Wellington The Magazine, February 2010

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contents

FEBRUARY 2010

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departments WELLINGTON SOCIAL SCENE

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Opening Day At IPC Features Cold Weather And High Action

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2010 South Florida Fair Celebrates America’s National Parks

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Dressage Cocktail Party Shows Appreciation For USET Foundation

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White Horse Tavern Rings In New Year With Gala Celebration

62 WELLINGTON AT HOME A redesign brings more space, unique colors to the home of Paul and Cynthia Scott in Palm Beach Polo, thanks to help from Susan Acton of Susan B. Acton Interiors. BY DEBORAH WELKY

72 WELLINGTON TABLE Many restaurants have established themselves in the Wellington area. But once you’ve been to Joe’s American Bar & Grill, you know you’ll be coming back — and often. Both food and service are nothing less than stellar. BY DEBORAH WELKY

20 WELLINGTON WATCH 38 WELLINGTON FASHION 76 WELLINGTON DINING GUIDE 81 WELLINGTON CALENDAR 86 AROUND WELLINGTON ON THE COVER Equestrian course designer Bobby Murphy, featured in the Wellington Fashion pictorial, photographed at Ziegler Farm in Wellington.

Hair by Generations Salon. Makeup by Lisa Michelle Winters. Clothing from Dillard’s at Wellington Green. PHOTO BY BILL BARBOSA/PHOTO DESIGNS INC.

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features 26 SCOTT’S PLACE PARK SPRINGS TO LIFE It has been many years since Barbara and Del Williamson lost their six-year-old son Scott, but all this time, they’ve been searching for a fitting way to honor his short life. Their dream is now reality for disabled children and their families living in Wellington. BY LAUREN MIRÓ

38 PERFECT FASHIONS FOR THE SEASON Whether you’re attending a grand prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club or enjoying brunch fieldside at the International Polo Club, the goal this season is to radiate style without being showy, as shown by our special equestrian models Bobby Murphy and Lindsay Yosay McCall. BY BILL BARBOSA

44 WELLINGTON: AN OLYMPIC VILLAGE Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the largest and longest-running equestrian competition in the world, also is home to more Olympic equestrians than any other single location in the United States. During the winter months, Wellington truly becomes America’s Olympic Village. BY KENNETH KRAUS AND LAUREN FISHER

52 THE FLOWER POWER OF DEAN VARVARIGOS Wellington Florist, located in the Wellington Marketplace, has been a community staple since 1991, thanks to the expertise and professionalism of Melinda and Dean Varvarigos. The latter is this month’s nominee for Wellington The Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. BY MATTHEW AUERBACH

58 BEDNER’S: FRESH FROM FIELD TO FORK A 9,800-square-foot country store is rising on State Road 7 west of Boynton Beach. Due for completion in February, the barn-like building will turn a vision into reality, providing fresh produce directly from field to fork, courtesy of Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market. BY RON BUKLEY WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY 2010

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Wellington The Magazine

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

Scott’s Place: A Great Community Project volume

In mid-January, I had the pleasure of stopping by a wonderful community event right here in Wellington. It was the Scott’s Place “community build,” where hundreds of people came together to help make this valuable project a reality. Scott’s Place is a “boundless” playground where children with and without disabilities will be able to play together. It is the dream of Barbara and Del Williamson, a Wellington couple who have dedicated the playground to their late son Scott. We tell their inspiring story in this issue of Wellington The Magazine. Later this month, Scott’s Place will be dedicated. I can’t wait to enjoy it with my own young children, and pay a special visit the next time my “boundless” niece comes to town.

7, number 2 | february 2010

publisher/executive editor

Joshua I. MannIng associate publisher

Dawn RIveRa graphic designer

suzanne suMMa circulation coordinator

Betty BuglIo bookkeeping

CaRol lIeBeRMan account managers

MIChelle Deegan evIe eDwaRDs wanDa gloCkson nICola JIMenez photography

BIll BaRBosa Bea Bolton holly gannon gaRy kane susan leRneR aBneR PeDRaza gRegoRy RatneR

With the Winter Equestrian Festival in full swing, it’s great to spend a day watching the majesty of show jumping or the precision of dressage. The sports come to life at many levels here in Wellington, from young children to top professionals and all levels in between. It also shows the level of depth that can be found in Wellington’s equestrian community. This is why a huge percentage of the top names in equestrian sport have chosen to settle in Wellington, either full-time or for at least a large portion of the year. We take a look at this phenomenon this month in “Wellington: America’s Olympic Village,” featuring interviews with equestrian Olympians past and present who call Wellington home.

contributors

Matthew aueRBaCh Jason BuDJInskI Ron Bukley DenIse FleIsChMan angIe FRanCalanCIa lauRen MIRó CaRol PoRteR DeBoRah welky Wellington The Magazine

12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31 Wellington, FL 33414 Phone: (561) 793-7606 Fax: (561) 791-0952 www.WellingtonTheMagazine.com

Published by Wellington The Magazine, LLC BaRRy s. MannIng chairman/chief executive officer MauReen BuDJInskI vice president Wellington The Magazine is published monthly in Wellington, Florida. Copyright 2010, all rights reserved by Wellington The Magazine, LLC. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

Not to be left out, of course, is Wellington’s substantial polo community, represented on the pages of our magazine this month by Kris Kampsen, an up-and-coming American polo star who has big plans for the future. And no matter whether you’re spending the weekend at the International Polo Club Palm Beach or the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, you’ll want to look your best on the sidelines. Get some tips this month from our Wellington Fashion pictorial. Special thanks to local equestrians Bobby Murphy and Lindsay McCall for standing in as our fashion models this month.

Our Wellington Entrepreneur of the Year program continues in February with a profile of Dean Varvarigos, who has served Wellington with flowers since 1991. Wellington at Home drops by the Palm Beach Polo estate of Paul and Cynthia Scott, while Wellington Table visits the new Joe’s American Bar & Grill in the Mall at Wellington Green. And if you’re looking to cook your own food, pick up some of the finest produce around at a visit to Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, also profiled this month.

As you watch the Winter Olympics this month, feel free to enjoy pictures of the snow and ice… and then remember why you’re spending February in Wellington.

Joshua Manning Publisher/Executive Editor

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American Heritage Schools College Preparatory School for PK3-Grade 12

Wendy Weiss Cornell

Michael Farruggia Courtney Randolph Duke Yale

Congratulations to Seniors on Early Acceptances to College

Brittany Kroop Georgia Tech

Jasmine Lacoursiere Cornell

Ashley Rivera U Penn

Kristina Pardo MIT

Call 954-472-0022 or visit our website at www.ahschool.com 12200 W. Broward Blvd. • Plantation, FL • 954-472-0022 6200 Linton Blvd. Delray Beach, FL 561-404-1356 12 February 2010 • WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE

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Wellington Advertiser List Advertiser Page A-1 Authorized/Wellington Vacuum................ 82 Agliolio Fresh Pasta & Wine Bar ......................75 Alexander L. Domb, PA .................................... 55 All Paws Animal Clinic ......................................85 American Heritage School ...............................12 Ankle & Foot Centre of South Florida ..............71 Anthony Vince Nail Spa...................................40 Armand Professional Services ........................ 65 Backyard Depot................................................ 67 Bea Bolton Photography ..................................83 Bedner Farm Fresh Market ...............................18 Boca Tanning Club............................................35 Brass Monkey Tavern........................................75 BrightStar Healthcare ...................................... 49 Claudia Diesti ...................................................83 Clean Simplicity ............................................... 82 Coldwell Banker, Jennifer Davis .......................71 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery ................................. 48 Designer’s Touch Jewelry .................................35 Diagnostic Centers of America ....................... 29 Dolce Dental ...................................................... 8 Donald K. Porges, CPA ..................................... 51 Dr. Isaac Halfon ................................................54 Equestrian Footings & Services ...................... 36 Errands Etc. of Palm Beach ..............................54 Fit Studio .........................................................60 Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute .................. 55 Flower Kingdom .............................................. 80 Freedman & Haas Orthodontics...................... 55 Generations: A Hair Salon ...............................81 Global Gold Rush ............................................ 47 Grayhills & Mohip Dental ............................... 48 Green Team Solutions ..................................... 69 Hair Spray Salon, Nikki Bailey......................... 46 Hair Spray Salon, Samantha Kohlhorst ........... 55

Hi-Tech Plumbing ............................................ 67 Horticulturist ................................................... 46 Illustrated Properties, Shelley Sandler .............35 I’m Greek Today ............................................... 78 Insurance & Financial Services Group ........... 80 Insurance for You..............................................71 International Polo Club Palm Beach ................. 7 JEZ Capital ........................................................ 13 Joe’s American Grill ..........................................77 Law Office of David White, PA ........................ 80 Lusitano Collection Horse Auction .................. 31 Mamma Mia’s Trattoria................................... 76 Merrill Lynch, Laura Hanson Virginia ............. 47 My Whole Pet Market ...................................... 82 Mystique Jewelry ..............................................40 National Auction Team, Andrew Burr ............. 34 Nicole’s Pasta & Grill .......................................77 OACES Tennis Center ......................................40 O’Dell Inc. ....................................................... 20 Palm Beach Hair Solutions ............................. 50 Palm Beach Opera ........................................... 79 Palm Beach Psychological Associates ............. 51 Palms West Hospital ......................................... 4 Paymaster .........................................................61 Perfect Smile Dentistry .....................................21 Phelps Media Group ..........................................5 Photo Designs Inc. ...........................................81 Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach.......................... 15 PMI Remodeling & Repairs............................. 69 RM Day Construction ...................................... 67 Rejuvia Med Spa ...............................................17 Ristorante Vino ................................................ 79 Robert R. Morris, Attorney at Law....................61 Royal Inn .............................................................3 Royal Palm Auto Spa ....................................... 82 Royal Palm Flooring ........................................ 67

Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry................ 2 Sam Jon’s Salon & Day Spa ............................ 36 Sanda Gané European Day Spa .......................25 Sea Breeze Air Conditioning ............................71 Shaggy Dog Professional Pet Grooming .........61 Shingo’s Japanese Restaurant ........................ 76 Smiles by Jiveh .........................................57 & 90 Smith Services ................................................. 68 Solarus USA ..................................................... 43 South Florida Radiation Oncology ...................23 South Florida Science Museum ...................... 80 South Florida Skin & Laser................................ 6 South Shore Dentistry ...................................... 51 St Juliana Catholic School ............................... 49 Stonewood Grill ............................................... 78 Strawn & Monaghan, PA ..................................16 Subscription Form ............................................85 Sushi Yama Siam ..............................................75 Tipsy Salon & Spa............................................. 51 Too Jay’s Gourmet Deli.................................... 76 Ultima Fitness ................................................. 84 Van Dell Jewelers ..............................................19 Vein Therapy & Aesthetics ...............................57 Ventura Companies ......................................... 65 Visions Salon ................................................... 30 Viso LASIK Medspas ....................................... 89 Vital Longevity Water, Susan Lerner................ 84 WellingTAN ......................................................40 Wellington Agency ............................................57 Wellington Day Spa .........................................60 Wellington Entrepreneur of the Year ................85 Wellington Regional Medical Center................ 11 Wellington Royal Marble & Granite ................ 68 Westside Bagels ............................................... 79 Zen Massage ....................................................16

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Lauren Miró

2010 Opening Day At IPC Features Cold Weather, High Action Polo fans braved unusually cold weather to be on hand as the 2010 polo season kicked off at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington on Sunday, Jan. 3 with the opening round of the 20-goal Iglehart Cup. The Wanderers/Isla Carroll team defeated Bendabout 16-13 in the noon game, while EFG Bank took the win from Zacara 13-11 in the 3 p.m. highlight game. Sunday polo matches run through April. For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.

(Above) Luis Escobar (in red) races the ball down the field to score a goal for EFG Bank.

(Below) Shelia Burkman, Julia Clubb, Tony Soares and Lisa Nester enjoy hot coffee on a cold day in the Nespresso pavilion.

(Above) Arzu Dilek, Hasmik Buzzetta and Emel Dilek.

(Left) Melissa Lingor, Matt Tavolacci and Whitney Applegate enjoy cocktails while divot stomping.

(Top Left) Steve and Lisa Nester.

(Above) Robert, Nina and Ana Arsov.

(Below) Jess Cummings, Kelsea Forzani and Isabelle bundle up and watch the game.

(Above) Front row: Rosario Cabrera, Micah Disalvo, Fernando Maciel Talavera and Jorge Caceres; back row: Mario Disalvo, Sally Duffield and Marco Llosa.

(Top Left) Jim Braden on the sidelines with his daughter Elsa.

(Bottom Left) Ella Sperry visits with the IPC mascot.

(Below) Gladys Moore Johnson watches the game with Zuri, Aelan and Niara Johnson.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

2010 South Florida Fair Celebrates America’s National Parks The 2010 South Florida Fair kicked off its 17-day run on Friday, Jan. 15. The night before opening day, a VIP reception and silent auction was held. The fair concluded Jan. 31. This year’s theme was “America’s National Parks.”

Christiana Admiral, Abby Plucienkowski, Gary Cremen and Paula Bauer of the National Park Service.

Dana and David Lodwick, Dr. Carmine and Marie Priore, and Bill Moss.

Carol and Judge Nelson Bailey with South Florida Fair CEO Rick Vymlatil.

Lion Country Safari’s Maritza Clark, Jennifer Berthume and Kristyn Worrell.

County Commissioner Shelley Vana with David Goodlett, Vicki Chouris and Roger Amidon.

Alison, Darell and Sherry Bowen, Toy and John Wash, and Don Dufresne.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Lindsay McCall

Dressage Cocktail Party Shows Appreciation For USET Foundation In honor of a new year and support of future dressage endeavors, Tuny Page and Kimberly Boyer hosted the USET Foundation appreciation cocktail party at the Wellington home of Tuny and David Page on Saturday, Jan. 9. The chef of the evening, Fred Boyer, created culinary works of art for guests to enjoy. International dressage competitors Todd Flettrich, Courtney King, Tuny Page, Lars Peterson, Betsy Steiner, Lisa Wilcox and George Williams were all in attendance.

Carol Cohen and Mason Phelps.

Noreen O’Sullivan and John Flanigan.

Fred Boyer, David & Tuny Page and Kim Boyer.

Lars Peterson and Melissa Taylor.

Kathy Connolly with Anne & David Gribbons.

Betsy Juliano with George & Roberta Williams.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

White Horse Tavern Rings In New Year With Gala Celebration

(Front row) Katherine Bellissimo, Jennifer and Roger Smith, and Mark Bellissimo; (back row) Carol and Ludwig Sollak.

Cate and Reuven Katz with Mary and Robert Sullivan.

“Sea goddess” Dianne Rios performs the party-goers

Pauline Dickson dances with stiltwalker Edoure Russell.

Will Johnston and Kristen Sugere toast the new year.

The White Horse Tavern in Wellington hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31. In addition to dining and dancing, with music provided by DJ Goma, a stiltwalker and “sea goddess” kept the crowd entertained.

The White Horse Tavern is located at 3401 Equestrian Club Road. For reservations, call (561) 333-1150.

DJ Goma arranges the music.

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Wellington Watch

BY joshua manning, lauren miró & ron bukley

‘Patriot Memorial’ Will Mark Entrance To New Village Hall The Wellington Village Council granted approval Jan. 26 for a “patriot memorial” that will honor the victims of 9/11 and serve as the entry focal point to the new municipal center on Forest Hill Blvd.

“Not only will this memorialize 9/11, but what this project will really do is spotlight the patriots of our country,” said Councilman Matt Willhite, who led the drive for the project.

The village has been authorized by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to receive an artifact from the World Trade Center, which will be included in the monument. Palm Beach Gardens is the only other community in the area that has received approval for an artifact, Willhite noted.

The memorial is expected to cost the village between $70,000 and $80,000

and will be dedicated on the 10-year anniversary of the attacks. The council hopes to authorize the Wellington Community Foundation to establish a capital projects fund for the memorial, which it expects to be funded largely through private donations.

The memorial’s design includes an “eternal flame” that will sit in the center of a fountain. The memorial will fly the American flag and include a contemplation area that features a grassy space with benches.

Horrific Triple Murder Shocks Community — A triple murder stunned the Wellington community in January. Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested 49-year-old Neal Jacobson on Saturday, Jan. 23 on the charge of first degree murder with a firearm after he allegedly killed his wife Franki, 53,

and seven-year-old twin sons Eric and Joshua at the family home on South Sea Court in the Isles at Wellington community. Although his motive remains a mystery, sources close to the couple suggest that they were struggling to keep afloat financially. Neal Jacobson was found slumped over inside a disabled vehicle on the east side of State Road 7 north of Atlantic Avenue just after 7 a.m. on Jan. 23. He had a silver .38-caliber revolver next to him. While he was being treated, Jacobson spontaneously said, “I just killed my family,” according to a PBSO deputy at the scene. A computer check of Jacobson’s vehicle led the PBSO to the registered home address at 11580 South Sea Court. Deputies from the Wellington substation entered the property and discovered the bodies of Franki, Joshua and Eric Jacobson dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Jacobson is a former mortgage broker. He

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and his family were active members of the local Jewish community and were associated with Temple B’nai Jacob and the Wellington Jewish Center. Jacobson also served as an officer of the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches. Franki Jacobson was an aspiring children’s writer who recently published her first book. Eric and Joshua attended Binks Forest Elementary School, where they were in the first grade.

Jan. 12 to move ahead on its new temple on Lake Worth Road near Barefoot Lake Drive. The council approved resolutions designating the property a civic site, permitting a daycare center and allowing new entrances to the property on both Lake Worth Road and Barefoot Lake Drive. “This decision is the culmination of a two-year process since the temple approached the village to sell the property,” said Gary Scher, a member of the

temple’s board of directors and a leader in negotiations with the village. The council approved the temple’s $827,500 bid to buy the 2.82-acre property in July.

The worship center will be built across from Grand Isles and adjacent to The Isles and Wellington Shores communities. Residents from those communities expressed concerns about increases in traffic, proximity of homes to the temple and the planned daycare center.

Wireless System Links Wellington Workers — The Village of Wellington has implemented a wireless communication system, powered by routers on light poles throughout the village, to help communicate with employees and control utilities. It is a system the village hopes will save over $100,000 a year. “We have a very limited capacity Wi-Fi system,” Village Manager Paul Schofield said. “Our employees who are out in the field can access the village’s internal computer system from their cars or trucks.” The village began installing the routers, which look like an upside-down vase, last year on existing light poles throughout the village, Schofield said. When the project is complete, the village will be able to communicate with employees in the field, monitor water meters, and even control utility systems. “By having the Wi-Fi in constant connectivity, it enables our code enforcement officers, building inspectors or utility workers to access the system from the road,” Chief Information Officer Tom Amburgey said. The Wi-Fi also will be available for use by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies, whose air cards are less powerful than the new system. But it isn’t a precursor for a public access WiFi system, Schofield stressed. “It’s a lowpower system; we didn’t put in something with enough bandwidth,” he said.

“We don’t have computers with the kind of power to allow public access.”

Temple Gets OK To Build On Lake Worth Road — The Wellington Village Council gave Temple B’nai Jacob the green light WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • February 2010

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Wild West For MS

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Second Annual MS Cure Fund Benefit At Horse Show In Wellington On March 27

n Saturday, March 27, the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival will be at its climax at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, and among the special events that evening will be “Wild West for MS,” a benefit for the MS Cure Fund.

The MS Cure Fund is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for research into multiple sclerosis. The money goes to the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and also helps educate MS patients, especially those who are newly diagnosed with the disease. The goal is to support MS researchers and scientists, and to fund experiments that may produce significant breakthroughs in treating, and one day curing, the disease.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous systems that affects mostly young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. More than three times as many women as men are affected by the disease. Symptoms range from fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, numbness and blindness to paralysis. The disease affects more than 500,000 in the United States.

The disease is not contagious and is not usually fatal. The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled.

The MS Cure Fund supports itself through

“Wild West for MS” committee members Kay Finsness, Eleanor Bright, Jennifer Smith, Cyndy Sullivan Hennessy, Kim Kolloff, Katherine Bellissimo, Bridget Fleming, Lisa Skiffington and Dana Tonelli.

fundraising events mainly in Boston and the Palm Beach area. Events have included golf tournaments, bike rides, social galas, networking seminars, corporate sponsorships and private donations. It is the second time a fundraiser will be held at the horse show in Wellington.

Susan Strachan founded the group in 2005. Two years ago, Strachan met Kim Kolloff, an equestrian and MS patient who spends her winters in Wellington but whose primary residence is in Massachusetts. Last year, Kolloff presented the MS Cure Fund board with an idea for a

fundraiser at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Kolloff and Jennifer Smith, one of the founding members of Wellington Equestrian Partners, formed a committee of local equestrians, including chairs Glen Senk, director and CEO of Urban Outfitters, and his partner Keith Johnson, buyer-at-large for the Anthropologie stores.

Senk and Johnson have personal connections to MS. Senk’s brother and Johnson’s mother and aunt are affected by the disease. The committee worked for months

(Left) MS Cure Fund founder Susan Strachan with board members Cheli Rios and Bob Raimondo.

(Right) Kim Kolloff, Glen Senk and Jennifer Smith.

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“Wild West for MS” committee members Missy Burns, Nona Garson, Jackie Cahill and Kim Kolloff with Tim Irwin.

to secure auction items for last year’s inaugural event, attended by more than 300 people.

Although it rained much of the day, it stopped in time for the gala, held ringside, giving attendees a prime view of the grand prix. The MS Cure Fund staff organized a “Wild West” theme, while the White Horse Tavern catered the event featuring an Argentinean Asado, a South American social practice and technique for serving cuts of meat cooked on a grill or open fire.

Attendees competed in a Best Western Wear Costume competition, which was judged by Olympic rider Nona Garson and 2008 and 2009 Rodeo Queens Miss Silver Spurs Sammy Roberts and Emily Moore. In addition, the Chili Chicks country line dancers performed.

This year’s event will also take place at the grand prix finale with quality western entertainment including an auction, music and dancing.

For more information about this year’s MS Cure Fund benefit in Wellington, visit www. mscurefund.org or call (561) 835-3520.

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Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Auction Returns Feb. 19

T

he 2010 Benefit Auction Dinner & Dance will allow the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center to continue helping riders turn disability into ability.

By Rebecca Walton

think the one thing that we always try to do is to make sure people remember why they’re there. Every year we try to do some kind of a video about what happens here and the impact that we make on our riders.”

This year’s auction will be held Friday, Feb. 19 at the International Polo Club Following the video, the Palm Beach in Wellington. center presents its Rider of The auction serves as the the Year Award and some center’s main annual fundof the organization’s volVinceremos supporters who volunteered to “adopt” a horse at last year’s auction. raiser. The theme for this unteers are recognized.

Photo by Denise Fleischman year’s gala is “Gone Riding,” and it will feature a “We work with 125 to 130 to raise more than $300,000. Guests students per week, and we only have new event, the Argentinean Asado. included Olympic show jumping team three full-time staff members and 16 “Your goal is always to raise money, but gold medalists McLain Ward and Laura horses,” Menor said. “You can figure out you don’t want to make it the same as Kraut. The money enables Vinceremos that there is a lot that gets done by vollast year’s event,” Vinceremos Executive to provide services to more than 350 unteers.”

Director Ruth Menor said. “This new clients per year through its four main theme gives us the opportunity to expe- programs: Therapeutic Riding, Hippo- Menor enjoys the fact that the auction rience new food, auction items and con- therapy, Horses for Heroes, and Equine helps make the community more aware tests. We hope that this new dimension Facilitated Psychotherapy. of Vinceremos and its mission. “After will bring a new twist to the event.” the event, we usually have a lot of people Items available at this year’s auction in- start coming over to the farm to volunDuring this year’s Argentinean Asado, clude international trips and a package teer,” she said. “Once they get here, it attendees will showcase their skills in from Lazcar International. The silent has even more of an impact on them and the “So You Think You Can Ride” me- auction will include gift certificates for they share with their friends what we’re chanical bull-riding contest. For $100, restaurants, theater performances, spa doing; it’s infectious!” attendees can sponsor themselves, a packages and more. The main item will trainer, a friend or an ex-spouse to com- be tickets to the 2010 World Equestrian Founded in 1982, Vinceremos is a nonpete for the chance to win 50 percent of Games in Lexington, Kentucky. At the profit organization based in Loxahatchee end of the evening, attendees will also Groves. The center has received a “Prethe jackpot. have the opportunity to adopt one of mier Accreditation” rating from the Since its inception in 1986, the an- the center’s horses. The adoption fee is North American Riding for the Handinual Vinceremos gala has raised more $4,800, which underwrites the care of capped Association. than $2.2 million for therapeutic and one of the 16 horses at the center for one recreational horseback riding for spe- year.

For more information about the Vinceremos cial needs children and adults in Palm Therapeutic Riding Center and the Feb. 19 Beach County. Last year, more than 330 “People come to have fun as well as raise auction, visit www.vinceremos.com or call supporters attended the auction, helping money for a good cause,” Menor said. “I (561) 792-9900.

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Scott’s Place Comes To Life New ‘Boundless’ Playground The Vision Of Barbara & Del Williamson Story by Lauren Miró  Photos by Susan Lerner and Lauren Miró

It has been many years since Barbara and Del Williamson lost their sixyear-old son Scott, but all this time, they’ve been searching for a fitting way to honor his short life.

Their dream is now reality for disabled children and their families living in Wellington. Scott’s Place, made possible by a $250,000 donation from the Williamsons, is a boundless playground where children with disabilities and able-bodied children can play together. It will be dedicated this month.

The handicap-accessible playground near the Wellington Community Center on Forest Hill Blvd. was important to the Williamsons because Scott was confined to a wheelchair from birth and rarely had the opportunity to play with other children.

Scott was spastic quadriplegic, without use of any of his limbs. At the time, handicapaccessible buildings were rare, and parks were unheard of. “We’d take him to the park and sit him on our laps and swing or go down the slide,” Barbara said.

“If you’re the parent of a child who has special needs, you understand what it’s like to sit on the sidelines and watch other children play,” Barbara said. “Rather than having to sit on the sidelines, our hope is that the kids who are disabled can find some fun here.”

Years after Scott died, the seed for his legacy was planted. While living in Atlanta, the Williamsons watched a news feature on a woman who developed a handicapaccessible park where her wheelchairbound son could play.

In 1968, while living in Massachusetts, Barbara gave birth prematurely to twin boys. One lived only a week; Scott was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy, a disease that affects the brain’s ability to control movement. He was unable to leave the hospital for more than two months after he was born. “They said that he was living on love,” she recalled. “Normally children in that condition don’t survive as long as he did.”

(Left) Barbara and Del Williamson at Scott’s Place under construction. The playground will be dedicated this month.

“There are quite a few parks now,” Del said. “But that was really the start of it. We hadn’t seen one before.”

“We thought that maybe someday we could do something like that,” Barbara added. “Even though our Scott probably couldn’t have benefited from a park like that, it just touched our hearts, and we knew that when the time was right, we wanted to try something similar.”

Two years ago, the time was right. The Williamsons had moved to Wellington from Atlanta in 2004 and were introduced to Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto.

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(Above) Barbara and Del Williamson tour the construction site. (Right) A sign announces the future playground.

‘If you’re the parent of a child who has special needs, you understand what it’s like to sit on the sidelines and watch other children play. Rather than having to sit on the sidelines, our hope is that the kids who are disabled can find some fun here.’

BARBARA WILLIAMSON “She just took the bit in her mouth and ran with it,” Barbara said. “She’d been instrumental in building Tiger Shark Cove Park and knew all the right people.”

Benacquisto approached her colleagues on the Wellington Village Council with the idea of putting the playground in the “Town Center,” the village’s new municipal facility now under construction adjacent to the Wellington Community Center. The timing was perfect, with an amphitheater and a new village hall being built, along with the reconstruction of the nearby community pool to allow handicap access. “They just knew they wanted to do something to remember Scott,” Benacquisto said. “They wanted something that would allow children of different abilities to play together.”

With Benacquisto’s help, the idea began to take shape.

“There are not many playgrounds available for children who have special needs to play along with kids who don’t have disabilities,” project manager Rick Greene said. “So the idea was to build a place where they can play together.”

The park was designed so that 75 percent of the equipment would be available to children in wheelchairs. Ramps, extra-wide sidewalks and synthetic turf give wheelchairs access to all areas of the playground, Greene said. Standard playground equipment such as swings and slides are included, with modifications to maximize handicap accessibility.

The park also includes a reading corner with a trunk donated by the Tackeria that will be filled with children’s books. The park features an equestrian theme to honor the Williamsons’ daughter Sara,

an avid rider — and also fitting with Wellington’s claim to fame.

“I want to know that two moms could walk with two wheelchairs side-by-side and chat,” Benacquisto recalled Barbara Williamson telling her. “You become so isolated as a parent when you have a child with special needs, that it was important to her to have a place for families to be able to come and just relax for a moment and see their child doing something fun and testing and challenging their own abilities.”

In January, the village hosted a “community build,” inviting people to help assemble the play equipment. The idea drew so much support that the village had to limit the number of volunteers wanting to help.

“We’re just overwhelmed with the sup-

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port from the community, not just from friends, but from people we don’t even know,” Barbara said.

But Benacquisto wasn’t surprised by the turnout, especially given Wellington’s long history in supporting volunteer(Below, L-R) Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto and her son Austin with sponsors Barbara and Del Williamson; several photos of volunteers participating in the Jan. 16-17 community build; and the playground after the community build.

built parks. “There are so many families who have a family member or child who didn’t have the opportunity to play or explore,” she said. “And I think the gratitude from the community to the Williamson family is so sincere and strong because there’s recognition that there are kids out there just looking to be kids.”

Many of the volunteers joining in to build Scott’s Place had their own story to share.

For Wellington resident Tiffany Greene, it was her sister Deborah who inspired her to help build Scott’s Place.

“I would have come out regardless,” she said. “But this is special to me because my sister has been in a wheelchair since birth, and my mom and I have spent so much time fighting for her.”

Loxahatchee Groves Mayor David Browning and his wife Sharyn have twin boys

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— one with cerebral palsy. “This is very near and dear to us,” Sharyn said. “Matthew has [cerebral palsy] and there wasn’t anything like this when he was growing up.”

When they moved to Loxahatchee Groves in 1979, there wasn’t much that was handicap-accessible at all, her husband recalled.

Even the name of the park has a place in

their hearts — their other son is named Scott.

“When we heard about this project, we just knew we wanted to chip in any way we could,” Sharyn said. “It will do our hearts good to see kids playing in it and enjoying it. And it will connect the disabled community to those who don’t have disabilities. I think this place will make a lot of good memories for families.”

With the completion of Scott’s Place — “A Playground for All Abilities” — Barbara and Del Williamson finally will have the chance to see children playing together without limitations.

“It’s the completion of a dream that started back there in Atlanta,” Barbara said.

“It warms our hearts. It’ll do us just as much good as the children we’re building it for just to be able to watch them enjoy it.”

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Rising Polo Star

Kris Kampsen Has Big Plans On (And Off) The Field Story by Lauren Miró

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Photos by Holly Gannon and Gregory Ratner

Kris Kampsen’s lifelong love of polo has helped him make a name for himself on the field, where he strives to be the best in a game dominated by South Americans, and off, where he has begun a younghorse training program that he hopes will take his career to the next level. “I’m always stiving to get better,” he said. “I want to be one of the best, if not the best, American player.”

Kampsen, 27, was born in Tampa, where he grew up in a horse-loving family. “My dad went on vacation to Jamaica and found polo,” he said. “So I was riding before I could walk.”

Kampsen competed in pony jumpers at a young age, but found the show ring too restrictive. “I always wanted to go faster than all of the other kids,” he recalled. “All the trainers would just shake their heads and groan. I didn’t like being contained or told what to do. I guess polo was just a natural progression for me.”

His father played polo at a local club in Tampa and, at the age of nine, Kampsen took the field for the first time.

There was no youth team, so his only chance to play was on his father’s team against men twice his age or older.

started playing stick and ball,” he said. “All I wanted to do was be a polo player.”

So at 15 years old, he uprooted his life in Tampa to live in Wellington with his grandmother. They moved into the Polo Club, and Kampsen went to work for polo legend Memo Gracida.

“At the time, Memo was the Michael Jordan of polo,” Kampsen said. “He was the king, and I got to be involved in his program and learn a lot from him.”

A year later, the young polo prospect landed a deal to play with Everglades Polo and the late Skeeter Johnston, which gave him his official start in high-goal polo. “They were great to me,” Kampsen recalled. “The Johnstons have always been really welcoming people.”

A photo is the only memory he has of his first game — a family tournament at his father’s club. “It’s a photo of me and my dad. We played together,” he said. “I’m only tall enough to reach his belly button, but I’m sure I was dangerous.”

More than a decade later, six-goaler Kampsen has become a familiar name in the sport, playing for the Wanderers/ Isla Carroll team with patron John Goodman, Nacho Figueras and Sugar Erskine.

Once Kampsen got a taste of the game, his passion and dedication for it ignited. “I just loved it from the minute I

“I’m really competitive, I don’t like to lose at anything — not even board games,” he said. “But if you talk to any

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‘I’m really competitive, I don’t like to lose at anything — not even board games. But if you talk to any polo player and they tell you they don’t mind losing, well, they’re probably not playing too much.’

Kris Kampsen

(Right) Kris Kampsen is currently rated a six-goaler.

(Bottom left) Kris Kampsen in action on the polo field.

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polo player and they tell you they don’t mind losing, well, they’re probably not playing too much.”

This year Kampsen’s on a team of like-minded players who share his drive to win.

“I got lucky this year; I love my team,” he said. “There’s no pressure because everyone has the same focus you do. We don’t have one big superstar player; we have a team of great players.”

But for Kampsen, polo isn’t about competing against his teammates or opponents. Instead, he challenges himself to be at his best.

“I’m trying to be the best that I can be personally,” he said. “I want to make it to nine goals, but if I can’t, I’m not going to sit home and be bitter. I’m going to work every day toward being my best.”

Kampsen’s dedication to the game is only outshined by the love he has for his horses. “Polo (Left) Kris Kampsen spends a great deal of time at the barn caring for and training his string of horses. (Above inset) Kampsen does battle with Juan Bollini on the polo field.

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ponies are pretty amazing animals,” he said. “They’ll give you everything they’ve got.”

At his barn in Wellington, Kampsen keeps a string of made horses along with young polo prospects as part of the young-horse program he started two years ago.

“By starting a young-horse program, I mean my groom and I bought a bunch of young horses and just started riding them,” he explained. “If I’m not riding my made horses, I’m riding the babies — two-, three- and four-year-olds.”

And his work has paid off. This season, two of the mares he trained have made it into his high-goal polo string, which has spurred his desire to keep training.

“It keeps me focused on what I want, to make a name for myself in making horses,” Kampsen said. “Now I’ve seen the payoff of all the work that goes into it, getting to play those two mares.”

But there’s one hitch in the plan — he cares for his horses so much that he hates the idea of selling any of them.

“I love my horses. I enjoy being at the barn,” Kampsen said. “I hate selling them, but I’ve come to terms that it’s a business.”

The love he has for his horses was a major draw for his longtime girlfriend, Alexandra Solimine, a local entrepreneur, when they met five years ago through a mutual friend.

look so different. He knows everything about every one of them — he even recognizes other people’s horses.”

After they started dating, Kampsen rescued a paint mare for her through Pure Thoughts Horse & Foal Rescue so they could ride together. Now she shares his competitive nature, love of polo and horses, even if she can’t identify every horse in the barn.

“His relationship with his horses is such an amazing thing,” she said. “He has a relationship with all 40 of them. They’re pets, not just a vehicle for his hobby or career.”

“I’ve taken on the job of naming his new horses. It makes it easier to remember them,” Solimine said. “I’ve also become more competitive through Kris.

We watch the games together after his matches. He’s hard on himself. We’re his worst critics.”

Solimine, who hadn’t frequented equestrian events, was surprised by the bond Kampsen had with the animals. “When you have one animal, it’s easy to see them as a pet and form a bond,” she said. “But every horse is unique to him. They all

But the competitive polo player on the field is a direct contrast with his easygoing personality off it. “He’s super caring; he has a huge heart,” Solimine said. “His competitiveness on the field is completely different from his everyday life.”

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Polo is not just his hobby or career, Solimine said. It’s his life. “I’ve never seen someone who wants to be with his horses so much,” she said. “Sometimes he’s there from eight in the morning to eight at night. He can’t get enough of it.”

Kampsen doesn’t only play during the winter season here in Wellington. The past three years, he has played in the Grand Champions Polo Club’s fall and spring season with Mark Ganzi of Audi Polo. “That allows me to be in Florida for May and part of June as well as in the fall,” he said. “The Ganzis are like a family to me now. They’re great people, and the program has been quite successful the past two years.”

With much of his life surrounded by the game, it’s no surprise that Kampsen sees a future filled with polo. “I want to continue to play for as long as I can,” he said.

“But I also want to create a really good name for myself in making horses, and then branch out into selling them.”

‘Kris’s relationship with his horses is such an amazing thing. He has a relationship with all 40 of them.

They’re pets, not just a vehicle for his hobby or career.’

Alexandra Solimine

(Below and right) Kris Kampsen with longtime girlfriend Alexandra Solimine.

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WELLINGTON FASHION

Perfect Fashions For The Season PHOTOS BY BILL BARBOSA

Whether you’re attending a grand prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club or enjoying Sunday brunch fieldside at the International Polo Club, the goal this season is to radiate style without being showy. Perhaps you’ll be wearing your favorite denim jeans dressed up with a manly sports jacket or a stylish top.

This month’s Wellington Fashion pictorial showcases some of the latest apparel available at Dillard’s in the Mall at Wellington Green.

Equestrians Bobby Murphy and Lindsay Yosay McCall — drafted into service as our fashion models this month — are ready to step out in style.

Bobby is showcased in both Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren Collection wear, while Lindsay turns up the heat in fashions

by Miss Me, Ralph Lauren, I.N. San Francisco and Rampage Collection.

(Left) Bobby wears a Perry Ellis Principal Group men’s sport jacket over a Perry Ellis Evening Capsule shirt. Not shown, the look is finished with MEK denim pants and black Baron shoes from the Robert Wayne Collection.

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 Lindsay is ready for an afternoon out wearing a black jacket with purple cuff from the I.N. San Francisco and a Rampage Collection purple leopard-print top, studded jeans by Guess, finished with black iridescent leather mesh boots by J. Renee (not shown).

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Wellington Fashion

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The Models Bobby Murphy

At only 26 years of age, Bobby Murphy has already become a USEF ‘R’ rated jumper judge and is on the Horse Show Management Committee and the High Performance Committee for the United States Hunter Jumper Association. He is a national horse show course designer, an equestrian marketing entrepreneur, and, as he likes to put it is, “married to the hunter/jumper sport.” Murphy spends much of his year traveling to horse shows around the country and can be found in Wellington for the Winter Equestrian Festival. He earned a double major in business management and marketing from the University of Kentucky.

Lindsay Yosay McCall

An Ohio native, Lindsay Yosay McCall has been riding since the age of six. Her entire family rides, and McCall has never stopped riding or showing, whether at college at Ohio State University or at local hunter barns that need an extra rider to exercise their horses. After graduating from OSU with a major in animal science and a minor in business marketing, she worked for AT&T as a marketing manager.

Since moving to Florida with her husband, McCall moved out of the corporate world, and into web design marketing and public relations.

In her spare time, she has begun teaching riding lessons. Presently, she lives in Boynton Beach and works with Phelps Media Group in Wellington.

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

Wellington Fashion Bobby wears a shirt and beige corduroy jacket from the Ralph Lauren Polo Men’s Collection, matched with Ralph Lauren Polo jeans (not shown). Lindsay sports an RL-embroidered shirt from the Ralph Lauren Collection, along with Miss Me vintage blue jeans and black shoe boots from A Kenneth Cole Production “Unlisted” (not shown).

CREDITS Photography Bill Barbosa Photo Designs Inc. (561) 242-2455 www.photodesignsinc.com Hair Styling Claudia Diesti Generations: A Hair Salon (561) 753-2232 www.generationsahairsalon.com Makeup Lisa Michelle Winters (561) 348-0618 www.palmbeachmakeup.com Clothing Dillard’s Department Store The Mall at Wellington Green (561) 227-5470 www.dillards.com Location Ziegler Farm in Wellington Special Thanks Michael Hachey and Angela Macdiarmid of Dillard’s for clothing selection and styling, and Phelps Media Group for photo shoot coordination.

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Wellington: America’s Olympic Village

BY KENNETH KRAUS AND LAUREN FISHER

Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the largest and longest-running equestrian competition in the world, also is home to more Olympic equestrians than any other single location in the United States.

During the winter months, Wellington truly becomes America’s Olympic Village. More than 20 U.S. equestrian Olympians call Wellington home. When you add in the international Olympians who travel here from around the world — riders like 2008 individual gold medalist Eric Lamaze of Canada or 2004 individual gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil — the ranks of the world’s finest equestrians soars to 40 or more, all in one location.

While Wellington is known for its abundant parks, quality schools, attractive neighborhoods and fantastic shopping, equestrians choose to live here because of the village’s attention to equestrians, and of course, for the proximity to the world-class facility at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Mary Chapot lives here with husband Frank Chapot, who was a member of the 1960 Olympic team in Rome and served for many years as Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. show jumping squad. Mary explained that gaining a permanent base in Wellington made their lives so much easier.

“We would always travel to Florida with a car that looked like a circus car, with things hanging everywhere and over the sides,” she laughed. “We did the motel thing for as long as we could stand it. We’ve been here for about 12 years now in a wonderful condo in Bedford Mews.

Just to be able to go home and put your feet up, and have a couple of bathrooms available, with the whole family down here, sure beats a motel.”

Darren Chiacchia, a member of the 2004 bronze-medal eventing team at the Athens Olympics, has been making the winter trip to Wellington for more than two dePHOTOS BY KENNETH KRAUS/PHELPSSPORTS.COM

(Above) Mary Chapot with her husband Frank, a member of the 1960 Olympic team, who also served for many years as Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. show jumping squad. (Left) Olympian Margie Engle, shown here riding Hidden Creek’s Calippo, has lived in Wellington for more than 20 years.

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Olympian Darren Chiacchia, a member of the 2004 bronze-medal eventing team, lives in Ocala but spends a great deal of time in Wellington. He is shown here riding Better I Do It. PHELPS MEDIA GROUP FILE PHOTO

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cades, despite owning a farm in Ocala.

“I have been coming to Wellington since the winter of 1982,” he recalled. “Even though I moved to Ocala, I have always kept a foot in the door in Wellington. I was very fortunate to find a condominium on what I think is the prettiest road in the Polo Club. I am looking forward to spending even more time there this year.”

2000 Olympian Lauren Hough, shown here riding Naomi, spends half the year in Europe, but is always glad to return home to Wellington.

Margie Engle, a member of the 2000 show jumping team that competed in Sydney, Australia, has resided in Wellington for more than 20 years.

“For me, it was a no-brainer. I was raised in Miami, but it just made sense for me, with 90 percent of the horse shows being held in this area, to move closer to where the activity was,” Engle said. “I love it here in Wellington. It’s close to my family. Everything you want to do is right here. I’m not big on shopping, but there are so many opportunities for

photo by kenneth kraus/phelpssports.com

that, especially with the mall right here.

I rarely go beyond ‘the four walls’ of Wellington. Everything I want to do is right here. I own a barn with apartments for my help, and my house is in Greenview Cove.”

Courtney King-Dye, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic dressage team that competed in Hong Kong, has been making the winter trip from her home in New York for five seasons. “I came the first time, and I never wanted to spend anoth-

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er winter up north,” she laughed. “For me, it is just really special to have this community, because there are so many people who have lives just like mine — the same kind of schedules, the same passions, and same ups and downs. So more than just the education and benefits of riding, I love feeling that sense of togetherness and community.”

Laura Kraut, a three-time Olympian and member of the gold-medal show jumping team from Hong Kong, loves the convenience.

“I purchased my first place in 1997, but moved here full time in 2004,” Kraut recalled. “Being in Wellington is advantageous to my lifestyle. Being based where you compete four or five months a year and not having to travel is great, and having the best show jumping circuit in the world a half a mile from my house is wonderful.”

Kraut enjoys Wellington for its general convenience. “I think what I like most about the village is that everything is just so close,” she said. “I call it the ‘compound.’ We don’t have to drive more than five miles for anything that you want. It’s very convenient.”

Dressage rider Michelle Gibson, shown here aboard Don Angelo, competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. photo by Susan J. Stickle

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Courtney King-Dye, shown here aboard Mythilus competing at the 2008 Olympics. photo by Susan J. Stickle

Michelle Gibson is a dressage rider and trainer who competed on the 1996 bronze-medal dressage team at the Atlanta Olympics. She operates her business, Michelle Gibson Dressage, and is the head trainer at Diamante Farms, a dressage training, showing and boarding facility owned by Dick and Terri Kane.

Gibson loves “the excellent equestrian community, top competition and broad training resources in Wellington.”

Lauren Hough, a veteran of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, agreed.

“I’ve been here almost 10 years now,” Hough said. “I moved here originally because my dad was here, and of course, it’s the center of the equestrian world, and it affords me an opportunity to stay in one place for a good amount of the year… The best riders from all over the world come here to compete, so that certainly helps you to improve your game.

The prize money is excellent and the convenience of living at home is much appreciated.”

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she said. “The small things, like having a Starbucks right around the corner.

There are really good restaurants, so, the lifestyle is very convenient, in addition to having the horses and the horse shows so close.”

Wellington provides a central location for many of the world’s top equestrians to live and compete, and many of these Olympians will continue to represent their countries in Wellington this winter. This year, the circuit will be especially competitive as the horses and riders work toward qualifying for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Kentucky this fall. The exceptional equestrian facilities provide opportunities for those riders to compete toward that goal in Wellington, an Olympic village.

PHOTO BY KENNETH KRAUS/PHELPSSPORTS.COM PHOTO BY ERIN COWGILL/PHELPSSPORTS.COM

(Top right) The 2004 Olympic team, joined by other U.S. Olympians, is honored upon their return to Wellington. (Bottom right) Three-time Olympian Laura Kraut has been a full-time Wellington resident for six years.

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Wellington Entrepreneur

DEAN VARVARIGOS

Serving Wellington With Flowers Since 1991

STORY BY MATTHEW AUERBACH PHOTOS BY SUSAN LERNER

W

here have all the flowers gone? Pete Seeger asked that question in his folk song of the same name. While one would be hard-pressed to pinpoint the exact retail locations of flora sold around the globe, it can be stated with certainty that a fine selection can be found in the friendly confines of Wellington Florist.

Wellington Florist, located in the Wellington Marketplace at the corner of Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd., has been a community staple since 1991, thanks to the expertise and professionalism of Melinda and Dean Varvarigos. The latter is this month’s nominee for Wellington The Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Dean Varvarigos, now 61, grew up in Queens, New York, with concrete under his feet and flowers on his mind. He has been immersed in all things floral his entire life: both his parents and several other family members were involved in the wholesale, retail and growing ends of the business.

At 16, while still in high school, Varvarigos crossed the East River and got a job at the legendary Rialto Flowers at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, at the time Manhattan’s only 24-hour open-air flower shop. The job included spending many a pre-dawn hour with the grizzled veterans of the trade in New York’s flower district. By the time he left three years later, Varvarigos had gained enough hands-on experience and knowledge to last a lifetime.

After relocating to Fort Lauderdale in 1977, Varvarigos became general manager of Buning the Florist, overseeing 25 stores in the statewide chain. It was at Buning that Dean and Melinda met, and love bloomed. They have been happily married for more than 30 years.

Upon leaving Buning in 1982, Varvarigos opened Richard’s Florist in Fort Lauderdale. After nine successful years, he was looking for a change — and found it in Wellington.

“In 1991, I took a trip up to Wellington. I saw something that day I’ll never forget,” Varvarigos explained. “I was just hanging around when

(Right) Dean Varvarigos, this month’s nominee for Wellington Entrepreneur of the Year, has run Wellington Florist with his wife Melinda for nearly 20 years.

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I watched a woman ride up to Burger King on a horse. She tied the reins up and walked inside. When she was done eating, she came back out, got on her horse and rode away. I remember thinking to myself, ‘That is too cool.’ That’s when I knew I had to come here.”

Dean and Melinda opened Wellington Florist that same year, and business has been thriving ever since.

The Varvarigos recipe for success is based on two main ingredients: experience and customer service.

More than 40 years of experience has given Dean Varvarigos the expertise to create the perfect floral arrangement for any occasion.

“After all these years, I’m able to look at flowers and know whether or not they’re going to appeal to people,” he said.

“Freshness is key. It’s also a plus to know where to buy. I’ve made a lot of important contacts over the years. We import flowers from all over the world and will go through extraordinary channels to get the best for our customers.”

Wellington Florist offers a 100-percent customer satisfaction guarantee and also uses Daisy Teleflora, which means they can send your order to any destination around the world.

Varvarigos passes along his passion to his employees. “The goal of this job is to please people and make them more conscious about flowers,” he said. “The folks who work for me are creative, honest and not afraid to take the initiative when it comes to customer service.

While I totally welcome new ideas and am always open for suggestions, I train them in my style. Just like any other business owner, I have a vision of how things should be.”

One of the trademarks of Wellington Florist is the shop’s lush window displays.

This does not happen by accident. “First impressions are very important,” Varvarigos said. “We want people to walk in and feel they’re in a real flower shop.”

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While Dean Varvarigos is no slouch when it comes to window dressing, that area of expertise belongs mostly to Melinda. “She’s really an artist when it comes to the displays,” he said. “The mix of my business sense and her artistic vision make us a really good team.”

the village a happy place to live,” he said.

“Many of our clientele live a somewhat affluent lifestyle; they’re more inclined to buy my product. But regardless of the size of anyone’s paycheck, we want to enhance their lives by brightening their homes with the addition of flowers.”

Like every business, Wellington Florist has been affected by the troubled economy. “The entire floral industry is down 10 to 15 percent,” Varvarigos said.

“But my dad told me something that I’ve never forgotten. He said even during the Depression, people bought a flower or two. Maybe they couldn’t afford a birthday present or a five-course meal, but they came in and bought a few daisies or a half-dozen roses. Flowers make people feel good; always have, always will.”

It’s a point of view that is supported by scientific study.

That’s a feeling Varvarigos and everyone at his shop is committed to passing on to Wellington customers.

“If we please people who support us, then I believe we’re doing our part to make

“Studies have shown the addition of fresh flowers in the home reduces stress and creates a happier, healthier atmosphere,” Varvarigos said. “It’s like having a pet without having to do the walking or emptying the litter box.”

As someone who puts customer satisfaction at the top of his “to do” list, Varvarigos has a bit of advice for people thinking of purchasing his product for a certain holiday this month.

“Valentine’s Day is one of our biggest, if not our biggest, day,” he said. “It happens to fall on a Sunday this year. I’m

expecting a huge rush. I’m going to have a dozen drivers ready to deliver that day. Here’s a tip: if you’re planning on ordering a bouquet or even something along more modest lines, do it early. I say that for two reasons: one, the earlier you order, the more varieties you’ll have to choose from and two, it’s going to be crazy in the shop that day.”

Wellington Florist is located at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite 13A, in the Wellington Marketplace. For more info., call (561) 7959299 or visit www.wellingtonflorist.com.

Wellington The Magazine will feature one entrepreneur each month during 2010 and, with the help of our readers, award the first “Wellington’s Entrepreneur of the Year” award to one of the featured business owners at the end of 2010. To nominate a Wellington business owner who you find inspiring, visit www. wellingtonthemagazine.com.

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(Background) Nearby produce fields supply many of the vegetables sold at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market. (Top) Steve Bedner (holding romaine lettuce) with his wife Marie and daughter Megan. (Left) This arrangement of produce features cabbage, apples, lettuce, red peppers, Sicilian eggplant and oranges. (Above) Aside from produce, Bedner’s also offers bottled water and signature salad dressings.

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Fresh From Field To Fork Produce The Old-Fashioned Way At Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market STORY BY RON BUKLEY  PHOTOS BY ABNER PEDRAZA

A 9,800-square-foot country store is rising on State Road 7 west of Boynton Beach. Due for completion in February, the barn-like building will turn a vision into reality, providing fresh produce directly from field to fork.

Homeland residents Steve and Marie Bedner are currently selling fresh produce directly from an outdoor stand at their 80-acre field. However, the new barn will house Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, greatly expanding their current efforts to bring the freshest produce available to area consumers.

If you’re looking for that farm-fresh taste, Bedner’s provides the closest you can get without picking it yourself.

While Bedner’s does offer “u-pick” service on tomatoes and strawberries, other produce requires a certain level of skill (as well as long, sharp knifes) to harvest, noted Steve Bedner, a native Floridian whose farming heritage dates back to the 1800s. Bedner’s also offers sweet corn, lettuce, squash, beans, several types of peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant and more.

Steve Bedner’s family came to South Florida in 1950 from Pennsylvania, later settling in Delray Beach. He currently runs the operation with his brothers Charlie and Bruce. Some of the produce is grown at other nearby fields owned by the Bedners, who have long run a successful commercial produce operation.

The Bedners have been planning the new market for about five years. They bought the Boynton Beach field in 1980, where the chief crops were peppers and cucumbers until now, said Marie Bedner. “It’s hard to get a chunk of field in one spot,” she said.

The Bedners are the first area commercial farmers to open a direct-from-the-field retail market, said company representative Carmen Knight.

“They’re taking their local farm-fresh produce and selling it. We normally don’t have access to it. Let me show you what romaine lettuce really

looks like,” Knight said, displaying a uniformly green-colored head that was not too dark, which would suggest bitterness. “This is locally grown here. This is what buying local means.”

“It’s right off the back of this farm,” Steve Bedner added, noting that not only is the produce fresh as can be, it is also priced competitively. “There’s nowhere in this county that you can get it as fresh as you can right here.”

Since all the produce is hand-picked, there are no blemishes from a mechanical picker. “If you look at our beans, they’re all hand picked, so there are no broken ones,” Steve Bedner said.

The farm features a strawberry tractor tram that takes pickers to the fields and brings them back with red faces and full baskets. “They take the kids and the families and they go out to the upick,” Knight said. “It’s fun; they really enjoy the tractor ride. Most kids don’t understand what farming is. It’s a great experience for them. They get to understand how produce is really farmed.

It’s not all packaged.”

“They think it all comes from Publix and Costco,” Steve Bedner said, adding that one of his goals when the large store opens is to invite school classes out to learn about agriculture.

The Bedners are working to get the word out about their concept of selling directly from the field. “Word of mouth is the biggest thing,” Marie Bedner said. “They come out and get our produce, and they go home and tell their friends what a great time they had out here and how delicious and fresh the produce is.”

As people learn about the operation, customers are coming from farther and farther, Steve Bedner said. “People come from as far as Miami for the produce,” he said.

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The goal is to make Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market a place where people can enjoy themselves while they shop for fresh produce.

“The vision is to make this not just a one-stop shop, but a destination, where when you come, you can be indoors and outdoors,” Knight said. “The Bedners take a lot of pride in their produce.

It’s rewarding to be able to deal with the customers and be able to see the reaction to the product that they’re growing and see how excited customers are about the fresh vegetables.”

Steve Bedner said he put in picnic tables so people feel welcome to stay as long as they want. “They can sit down and relax and enjoy the outdoors,” he said.

(Top left) The Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market country store is designed to look like a barn.

(Left) All produce is hand-picked using Bedner’s own equipment. (Far left) The tractor that transports customers to the strawberry patch.

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Shoppers Joanne Moustakas and Alan Goldenberg of Boynton Beach came out because they were impressed by the quality of the produce when Marie Bedner made a presentation at their community center and gave out samples including romaine lettuce, broccoli and corn, as well as advice on how to prepare corn.

Goldenberg said the freshness and buying locally were motivating factors in their coming out to the market. “We like the freshness and the fact that it’s helping the local economy as opposed to wherever else it might be coming from,” he said.

Moustakas said she agrees with the Bedners’ vision. “They hit a nerve with us, and that is ‘buy local.’ It’s totally different than Publix, and Publix is only a quarter of a mile from our house, but it’s worth coming out here,” she said. “When we had the broccoli, we didn’t have to put anything on it. It was sweet.”

Goldenberg said even the stalk of the romaine was sweet and flavorful. “Even the stems were good,” he said.

Maria Bedner said the difference is in the freshness. The longer the produce remains in shipment or on the shelf, the less desirable it is. “We constantly have people in the field picking, so we can rotate as we sell,” she said.

Steve Bedner said he plants a row of most of the crops each week to guarantee a constant supply of fresh produce.

“As soon as it’s low, we go out and pick more,” he said.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market is located at 12033 State Road 7, between Boynton Beach Blvd. and Atlantic Ave. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more info., call (561) 499-3994. Detailed information about the family and the farm-fresh produce available can be found at www.bedners.com.

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W

WELLINGTON at Home

Redesign Brings More Space, Unique Colors To The Scott Home In Wellington’s Palm Beach Polo STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY

IMAGES COURTESY MICHAEL J. LEE PHOTOGRAPHY

Paul and Cynthia Scott first came to Wellington from New Hampshire three years ago when their teenage daughter Alison, an avid rider, began following the equestrian circuit.

“My mother told me we should buy a house if I was going to keep doing this,” recalled Alison, now 19. Knowing Alison was not about to quit riding anytime soon, the Scotts soon found a home they liked in Palm Beach Polo and signed on the dotted line.

Then the real fun began.

Cynthia called on the services of a designer she had enjoyed working with before — Susan Acton of Susan B. Acton Interiors — and the pair began talking about the home’s potential.

“We totally redid it when she bought it two years ago, but when I went to do some more work with her last year in New Hampshire, she was hemming and hawing,” Acton said. “I knew she was uncomfortable about something.”

“Last year, a friend and her family came down, and we were one bedroom short,” explained Alison.

“Cynthia said she should’ve bought a house with another bedroom, so we tried to figure out what we could do,” Acton said. “We talked about taking the bedroom wing and making it larger, about putting a guest room in what was originally the master bath.

I told her we would have to eliminate the existing pool to do that, and she was thrilled with the idea. She started talking about wanting to add a waterfall.”

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(Above) The Scotts added landscaping and lighting (and a guest bedroom) to the pool area.

(Right inset) Spiraling columns serve to ground the ethereal outdoor space created when this pergola was added.

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‘It was very neutral when we got the house because the owners had painted it to sell it.

Mom put in a wood floor and color on the walls.’

Alison Scott (Top) Butter yellow walls and walnut flooring stained to match the existing ceiling treatment add warmth to rooms once described merely as “neutral.” (Left) Wine and cheese are offered in the dining room, made tropical through the use of art and orchids.

And that wasn’t all. Cynthia and Susan added not only the waterfall, but also new decking, a pergola, columns and landscaping.

“They have such a big yard because they have two golden retrievers, so I added a pergola outside the living room to make this a shaded area,” Acton said. “We developed this whole seating area with the jasmine so they could sit out there all day and not be in the hot sun.”

wood floor and color on the walls. She likes green.”

A restful green does dominate throughout many of the rooms, working to show off the lines of a mixture of bamboo, dark-stained and painted furniture.

Acton credits Idlewild Furnishings on South Shore Blvd. for many of the furnishings, while PMI did most of the construction work.

the formal dining room is softened by a table — and ceiling — with very dark finishes (“almost like an espresso,” Acton offered) and comfortably upholstered seating for six. The crown molding is a muted white, but “looks brighter because of the intensity of the yellow,” Acton said.

Inside, the home now featured five bedrooms and five baths, as well as something else — color.

The dark mahogany front door of the home, for instance, was custom-made to feature a circular glass panel cut into quarters.

Meanwhile, white silk orchids and a tropical scene done on four individually hung wall panels transport diners to the depths of the jungle. Around the corner in the kitchen, the promised transition to Cynthia’s favored green color finally takes place.

“It was very neutral when we got the house because the owners had painted it to sell it,” Alison said. “Mom put in a

Once inside, buttery yellow walls welcome visitors into the foyer and adjoining hallway. To the left, the yellow of

“It’s called ‘Spring Valley’ by Benjamin Moore,” Acton said. “The variations of green started with the tile backsplash

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and granite, and it’s also in another guest room, and in the house in New Hampshire.”

Reminiscent of the ocean on a cloudy day, the green has been joined with subtle variations of blue in three different fabrics on the lounge chairs of the adjacent family room. “The kitchen cabinets were there, but we reconfigured the entire kitchen,” Acton said.

Cherry-stained panels now camouflage the refrigerator, but even that has been relocated. “We moved it to the right to get more work space between it and the sink,” Acton said. “The kitchen also had a low working desk area, which we eliminated to get more counter space. We also added a second refrigerator under the (Left) The family room in the Scott home is designed with plenty of comfortable seating.

(Below) Three black pendant lights provide stark contrast to the dark cherry kitchen cabinets and wood flooring.

counter, which they needed. Cynthia wanted a big working kitchen.”

Bursts of fiery red and orange silk flowers add additional colors to the mix, as do the Benjamin Moore “Starburst Orange” walls of the study. “That color came out brighter than Mom thought it would,” Alison said. “But she likes it.”

Black leather and brass tacks on the chairs add a subdued gravity to the room, while overhead, a tri-arm chandelier hints at the levity of billiards but lights up reading material instead.

The master bedroom evokes peace and sleep with its cream-colored walls, draperies and bedspread, but green, determined to make another appearance, returns in the form of throw pillows and the base of a lamp. A faux bamboo bed, simple yet elegant, and the gently moving blades of an overhead fan provide the comfort one expects in the master retreat.

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Feel like a soak? Green onyx in the master bath travels across a vanity top to surround the tub. Above, walls lean from green toward turquoise. The cream color of the bedroom is also carried into the room via antiqued ivory cabinets, panels and trim. The green glass tiles of the shower suggest sea glass and leisure.

In the guest room, green is on the walls, but this time it doesn’t take center stage.

The eye is instead drawn to the drapes with their 1940s retro look of oversized palm fronds. The space is further enhanced by green plaid chairs with kicky blue and green striped throw pillows.

Faux bamboo drapery rods, cane-sided occasional chairs and a wool/sisal rug continue a tropical theme.

“I like the wool/sisal combination for rugs because it cleans better,” Acton (Left) Not afraid of color, the study uses Benjamin Moore’s “Starburst Orange.”

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(Above) A nickel horsehead towel ring in the guest bathroom hints at Alison’s favorite Florida pastime.

(Right) Drapes in a retro style enhance one wall of the new guest bedroom.

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said. “Sisal rugs always get replaced because you can’t clean them.”

tinel over a footed furniture-style vanity with a marble top.

An adjoining guest bathroom serves as a reminder that we’re not in the tropics, but in an equestrian community — a nickel horsehead towel ring stands sen-

Back in the living room, yellow walls return, and the green is temporarily relegated to three armchairs and the leaves of a tropical print sofa. Above it, two parrots look down on the scene approvingly from a framed print.

(Left) Antiqued white cabinets play off the greens of glass shower tile and onyx countertops in the master bath.

(Below) The view from the master bedroom encourages tropical dreams.

After all, what can feel more tropical than Florida in the winter? A peep at the new pergola through a set of glass doors

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encourages visitors to step outside and enjoy the newly renovated space. Fastgrowing jasmine is being trained to grow upward toward — and eventually across — the pergola, while the pool is underlit to highlight its aquamarine glory and the palm trees are spotlighted against the horizon as the sun sinks slowly in the west.

After enduring the chilly winter winds of New Hampshire, it’s a wonderful place to be.

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Wellington Table

Joe’s American Bar

& Grill

A Welcome Addition To The Wellington Restaurant Scene STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY  PHOTOS BY ABNER PEDRAZA

Many restaurants have established themselves in the Wellington area. But once you’ve been to Joe’s American Bar & Grill, you know you’ll be coming back — and often. Both food and service are nothing less than stellar.

Much of that can be attributed to a wonderfully attentive staff. “We had 750 people apply for 135 full-time jobs,” owner Charles Sarkis said.

With that kind of applicant pool, Sarkis could afford to hire only the best. “We’re a drug-free company — including the management,” he said. “And we trained every one of them. They took part in an expansive, 10week training program.”

Sarkis, who likes to work alongside friends and family, opened his first restaurant in 1964. It was an Italian place in Boston in a spot now occupied by Abe & Louie’s Steakhouse, one of 35 restaurants that comprise Sarkis’ Boston-based Back Bay Restaurant Group.

“We were shocked in the beginning,” said Sarkis, recalling the November opening of Joe’s American Bar & Grill in the Mall at Wellington Green. “People would

come in and say, ‘We go to Joe’s all the time in New Jersey’ or ‘We celebrated one of our anniversaries at Abe & Louie’s in Boston.’ We were surprised how well the brand was known.”

Back Bay features seven different dining concepts, including Papa-Razzi, Abe & Louie’s, Bouchée, Charley’s, Coach Grill and Atlantic Fish. The restaurants are located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, Florida and Washington, D.C. Before the Wellington restaurant opened, Back Bay had only one other location in Florida, Abe & Louie’s in Boca Raton.

The Wellington location is the 15th Joe’s American Bar & Grill.

The decision to add a restaurant in Wellington came about because Sarkis liked the area. He and his sister, longtime dressage rider Dorothy Morkis, had been coming to local equestrian events for years. Morkis

(Right) Sliced prime skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, green beans and peppers.

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(Main Photo) Joe’s American Bar & Grill features two bar areas serving drinks to perfectly accompany any meal.

(Above) Bartender Laura Damaschin invites you to unwind.

(Right) Enjoy Crazy Harry’s Cobb Salad with a Caribbean Rum Runner Punch or a Back Bay Sangria.

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was a member of the winning team and won an individual bronze medal at the 1975 Pan-American Games, and was the best-placing American at the 1976 Olympics, finishing fifth and winning a team bronze.

“We liked the growth of Wellington, and the fact that it has a lot of young families,” Sarkis said.

The focus at Joe’s is clearly on the food.

“All our food is fresh, high-quality food and a good value,” Sarkis said. “All our fish is fresh out of Pompano Beach, and we never use a microwave oven. We can accommodate any special diet; we don’t use MSG, and we’ve used canola oil in our restaurants for 20 years — way before it was the thing to do. Everything is made to order when you order it. If we don’t make it ourselves, it’s made especially for us.”

You can find everything from burgers to steak, as well as “two-handed sand-

wiches,” a great assortment of appetizers, “made-from-scratch” soups and salads featuring homemade dressing.

There are six different wood-fired pizzas as well, a Wellington-only addition to the Joe’s menu. “When we were remodeling, we took everything down to the studs,” Sarkis explained. “That pizza oven had been covered over in the wall.”

So try Picante, Margherita, Hawaiian, Sausage Gorgonzola, Steak-and-Spinach or Joes’s Cheeseburger Pizza.

melized onions and melted provolone.

Cheese aficionados will appreciate the fact that Joe’s American Bar & Grill uses nine-month aged cheddar from Wisconsin in its cheeseburgers and on its cheese plate.

Executive Chef Armando Galeas serves up Joe’s award-winning food at the new Wellington location. Bartender Laura Damaschin can be found presiding over a bar with wood taken from a 100-yearold Brunswick barn. “It brought some feeling to the place,” Sarkis said. “That, and our vintage 48-star flag.”

For meat lovers, there are four choices at lunchtime, eight in the evening. There’s prime skirt steak, New York sirloin, filet mignon, sliced London broil, sirloin steak tips, barbecued baby back ribs, tenderloin brochette and Joe’s special meatloaf.

With its welcoming atmosphere, excellent service and great food, there are many traditions already in place at Joe’s American Bar & Grill. We diners are simply the lucky beneficiaries.

Two-handed sandwiches include the chicken club, a classic Reuben, French dip, pressed Cuban, meatloaf club and roast beef Lyonnaise, made with cara-

Joe’s American Bar & Grill is located near the main entrance to the Mall at Wellington Green. For more information, visit www.joes american.com or call (561) 798-7433.

Regional Manager Marcelo Deveza, Executive Chef Armando Galeas and General Manager William Penenori with several dishes showing the variety of the menu at Joe’s American Bar & Grill: (L-R) Florida stone crab claws, Crazy Harry’s Cobb Salad, Joe’s original American cheeseburger with fries and onion rings, the wood-fired Margherita pizza hot out of the brick oven, and sliced prime skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, green beans and peppers.

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Wellington Dining Guide Agliolio Fresh Pasta & Wine Bar is Wellington’s newest gathering place for a fine dining experience at casual dining prices. Create your own “PastaBility” with Agliolio’s 100-percent fresh pastas and homemade sauces full of bold and fresh flavors.

Ask about the “Perfect Pair” entrees. Agliolio offers an extensive wine list by the glass and the bottle.

For more info., call (561) 798-7770 or visit Agliolio in the Wellington Plaza at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. at the corner of Wellington Trace.

Backstreets Neighborhood Bar & Grill serves the finest seafood, steaks, salads, burgers and pizzas as well as daily specials. Stop by on Sunday for a 14-ounce prime rib dinner. Backstreets is located in the Wellington Plaza and is open for lunch and dinner. Call (561) 795-0100 for info.

The Brass Monkey Tavern, located at 7781 Lake Worth Road near Florida’s Turnpike, features great food and drinks to enjoy while watching every game on TVs located throughout the tavern. Appetizers, specialty wings, salads, burgers and a variety of steaks and fish are available for lunch or dinner. For more info., call (561) 968-9559 or visit www.brass monkeylakeworth.com.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant is located on Forest Hill Blvd. near the Mall at Wellington Green.

Specializing in family-style Italian cuisine, Buca di Beppo is known for its large portions designed to serve several people. If you’ve got a large party, reserve the Pope’s Room; for a unique experience, reserve the table in the kitchen. For more information, call (561) 790-3287 or visit www.bucadibeppo. com.

NEW YORK DELI

FLORIDA STYLE

Campagnolo Italian Restaurant offers a taste of New York’s Little Italy in Wellington. In the Marketplace at Wycliffe, Campagnolo serves family-style Italian cuisine with huge portions meant to share. For an appetizer, try the stuffed artichokes or mussel soup. For an entree, try the Chicken Campagnolo, veal pizzaiola or penne con broccoli rabe. Located at 4115 State Road 7, it is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more information, call (561) 434-9427.

Campagnolo Trattoria is now open in the Mall at Wellington Green, serving high-quality Italian cuisine in a casual setting. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more info., call (561) 790-1311.

Centanni Café & Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach serves up delicious Italian dishes cooked to order. It is located at the corner of State Road 7 and Southern Blvd. near Kmart. Call (561) 792-7677 for information.

Executive Chef David Palmateer, previously of Café Chardonnay, recently opened deVine Bistro & Bar with his wife Sara. The restaurant’s atmosphere is chic yet comfy, and the gourmet menu focuses on hand-selected and all-natural ingredients. DeVine Bistro & Bar is located in the Plaza at Wellington Green at 2465 State Road 7, Suite 300. For more info., call (561) 204-5432.

WELLINGTON The Mall at Wellington Green (561) 784-9055 LAKE WORTH 419 Lake Avenue (561) 582-8684 BOYNTON BEACH Boynton Beach Mall (561) 740-7420

Field of Greens, located at 10140 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Pointe at Wellington Green, serves some of the freshest and healthiest food in town.

It is a quick, contemporary restaurant specializing in salads and sandwiches. Enjoy customized salads with homemade dressings, as well as signature salads and wraps. For more information, call (561) 795-4345.

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Wellington Social Scene Gabriel’s Cafe & Grille is Wellington’s oldest restaurant. Serving breakfast and lunch, Gabriel’s is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the Wellington Plaza at the intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace. For more info., call (561) 793-0675.

Drop by the Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant and relax in a warm, traditional Irish setting complete with oak-barrel tables and a full bar with many types of beer flowing from the taps. Regular live entertainment is offered. The Gypsy’s Horse is located in the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Call (561) 333-3700 for more info.

I’m Greek Today features a menu with a strong emphasis on one of the world’s healthiest diets — food that is simple and elegant, fresh, timeless and Mediterranean. Enjoy authentic Greek cuisine as well as wines from around the world. I’m Greek Today is located in Southern Palm Crossing at 11051 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 333-4233 or visit www.imgreek today.com.

Jason’s Deli is where all the food is free of artificial trans fats, MSG and high-fructose corn syrup.

Enjoy wonderful sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and fruit. You can even build your own sandwich!

Jason’s Deli is located at 2605 State Road 7 near Whole Foods Market in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 333-1263 or visit www.jasonsdeli.com.

Joe’s American Bar & Grill, a neighborhood staple for traditional American cuisine, is now open in the Mall at Wellington Green near the food court entrance. Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are served featuring a menu full of items prepared using the freshest quality ingredients. Joe’s is a favorite for a casual lunch, a family dinner or a gathering of friends. Visit Joe’s at 10300 W. Forest Blvd., Wellington. For more info., visit www.joesamerican. com or call (561) 798-7433.

Kontiki Wine & Raw Bar is located in the Courtyard Shops of Wellington at the corner of Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd. Steaks and seafood are featured, prepared with a Euro-Asian fusion flair. Enjoy the full sushi bar and a glass or bottle of wine from a large and varied list. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For more info., call (561) 296-0404.

La Fogata Restaurant serves delicious Mexican cuisine. The restaurant, located in the Wellington Town Square at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., features a tequila bar. Call (561) 422-1641 for info.

Family owned and operated, Mamma Mia’s Trattoria has served South Florida since 1983. Huge portions; open for lunch and dinner; featuring New York-style brick oven pizza; specializing in fresh seafood, oakwood-grilled lambchops, slow-roasted ossobuco and frutti di mare. Mamma Mia’s is located at 8855 Hypoluxo Road at Lyons Road. Call (561) 963-9565 for more info.

Max & Erma’s restaurant is now open in Royal Palm Beach, serving gourmet hamburgers, steaks, chicken, pasta, salads and sandwiches. Call-ahead seating and carryout available. Max & Erma’s is located at 11111 Southern Blvd. in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza. For more info., call (561) 383-8878 or visit www.maxandermas.com.

Mitch’s Westside Bagels is a little slice of Brooklyn right here in Wellington. It is located at 2465 State Road 7. Enjoy the most delicious fresh breakfast or WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY 2010

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Wellington Dining Guide lunch you have ever tasted. The bagels are baked fresh daily right in the store. All deli meats are prepared fresh on site. Enjoy legendary salads like tuna, whitefish and chicken. Catering is available for all occasions. For more info., call (561) 422-6114 or visit www.mitchswestsidebagels.com. Other locations are in Boynton Beach, Boca Raton and Coral Springs.

Nature’s Table Café in the Wellington Marketplace offers a wholesome menu featuring hearty soups, specialty salads, gourmet wraps, signature sandwiches and fruit yogurt shakes. Free Wi-Fi access is available, as well as online ordering. For more information, visit www.ntcwellington.com or call (561) 383-8343.

Nicole’s Pasta & Grill, originally Nicole’s Village Tavern, is located at 12300 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. Recent changes have added a full menu of popular Italian dishes while maintaining a number of favorites from the old menu. For more info., call (561) 793-3456 or visit www.nicoles villagetavern.com.

The Players Club Restaurant & Bar (13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington) features gourmet cuisine along with a popular piano bar, outside dining, two outside smoking bars, live entertainment and catered events. Call (561) 795-0080 for more information.

Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at Ristorante Vino, located at 12041 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach near Albertson’s. The restaurant opens for dinner at 5 p.m. seven nights a week. For reservations, call (561) 790-3232.

Sal’s Italian Ristorante is your neighborhood Italian restaurant. In addition to pizzas of all sizes and toppings, Sal’s offers a large selection of pastas, steaks, chops, chicken and seafood dishes. Also available are a variety of desserts and wines. You can dine in, take out or call for delivery. For more information, call (561) 790-3780 or visit Sal’s Italian Ristorante at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington Town Square.

Got a craving? Master Chef Shingo at Shingo’s Authentic Japanese Restaurant can satisfy that craving with so many sashimi and sushi varieties, you could never taste them all! The restaurant also features many other Japanese specialties. Shingo’s is located in the Woods Walk plaza at the corner of Lake Worth Road and State Road 7. For info., call (561) 963-5050.

Spices Modern Thai & Sushi Bar features delicious Asian cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. Enjoy authentic savory Thai cuisine coupled with a fullservice sushi bar. Spices is open every day for lunch and dinner, and is located at 11071 Southern Blvd. in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza behind Bank Atlantic. For more info., call (561) 7983877 or visit www.enjoyspices.com.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern in the Pointe at Wellington Green serves up exciting flavors in a casually sophisticated setting. The gourmet American fare features delicious entrees with the perfect wines to accompany. Call (561) 784-9796 or visit www.stone woodgrill.com for more info.

Sushi Yama Siam is located at 12785 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza at the corner of Wel-

lington Trace and Forest Hill Blvd. Specializing in sushi, Sushi Yama Siam also offers exciting appetizers, sushi rolls, temaki, tempura, katsu, stir-fry, curry and signature rolls. For more info., call (561) 747-6875.

Drop by the award-winning TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli in the Mall at Wellington Green for breakfast, lunch or dinner. TooJay’s is reminiscent of your favorite New York delicatessen. Specialties include signature overstuffed sandwiches, chicken noodle soup and traditional deli classics. For more info., call (561) 784-9055 or visit www.toojays.com.

Tree’s Wings & Ribs is located at 603 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Royal Plaza. Eat in or pick up your order of signature wings, ribs, chicken and more. Tree’s also delivers mouthwatering menu items, and caters events and parties. Visit www. treeswingsandribs.com or call (561) 791-1535 for more info.

Tub Tim Thai Restaurant in the Marketplace at Wycliffe features authentic Thai cuisine and decor. Thai dishes made with fresh seafood, juicy duck and authentic ingredients are prepared for you to enjoy.

For more info., call (561) 641-5550 or visit Tub Tim Thai Restaurant at 4095 State Road 7 at Lake Worth Road.

Zensai Asian Grill & Sushi Bar features Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisine, offering something for everyone. Sushi is made fresh to order daily in an upscale, soothing atmosphere. The restaurant is located at 10233 Okeechobee Blvd. in the Super Target shopping center. Call (561) 795-8882 or visit www.zensairestaurant.com for more info.

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DISCOVER many of the most feared terrestrial carnivores including the massive Giganotosaurus and other larger-than-life predators including, the Monolophosaurus, Tuojiangosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor.

This hands-on exhibit enables you to learn about dinosaurs by handling an Oviraptor egg, excavating a skeleton, or taking a turn at the Wheel of Dinosaur Misfortune.

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Wellington Calendar THURSDAY, FEB. 4 • The West Palm Beach library will sponsor “Super Clematis by Night” on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Centennial Square by the fountain. This will be the largest free football celebration event in South Florida and includes two stages of entertainment featuring Starship with Mickey Thomas. Call (561) 822-1515 or visit www. clematisbynight.net for more info.

• Palm Beach Atlantic University will host the International Piano Festival Concert with the Palm Beach Symphony on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the DeSantis Family Chapel (300 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). For more info., call (561) 602-6720 or visit www.pba.edu/performances.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present “The Peggy Lee Songbook” Feb. 4-6 in the Rinker Playhouse. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

FRIDAY, FEB. 5 • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will celebrate Black History Month with an adult program on Friday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

Author Barbara Mauzy will bring dolls, kitchenware, books and product packages that were based on preconceived ideas and prejudices. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Science Club: If You Build It, They Will Come” for ages eight and up on Fridays, Feb. 5 and 19 at 3 p.m. Let your imagination overflow as you build things with Legos. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6 • Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach) will host the Everglades Day Festival on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (561) 735-6029 or visit www.fws.gov/loxahatchee for more info.

• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will feature a “Beguiling Begonias Workshop” on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (561) 233-1757 or visit www. mounts.org for more info.

• The Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) invites children to tour the exhibition “New World Eden: Explorers in the American Tropics” on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www. flaglermuseum.us for more info.

• The South Florida Science Museum (4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach) and Hoffman’s Chocolates will present “Science of Chocolate” on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6 and 7. Museum guests will learn about the chemistry of dark, milk and white chocolate. Call (561) 8321988 or visit www.sfsm.org for more info.

SUNDAY, FEB. 7 • Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Praise Gospel Choir will celebrate Black History Month with “Music for a Sunday Afternoon” on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. in the West Palm Beach library auditorium (411 Clematis St., West Palm Beach). The concert is free and open to all. Call (561) 868-7701 or visit www.mycitylibrary.org for more info.

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Wellington Calendar MONDAY, FEB. 8 • Bob Lappin & the Palm Beach Pops will present “An Evening with Clint Holmes” on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.palmbeachpops.org for more info.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9 • The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a membership luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Wellington Regional Medical Center (10101 W. Forest Hill Blvd). RSVP to (561) 7906200 or visit www.palmswest.com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Book Discussion: Lightning Thief ” for ages 10 and up on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Percy Jackson, a misunderstood boy with special gifts, is presented with the challenge of finding Zeus’ missing lightning bolt. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Meet the Author: Tim Dorsey” for adults on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Meet this best-selling author and get the scoop on Gator A-Go-Go, the just-released title in the popular “Serge A. Storms” series. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

• The Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) will present the Amelia Piano Trio in concert on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets include a champagne and dessert reception with the artists. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for more info.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10 • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians with Al Pierson in Dreyfoos Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11 • The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a networking mixer on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest. com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will offer a “Valentine Pop-up Card” class for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.

Make someone special a pop-up Valentine’s Day card. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12 • Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) Feb. 12-14. Enjoy the elegance of historic Whitehall and a special Gilded Age-style tea-fortwo in the Café des Beaux Arts with someone special. Tickets are $60 per couple. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for more info.

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Wellington Calendar SATURDAY, FEB. 13 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will offer “Heartfelt Wishes” for age two and up on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m.

Be inspired by holiday stories and create a Valentine for someone you love. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• Little Smiles’ 2010 Stars Ball “A Night at the Oscars” will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace. Bland and Erika Eng of Palms West Hospital are the honorary chairs, while Dr. Alberto Marante and Maggie Zeller are co-chairs. Tickets are on sale at www.littlesmiles.org for $175 per person.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., WPB) will present the Israel Ballet performing Don Quixote on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall. Call (561) 8327469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16 • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Gladys Knight in Dreyfoos Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Joan Rivers on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18 • The Palm Beach Opera will host its “Lunch & Learn Series” on Thursday, Feb. 18 at noon at the National Croquet Club (700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach). Come enjoy an informative and insightful look inside the upcoming production of Don Giovanni. Call (561) 833-7888 or visit www.pbopera.org for more info.

• The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host an After-Hours Networking Reception at the Hair Market (12160 South Shore Blvd., Wellington) on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

RSVP to (561) 792-6525.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Anime Grab Bag” for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Pocky will be provided. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

FRIDAY, FEB. 19 • The 2010 Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Benefit Auction Dinner & Dance will be held Friday, Feb. 19 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. For more info., visit www.vinceremos.com or call (561) 792-9900.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20 • Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will present “Growing & Using Herbs in South Florida” on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon featuring Dennis Gretton of D&D Growers. Call (561) 233-1757 or visit www. mounts.org for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Writing & Publishing Mystery” for adults on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. Meet a

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panel of mystery authors from Oceanview Press.

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

• The Vintages Gala to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine will be held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner, a live auction and dancing will follow cocktails and a silent auction.

For tickets, call Sheryl Sulkin at (954) 964-4040 or (800) 321-3437 or e-mail vintagesdri@gmail.com.

For more information, visit www.vintagesdri.org.

Monday, Feb. 22 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host the Workforce Alliance Mobile Vehicle on Monday, Feb. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. Job seekers can fill out online application forms and learn about career opportunities. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Become an Effective Entrepreneur” for adults on Monday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. with productivity coach Claudine Motto. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Meet the Author: P.J. Parrish” for adults on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The best-selling mystery author P.J. Parrish is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center. Call (561) 791-4000 or visit www. wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 • The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 24 featuring the candidates seeking office in the 2010 municipal election. The luncheon will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

RSVP to (561) 792-6525.

• The 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction will be held Feb. 24-27 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Visit www.lusitano collection.com for more info.

Thursday, Feb. 25 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Meet the Author: Shutta Crum” for first graders through adults on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

Friday, Feb. 26 • The Palm Beach Opera will present Don Giovanni Feb. 26 through March 1 and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Call (561) 833-7888 or visit www.pbopera.org for more info.

• The West Palm Beach Spring Home Show returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds Feb. 2628. Visit www.acshomeshow.com for more info. saTurday, Feb. 27 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Five Steps to Permanent Weight Loss” Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. with Dr. Sabrina Morgen. Call (561) 790-6070 for info.

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Around Wellington

Donna the Buffalo performs for the crowd.

Donna The Buffalo Visits

(Above) Nilu Jimenez-Roth, Bonnie Stevens, Jackie Sisler and Colleen Hendrickson.

(Left) Ann Hall and Damian Deprospero.

— Live Arts Florida’s Western Communities Concert Series returned to the Wellington High School performing arts theater on Saturday, Jan. 2 to present a live concert by renowned roots music band Donna the Buffalo. Upcoming Live Arts Florida performances include the Tannahill Weavers on Feb. 14 and Copeland Davis & Friends on Feb. 28.

For more info., visit www. liveartsfl.org.

Photos by Denise Fleischman

Painting For Haiti — Children from the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington gathered Jan. 26 to paint a mural inspired by Haitian artists in an effort to raise money for the relief effort in Haiti.

Wellington Art Society members Ilene Adams and Corinne Ingerman taught the students about art in Haiti and helped them draw and paint the mural. The mural will be auctioned off to raise money to help earthquake victims. Shown below, Susan Mosely and Corinne Ingerman watch the children as they draw.

George Morris oversees the ring.

‘Horsemasters’ Training In Wellington — The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center hosted the fourth George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session Jan. 5-9. The program was conducted by George H. Morris, the legendary horseman and chef d’équipe of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gold medal show-jumping team. The event raised money for the USET Foundation and featured the next generation of America’s “horsemasters:” Jacqueline Lubrano, Jessica Springsteen, Zazou Hoffman, Christy Distefano, Matthew Metell, Theodore Boris, Jennifer Waxman, Reed Kessler, Chase Boggio and Vic(Above) Jessica Springsteen at the toria Birdsall. stabling area. (Below) Victoria Photos by Lindsay McCall

Birdsall completes a jump.

Photo by Lauren Miró

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INSPIRATION

?

What is

“WELLINGTON ELLINGTON LLINGTON ENT ENTREPRENEUR REP OF THE YEAR?” In January 2010, Wellington The Magazine will begin an exciting new program honoring Wellington entrepreneurs. With your help, we will feature one area business owner each month. Those featured entrepreneurs will be the nominees for our first “Wellington’s Entrepreneur of the Year” award to be announced at the end of 2010.

Do you know a Wellington business owner you find inspiring? Perhaps this entrepreneur has adopted an innovative approach, gone out of his or her way to secure our community’s future or shown dedication to the community through service. If so, click here to submit your nomination today!

“WELLINGTON’S ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR” AWARD TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF 2010

click here to submit your nomination now!

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Dawn Rivera Dawn Rivera

Associate Publisher

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