is located at 700 Camellia Dr., RPB. Phone: (561) 798-3458. Fax: (561) 793-6995.

•LOXAHATCHEE COUNTRY PRESCHOOL — Loxahatchee Country Preschool at 16245 Okeechobee Blvd. has been serving the area for more than 20 years. It is Apple and Gold Seal accredited. Owners Anita and Frank Rizzo purchased the school in 1998. They introduced educational diversity into the curriculum. A Quality Counts School for 21 years! The school tuition includes Spanish lessons, gymnastics, computer and swimming lessons. Their method of self-paced discovery recognizes that all children do not mature and develop at the same rate. They striv e to achiev e a feeling of self-esteem through per sonal discover y and accom plishment. The non-sectarian philosophy promo tes social development through understanding diversity and appreciation of cultural dif ferences. Snacks are included in the tuition price. For more info., call (561) 790-1780.

•NOAH’S ARK — Noah’s Ark is located on Okeechobee Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. They of fer free VPK, low rates and special registration for fall. They offer care for infants and preschool children as well as after-school care. Se habla Español. Noah’s Ark is conveniently locat ed at 14563 Okeechobee Blvd. between Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves elementary schools. Call (561) 753-6624 for more info.

•SACRED HEART SCHOOL — Sacred Heart is committed to cultiv ating the intellectual, creative, social, moral and spiritual needs of each student. They provide students with an environment that will challenge and encourage them to reach their potential, preparing them for the competitive nature of the w orld. Sacred Heart’s bask etball, soccer and softball teams consistently rank in the top three in the league; the marching, concert and jazz bands have taken top honor s locally and in statewide competitions; their Odysse y of the Mind teams have placed in the top five at the state level. Sacred Heart School will prepare your child for lif e… with love! For more info., call (561) 582-2242 or visit www.sacredheartschoollak eworth.com.

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• ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL — St. David’s is a small Christian school located at the northwest corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace. Their mission is to minister t o each child and family by providing an environment of love, security, belonging and learning. They are committed to low student-teacher ratios (Kindergar ten and fir st grade never have more than 12 students per teacher). A combination of the A Beka and Creative curriculums is used for all students ages two and a half through f irst grade. The combined curriculum allows for teaming through student play and exploration, along with the use of workbooks and teacherguided activities. Visit www.stdavidsepiscopalschool.com or call (561) 793-1272 for info.

• THE LEARNING FOUNDATION — The Learning Foundation is a private school located in Royal Palm Beach. The academic program f ocuses on the diverse needs of students. The program, for third through 12th graders, helps build a student’s self-esteem in order for them to achieve their academic goals. Elementary and middle school hours are Monda y through Friday, 8:30 a.m. t o 2 p.m. with before and after care service available. High school hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; students are required to attend 5 hours each day. The Learning Foundation’s motto “Teaching our Youth How t o Learn” is intergraded into every lesson. For more information, call (561) 795-6886.

• THE LITTLE PLACE PRESCHOOL — The Little Place Preschool has served the western communities for more than 33 years. There are two convenient W ellington locations now taking fall registrations. The Little Place offers preschool programs for ages one through five, of fering full-day and half-day programs, and school-aged programs are offered for ages 6 through 8. Named “Best of the West” for tw o years. Contact the Little Place at 1040 Wellington Trace at (561) 793-5860, or 2995 Greenbriar Blvd. at (561) 790-0808.

• ST. ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL — St. Ann Catholic School opened as the first parochial school in Palm Beach County on Sept. 24, 1923. The school served students in Kindergar ten through grade 12 until 1960 when the high school was transferred to Cardinal Newman High School.

St. Ann School continues to ser ve the West Palm Beach area. As the school approaches its 88th bir thday, they celebrate their status as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for both the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Primary Years Programme (PYP). St. Ann School is proud to have been the fir st Catholic school in the nation to of fer both IB programs!

St. Ann Catholic School is located at 324 N. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 832-3676.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Two Exhibits Set To Open June 24 At P.B. Photographic Centre Palm Beach Photographic Centre President and CEO Fatima NeJame has announced the two exhibitions — “Infocus” and “Picture My World” — will open June 24 and continue until Aug. 20. An opening reception will take place Friday, June 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre’s 15th annual juried show “Infocus” will showcase the work of its student members, both inside

the center and on its web site, www.workshop.org. A Best of Show cash prize of $950 will be awarded, as will two Merit Awards for free tuition for a FOTOfusion passport or a master workshop.

The “Infocus” juror is Kevin Ames, whose career has included commercial photography; writing books on photographing women, Photoshop and Lightroom; a column in Photoshop User magazine (“The Digital Photographer’s Note-

Marjorie Neu’s photo titled Too Many Babies, from “Infocus.”

book”); and teaching engagements through the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. At his studio in Atlanta, Ames works with clients like AT&T, Westin Hotels and Honda Power Equipment. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Jezebel and Atlanta Sports & Fitness, as well as on corporate web sites, in brochures and capabilities programs. He is currently writing Faces: A Digital Retoucher’s Guide to Photoshop.

Since September 1997, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre’s “Picture My World” Program has served disadvantaged children, ages 8 to 17, including some students who are under the supervision of the legal system due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. This program teaches an appreciation of family and community, the development of self-esteem, nonviolent means of expression and personal responsibility.

“Picture My World” uses photography exploration combined with strategic journal writing curriculums to promote problem-solving skills and insight into community interaction by creating awareness for each student so they know they are valued and their voice can make

A photograph by a 15-year-old named Shinenette, one of the featured students in the exhibit “Picture My World.” a positive difference in the their lives and in the lives of others. In fact, program outcomes have shown that the controlled and directed use of photography and journal writing provides numerous therapeutic, social and career benefits, as well as helping these children to develop positive means of expression while improving academic skills.

Also on display now through June 18 is “Project Tandem: Two Bicycles, Two Photographers, One

11,000-Mile Ride,” featuring photographs by Morrigan McCarthy and Alan Winslow.

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre is located at the City Center municipal complex at 415 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call (561) 253-2600, or visit www.workshop. org or www.fotofusion.org.

City Theatre Presents ‘Camp Kappawanna’ June 9-12 At Kravis City Theatre is joining with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb to mount an engagement of the hit rock musical Camp Kappawanna in the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, June 9-12.

The rollicking musical celebrates timeless summer camp experiences with hip, cool music and lyrics

by Loeb, along with veteran songwriters Michelle Lewis and Dan Petty, and a script by rising national playwright and South Florida native Marco Ramirez.

With this season’s must-see musical, Camp Kappawanna, City Theatre set out to create a new classic for all ages: a fresh, original take on leaving home for the first time that, from start to finish, makes everyone in the audience feel as if they, too, are joining in the fun of summer camp.

“Camp Kappawanna brings to the community a warm and witty theatrical work that combines toptier creative talent with a familyfriendly story that will appeal to all generations,” City Theatre Producing Artistic Director Stephanie Norman said. “Camp Kappawanna is an exciting new musical created and inspired by a creative team deeply rooted here in South Florida combined with noted national recording artist Lisa Loeb and her songwrit-

ing partners Michelle Lewis and Dan Petty. This production has all the right artistic ingredients to thrill and delight South Florida families and the potential to touch audiences of all ages.”

Camp Kappawanna tells the story of 12-year-old Jenny Jenkins, awkward and adorable, who hasn’t really found herself just yet. She’s going away for the summer — her very first time leaving home. From the start, Camp Kappawanna makes audiences of all generations feel as if they, too, are joining in the fun of summer camp.

Camp Kappawanna marks Loeb’s first musical production.

Loeb created Camp Kappawanna’s music and lyrics, along with collaborators Dan Petty and Michelle Lewis, in celebration of her days at camp, where she first learned to play the guitar.

“Summer camp is one of those life-changing experiences that every child should have. It teaches you to try new things, explore and make new friends,” Loeb said. “It won’t always be easy, but you can forge true friendships and make lifelong memories that will stay with you forever.”

The musical Camp Kappawanna was conceived by City Theatre cofounder and producing artistic director Stephanie Norman, who tapped Heideman Award-winning

playwright Marco Ramirez to write the book.

“We’ve produced seven of Marco’s plays on our stages,” Norman said, “starting with his first professional production, leading to many accolades recognizing him as one of the nation’s rising talents. His writing is smart, funny and strikes the right chord with kids and adults.”

Ramirez is currently a writer for the FX series Sons of Anarchy and trained at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and the Juilliard School.

The Camp Kappawanna ensemble features previous production standouts Melanie Leibner and Jameson Hammond performing alongside rising talents Zach Held, Anne Chamberlain, Lauren Tepper and Ryan Didato. It will be directed and choreographed by musical theatre veteran Michael Leeds, bringing his extensive experience on Broadway, Off-Broadway and regionally at the Broward Stage Door Theatre to the helm. The show’s musical director, Jeff Hess, returns to work with production sound designer Steve Shapiro.

In a unique collaboration, the set will be designed by multiple Carbonell Award-winning designer Sean McClelland in conjunction with illustrations created by the Candela Creative Group. The hus-

Camp Kappawanna cast members on stage.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SCHAVONE

band and wife design team of Rafols Morales and Candela Demarco created Camp Kappawanna’s unique cartoon design, and are utilizing the same bold, bright cartoon-like aesthetic in collaborating with scenic designer Sean McClelland. Their goal is to create a completely unique environment and experience for attendees.

Camp Kappawanna runs Thursday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Friday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, June 11 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 at

1 p.m. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating and may be purchased at the Kravis Center box office, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, by calling (561) 832-7469 or by visiting www.kravis.org. For groups of 10 or more, call (561) 651-4438 or (561) 651-4304. Group tickets cost $10 for Thursday and Friday performances, and $15 for Saturday and Sunday.

Prices, artists, dates, times and program are subject to change without notice. All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.

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Academy for Child Enrichment — In the heart of Royal Palm Beach, the Academ y for Child Enrichment offers free all-day VPK. Infants through after-school day and night care, 6:30 a.m. t o midnight (Monday through Friday), meals included. Qualified staff. Se habla Espanol. Special rates for all registration. The Academ y for Child Enrichment is located at 700 Camellia Drive in Royal P alm Beach. Call (561) 7983458 or visit www.smallworldpbc.com for info.

Breaker s West Summer Camp — For the summer of a lif etime, children ages 5-14 are invited to join the 2011 summer camp at Breakers West. Enjoy wildlife demonstrations, science e xperiments, magic shows, arts & crafts, cooking classes, golf, tennis, baske tball, soccer, daily swimming instruction and much more!

Camp runs June 6 - Aug. 19 (excluding July 4-8), Monday –through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sessions are $300 per camper, per week , plus a one-time registration fee of $50, which includes a camp essentials bag. Discounts are offered to families regist ering multiple children and/or for multiple sessions. Af ter-care is available. Space is limit ed. To register for Breakers West Summer Camp, call (561) 653-6333.

Camp Giddy-Up — Ravenwood Riding Academy has been located in Wellington for 21 years. Licensed and insured, with all safety equipment provided, they are located on a beautiful, safe and clean f arm with plenty of shade. Ravenwood is now accepting 12 students per session, ages 6-14. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Campers learn safety, horse care and grooming, with riding lessons daily, as well as scheduled visits with a blacksmith, horse vet and equine dentist. Weekly sessions are $185. Sibling discounts or multi-session discounts are available. Camp Giddy-Up has a full staf f and a hands-on director. Register today by calling (561) 793-4109 or visit www.ravenwoodridingacademy.com.

Hurry, sessions f ill up quickly!

Casperey Stables Horse Camp — Casperey Stables is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages seven to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, camper s find little time to be bored. The lo w counselor-child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. Casperey Stables has a weekly swim party and ends each session with a horse show and family BBQ. Call soon — this small, q uality program fills quickly! To learn more about the camp, locat ed at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call (561) 7924990 or visit www.caspereystables.com.

High Touch High Tech — High Touch High Tech has been providing hands-on science experiments to children in South Florida for over 15 y ears. The program brings science to life for children in preschool through middle school. They are happy to introduce “The Lab,” a hands-on science facility now open in Wellington. The y offer summer cam p programs, after-school enrichments and bir thday parties at a new location off Pierson Road. The camp offers af fordable pricing, hands-on science experiments with lots of cool science take-homes, nature experiences, as well as art projects that relate to the scientific investigations. High Touch High Tech knows that children are naturally curious. They tap into that natural curiosity and provide safe, exciting and fun experiments to help them under stand the world around them. The ultimate goal is to give children the tools t o be able to think scientif ically in order to solve problems. Kids will erupt volcanoes, pan for gems, launch rockets, make ice cream, gro w plants, make fossils, observe live animals, dissect o wl pellets and much, much more! Come visit and explore the all-new High Touch High Tech science laboratory! High Touch High Tech is at 3080 Fairlane Farms Rd., Suite 2. For more info., visit www.ScienceMadeFunSFL.net, call (561) 792-3785 or e-mail info@ScienceMadeFunSFL.net.

Call now to book a free tour.

The King’s Academy “Camping Around the World” — TKA’s summer cam p welcomes ages 5 through 8th grade. Experience different cultures through craft projects, science experiments, f ield trips, music and more. Counselors are q ualified teachers, first aid certified and offer a lo ving environment. Day camp/ sports camp with daily lunches run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m with many options and before/after care. Field trips to Calypso Bay, the South Florida Science Museum, the Palm Beach Zoo, Lion Countr y Safari and more, all for one inclusive price. Regist er now at www.tka.net and sa ve $25 when you mention this offer.

Call Helga Van Wart (56 1) 686-4244 for more info.

The Learning Foundation of Florida’s Academic Summer Camp — TLFF’s Elementary, Middle, & High School Summer Academic Camp Program has several different ser vice options available to assist the diverse needs of students. TLFF’s kindergarten thr ough eighth grade summer program focuses on individualized academic remediation using thematic units and a varie ty of teaching strat egies, including a multi-sensory, hands-on approach. TLFF’s high school program focuses on grade f orgiveness and or acceleration. Students who have received Ds or Fs in classes can redo them for a higher grade. Both programs are open Tuesday through Thur sday from 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. For more information, call (561) 795-6886.

Loxahatchee Countr y Preschool — Loxahatchee Country Preschool will start of f this summer with a “home run!” Baseball, football and soccer activities will take place throughout the summer. The school has been here for 20-plus years and provides a safe environment with small ratios for summer campers, which means the children are well supervised. Throughout the summer, the camp program offers ar ts and craf ts, field trips (attended by the management team), swimming lessons, Spanish lessons, movies, a bounce house, bowling and much more. A free pizza lunch will be pro vided Fridays. The school provides a safe envir onment for the children, while providing an excellent educational program. In a letter sent to the school, the Kings Academy wr ote, “ What preschools are better prepared for Kings? Loxahatchee Country Preschool was mentioned with enthusiasm!” Call (561) 790-1780 for more info.

Movement Arts Dance Academy — Movement Ar ts will be holding five w eeks of fun-filled summer camp from June 20 through July 29. Weekly themed mini camps (Monday through Thursday from 9 - 1 1:30 a.m.) for ages 3-5 will include arts and crafts and games in addition to learning se veral styles of dance.

Full day camps (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) for ages 6-11 will include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and more. Early care and af ter care are available at an additional fee for the full-day camps. A pizza par ty and performance will be held each Friday of the full-day camp sessions. The studio is conveniently located on State R oad 7, just south of Okeechobee Blvd. F or more information, call (56 1) 792-9757 or visit www.movementartsdanceacademy.com.

The Royal Palm Beach Elementar y Bobcat Summer Camp — Bobcat Summer Camp offers a magnificent schedule of f ield trips, four or five times per week, which include: bowling, skating, swimming, the Discovery Museum & IMAX Theater, Rapids W ater par k, fitness festival, Chuck E. Cheese, Fun Depot, Veterans Park, movies, Lion Country Safari, Super Play USA, U-Bounce, Golf World, the zoo, Carnival Fun Station and an Orlando trip. On campus activities include: sports, craf ts carnivals, computers, academics, game room, shows, carnivals, D.J. par ties and more. The professional staf f is dedicated to providing a q uality summer camp. It is Gold Seal certified and an award-winning camp. For a summer of fun, call Deb Pagliaro at (561) 633-4431, ext. 30.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Saturday, June 4 • The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will observe National Trails Day with a leisurely hike on Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 a.m. at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. Participants will have breakfast afterward. Call Paul Cummings at (561) 963-9906 for more info.

• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Militar y Trail, West Palm Beach) will present “Farm Your Backyard Vegetable Garden” on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This hands-on workshop will show how to successfully grow vegetables. The cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. For more info., call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

• Wellington will host a Workshop for First-Time Homebuyers on Saturday, June 4 at 10 a.m. at the Wellington Homeownership Center (13833 Wellington Trace, Suite E15, in the Wellington Marketplace). A lending specialist will explain the traditional home buying process and review the Wellington NSP program. For more info., contact Marcia Sutton at (561) 798-7098 or msutton@gocpg.org.

• The Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Society of Enrolled Agents will host Shred Fest 2011 on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1070 E. Indiantown Road in Jupiter (in the parking lot of the America Plaza). It is free to anyone concerned about identity theft and who wants to dispose of personal and sensitive documents. Enrolled Agents will be on site to answer tax document retention questions. For more info., visit www.fseaonline.org.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold the Summer Reading Program kickoff event “Midnight Magic” on Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. Master magician Gary Midnight will delight all ages with his mesmerizing illusions. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “It’s a Mad World Tea Party” on Saturday, June 4 at 2:30 p.m. for ages 9 to 17. Kick off your summer Wonderland-style. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• Economist, author and commentator Dr. Julianne Malveaux will be the keyno te speaker at the Women of Excellence Awards Dinner on Saturday, June 4 at 6 p.m. the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Eight P alm Beach County women who have made an impact on the commu-

nity will be recognized, as well as a womanled organization that has also served as an outstanding example. Tickets cost $75, payable to Delta Heritage Foundation. For more info., call (561) 667-7883 or (561) 758-1277.

Sunday, June 5 • The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hike in Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Sunday, June 5.

Meet at 8 a.m. at the gate for an invigorating hike. Bring plenty of water. Contact Mary Miller at (561) 391-7942 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “The Magic World of India” on Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. for adults.

Discover the rich and diverse culture, food and dancing of India. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Monday, June 6 • Grace Fellowship (8350 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will run a summer camp June 6 through July 29. There are many day trips along with trips to the library to help with summer reading lists. Contact Tina McCline at (561) 333-4222, ext. 345 or e-mail tina_mccline@gfwpb.org for more info.

• The South Florida Fair’s Summer Agucation Program will be held Monday through Friday, June 6-10 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. all days in the A griplex (9067 Southern Blvd.). Call (561) 790-5229 or visit www.southfloridafair.com for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Summer Story Times” beginning Monday, June 6 at 10 a.m. for age 5 and under. The summer session continues through the end of July. Call (561) 790-6030 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host the “Great Library Scavenger Hunt” on Monday, June 6 at 4 p.m. for ages 10 to 13. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold its monthly chapter meeting and social on Monday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). The program will be “Flowers of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.” Call Sherry Cummings at (561) 9639906 for more info.

Tuesday, June 7 • The Palm Beach County Commission will meet Tuesday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. in the Government Center’s Jane M. ThompSee CALENDAR, page 37

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR CALENDAR, continued from page 36 son Memorial Chambers (301 N. Olive Ave., sixth floor, West Palm Beach). Visit www.pbcgov.com for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Summer Movie Madness: Guardians of Ga’Hoole” on Tuesday, June 7 at 2 p.m. for ages 8 to 12. Celebrate a favorite book-to-movie pair with a craft and activity. Pick up Kathryn Lasky’s book when you sign up. Call (561) 7906030 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Slipper Society” on Tuesdays, June 7 and 14 and Wednesday, June 29 at 2 p.m. all days for age 5 and up. Slip on your fanciest shoes to attend a ball each week as the library travels the globe to meet stor ybook Cinderellas from different countries. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Reading Trivia Challenge” practice on Tuesdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, and Thursdays, June 9, 16 and 23 at 4 p.m. all days for grades 6 through 8. Hone your trivia skills and challenge your friends to prepare for the final competition on July 30. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will meet Tuesday, June 7 at 7 p.m. at the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District office (101 West D Road). Call (561) 793-2418 or visit www.loxahatcheegroves. org for more info.

Wednesday, June 8 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Puppets from Around the World” Wednesdays, June 8 and 22 at 11:15 a.m. both days for age 9 and up. Explore the use of puppets in other cultures and make one of your own. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Crochet Club” Wednesdays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. for ages 8 to 12. Participants will meet once a week in June and July to learn different techniques to make simple projects.

Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Reading Buddies” Wednesdays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 4 p.m. for grades K through 5. Children can read and play literacy games once a week with a teen volunteer. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Dynamite Duct Tape Wal-

lets” on Wednesday, June 8 at 4 p.m. or Thursday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Make a cool wallet for Father’s Day or keep it for yourself. Duct tape will be provided. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host the Teen Summer Reading Program kickoff “School’s Out!” on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Call (561) 790-6030 for more info.

• The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors will meet Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the district office (13476 61st Street North). Call (561) 7930874 or visit www.indiantrail.com for info.

Thursday, June 9 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Magician’s Apprentice” on Thursdays, June 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 11:15 a.m. all days for age 8 and up. Unlock the hidden secrets behind the ar t of magic during four weeks of apprenticeship. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Family Board Game Fun” on Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. for age 4 and up. Bring the family and play board games.

Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Food Around the World Story Time” on Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. for ages 4 to 6. Listen to stories about food from all over the world. Call (561) 7906030 to pre-register.

Friday, June 10 • The School District of Palm Beac h County’s Student Summer Internship Program will host a golf tournament at the Madison Green Golf Club (2001 Crestwood Blvd., Royal Palm Beach) on Friday, June 10.

The event begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and practice on the driving range and putting green. Tickets cost $150 per person, $600 per foursome and $35 for luncheon guests. Register at www. sdpbcfmdgolfouting.com or call Sandra Bridges at (561) 386-1350.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Gross Science” on Friday, June 10 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 9. Perform some disgusting experiments and check out the library’s new science project books. Call (561) 790-6030 to preregister.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. Email: news@gotowncrier.com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Seminole Ridge Defeats Treasure Coast 43-14 In Spring Game

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity football team defeated Treasure Coast High School 43-14 in its spring football game Friday, May 27 at Callery-Judge Grove Stadium.

Though the Titans fought hard, the Hawks showed strong offense and defense, and made key plays to defeat Treasure Coast.

The Hawks scored first after progressing to the 20 yard line and making a successful field-goal kick to make the score 3-0.

Seminole Ridge nearly recovered

a Titan fumble on the kick return, but Treasure Coast kept control. The Titans moved up the field with several first downs, finally running in a touchdown. An extra-point kick made the score 7-3.

But the Hawks weren’t going down without a fight. On their next possession, a pass from quarterback Antwan Washington found Darian Williams, who ran 75 yards for a touchdown. A successful extrapoint kick made the score 10-7 with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

Though Treasure Coast tried to make a comeback, they had 10 penalties in the first half alone for a to-

Hawk Elie Turene dives across the goal line for a t ouchdown.

tal 80 yards. The beginning of the second quarter saw the Hawks score again. After several successful runs

by Gary Holmes, Seminole Ridge carried the ball near the five yard line. A false-start penalty by Treasure Coast pushed them back five yards, giving the Hawks only one yard to go.

Elie Turene pushed through the center to score. A successful extrapoint kick made the score 17-7.

Then, with about a minute left in the half, Seminole Ridge was on its fourth down with four yards to go.

An off-sides penalty pushed Treasure Coast back five yards, giving the Hawks the chance they needed.

Seminole Ridge seized the opportunity and worked its way down to the goal line where running back Justin Keip scored a one-yard touchdown. The successful extrapoint kick made the score 23-7.

But Treasure Coast picked up the kick return to run the ball down from the Titans’ 20 yard line to the Hawks’ 10 yard line, where a personal foul against Holmes gave Treasure Coast an untimed down.

The Titans scored, and the extrapoint kick made the score 23-14 going into halftime.

Though the Titans tried to mount a comeback, the Hawks shut them out in the second half. Meanwhile, Holmes, Jerome Murray and Gary Lucas ran in touchdowns to finish the game 43-14.

Seminole Ridge’s Gary Holmes tries to avoid the Titan defense.

Hawk Darian Williams runs 75 yards for a touchdown.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/T OWN-CRIER

Broncos Struggle Through 21-15 Spring Loss To Davie Western

By Bryan Gayoso Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach Central High School varsity football team lost to the Davie Western Wildcats 21-15 at home during the Broncos’ spring game Thursday, May 26.

The Bronco varsity team was replaced by the junior varsity in the fourth quarter, and they nearly pulled out a win. “The varsity was very sloppy. With five turnovers and nine penalties, you’re not going to do well versus anyone,” head coach Rod Harris said. “The junior varsity came out and played very hard and made it a little closer game.”

The first quarter belonged to the defenses with neither offense able to score. The second quarter began with a Bronco penalty and fumble, resulting in Western setting up a running touchdown with 9:49 left in the first quarter. The extra point was good, making the score 7-0.

The Wildcats kept the momentum with an interception of an Austin Rudy pass for a second touchdown with 9:06 left in the second quarter.

The extra-point attempt was successful, making it 14-0.

The Broncos were able to get on

The Bronco defense brings down Western’s Jamie Green.

Bronco E.J. Sardinha attempts to pull away.

PHOTOS BY BRYAN GAYOSO/TOWN-CRIER

the board with an Austin Rudy touchdown pass with 6:30 left in the second quarter. The extra point was good, making the score 14-7. Both teams began to struggle, unable to make a move until late in the second quarter when a Wildcat fumble was recovered by the Broncos.

Holding penalties slowed Palm Beach Central’s progress and ulti-

mately ended in a Western possession. The Wildcats pounced with a pass from quarterback Anthony Messina to wide receiver Fabian Moreau, resulting in a touchdown and widening the lead to 21-7.

In the third quarter, both teams endured a slew of penalties with neither team able to produce. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the

Bronco junior varsity came in to finish out the game. The Wildcat defense seemed to have trouble adjusting to the junior varsity squad. The Wildcat offense fared no better, unable to score for the remainder of the game.

With 6:23 left in the game, the Bronco junior varsity made it to the Wildcat 10 yard line and ran in a

touchdown. The two-point conversion worked, making the score 2115. With 1:08 left in the game, the Bronco junior varsity ran for a first down. With third down and four and 31 seconds on the clock, the Broncos almost tied the game with a pass that was intercepted by the Wildcats.

The Wildcats then ran down the 14 seconds left to end the game.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Villari’s Team Offers A Demonstration At Florida Marlins Game The Villari’s Self-Defense of Royal Palm Beach demonstration team the Five Elements hit a proverbial grand slam May 21 at the Florida Marlins’ home game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The demo team, which is made up of select Villari’s students between the ages of 8 and 17, was invited in February to do a demonstration at a Marlins game. The highly sought-after demonstration team practiced diligently to perfect their martial art techniques so that spectators, television viewers and even their local sports heroes could get an understanding of the discipline and beauty as well as the effectiveness of shaolin-kempo karate and ju-jitsu as a form of self-defense in various real life situations.

The Five Elements impressed their hosts, not only with their martial arts skills, but with the respect they showed the Marlin personnel as well as how they carried themselves in public. Because of this, the Marlins invited them to return later this summer to do a longer exhibition.

Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins were the perfect hosts to the demonstration team, coaches and owners Ken Smith and Carolyn PennSmith. The team members are Anis-

The Villari’s demonstration t eam gathers outside of Sun Life Stadium in Miami. sa (8) and Avery Mauri (13), Danny (9) and Gia (10) Giordano, Claire Salmon (17), Tyler Johnson (14), Timmy Ruback (16), Ryan Erwin (8), Kersten Vera (14), Josh Scarborough (14), Kelsie Gabriel (15) and Jason O’Neal (13).

The youngsters were given a tour of the stadium by Marlins representative Kathleen Massolio, and tak-

en to the executive center where they were given unprecedented access to the soul of the Marlins organization. They were given a chance to take photographs in the trophy room that houses two World Series trophies and two National League pennants, as well as have the history of the franchise explained to them. Although fans often hear

Villari’s team members work in pair s during the demonstration. about standoffish professional sport organizations, the Florida Marlins, its employees, agents and players are some of the warmest and most pleasant in sports.

The Villari’s Royal Palm Beach demonstration team made an outstanding contribution to the positive image of the Village of Royal Palm Beach through the utilization of

their martial art skills as well as the application of the school’s rules of “respect, self-discipline and selfcontrol.”

Villari’s Self-Defense of Royal Palm Beach is located at 11328 Okeechobee Blvd. For more information about programs, call (561) 793-4132 or visit www.villaris royalpalm.com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Rooney’s Annual 5k Run/Walk In Abacoa Raises A Record $17,000 The fourth annual Rooney’s 5k Run/Walk was held Saturday, April 9 in Jupiter’s Abacoa. This year’s run raised a record $17,000 for the Autism Project of Palm Beach County, Florida Atlantic University Honors College, Place of Hope and Potentia Academy with the help of sponsorships and almost 950 participants.

The headlining sponsor was Wachovia and presenting sponsors were: Joseph C. Kempe, PA; Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath; and X1 Law. “Another great year — in fact, our best year,” said Rooney’s president, State Rep. Pat Rooney Jr. (R-District 83). “The number of runners, monies raised and most of all, the enthusiasm topped all of our previous races. A special thanks to race coordinator Alexis Barbish and race director Dave Ragsdale, as well as our volunteers and sponsors for all of their efforts. We couldn’t have done

it without them. I am most proud of what our team was able to accomplish for our four charities — over $4,000 to each. Thanks again to all who ran and helped. We will (somehow) do it again next year, hopefully bigger and better.”

A pre-registration party was held at Rooney’s Public House in Abacoa the night before the race. All sponsors and participants were invited to pick up their numbers, goodie bags and T-shirts while dining on the carb buffet or Irish favorites and listening to live music. The course had participants starting on University Drive, traveling on South Central Blvd. and crossing the finish line in front of Rooney’s Public House. The kids one-mile was a big hit, with children from 3 to 14 years old participating. Prior to the awards ceremony, all were treated to a breakfast feast featuring Rooney’s world-famous Irish toast.

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(Seated) Theresa Hume, Janice Meeks, Alexis Barbish, Selena Smith, Jeanette Campfield, Sarah Anne Livoti and Karen Bradley; (standing) Jonathon Miller, Kyle Henderson, Duane Meeks, Bill Dunn, Dick Busto, Dave Ragsdale, State Rep. Pat Rooney Jr. and Patty Rooney.

The Rooney’s Golf Foundation is now preparing for its 10th annual golf tournament set for Thursday, Oct. 27. Since 2001, the Rooney’s Golf Foundation has donated over $267,000 to local Palm Beach County charities.

This family event also includes appearances by Ace the Poker Bear, Hamilton R.

Head of the Jupiter Hammerheads, face paining by Cookie the Clown, and raffle prizes from various area restaurants, sports items and concert tickets. Next year’s run/ walk will be held Saturday, April 14 on the streets of downtown Abacoa in Jupiter.

For more info., visit www. rooneysgolffoundation.org.

County Starting New Men’s Softball League The Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department’s athletics section is starting a new men’s slowpitch softball league.

This will be part of the Amateur Softball Association and include divisions C, D and E. Games will be played one night a week per team, and will take place Tuesday and Thursday nights. There will be ten games in total, plus

a single-elimination playoff.

Games will begin Tuesday, Aug. 16.

The cost to register is $495.

Registration will be held July 7 at 7 p.m. at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.).

For additional information about the league, contact Ryan Chernekoff at (561) 963-6722 or rchernekoff@ pbcgov.com.

RPB’s Firecracker Golf Tourney Set For July 4 The Village of Royal Palm Beach will host its annual Firecracker Golf Tournament on Monday, July 4 at the Village Golf Club.

The scramble format tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The tournament will include cart and green fees, 50/50 raffle, prizes, a longest-drive contest and closest-to-the-pin contest. A barbecue lunch will be provided. Golfers are asked

to pre-register at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way) or the Village Golf Club (122 Country Club Drive).

The cost is $60 per player, $240 per foursome and $100 per hole sponsor. For more information, or to reserve a tee sponsorship, call the cultural center at (561) 7905149. Call the Village Golf Club at (561) 793-1400 for golf course info.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Bloomingtails co-owner Rose Phelps with a recently bathed pup.

PHOTO BY DAMON WEBB/T OWN-CRIER

Royal Palm Beach-Based Bloomingtails Provides Full-Service Dog Grooming

By Damon Webb Town-Crier Staff Report Since childhood, Bloomingtails co-owner Rose Phelps displayed a passion for animals.

It was this passion that eventually brought her to pursue working with animals as a career.

Shortly after graduating college, Phelps decided to go full force and start her own business. So, with her mother Phyllis Cross on board, Phelps fulfilled her dream by launching Bloomingtails.

“When we first opened the business in 2004, we were a mobile store,” Phelps said.

“After a while going with the concept, we decided we wanted something more stable and not as limiting. We opened up our storefront in Royal Palm Beach. It was a central location for us and made things very accessible for us as well as our customers.”

Bloomingtails is a full-service doggrooming salon. Services include washing, cleaning, hair drying and more. Phelps and Cross continue to evolve their business to meet the needs of their growing list of customers.

“If it pertains to the well being of a dog and grooming we do it,” Phelps said. “Customers always want more for their dogs, and we are happy to accommodate them.”

Bloomingtails continues to make a name for itself and has found a niche to focus on,

differentiating itself from other dog-grooming businesses in the area.

“A lot of shops won’t work with a dog that has issues of any kind,” Phelps said. “With us, we set aside specific times to work with dogs that require more attention. Over the years, we have had many owners come to us and explain to us this very sentiment. We end up with the dogs that no one else wants to deal with. For us, it’s about quality, not quantity, of dogs we see. It has actually worked in our favor. It keeps us booked and going strong throughout the year.”

Phelps also believes in supporting local shelters and rescue facilities that help dogs.

“With the economy, people are having to either give up their animals or scale back on their grooming for them,” Phelps said. “We work hard to treat all dogs that come into the salon, no matter the service required. We realize times are tough, and we want to do our part to contribute to the community. If an owner comes in with their dog and they plan on giving them up, we aim to assist in some way.

It’s heartbreaking to see an owner part with their dog. For many people, their dogs are their children. We consider ourselves a pet haven for all dogs.”

Bloomingtails is located at 11368 Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 248-0611.

‘If it pertains to the well being of a dog and grooming we do it. Customers always want more for their dogs, and we are happy to accommodate them.”

Bloomingtails co-owner Rose Phelps

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BUSINESS NEWS

Gordon & Doner Awards Scholarship To RPB’s Lucy Miller The law firm of Gordon & Doner has announced the winners of the Gordon & Doner Scholarships, which provide four years of college tuition to four area high school seniors based on ability to maintain integrity while overcoming adversity.

“This scholarship is unique because grade point average is not a factor,” said Robert E. Gordon, a founding partner of the law firm.

“Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of students who may not be able to attend college without our help. We appreciate the opportunity to help these four high school

seniors with integrity to further their education.”

The winners are: Carlos Thal, Shanda Jean Baptiste, Carolina Echeverri and Lucy Miller. A committee of Gordon & Doner employees and representatives from area Kiwanis clubs chose the scholarship recipients from over 100 deserving applicants from Palm Beach, Broward, Martin and St. Lucie counties based on their essays and letters of recommendation.

Of the four scholarship recipients, Miller is the only one from Palm Beach County. She is a Royal Palm Beach resident and violin student at

the Dreyfoos School of the Arts.

“She is a young woman of great character who is hardworking, consistent, intelligent, articulate and most generous,” violin instructor Suzanne Walter-Geissler wrote in a recommendation letter for Miller.

As with all the scholarship recipients, Miller faced her share of hardships. Her struggles included caring for her mother, Rosemarie Brown, as she battled a rare and invasive cancer that thankfully spared Brown’s life but created great financial hardship for the family. Miller and her family are thankful the burden of paying college tuition is now

lifted and Miller can follow her dream of majoring in environmental science at the University of Florida while continuing her musical studies.

Selecting these four winners was a daunting task. “It wasn’t easy to choose just four scholarship recipients from so many deserving applicants,” Gordon said. “We would like to thank everyone in the community for their support and dedication to the scholarship program, especially the Kiwanis Club and school representatives who encouraged students to apply for this amazing opportunity.”

Bob Gordon and Lucy Miller.

Chouris Inducted Into Florida Federation Of Fairs Hall Of Fame The Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows, the state’s leading fair industry organization, honored South Florida Fair Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Victoria Chouris at the federation’s annual convention and dinner in St. Augustine.

Chouris was enshrined in the federation’s prestigious Hall of Fame highlighting a 29-year career that began in the fair’s finance office in 1982. “I am so amazed and proud of this honor, I want to shout it from

the rooftop,” Chouris said afterward. “Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

As COO of the South Florida Fair, Chouris is among those who steer Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest annual outdoor event.

She helps manage a full- and parttime staff of 45 employees and directly oversees historic Yesteryear Village on the fairgrounds. The Ohio native is active in both national and state fair associations and is connected with local organizations

including board memberships with the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Palm Beach State College Foundation and Leadership Palm Beach County. Her induction into the Florida Federation of Fairs Hall of Fame comes on the heels of capturing the prestigious 2010 Athena Award given annually to an outstanding Palm Beach County businesswoman.

“It is with great pleasure and pride that our own Victoria Chouris was inducted into the Florida Federation

of Fairs Hall of Fame for her work with our fair and her contributions to our industry through her activity with both the Florida Federation of Fairs and the International Association of Fairs and Expositions,” South Florida Fair President and CEO Rick Vymlatil said. “I know you will all join me in congratulating Vicki on this recognition and wish her all the best as she continues on in her career with our fair.”

The Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows works to in-

crease the overall quality of Florida’s agricultural fairs. The organization provides 55 member fairs the support and guidance needed to enlighten youth and educate fairgoers about agriculture, trade, entertainment and the heritage of Florida. Chouris is the third South Florida Fair representative to be inducted into the Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows Hall of Fame, preceded by Vymlatil and former manager Brantley “Buck” Christian.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Palm Healthcare Foundation Honors Nurses At The Breakers Palm Healthcare Foundation’s ninth annual Nursing Celebration Dinner honored Palm Beach County’s top nurses with the 2011 Distinction Awards on May 6 at the Breakers in Palm Beach.

More than 500 attendees gathered for an exciting evening that paid tribute to all the nurses who have served the community and are a true inspiration through their compassion and courageous

work. Wellington resident Anne Hedges was among the eight winners in different categories who were recognized for their contributions and work in serving patients and their community throughout Palm Beach County.

The event, titled “An Enchanted Evening... Nurses Celebrating Nurses,” emphasized gratitude. This special evening honored registered nurses, licensed practical

Angelica Ligas and Steve Weagle.

nurses, nurse educators, nursing assistants, nursing students, and leaders of the nursing community.

The 2011 Nursing Distinction Award winners are as follows: Nurse of the Year - Eugenia Millender, ICU nurse, St. Mary’s Medical Center; Registered Nurse of the Year - Roseanne Armstrong, Delray Medical Center; Leadership Award - Anne Hedges, Health Care District of Palm Beach County; Nursing Student of the Year - Jenny-Lyn Buster, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University; Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year - Cecil Wilson, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care; Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year - Terry Jeanne Malgeri, Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Hands and Heart Award - Angelica Ligas, Good Samaritan Medical Center; and Educator of the Year Award - Kelly Campbell, Good Samaritan Medical Center.

A committee of 30 selected the eight honorees from over 100 nominations sub-

mitted by healthcare professionals and patients/families.

Winners were chosen on the basis of dedication to excellence in an area of expertise beyond the scope of their jobs, commitment to the profession of nursing, and a sense of community.

WPTV Chief Meteorologist Steve Weagle was master of ceremonies and Randy Marsh of Sunny 104.3 FM had the honor of handing out the awards to the deserving honorees along with Anna Kiger, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer of Tenet Healthcare Corporation; Andrew Cutler, general manager of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care; Christine Stapelton of the Palm Beach Post; and Lew Crippen of Gunster.

“This event is about honoring and celebrating heroes,” Palm Healthcare Foundation Board Chair John Lacy said. “Each of our Nursing Distinction Award winners has a story about being a champion to a patient, a family or a co-worker that ris-

Angela Lacy and Palm Healthcare Foundation Board Chair John Lacy.

PHOTOS BY BILL CARLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

es far above the call of duty.

We are privileged to have the opportunity to recognize their significant contributions to their organizations and to our community.”

Since 2001, the Palm Healthcare Foundation has

distributed more than $40 million to over 95 nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County operating over 130 programs.

For additional information, visit the foundation’s web site at www.palmhealthcare.org.

Page 48 June 3 - June 9, 2011

JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC. —Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "W e are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225.

Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER in Wellington needs CERTIFIED PART TIME TEACHERS new and experienced elementary & secondary teachers wanted to instruct K-12 in Reading, Math, SAT/ACT Exam Prep. No lesson plans or homework, paid training and flexible hours.

Please e-mail resume to marlenegiraud@hlcwellington.com or call 561-594-1920 and leave a message TEACHERS/TUTORS P/T SAT/ACT/FCAT- MATH Flexible Hrs. Great Pay. PB County Area Experience required Fax:828-8128 E-mail clubztutoring@wpb3331980.com VOLUNTEER NEEDED — 14 years and over for community service. Have fun with animals & kids 792-2666 WINDOW INSTALLERS W ANTED Lic. & ins. subcontractors only. Top Pay. No Brokers. Call Matt 561714-8490 DRIVERS WANTED — Full-Time/ Part-Time W ellington Town-Car NIGHT DISPATCHER — for Wellington Town-Car. Call for details 561-333-0181 CHRISTY’S BAKERY NEEDS — Counter help. Experienced only.

2 shifts 5:30am - 1:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Drop of resume.

The Pointe@Wellington Green.

10160 Forest Hilll Blvd.

CAMP COUNSELORS NEEDED FOR CAMP GIDDY UP NEEDS COMMUNITYSERVICES HOURS? — Call for info 793-4109 14 and over w/horse experience.

PART-TIME HELP NEEDED — For busy Accounting of fice. Must know Excel, Microsoft Word. Fax resume 561-333-2680.

PART-TIME LEGAL ASSISTANT — wanted for busy Legal office.

Must know Word Perfect, Wills,Trusts & Est ates & heavy phones. Fax Resume to 561-3332680

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED — Men & Women for god’s creatures, rescued and abused cats. Cat Sanctuary.

561-460-4317 ATTN: COMPUTER WORK anywhere 24/7 up to $1500/ monthPart-Time to $7,500/month Full-T ime. Training provided www.earnincome77.com or 847-658-8500 EARN UNLIMITED RESIDUAL INCOME — Part-time From Home Mailing Postcards. Call Today & I’ll Send You the Postcard 1-855-8600003 ext. #1 CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606 HIRING FIRE EXTINGUISHER TECHNICIANS — needed Full-Time will train. Benefits include paid vacation, holidays, sick days, must be 18 or over. Employee Health insurance available. Clean Driver’s License. Mon-Fri 8am - 4;30pm 561863-1333

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AUDIO PLUS ELECTRONICS — for all your electronic needs, home theater, stereo, plasma TV, satellite, security systems, computer systems. 561-471-1161

JJJ AUTOMOTIVE,INC. — we’re looking out for you! John Lawson.

561-204-2855 600 Royal Palm Commerce Rd. Suite E, RPB. Lic. #MV52657

WILL WATCH YOUR CHILD IN MY HOME — accepting applications.

3 spot s available. Baby to Toddler.

561-429-4254

HOUSECLEANING — 20 yrs experience. Excellent local references. Shopping available. 561572-1782 HOUSE/OFFICE CLEANING — 30 yrs experience in the Western Communities. Honest-Reliable and plenty of references. Call Anytime Norma 561-719-9242 Ins. & Lic. VERAS HOME SER VICES — Housecleaning, pet sitting, home organization, and much more! References, honest & reliable. 561598-0311

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Sof tware setup, support &troubleshooting w w w.mobiletec.net.

561-248-2611 D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jef f 561333-1923 or Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach We accept major credit cards.

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS 793-3576

DRIVEWAYS — Free estimates.

A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. Lic.& Ins. 100045062 561-667-7716

BACHE DEVELOPMENT INC. — General Contractor Christopher G. Bache 561-662-8353 CGC 1510884. New construction, barns, kitchens, baths, complete remodeling, flooring, painting. Residential and commercial visit us at www.bachedevelopment.com

THE MASTER HANDYMAN — All Types of Home Repairs & Improvements. No job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 yrs of satisfied customers. See me on Angies List. Tom (561) 801-2010 or (954) 444-3178 Serving Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS INC. REMODEL & REPAIRS — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall,kitchens/cabinets / countertops, wood flooring. Bonded and Insured U#19699. Call 7919900 or 628-9215

ANMAR CO.—James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back!

Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528

HOME INSPECTIONS — Mold inpections, air quality testing, US Building Inspectors mention this ad $20.00 Off. 561-784-8811 HURRICANE SHUTTERS P&M CONTRACTORS — ACCORDION SHUTTERS Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE Auto • Home • Life • Renters • Motorcycle • RV • Golfcart • Boat Serving the Western Communities for 24 years Call for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/ rCavanagh

HORIZON ROOFING QUALITY WORK & SERVICE — Free estimates, Residential /commercial .

Repairs: Shingles, Flat s & tiles, Rotted Facia, & Decking. We also do Flat Roof Coating and Pressure Cleaning credit cards accepted.

561-293-0891 Lic.#CCC1328598 ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.

GREENTEAM LANDSCAPING — We make your grass look greener than the other side Call now 561337-0658. www.greenteamllc.com LANDSCAPE & DESIGN — Commercial & Residential. W e meet your needs. Free Est. Tree Trimming, Landscape & Maintenance, Small & Large Gardens. 954-4718034 TNT LAWN CARE — Quality Work & Dependable Service. In Business Since 1989 Monthly Lawn service, yard clean-up & mulching. Expert hedge & tree trimming 561-6448683

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC0067207 ROBERT CHERRY ROOFING INC Reroofing - Repair - W aterproofing 561-791-2612 or 954-741-4580 State Lic.& Ins. #CCC-1326048 TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606

MOLD & MILDEW INSPECTIONS Air Quality Testing, leak detection.

US building inspectors, mention this ad for discount. 561-784-8811.

CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING, INC. — Interior Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial.Lic. #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561793-5455 561-662-7102 J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & p ainting contractor . Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 visit our website at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator . Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/Exterior, residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666.

Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident

JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded and Insured. CFC1426242. 561-601-6458

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.

Interior & Exterior p ainting.

Certified pressure cleaning & p ainting contractor . Lic. #U21552 Call Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at

SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & p atio rescreening.

Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed!

CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

ACCORDION SHUTTERS — Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985.

U-17189 561-791-9777

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

PLACE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AD HERE CALL 793-7606 FOR INFORMATION SPECIALIZING IN BATHROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980.

Quality you expect, service you deserve. License, bonded and insured. U21006 561-662-9258

ClubZ! In-Home Tutoring SPECIAL SUMMER ACADEMY

Great Rates!

All Subjects: PreK- Adult 561 •333 •1980 • CLUBZ.COM America’s Largest In-HomeTutoring Co.

www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal. Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman's touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS DON HARTMANN ROOFING — Roof painting, Carpentry. Lic. #U13677 967-5580

WE DO WINDOWS — 20 years professional window cleaning. Residential/Commercial references available. Lic. & Ins. 561-313-7098

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STUDIO APT. FOR RENT — sp anish tile, furnished on farm. References required. $595/month 9668791 2/2 NEW APPLIANCES — good condition “The Trails” good area. pool and amenities. 561-714-8376 561-793-1718 $900 monthly. Cable included.

T OWNHOME FOR RENT—2/2 2 car garage. Lakefront seasonal or annual lease. No Pets 561-6442019 PLACE YOUR AD REAL ESTATE AD HERE CALL 793-3576 TODAY

CLASSIFIEDS 793-3576

RLS4634 DPBR STATE OF FLORIDA — Serving Acreage, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Palm Beach Country Est ates, Jupiter Farms and Coastal areas East Florida Site Planning, Dep Compliance Assured Mapping. 561-5960184 Cell Call for a Quote.

HUGE MOVING SALE SATURDAY JUNE 4 & SATURDAY,JUNE 11 Bedroom & Dining Room sets, file cabinets, & Lots More!

15165 87th Road North (954) 290-8486

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT in Wellington Commerce Park off Pierson Road.

Furnished or Unfurnished 575 Sq. Ft. with beautiful view of water. 2 upscale private offices, reception area, bathroom and storage loft.

AvailableImmediately $600 per month (561) 722-7195

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