Wellington The Magazine

January 2010

30YEARS

Of Polo In Wellington

Plus

MICHAEL STONE THRIVES AS WEF DIRECTOR WELLINGTON ENTREPRENEUR CHUCK SCHAEFER THE LATEST IN HAIR COLOR AT VISIONS SALON ASIAN CUISINE WITH A TWIST AT SPICES

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contents

JANUARY 2010

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departments WELLINGTON SOCIAL SCENE

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Equestrian-Themed Thrills At Annual Palm Beach Steeplechase

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Good Times Roll At Boys & Girls Club Dinner, Dance & Auction

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Palms West Chamber Holiday Parade Returns To Wellington

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Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Hosts Successful USET Fundraiser

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features 24 30 YEARS OF POLO IN WELLINGTON While polo has had its peaks and valleys since its arrival here in 1979, Wellington remains the epicenter of the sport in the United States, mainly because the best players in the world play here. And much of that can be credited to Palm Beach Polo founder William Ylivsaker.

BY Y.A. TEITELBAUM

62 WELLINGTON AT HOME Stephen and April Harris love the water, and a visit to their home in Palm Beach Polo feels like a day at the beach. The 3,600-square-foot house was designed especially for the family

by Lorrie Browne of Lorrie Browne Interiors. BY DEBORAH WELKY

72 WELLINGTON TABLE Spices Modern Thai & Sushi, located in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza on Southern Blvd., puts a new twist on Asian cuisine. BY DEBORAH WELKY

20 WELLINGTON WATCH 34 WELLINGTON FASHION 76 WELLINGTON DINING GUIDE 81 WELLINGTON CALENDAR 86 AROUND WELLINGTON ON THE COVER Luis Escobar and Gonzalito Pieres do battle on the polo field last year at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

PHOTO BY GREGORY RATNER WWW.RATNERSPORTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

38 NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED Michael Stone retired as secretary general of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2007. He was only two days out of the FEI post when he was headhunted for one of the best jobs in equestrian sport that the United States has to offer — executive director of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. BY RUTH LONEY

44 WELLINGTON INSPIRES YOUNG RIDERS Top riders and trainers travel to Wellington to take part in the exceptional equestrian competition that the area provides, and Pony Lane Farm’s Kelsey and Madeline Thatcher are two of this year’s most promising young talents arriving in town for the season. BY LAUREN FISHER

52 WELLINGTON PHARMACIST CHUCK SCHAEFER Schaefer Drugs has been open in Wellington since 1979, and the person responsible for its success is owner Chuck Schaefer. For 30 years, Schaefer has been making customer service his top priority.

That is why he is the first nominee for Wellington The Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. BY MATTHEW AUERBACH

58 THE LATEST IN HAIR COLOR AT VISIONS SALON Tom Monticello of Visions Salon has offered clients the best in hair color and style for over 30 years. He has now returned from Italy with new techniques and a set of natural-based products designed to protect colored hair from damage. BY LAUREN MIRÓ WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2010

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Wellington The Magazine

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

Three Decades Of Polo In Wellington volume

7, number 1 | january 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 Gary Kane Susan Lerner Abner Pedraza Gregory Ratner 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.

We begin our seventh year serving the Wellington community with a look at the sport that first put Wellington on the map. It was the opening of Palm Beach Polo 30 years ago that began Wellington’s transformation from a quiet bedroom suburb to the epicenter of equestrian sport that it is today. It all began with the dream of polo-playing developer William Ylvisaker, cemented with an iconic 1985 visit by Britain’s royal couple. The rest, as they say, is history — detailed this month by longtime Wellington polo writer Y.A. Teitelbaum.

As another equestrian season opens in Wellington, we offer several features on the subject. Holly Gannon’s Wellington Fashion pictorial shows how it doesn’t need to cost a lot to draw attention on the sidelines. We also profile Equestrian Sport Productions’ Michael Stone, manager of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Stone arrived at WEF two years ago after a European career that brought him from the suburbs of Dublin to the very top of the international equestrian scene. Also on the equestrian theme, we visit with the riders of Pony Lane Farm and check in with the preparations underway for the big Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction returning to the area next month.

This month, Wellington The Magazine kicks off our exciting new program honoring Wellington entrepreneurs with a profile of Chuck Schaefer, owner of Schaefer Drugs. Chuck is the perfect opener for this important series of 12 profiles that will serve as the nominees for our first “Wellington’s Entrepreneur of the Year” award to be announced at year’s end. Since 1979, Chuck has been Wellington’s neighborhood pharmacist. He arrived long before most other business owners and has shown a staying power almost unheard of in today’s economy. Do you know a Wellington business owner you find inspiring? If so, head over to www.wellingtonthemagazine. com and make your “Wellington’s Entrepreneur of the Year” nomination.

In other business news, we check in this month with longtime Wellington hair designer Tom Monticello at Visions Salon for a look at the latest hair coloring techniques. Wellington At Home visits the Palm Beach Polo home of Stephen and April Harris, a beach-themed paradise designed by Lorrie Browne Interiors. Wellington Table stops by Spices Modern Thai & Sushi in Southern Palm Crossing, offering a new twist on traditional Asian cuisine.

It’s a new year, a new season and here’s a new issue of Wellington The Magazine for you to enjoy.

Joshua Manning Publisher/Executive Editor

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Wellington Advertiser List Advertiser Page A-1 Authorized/Wellington Vacuum.................57 Agliolio Fresh Pasta & Wine Bar ......................77 Alexander L. Domb, PA ................................... 69 American Heritage School ................................ 4 Ankle & Foot Centre of South Florida ..............33 Anthony Vince Nail Spa................................... 49 Armand Professional Services ........................ 65 Backyard Depot................................................ 67 Bea Bolton Photography ..................................81 Bedner Farm Fresh Market .............................. 87 Brass Monkey Tavern........................................75 BrightStar Healthcare ...................................... 42 Claudia Diesti ...................................................81 Clean Simplicity ................................................ 51 Coldwell Banker, Jennifer Davis .......................71 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery ................................. 82 Designer’s Touch Jewelry ................................ 43 Diagnostic Centers of America ........................ 15 DJ Computers ...................................................85 Dolce Dental ...................................................... 7 Dr. Isaac Halfon ................................................ 51 Eclipse Salon & Spa......................................... 48 Equestrian Footings & Services .......................32 Errands Etc. of Palm Beach .............................. 55 Fit Studio ......................................................... 48 Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute ................. 46 Flower Kingdom ............................................... 51 Freedman & Haas Orthodontics......................57 Generations Hair Salon ....................................19 Generations Hair Salon, Anthony Gutilla ..11 & 36 Global Gold Rush ............................................ 36 Grayhills & Mohip Dental ............................... 42 Green Team Solutions ..................................... 48 Hair Spray Salon, Nikki Bailey......................... 50 Hair Spray Salon, Samantha Kohlhorst ........... 55

Hi-Tech Plumbing ............................................ 80 Hillary’s Heart................................................... 51 Horticulturist ................................................... 67 Illustrated Properties, Boardwalk Group .........17 Illustrated Properties, Crowe Team ................. 65 I’m Greek Today ................................................75 Insurance & Financial Services Group ............83 Insurance for You..............................................71 International Polo Club Palm Beach ............... 47 Jason’s Deli .......................................................77 JEZ Capital ........................................................16 Joe’s American Grill ......................................... 79 Lana Lobell Farms ........................................... 29 Law Office of David White, PA .........................83 Lusitano Collection Horse Auction ..................16 Merrill Lynch, Laura Hanson Virginia ............. 68 My Whole Pet Market ...................................... 49 Mystique Jewelry .............................................. 48 Nicole’s Pasta & Grill ...................................... 76 OACES Tennis Center .......................................32 O’Dell Inc. ........................................................18 Palm Beach Hair Solutions ............................. 30 Palm Beach Opera ........................................... 80 Palm Beach Psychological Associates .............83 Palms West Hospital ......................................... 8 Paymaster .........................................................85 Perfect Smile Dentistry .....................................21 Photo Designs Inc. .......................................... 78 Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach..........................41 PMI Remodeling & Repairs............................. 67 Rejuvia Med Spa ............................................... 31 Ristorante Vino .................................................75 Robert R. Morris, Attorney at Law....................33 Royal Inn .............................................................3 Royal Palm Auto Spa ........................................ 55 Royal Palm Flooring ......................................... 55

Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry................ 2 Sal’s Italian Restaurant.....................................75 Sam Jon’s Salon & Day Spa .............................54 Sanda Gané European Day Spa .......................12 Sea Breeze Air Conditioning ............................71 Shingo’s Japanese Restaurant ........................ 78 Smiles by Jiveh ................................................. 88 Smith Services ................................................. 69 South Florida Gastroenterology .......................61 South Florida Radiation Oncology ...................23 South Florida Skin & Laser.............................. 27 South Shore Dentistry ......................................54 St Juliana Catholic School ............................... 84 Stonewood Grill ............................................... 76 Strawn & Monaghan, PA ..................................12 Subscription Form ............................................85 Tipsy Salon & Spa.............................................32 ToothTown Pediatric Dentistry .........................71 Ultima Fitness ................................................. 82 Van Dell Jewelers ............................................. 29 Vein Therapy & Aesthetics .............................. 46 Ventura Companies ......................................... 28 Visions Salon ................................................... 20 Viso LASIK Medspas ......................................... 6 Vital Longevity Water, Susan Lerner................ 84 WellingTAN .......................................................32 Wellington Agency ........................................... 50 Wellington Auto Collision................................ 84 Wellington Day Spa ..........................................57 Wellington Entrepreneur of the Year ................41 Wellington Nails & Spa ....................................83 Wellington Regional Medical Center..................5 Wellington Royal Marble & Granite ................ 67 Westside Bagels ................................................77 Zen Massage ................................................... 43

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

Equestrian-Themed Thrills At Annual Palm Beach Steeplechase The second annual Palm Beach Steeplechase, sponsored by Suncast, was held Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Stadium in Wellington. The family-friendly event featured six races, including one celebrity flat race at the end of five regular hurdle races. In addition, there were dog races, a hat contest, tailgate contest, children’s fair and much more. For more info., visit www.palmbeachsteeplechase.com.

(Above) Horses race to the finish line. (Below) The Race 2 winning horse was Farah T Salute ridden by Xavier Aizpuru.

Palm Beach Steeplechase founders Mark and Katherine Bellissimo (left) with the team behind the Race 1 winner, Birthday Beau ridden by Paddy Young.

(Above left) Race 3 winner Swagger Stick with jockey William Dowling is led to the winner’s circle. (Above right) Taylor Blauweiss sings the national anthem.

(Above) Joe & Ashley Maguire with daughter Kathryn and Toy & John Wash with daughter Victoria. (Below) George and Brenda DuPont with Charles Ward, Laurina Anderson and Tom Martin.

(Above left) The jockeys line up on stage. (Above right) Celebrity race winner Rebecca Johanson-Hofmann. (Below left) Hat contest winners Krista Basore, Louise Palmer, Caroline Moran, Luke Cahill and Kim Kolloff. (Below right) Kerry Swass of Palm Beach Exotic Collection with Brooke Predmest beside a Ferrari Testarossa.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

The Good Times Roll At Boys & Girls Club Dinner, Dance & Auction The 22nd Annual Wellington Boys & Girls Club Dinner, Dance & Auction was held Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club.

The theme was “Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!” (“Let the Good Times Roll”), and the event featured silent and live auctions, dinner and an awards presentation. All proceeds will benefit the Wellington Boys & Girls Club.

Wellington Village Council members Lizbeth Benacquisto, Dr. Carmine Priore, Mayor Darell Bowen and Howard Coates with Boys & Girls Club of Wellington Chairman Reed Kellner (center).

Wellington Boys & Girls Club kids greet guests.

(Above) Dr. Rasmi & Iveta Akel, Sherri & Dr. Michael Mauck and Mayor Darell & Sherry Bowen. (Below) John & Julie Kime with Dr. Edward & Maria Becker.

“Sheriff for a Day” high bidders Dr. Jeffrey Bishop and Dr. Martin Harland with Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Joel Zaidspiner.

Maria & Dr. Mike Mikolajczak, Regis & Tom Wenham, Darlene & Woody White and Joanne & Kevin DiLallo.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Carol Porter

Palms West Chamber Holiday Parade Returns To Wellington The annual Palms West Holiday Parade, presented by the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, made its way down Forest Hill Blvd. on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13 with the theme “Hometown Holidays: Connecting Family, Friends and Community.”

More than 125 parade entries joined in the parade.

Palm Beach Central High School’s marching band was one of seven school bands in the parade.

The St. Rita Church Knights of Columbus won for best adult float.

Santa Claus (Dr. Wes Boughner of the Wellington Rotary Club) waves to the crowd to end the holiday parade.

The South Florida Fair float invited all to the 2010 fair, opening Jan. 15.

Folks on the Palms West Hospital float.

Jaene Miranda of the Palms West Chamber rides in the parade.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Susan J. Stickle

Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Hosts Successful USET Fundraiser

Allyn Schiavone and Chris Hickey.

A holiday gala fundraising event for the United States Equestrian Team was held Dec. 11-12 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Forest Hill Blvd.

Some of the biggest names in the equestrian world participated in a program featuring a combination of clinics, fun demonstrations, team competitions and much more. The event was hosted by Succeed and Wellington Classic Dressage.

Bruce Duchossois, Margaret Duprey, Todd Flettrich and Ron Neal.

Tami Hoag and Darren Chiachia.

Jolie Burrell, Mason Phelps and Kim Boyer.

(Above) Chester Weber with David and Karen O’Connor.

(Left) Janne Rumbough and Steffen Peters.

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Wellington Watch

BY joshua manning, lauren miró & ron bukley

Work Gets Underway On Wellington’s New Village Hall The Wellington Village Council opened its last meeting of 2009 on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the site of its new municipal complex, the same place they hope to open their first meeting of 2011.

“This has been a long time in coming,” Mayor Darell Bowen said, calling the meeting to order on the grounds of the future building adjacent to the Wellington Community Center’s north parking lot. “It’s a great project, and I’m ready to turn the dirt and get it going.”

The 54,000-square-foot, $10.5-million building will be the new home of the village’s council chambers and administrative offices. In the late 1990s, the village purchased the property that is now the Wellington Community Center, tennis courts and pool, along with an adjacent five-acre lot where the municipal complex will stand. “We purchased it anticipating

that someday we would grow into it, and someday has finally arrived,” Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore said.

The municipal building is being funded through extra money in the village’s capital improvements budget and federal stimulus money that Wellington received, as well as impact fees from the boom years. Once the building is finished, Bowen expects that it will save the village $500,000 a year, mostly on rent and consolidated communication services. Construction began Monday, Dec. 14, and the council hopes to begin operating out of the building by the end of next year.

Help Build A Playground — Wellington is inviting residents to come together to help build a playground. On Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16 and 17, residents can gather at the future site of Scott’s Place, a barrier-free playground near the Wel-

lington Community Center, for a community build. With guidance from professional installers, residents will help assemble the play equipment that will go into Scott’s Place. “This community has a longstanding tradition of its residents having a hand in building its parks... We want to continue that tradition with Scott’s Place,” Village Manager Paul Schofield said. Regardless of whether you’re skilled with tools, you can have a hand in helping at the community build. There will be a morning and an afternoon shift each day, so residents can volunteer for one or all of the shifts during the weekend. Anyone wanting to volunteer or donate should call Rachel Fenech at (561) 791-4787 or register online at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Wellington Zoners OK Temple — Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board voted Dec. 10 to redesignate land on Lake Worth Road at Barefoot Lake

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Drive so that Temple B’nai Jacob can build its new worship center there. If the resolution is approved by the Wellington Village Council, the land will be designated a civic site, daycare will be permitted and the temple will be allowed entrances on both Lake Worth Road and Barefoot Lake Drive. But a standing-room-only crowd of residents from The Isles, Grand Isles and Wellington Shores were concerned with the addition of a daycare center and traffic problems that might arise. The council approved the temple’s $827,500 bid to buy the 2.7-acre property in July. The temple will accommodate a maximum of 270 people. The daycare center will be limited to 80 children. The Isles Homeowners’ Association President Greg Cafaro was concerned about the addition of a daycare center. “This land is in the center of three major gated communities,” he said. “There is also a middle school and an elementary school on either side of them. We have a lot of traffic in the mornings, so any additional traffic created by a day school or a daycare will add to the traffic flow.” Gary Azzinaro, a Wellington Shores resident, said that Barefoot Lake Drive can hardly handle its own 180-home community. “We’re a small community that seems to be forgotten about,” he said. “Now it seems like the town wants to punish us by adding construction of either one or two entrances on Barefoot Lake Drive, the only road that’s used to get into our community.”

in December. Most of that is attributed to vehicle burglaries, Richter said, adding that there were 144 extra cases this year.

Typically, professional criminals do not commit car burglaries, he said. Instead, young people looking for easy targets will steal from unlocked cars near where they live. “What’s scary is that people leave garage door openers in their cars,” Richter warned. “Then the burglar can come back later and get into the house.” While prop-

erty crime rose, other types of incidents decreased. Vehicle crashes decreased by five percent as deputies increased enforcement in problem areas, Richter said.

The number of accidents fell from 1,291 last year to 1,230 this year. Crashes have decreased each year since 2005. This year, the PBSO’s goal was to decrease robberies in Wellington by five percent, but instead saw a 28-percent decrease. Robberies fell from 47 cases in 2008 to 34 in 2009.

PBSO: Secure Your Cars — Wellington has seen a spike in burglaries to vehicles, a trend that will continue until residents lock their cars, said Capt. Greg Richter, commander of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 8 substation.

“The number-one crime in Wellington is theft of items from unlocked vehicles overnight,” Richter said. “You need to lock your vehicles just like your homes.

Don’t create an opportunity for crime.”

Property crime, which includes vehicle burglaries, rose 17 percent from 2008, according to the PBSO’s annual report presented to the Wellington Village Council WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • january 2010

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Planning Underway For 2010

Lusitano Collection

Auction set for February 24-27

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lanning for the 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction held Feb. 24-27 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is so elaborate, it began nearly a year in advance. From the selection of the imported horses to the invitations, brochures, food and decor, the organizers set a world-class standard.

Baluarte Interagro (above) and Byron Interagro (below) are great representatives of the majestic Lusitano breed.

photos by davi carrano

This year’s collection — 18 stallions, two mares and one gelding — are imported from two of the finest breeders in Brazil, Interagro Farms and Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga. “We’ve been evaluating these horses for years and scrutinizing them for months,” said Heather Bender, Interagro’s Director of USA Training. “We’re selecting FEI-caliber horses with the right combination of color, size, presence, conformation and temperament.” Interagro’s Managing Director Cecilia Gonzaga added, “We have handpicked the healthiest and most desirable sport horses from our breeding farms for this event. Our goal is to match the right horse to the right rider.”

A highlight of this year’s auction is an eight-horse quadrille appearing during the Feb. 26 reception. The performing eight Lusitanos all grew up together on Interagro Farms. The four stallions, three geldings and one mare, all gray horses, were bought by different people between 2005 and 2009. Directed by Bender, a qualified quadrille judge, the horses will step in unison to the tune of lively Brazilian music. “People will be amazed to see how obediently these stallions perform in close proximity, even in the presence of a mare,” she said.

Heather Bender rides Zairo Interagro and Leah Winston rides Amintas Interagro practicing for a special quadrille performance during the Feb. 26 reception.

photo by Marilyn Fallon

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Three owners are riding their horses, and five trainers are riding the others.

Pia Aragão, a Swedish-born international

rider and twice Brazilian dressage champion who works as a trainer on Interagro Farms, is riding Xenocrates Interagro, the horse she once successfully competed with in Brazil before he was exported and sold last year to Millie McCoy. The new owner visited her horse’s birthplace last summer and said being there “gave me great respect for the care and concern of Xon’s breeders and a deeper understanding of the type of home where my horse was raised.”

Bender, who is riding Zairo Interagro owned by Priscilla Baldwin, and Leah Winston, who is riding Amintas Interagro, owned by Sherie and Al Zobec, currently train the horses out of the same barn in Palm City and have had the opportunity to work together since November. Other participants may arrive only weeks before the performance, but Bender knows all the horses well and trusts the riders’ abilities. In reality, the performance won’t be finalized until just before the big event.

“We may have to add a few bars to the music. It all depends on the timing. That’s where the creativity comes in,” Bender said, adding that “some will piaffe, do half passes and flying changes, but the real beauty in a quadrille occurs when the horses are in sync.”

Other participants are: Timothy Mellott of Wellington, riding gelding Acorde Interagro, owned by Timothy and Charan Ireland; Stephany Fish, riding mare Zalene Interagro, owned by Kathryn Elliott; Kate Tremain of Massachusetts and Florida, riding her stallion Zenith Interagro; Liza Karsai of Georgia, riding her stallion Aclamado Interagro; and Barbara Masterson of Stuart, riding her gelding Velasco Interagro.

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A festival-style show the night of the auction will feature Brazilian samba dancers wearing elaborate costumes.

photo by Brett Hufziger

During the event, the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, just east of Wellington on Forest Hill Blvd., will be transformed into a charming hacienda where guests will wander through giant wooden doors to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine.

The Friday reception will include the auction of a rose gold plateau ring donated by the Italian designer Vhernier to benefit the event’s official charitable partner, the Equestrian Aid Foundation, which assists those in the horse community suffering from catastrophic injury or illness during their time of need.

The event culminates on Saturday, Feb. 27, when guests dine at white-cloth tables set with candles and white roses to enjoy cuisine catered by Christafara’s of Palm Beach. A festival-style show will be provided by Paulo Gualano’s performing company featuring female samba dancers wearing brilliant headdresses and the Rhythm Beaters, men who create a pulsating, contagious beat with their drums.

Spirits will soar during the exciting auction as the rapid voice of seasoned equestrian auctioneer Tom Biederman reverberates throughout the room while horse lovers passionately bid for their favorite Lusitano.

For tickets or more information about the 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction next month, visit www. lusitanocollection.com or call the ticket office at (877) 546-7393.

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30YEARS

Of Polo In Wellington From One Man’s Dream To The Epicenter Of The Sport In America

BY Y.A. TEITELBAUM

Nov. 12, 1985 was a Tuesday, an unusual day for a significant polo match.

Yet it remains the most important date for the sport in Wellington.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana arrived on a Royal Air Force VC10 jet at 12:30 p.m. at a private hangar at Palm Beach International Airport. Less than three hours later, Prince Charles, wearing a greenand-white No. 4 jersey, joined teammates Bill Ylvisaker, Geoffrey Kent and Memo Gracida in an exhibition polo match at Palm Beach Polo attended by a record crowd estimated at more than 12,000.

Princess Diana — watching from the newly constructed “Royal Box” — presented trophies to the teams.

It was the second visit to Wellington for Prince Charles, an avid polo player, and the only visit for Princess Diana. Prince Charles played once more at Palm Beach Polo in 1989. However, the royal couple’s 21-hour 1985 visit cemented Wellington’s place in polo lore in the United States — a sterling reputation that has continued to the present day.

(Below) While Prince Charles visited Wellington three times in the 1980s, it was his 1985 trip with wife Princess Diana that cemented the community in the lore of United States polo. It is an image that has continued to grow over time.

Shown here are vintage photos of Wellington’s brush with royalty. Memo Gracida, ambassador of polo’s first family and one of the top players of his generation, chats with Charles (left) and makes a presentation to Diana (right).

PHOTOS BY DAVID LOMINSKA

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Hector Galindo, Gonzalito Pieres and Steve van Andel do battle on the field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

Photo by Gregory Ratner/www.RatnerSportsPhotography.com WELLINGTON WELLINGTON THE THE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• January January 2010 2010

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‘Right from the beginning, Bill Ylvisaker and the club had an international flavor with team sponsors from Colombia, the Philippines, France and England. It was very impressive what he did in the first two years.’

Tony Coppola, Tackeria owner and ‘The Voice of Polo’

While polo has had its peaks and valleys since that historic day, Wellington remains the epicenter of the sport in the United States, mainly because the best players in the world play here. And much of that can be credited to Palm Beach Polo founder Ylivsaker.

Tony Coppola has been a player, a sponsor, an announcer and owns the Tackeria, which opened in Wellington in 1975.

He attended many of the matches during 1979, the first season of high-goal polo, and in the ensuing 30 years. “Right from the beginning, Bill Ylvisaker and the club had an international flavor with team sponsors from Colombia, the Philippines, France and England,” Coppola said. “It was very impressive what he did in the first two years.”

Those first two years set the blueprint for success. Highlighting the second year was the first visit by Prince Charles, which created an international buzz for Wellington unsurpassed until his return with Princess Diana.

It was Ylvisaker’s vision that created Wellington as a mecca for polo and other equestrian sports that now call the village home. Ylvisaker paid about $1,500 an acre in 1977 when he purchased 2,250 acres for $3.5 million. Virtually everything that is equestrian in today’s Wellington sprouted from that initial purchase. Ylvisaker sold Palm Beach Polo in 1986 but continued to be involved in polo, and at least one of the sport’s major tournaments is named in his honor.

Tony Coppola has been a fixture of Wellington’s polo community since the beginning.

WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE FILE PHOTO BY SUSAN LERNER

Coppola believes that one of the major reasons that Wellington has remained a popular venue since 1979 is because of the players themselves. Professional polo players are ranked by handicap, with only a small handful reaching the elite 10-goal level. Most of today’s top players honed their craft and built their reputations on Wellington’s fields.

“All the 10-goal players and the best pro-

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fessionals played here,” Coppola said.

“They lifted the level of play. Gonzalo Pieres was at 6 goals when he got here.

Adolfo [Cambiaso] was what, 4 goals?

They helped the development of the sport. I used to watch the Merlos [Argentine brothers Pite, Sebastian and Tincho] playing with foot mallets. They all became 10-goalers.”

and Carlos Gracida at Palm Beach Polo.

Throughout the 1990s, Pieres and the Gracida brothers were joined by Mariano Aguerre, Mike Azzaro, Adam Snow, Pite and Sebastian Merlos and the Heguy family — as well as a precocious 15-yearold Adolfo Cambiaso, who burst onto the high-goal polo scene in 1991 and has dominated ever since.

Gonzalo Pieres and Memo Gracida were polo’s version of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. They were the pre-eminent players of their generation, and both are members of the Polo Hall of Fame. Each generation’s greatest players entertained thousands of spectators weekly. In the earliest years, Juan Carlos Harriott, Gonzalo Tanoira, Antonio Herrera, Lionel Macaire, Tommy Wayman and Red Armour joined Pieres, Memo Gracida

Now the latest generation of superstars has joined Cambiaso and Aguerre, including Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Juan Martin Nero, Wellington’s own Nicolas Roldan and the Astrada brothers at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which has taken over as the premier polo venue in Wellington, and therefore, the United States.

(Left) William Ylvisaker, polo-playing chairman of early Wellington development company Gould Florida, is largely responsible for bringing the sport to the fledgling community. wellington the magaZine file photo by lisa keeney

Though the location has moved a few blocks south, polo hasn’t changed much in the three decades it has been played in Wellington. The level of play remains high, higher than anywhere else in North America, and there’s more of it.

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From its earliest days, polo attracted royalty, celebrities, socialites and high-powered business leaders. It was the place to be and be seen. Certainly the three visits

by Prince Charles drew record crowds, but other major celebrities helped sustain the aura, including Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Sylvester Stallone, soap star Susan Lucci and Sarah Ferguson, to name just a few. In recent years, Madonna, award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Duff have all attended matches at the International Polo Club.

Whereas Ylvisaker enjoyed the attention warranted with celebrity guests, John Goodman’s International Polo Club takes a more low-key approach with high-profile guests of honor, but the formula still works.

The 2010 season, which begins Jan. 3, is expected to be very competitive with at least a dozen 20-goal teams and eight 26-goal teams expected to participate.

Nine teams competed in two 20-goal tournaments last season, down from 11 teams in 2008. Tommy Lee Jones’ San Saba and Kelly Beal’s BTA have dropped out from last season, but several teams are expected to step in, including the return of Gillian Johnston and Bendabout as well as Fred Mannix Jr. and Millarville, along with newcomers Faraway Farm, Equuleus and Zacara.

The 26-goal season is highlighted by the return of Crab Orchard with Cambiaso, the best current player in the world, former Wellington resident Julio Arellano, rising star Hilario Ulloa and patron George Rawlings. Other 26-goal teams include defending U.S. Open champion Audi with Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Orchard Hill, Las Monjitas, Pony Express, Grand Champions, Lechuza Caracas, Nespresso-Black Watch with heart-throb Nacho Figueras, and Valiente, which is making its first appearance at IPC. All of this activity has helped create a

lifestyle and an economic boom for Wellington. Coupled with the Winter Equestrian Festival, the equestrian industry brings in more than $300 million annually to Palm Beach County, a majority of that to Wellington alone.

Palm Beach Polo, which still has several polo fields that are rarely used, has not hosted a major tournament this decade.

But polo has continued to flourish because of the seven fields at IPC and more than 40 private fields in Wellington.

With this type of commitment, polo industry insiders believe the sport is here to stay. “All the people involved are entrenched here. They have homes, barns or polo fields,” Coppola said.

Marc Ganzi, who started the Grand Champions Polo Club with his wife Melissa several years ago, believes polo’s future remains bright. His Audi team won the prestigious U.S. Open championship last season.

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Team Audi, owned by Wellington resident Marc Ganzi and featuring the polo-playing brothers Nicolas, Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, claimed the sport’s top prize in North America, the U.S. Open Championship, last April at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

It was a somber victory, though, coming just a week after the tragic deaths of 21 horses belonging to the Lechuza Caracas team.

Photo by Gregory Ratner/www.RatnerSportsPhotography.com

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“The future of high-goal appears to be secure in the Wellington area for many years to come,” Marc Ganzi said. “There are three key factors as to why high-goal thrives here. First, it starts with having the premier high-goal facility in the country in IPC. John Goodman’s com-

mitment to high-goal polo is unmatched here in the USA.” Secondly, Ganzi noted that all of the leading high-goal polo organizations in the United States — Isla Carroll, Orchard Hill, Las Monjitas, Bendabout, Audi, White Birch, Lechuza, Pony Express, Crab Orchard — either reside here or have significant operations here.

“Therefore, it allows these teams to compete effectively and on level terms,” he said. “Lastly, Wellington is really the only venue in the U.S. today that has competitive polo played almost year-round. Having polo played here year-round is critical for the economy that supports the game, and it allows for that support system to stay in place and keep the game accessible to patrons at all levels.”

Seven-goaler Luis Escobar first visited Wellington with his parents in 1978 when he was seven years old and was hooked. He finished high school in his native Costa Rica, then moved to Wellington permanently in 1989.

“There was no other option in my mind than to live and play in Wellington,” Escobar said. “It’s the best place to play in the United States.”

Adolfo Cambiaso, considered to be the top polo player in the sport today, will return to Wellington this season. photo by holly gannon

Sunday polo matches run January through April at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. For more about the 2010 season, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.

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Wellington Fashion

Stylish On The Sidelines PHOTOS BY HOLLY GANNON STYLING BY CARRIE HANLON

Olga gets ready for the season modeling a black rosette top available at Ralph Lauren, Worth Avenue paired with denim pants and black/gold jeweled cuff bracelets from Forever 21 in the Mall at Wellington Green. Equestrian flair is provided by riding boots from Tackeria and a vintage black equestrian top hat by Mr. DeWinter of Holland.

Hats off to the season!

Being equestrian means being able to start your own trends.

It’s perfectly fine to mix your horsey wear with your most comfortable pair of jeans.

Your riding boots mix easily with an upscale cocktail dress. It’s all a mixture of comfort and style; rideability and high fashion. This shoot, photographed at one of Wellington’s top dressage farms, emphasizes the art of putting an equestrian feel into your fashion, mixing casual with a dressy look.

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Olga is ready to shine on the sidelines in a sequin tunic dress from St. John Couture by Marie Grey, available at St. John, Worth Avenue. It is paired with a gold tassel necklace from Neiman Marcus, Worth Avenue.

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Wellington Fashion

Alexy models a black rosette top by Ralph Lauren available at Ralph Lauren, Worth Avenue. The stunning top is paired with Guess jeans and a belt by Carlisle.

   PHOTOGRAPHY Holly Gannon (561) 379-2959 www.hollygannon.com STYLING Carrie Hanlon LOCATION Wellington’s Stillpoint Farm WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2010

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Irish native Michael Stone shortly after he signed on as executive director of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

PHOTO BY KENNETH KRAUS/PHELPSSPORTS.COM

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No Stone Left Unturned

Former FEI Chief Michael Stone Thrives As WEF’s Executive Director In a special report from PhelpsSports.com, Ruth Loney of The Irish Field magazine talks with Michael Stone, executive director of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Michael Stone retired as secretary general of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2007 after 10 years working with the Swiss-based governing body of international equestrian sport. The former amateur jockey and show jumper, also a director of Pegus Horse Feed, was only two days out of the FEI post when he was headhunted to become executive director of Equestrian Sport Productions, the management company that runs the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington.

Moving from head of the FEI to one of the best jobs in equestrian sport that the United States has to offer, Stone took the huge step in stride and is loving every minute of his current role.

The Stone family is synonymous with Pegus Horse Feed, which is run by Stone’s brother David and his son David Jr. “I am still a partner, but I have no involvement,” Stone said. “I leave everything to my brother.”

Horses and show jumping are Stone’s life, and there is no stone unturned in his quest for perfection in ensuring the smooth and profitable running of the Wellington horse show. His experience as a Grand Prix show jumper and his expertise in knowing the needs and requirements of riders has gone a long way in helping him manage his career, which began in a town outside Dublin, Ireland.

Having started with the FEI as development officer in 1997 and finishing as secretary general in 2007, Stone attended nearly every FEI world cup event, Olympics, Worlds and European championships during that time. His role at the FEI was highly challenging, but Stone loved helping influence the direction of the sport at all levels.

“I grew up with horses in Howth. My father was horsey and started my brother, sister and I when we were very young,” Stone recalled. “I studied at Sandford Park and for two years at Trinity College. I continued from there and took part in most aspects of equestrian sport, including a few races as an amateur jockey.”

“I had many great moments with the FEI, but I think the best was creating the development department which, thanks to the hard work from many including Gerry Mullins and Susanne Macken, has become a template for other international sports federations,” he said.

Stone had many happy years on the circuit competing against John Roche, now with the FEI, Gerry Mullins and Eddie Macken.

In the controversial doping cases, does Stone think that the FEI went too far in some cases? “I think there is a lack of clarity in the interpretation of the rules, and some things have been blown out of proportion while others seem to have been ignored,” he stressed.

“It is too simplistic to say that certain levels will not affect performance. For example, if a substance that has no business being in a horse is found at whatever level, it means the horse has been given it at some stage, and who can say that it was not in the horse at

“Winning the Grand Prix at Balmoral was my most memorable achievement, and jumping the first clear round in the Millstreet Derby where I finished third,” he recalled. “Col Z was my main trainer in Ireland, and earlier I had lots of help from the Ward Pony Club and trained later in England with Lars Sederholm.”

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effective levels and was just not tested. It is very complex.”

Personally, Stone is vexed that equestrian sport has been so damaged with doping offenses. “And the consequences are still continuing,” he added.

If he could make one key change to equestrian sport for the better worldwide, what would it be?

“That is just too big a question for a simple answer,” Stone said. “But if all involved at the top level — riders, federations, organizers and the FEI — forgot their egos and looked at the interest of the sport instead of their own interest, the sport would be a lot better.”

After coping with the topsy-turvy challenges of life at the FEI, where doping cases took up a lot of his time over the last few years, Stone still admits that the worst day at the FEI was his last day.

But the end of his time in Switzerland was also the beginning of a new adventure.

“I was literally headhunted two days after leaving the FEI, and it was to a perfect job in the sunshine doing something that I loved and knew something about,” Stone said.

Having moved lock, stock and barrel to live in Florida, Stone begins each working day in the sunshine. “During the cir-

cuit, we start around 7.30 a.m. and finish at any time up to midnight when we have night classes,” he said. “I have an oversight role, so no one day is the same; but I am involved with the scheduling of the international classes, sponsors, media, foreign riders and any problems that arise.”

Being soft-spoken and level-headed, dealing with major issues is all in a day’s work. “I love living in Wellington, although I do miss my kids,” Stone said.

“But I see them quite often, and they love the Florida sunshine. I play tennis and golf whenever I can.”

On the subject of U.S. shows versus European shows, Stone noted that the

‘We have invested $15 million in creating a top-class facility and are working to create an atmosphere that makes it a fun place to come to.’

Michael Stone on his work with the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington

Michael Stone chats with Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo.

Photo by Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com

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structure is quite different. “The events in the states are financed largely by the owners, and consequently, there has been little effort at making the shows exciting for spectators or sponsors,” he said.

That is something Stone has been working with Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo on improving.

“In Wellington, we have invested $15 million in creating a top-class facility and are working to create an atmosphere that makes it a fun place to come to,” he said.

“Great facilities and sunshine are the recipe for such a popular winter show jumping venue.”

Working in America, Stone is glad he gets a chance to cross paths with a good number of Irish riders competing locally. “They are making a big impression, apart from the fact they are great riders, they work extremely hard and deliver for their owners,” he said.

Does he think there are too many Nations Cup competitions? “Since they changed the name of the Super League, it is confusing, as there are Nations Cups at the high level such as Dublin, and then Nations Cups in Bratislava all at different levels,” he said. “I don’t think there are too many Nations Cups.”

To find a perfect recipe for breeding show jumping champions, Stone advises to look at international trends. “Breed only from proven stallions and ensure that breeding from unknown foreign stallions just because they are foreign is discouraged,” he said.

Stone believes that many breeders are not fully aware of the massive height of show jumping fences for international competition, “nor the complexity of the courses.”

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Michael Stone enjoys his new life in Wellington, especially when he gets to see old friends from Ireland.

Photo by Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com

a national occasion where you meet old friends and even old enemies,” he said.

“But everyone comes, and this creates a fantastic atmosphere.”

Stone’s work at WEF, however, leaves him little time for anything else. “I think our greatest success in Wellington this year was the development of really great classes and exciting events, different to most U.S. shows,” he said.

As Wellington gears up again for the winter circuit, Stone knows the place will be heaving with Irish international riders and their friends and family. A true home away from home, doing a job that he loves and in a sunny clime!

The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival runs Jan. 13 through April 4 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center at 14440 Pierson Road in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 793-5867 or visit www.equestriansport.com.

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Wellington’s Equestrian Community Inspires Upcoming Young Riders

Kelsey & Madeline Thatcher

STORY BY LAUREN FISHER PHOTOS COURTESY PHELPS MEDIA GROUP

Every winter, Wellington becomes the focus of the equestrian world, bringing some of the world’s best horses and riders to the community to compete for three months at the renowned Winter Equestrian Festival.

Top riders and trainers travel to Wellington to take part in the abundant equestrian lifestyle and exceptional competition that the area provides, and Pony Lane Farm’s Kelsey and Madeline Thatcher are two of this year’s most promising young talents arriving in town for the season.

Pony Lane Farm is based out of South Jordan, Utah throughout the year and is home to the Thatcher family. Seventeen-year-old Kelsey and 13-yearold Madeline train with Maggie Jayne of Our Day Farm in Elgin, Illinois.

Pony Lane Farm’s Kelsey Thatcher rides Gianni (left) and Milous de Fontaine (right).

Kelsey, 17, just wrapped up a spectacular 2009 season with a number of big wins.

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Both Kelsey and Madeline grew up riding with the encouragement of their mother Maura and have each quickly risen up the competitive hunter, jumper and equitation ranks. The girls began training with Jayne two years ago and now compete with some of the best horses in the country.

During the winter months, the Thatchers bring Pony Lane Farm’s top horses down to their Wellington location, stabling just down the street from the Jayne family. Spending the winter in Wellington provides Kelsey and Madeline an opportunity to immerse themselves in the equestrian lifestyle and soak up all that it has to offer.

Pony Lane Farm’s Madeline Thatcher has won numerous championships with her medium pony Hillcrest Blue Cwilt.

Photo by OC PHOTOS

The girls compete through all 12 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival, and both feel that the high level of competition allows them to learn and grow in order to become better riders.

“I love showing at WEF,” Kelsey said.

“The jumps are beautiful, and it is such a beautiful facility. It is always really tough competition, so you have to go in every class to win. The courses are very challenging, so you really get to know your horse and you get a little better with every course.”

“I like how big WEF is, and I love the weather,” Madeline added. “I really look forward to all of the competition because there is never an easy win. It is definitely more of a challenge than a lot of shows we go to.”

Both girls agree that the night classes are a fun addition to the show and make their stay in Wellington more exciting.

“The night classes are awesome to watch, and you get to see the horses at their finest going for the big money,” Kelsey said. “You get to see the people who are legends of the horse show world all fighting for first place, which I always find exciting.”

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When they are not showing in Wellington, Kelsey and Madeline spend their time relaxing and enjoying the local area.

They especially like to go to the beach and do a lot of shopping. “I love how it is all just one town, so everything is really close,” Kelsey said. “I also love all of the trails. I go out on the trails every day.”

Trainer Maggie Jayne and Francesca won 11 consecutive championships in the Regular Conformation Hunters throughout the season and earned the National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship in Syracuse last fall.

Photo by Jennifer Wood

The 2009 show season has been the most successful of the girls’ riding careers as trainer Jayne has watched Kelsey and Madeline progress through their accomplishments. “They are very hard working and dedicated, and they are both really competitive,” Jayne noted.

“You can’t teach someone to be competitive, they either are or they aren’t. I think that they each make a little bit of progress at every show, and it is always really fun that they want to go out there and do well.”

Kelsey earned several of her biggest wins in 2009 in the hunters and jumpers.

She won her first grand prix in May in

the $25,000 Roc USA Grand Prix at the Showplace Spring Classic and her second just a few weeks later in June in the $50,000 Showplace Productions Grand Prix at the Showplace Spring Spectacular. Both grand prix wins were with her mare Carlotta, who Kelsey also rode in July when representing Zone 8’s Junior Jumper Team at the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. Kelsey showed in Chicago throughout the summer to maintain her place in the top three for the Showplace Leading Open Jumper Rider Series and finished second in the standings.

Kelsey has been successful in the Junior Hunters as well. She showed her horses Gianni, Early Applause, Mirasol and Pony Lane Farm’s newest hunter Bella Blue throughout the year, winning multiple championships. Jayne has shown Gianni and Early Applause in the professional hunter divisions, and she had a great start to the summer in June when

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she rode Early Applause to victory in the $15,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Showplace Spring Spectacular.

Madeline has done well in the pony divisions and moved up to showing in the Junior Hunters this year. She has won numerous championships with her medium pony Hillcrest Blue Cwilt, and she won top ribbons with her famous large pony Beau Rivage, who she leases from owner Casey Green. Madeline and her pony Bally Mac have done well together in the pony jumpers and placed at the top of the standings for the North American League Pony Jumper championships throughout the 2009 season. Madeline and Bally Mac were an important part of the Zone 8 Pony Jumper Team at this year’s USEF National Pony Finals, putting in double clear rounds to assist her team in an exciting gold medal victory.

Madeline shows in the Junior Hunters with her horses Capone, Enticer and

Francesca. She and Francesca have won several championships in the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, and the mare has earned consistent ribbons in the professional hunter divisions with Jayne. Jayne and Francesca won 11 consecutive championship tricolors in the Regular Conformation Hunters throughout the season and earned the National Horse Show Grand Hunter Championship in Syracuse last fall. Riding Francesca, Jayne earned the Leading Hunter Rider title at both the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg and the 126th National Horse Show in Syracuse.

With the fall season behind them, Kelsey and Madeline are ready to spend the winter at Pony Lane Farm’s beautiful facility in the heart of Wellington’s equestrian community. The girls will kick off their exciting 2010 show season competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival as the start to another exciting year of competition.

Madeline Thatcher and her pony Bally Mac, shown here at the Devon Horse Show, have done well together in the pony jumpers and placed at the top of the North American League Pony Jumper standings.

Photo by kenneth kraus

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Chuck Schaefer, owner of Schaefer Drugs, is the first nominee for Wellington The Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

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Wellington Entrepreneur

CHUCK SCHAEFER

Wellington’s Neighborhood Pharmacist Since 1979

T

STORY BY MATTHEW AUERBACH PHOTOS BY SUSAN LERNER

hey say the only constant in life is change. They’re right, of course. Everything changes. Take Wellington, for example. At one time the world’s largest strawberry patch, the village now boasts celebrity residents, countless restaurants, retail stores, parks, schools and upscale developments.

Yes, everything in Wellington has been affected by change. Everything — except a certain pharmacy located at 12797 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza.

Schaefer Drugs has been open for business at that location since 1979. The person responsible for its success is owner/head pharmacist Chuck Schaefer.

For 30 years, Schaefer has been serving the western communities the old-fashioned way: by making customer service his number-one priority. It’s no stretch to say Schaefer Drugs is the pharmaceutical equivalent of the TV show Cheers. It’s a place where “everybody knows your name.” It should come as no surprise then that Chuck Schaefer is the first nominee for Wellington The Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Schaefer did not sprout up from the soil of that aforementioned strawberry patch to become one of Wellington’s longest-lasting business owners. The 64-year-old was born and raised in Miami. Before graduating from the University of Florida in 1969, Schaefer attended Miami High School, where in his senior year he was named homecoming king. He began dating his future wife Susan, who quite conveniently happened to be homecoming queen. They were married in 1968, raised two children and now have two grandchildren.

The idea of becoming a pharmacist did not hit Schaefer like a lightning bolt out of the blue. “My grandfather was a pharmacist,” he said. “So the pro-

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fession has been like a family business for quite a while.”

Schaefer opened his first pharmacy in 1974 on Okeechobee Blvd. across from Century Village. He stayed for five years before selling it in 1979 and moving to his current location in Wellington Plaza.

To hear him tell it, he was the quintessential stranger in a strange land. “When we opened Schaefer Drugs here in ’79, there was no shopping center,” he recalled. “Wellington didn’t even have any stoplights. We were out here by ourselves.

I can say with 100-percent certainty that people were glad to have a drugstore nearby. That’s when I knew we had made the right move at the right time.”

Chuck Schaefer behind the pharmacy counter at the Wellington store he has run since 1979.

Call it fate; call it timing, but Schaefer Drugs almost ended up at a different location. “At that time, I had heard of plans to build a shopping center at Royal Palm Beach and Southern boulevards,” Schaefer said. “That seemed like the perfect location to me, but when I did a

little more research, I found that center was one, maybe two years away. The developer of Wellington Plaza literally made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, so my mind was made up.”

So how does a typical “mom and pop” business survive for three decades, especially with Walgreens or CVS on every other corner, supermarkets and big-box retailers opening in-store pharmacies, and an economy that has fluctuated through the years? Schaefer has a simple answer: hire good people and treat every customer like they’re family. It’s a formula that has served him for 30 years.

“My staff goes out of their way to help you,” he said. “We call our customers by their first names. The bigger stores and franchises aren’t in a position to do that.

Plus, the personal approach creates loyalty. Customers come back because they’re comfortable with us. But believe me, no one would come back if we didn’t do a professional job.”

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Chuck Schaefer with his wife Susan at their Wellington home.

One of the secrets to the success of Schaefer Drugs is a low rate of staff turnover. Some employees have been with the company for over a decade. When asked what he looks for in a potential employee, Schaefer answers with one word: character.

“I like to hire people from the church I attend and from within the pharmaceutical industry,” he said. “I also prefer to hire people from the same family. I have three women from the same family working with me right now; one of them has been here 15 years.”

He sees his role as boss being very simple. “I treat my employees like they’re members of my family,” Schaefer said.

“Why would I want to work with people I wouldn’t want to associate with?”

Schaefer is much more than a pharmacist to many of his customers. Over the years, he has been a confidant, a friend and sometimes a one-man referral service.

“I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me to recommend a doctor or a psychiatrist, and it doesn’t end there,” he said. “Customers have come in to

pick up a prescription and stayed for an hour picking my brain about what kind of house they should buy. I take it all very seriously. I’m not afraid to give my honest opinion or, if need be, say ‘I don’t know.’”

That kind of honesty has made Schaefer one of the most trusted figures in Wellington, but he never forgets his professional obligations. He’s constantly researching new ways to benefit the community through his pharmacy. For example, seven years ago he expanded his business to include a compounding lab headed up by a specially trained on-site technician who can create custom medications to meet the needs of individual patients. Schaefer Drugs is one of the few compounding pharmacies in the area.

Schaefer has some advice for anyone thinking of opening his or her own business in Wellington.

“First of all, you should never start a business you haven’t previously worked in,” he offered. “Why anyone would think they’d be successful operating a hardware store if they’ve never sold a hammer or a box of nails is baffling to me. Secondly — and most important — don’t think you

can depend upon the polo crowd to keep your business in the black. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase ‘if I can get the polo players to come in, I’ll be fine’ and seen a ‘for sale’ sign on the door within a year. You’re operating a business 365 days a year; it’s the local customers who will either make or break you.”

You can still find Chuck Schaefer behind the counter at Schaefer Drugs each morning, greeting customers and making sure they’re served in a timely manner. The only constant in life may be change, but it’s nice to know that some things — and some folks — never will.

For more information about Schaefer Drugs, call (561) 793-0151.

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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V is io n s S a l o n WELLINGTON EXPERTS IN THE LATEST HAIR-COLORING TECHNIQUES STORY BY LAUREN MIRÓ  PHOTOS BY SUSAN LERNER

T

om Monticello of Visions Salon has offered clients the best in hair color and style for over 30 years. He has now returned from Italy with new techniques and a set of natural-based products designed to protect colored hair from damage.

Monticello styled hair in New York for a decade before moving to Wellington, where he has owned Visions Salon for 21 years. “We had some friends living in Wellington,” Monticello recalled. “We knew it was a growing area and a good place to open a business. Since then, we’ve really grown with the community.”

The salon put down roots in a small space in the Wellington Plaza at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace, but has expanded three times since. It remains in the same plaza, but has moved into a much larger studio and currently employs a staff of 13 highly qualified stylists who specialize in several areas of hair care.

Aside from being a stylist and a salon owner, Monticello is an educator. Each year he travels to Europe for training by the BES Italy hair color company. The trip features the premiere of that year’s hair fashion collection followed by a three-day training seminar. This year, Monticello brought along colorist Tara Weldon so that she could bring the newly learned techniques to the Wellington salon.

“I do education for BES,” Monticello said.

“They bring me in and train me with all the new information, and then they send me to distributors across the nation to teach them the new techniques.”

Monticello began teaching hair tech-

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With 30 years of experience, Tom Monticello of Visions Salon is one of the area’s leading experts in hair color techniques. It’s an expertise he is constantly perfecting by learning the latest in coloring technology.

‘We always offer consultations to every new client so we can analyze what type of hair will work. That way we can give suggestions and design a look that will work for them depending on their lifestyle, taste and the amount of time they want to invest in their hair.’

Tom Monticello of Visions Salon

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Visions Salon owner Tom Monticello works with Mary Lou Romeo on a color consultation.

niques in the early 1980s when he worked for Fermici, another hair care product manufacturer. “I got away from it for a while,” he said. “But I really enjoyed education, so I went back to it.”

The newest techniques and products that Monticello picked up in Italy focus on simplicity and sustainability — maintaining the natural beauty and texture of hair. “They demonstrate simplicity; less is more,” he said.

The new colors in the BES product line are natural-based with between 87 and 92 percent natural ingredients, depending on the color, he said. “There has been a big push toward non-ammonia color so as not to damage the hair,” Monticello said. “Even our lightening colors do not harm the hair.”

With new coloring techniques, clients won’t have to have their hair colored as often, which also minimizes potential damage. “It’s panel color, which can grow out more gracefully,” Monticello explained. “It lasts longer, and you don’t have to get it colored as often.”

Monticello added that panel coloring also gives hair more dimension and “different nuances of color” that enable it to grow out without being so noticeable.

All of these new techniques are meant to (Below) Tom Monticello with hair color specialist Tara Weldon, who accompanied him to Italy for special training.

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allow hair to grow for a longer period of time, and the new hairstyles shown by the company reflect that trend. “I think it’s a product of the economy,” Monticello said. “Shorter cuts are popular in Europe, they can grow out longer.”

One new style featured by the company is “a new shag,” shown at the fashion premiere in short, medium and long versions, Monticello said. “For people too young to remember, the shag was popular in the ’80s, ’70s and even part of the ’60s,” he said. “Things tend to come back, but modernized.”

Monticello knows that these new looks and colors may not be for everyone, so Visions Salon offers a complimentary consultation to all new clients. “We always offer consultations to every new client so we can analyze what type of hair will work,” he said. “That way we can give suggestions and design a look that will work for them depending on their

lifestyle, taste and the amount of time they want to invest in their hair.”

Monticello recommends that anyone interested in the new techniques and products, or a new hair style of any kind, contact Visions Salon for a consultation.

“It’s the best way to accomplish finding out what is feasible for each client,” he said. “Then we know how much time to set aside depending on the process.”

In addition to the salon’s 13 stylists, there are also young stylists-in-training who are working with the salon to build a clientele, and therefore charge less than senior stylists. An educator monitors each young stylist to ensure that every client receives a quality style.

Visions Salon is located in the Wellington Plaza at 12793 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information, or to book a consultation, call (561) 790-1696 or visit www. vhsalon.com.

BES hair care products offered at Visions Salon.

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WELLINGTON at Home

A Visit To The Harris Home In Palm Beach Polo Feels Like A Day At The Beach

(Left) Wrought-iron gates, a red brick pathway and healthy bougainvillea belie the softer “beachside cottage” look of the interior of the Harris home.

(Below) The first impression visitors get upon entering the Harris home is one of beach sand, calm seas and blue sky.

STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY  PHOTOS BY SUSAN LERNER

Stephen and April Harris love the water. Their primary residence is located riverside in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they can jump into their boat or onto their jet skis. But when it came time to look for a second home, Wellington was the only choice. “We’d been down here, renting in [Palm Beach] Polo, for three seasons because my daughter is a competition dressage rider,” Stephen explained. “My son and I like golf. So when it came time to buy, we appreciated the good marriage between golf and equestrian. We liked the restaurants — and the proximity to the beach.”

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“We may have overdone it with shells,” said Stephen Harris in describing this room, but can you ever have too many?

The Harrises initiated the purchase of their new home in January 2009, but before closing, the seller passed away suddenly, leaving details in the hands of a New York probate court. Thankfully, things were resolved, and the Harrises took possession in March. Stephen got on his computer and searched for “Wellington interior designers” to get the ball rolling.

Several names came up, including Lorrie Browne Interiors. Stephen asked to meet with Lorrie, and both were startled to discover they were living right around the corner from each other in Palm Beach Polo. After just one interview, Stephen knew his search had ended. Lorrie had the job. “It was kismet,” she laughed.

The Harris home, located in Polo’s Mizner Estates, is 3,600 square feet with three bedrooms, an office/guest room and five full baths. Previously decorated in a dark, heavy Italian style, it has been

transformed into a breezy beach house — albeit an elegant, sophisticated beach house.

“My most important job is to listen,” Lorrie said. “I can tell people what my house looks like, but I want to create something my clients are comfortable with. Stephen and April gave me a lot of latitude, and the project was completed

by August. Of course, we had a blank slate. The house was completely empty, and we didn’t need to do any major renovations. A project of this size that requires demolition and customization could take up to a year.”

The first thing to go was a flimsy blackand-brass “assemblage” across the front of the fireplace. Stephen almost shudders as he recalls it. Lorrie replaced it with a sand-colored swirled-tile mosaic reminiscent of nautilus shells. Now, the fireplace is the focal point of the living room and the first thing you see when

you enter the home. And Stephen intends to preserve its beauty. “Lorrie did a wonderful job,” he said. “She took what was the ugliest feature of the house and made it into one of the most beautiful.”

Light, airy draperies add dimension to windows on each side of the fireplace, echoing the turquoise and white of the nearby dining room. Fabrics throughout the home are washed linen; rugs are custom-made from seagrass and sisal.

And wherever your eye rests, there are reminders of the sea — everything from classic sailing photographs to mirrors edged in driftwood to unique x-ray art featuring shells by photographer Don Dudenbostel.

“Stephen bought all the art,” Lorrie said.

“He wanted pieces that, when you looked at them, they gave you hope. Everything he chose is very uplifting.”

The natural theme continues into the

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(Left) Between the living room and kitchen, x-ray photographs created by artist Don Dudenbostel give a glimpse of the hidden “inner beauty” of several undersea creatures.

(Below) Anemones, shell-encrusted hurricane lamps and a driftwoodframed mirror grace the foyer.

formal dining room, where clean-lined white-skirted chairs sit primly around a distressed turquoise-and-gray wooden table that could’ve been wrested from a ship’s galley.

The kitchen is white and light with gleaming subway tiles, glass-paned cabinetry and carrera marble topping both counters and the island. A vintage wirejointed doll chosen by April adds interest above the stove.

The adjoining family room is equally welcoming with a palm-paddle fan stirring silently overhead and a flat-screen TV. The television is tied into a computer-controlled audio/visual system that runs throughout the house.

In the breakfast nook, a wood-and-wire chandelier adds rustic charm over the table. “Lorrie chose that chandelier,” Stephen noted.

In a nod to Wellington’s equestrian community, a bronze horse oversees the formal dining room. Sommerville, 23, is an accomplished dressage rider.

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An outdoor summer kitchen features a bold turquoise weather-resistant wicker table and chairs, as well as a barbeque grill, stainless steel sink and cabinetry with pewter starfish knobs. Above the table, the home’s original dark metal chandelier was retained, but Lorrie gave it a kicky, casual feel by adding basket-weave shades and looping a swag of red glass beads among its heavy teardrop crystals.

Down the hall, one door leads into the two-car garage and another leads outside to the golf cart garage. Doggy footprints are forever documented in one of the terra-cotta floor tiles, quite fitting as there is a dog wash just inside the door complete with tiled walls, sunken basin, handheld sprayer and a drain.

(Left) A summer kitchen beckons behind the breakfast room.

(Right) A surveyor’s transit provides an interesting base for a floor lamp in Stephen’s home office, while vintage sailing photographs encourage daydreaming.

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(Above) A flowing canopy in the master bedroom reaches to the ceiling.

(Left) Continuing the clean, shipshape approach upstairs, daughter Sommerville’s bedside tables — as well as the spindles on her traditional four-poster bed — have been painted a crisp white.

On the other side of the house is Stephen’s office, which doubles as a guest room. A sofa bed shares space with his desk, made in the style of a ship captain’s desk. The guest bath features a unique sink support that looks almost like stacked rattan suitcases, imparting the aura of an African safari — or perhaps a clambake on the beach.

Things are a bit different in the master suite as the homeowners didn’t want the house to look like it had been completely furnished on one trip to the store. Instead, dark woods stand out against tan sand walls and white plantation shutters.

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A sweeping floor-to-ceiling ivory canopy reminds one of mosquito netting and offers the same gentle sway when breezes drift in off the back patio. Huge walk-in closets and separate his-and-hers bathrooms add modern practicality to the West Indies feel.

Going upstairs, one grasps a metal handrail that Lorrie took from stand-out black to antiqued white through the miracle of paint. Grasscloth, not carpeting, graces the stairway, and hand-forged ironwork sconces, shipped from the northeastern U.S., light the way.

Bo Harris, 22, almost got a golf theme in his room, but the call of the sea won out when Stephen came across a turn-ofthe-century ship’s wheel while surfing a maritime antiques site online. The hardware now holds a place of pride above the headboard of a sleigh bed.

“It must weigh 60 pounds,” Stephen said. “It took two men and four I-bolts to get it up there.”

Down the hall, a huge photograph of her horse D-Niro dominates one wall of the bedroom of 23-year-old daughter Sommerville, the accomplished dressage rider. After all, horses were a big factor in the family’s decision to purchase a home here.

“I’m just happy I could use my talent to translate their tastes, to take an Italian home and turn it into a beach cottage,” Lorrie said of her work with the Harris family. “That’s one of the most important things I look for in a client — compatibility. Anyone who is going to have a lot of time and a lot of money invested in their home deserves a good fit. When I met the Harrises, I knew they were true, warm, Southern people.”

Want professional design help with your own home? Visit Lorrie Browne’s web sites at www.lb-interiors.com or www.

MyDesignSecrets.com.

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Wellington Table

(Above) Popular Spices dishes include (L-R) the Tapas Sampler, JB Deluxe, Rainbow Roll and (back) Pad Thai.

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Spices Modern Thai & Sushi

Puts A New Twist On Asian Cuisine STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY PHOTOS BY ABNER PEDRAZA

Tucked away behind BankAtlantic at the western end of the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza on Southern Blvd. is Spices Modern Thai & Sushi, an Asian restaurant with a unique history and a new twist.

Owners Aran and Sophia Benjaray, together with daughter Alina, hail from New Orleans, where the Benjaray name has been synonymous with Thai cooking for decades. One family restaurant, under the direction of Aran’s sisters, remains popular in the Crescent City.

Moving to South Florida at the request of his mother, Aran opened Bangkok House in Boynton Beach the early 1990s, followed by Thai Paradise on Okeechobee Blvd. near I-95, a restaurant that flourished for 13 years. Today, both talent and taste have moved west, together with Executive Chef Somphath Khanthavong. “He’s part of the family,” Alina said. “He was with us at Thai Paradise.”

While the Benjarays manage the front of the house, Khanthavong stays behind the scenes, cooking up a storm.

Some of the favorites? Traditional spring rolls (three fried vegetable rolls in a spicy sweet Thai dip) top the Asian Tapas side of the menu, followed quickly by chicken satay skewers, steamed ground chicken dumplings, fried curry chicken puffs, crispy calamari, coconut shrimp, edamame (boiled soy beans), wakame (marinated seaweed salad on a bed of cucumber), soft shell crab, spicy mussels, lightly seared tuna tataki and crab puffs.

Can’t decide? Let the chef choose for you with the four-piece sushi appetizer or the six-piece sashimi appetizer. Or put together your own little Spices

(L-R) Executive Chef Somphath Khanthavong with owners Sophia, Aran and Alina Benjaray of Spices Modern Thai & Sushi.

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buffet with the Tapas Sampler, designed for those who want to mix, match and share.

A view of the front entrance by the sushi bar.

(Above) The Rainbow Roll is a California roll with cream cheese, inside out topped with raw fish, shrimp and avocado. (Below) The popular Pad Thai features rice noodles, bean sprouts, scallions, ground peanuts and sauce with your choice of meat.

For a light lunch, or on the side, there is miso soup, wonton soup, hot & sour soup, Tom Ka Gai (soup made from chicken, mushrooms and coconut milk) or Tom Yum Koong (a spicy soup featuring shrimp, tomatoes and mushrooms).

Salads range from the typical house salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onions in a peanut or ginger dressing) to spicy shrimp salad, seared tuna tataki salad or spicy seafood salad.

For those who are hungry, there’s food “from the land” and “from the sea.”

Land dishes are served with white or brown rice and your choice of meat — beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, calamari or scallops — as part of Pad Thai (rice noodles, bean sprouts, scallions and ground peanuts), Pad Woonsen (bean thread noodles, onions, baby corn, mushrooms and egg) or with cashew nuts, garlic pepper (Thai style), red curry, yellow curry, green curry, Panang (coconut milk and curry paste), basil and vegetables, or sweet & sour style (with pineapple and vegetables). There is also Siam Chicken and Typhoon Duck.

“Pad Thai is a popular dish which everybody knows and loves,” Alina said of one of the menu’s most popular dishes.

(Above) The JB Deluxe roll with salmon, cream cheese, scallions, crab and a volcano topping.

(Below) Avocado Salad with crabmeat, shrimp, avocado, spicy mayo and masago.

Sea dishes feature shrimp eggplant, grouper filet, salmon filet, ginger tilapia, jumbo shrimp, soft shell crab, seafood pasta (fish, shrimp, scallops, mussels and egg noodles in a garlic butter sauce) or fried red snapper in a spicy sweet chili sauce.

On the other side of the menu, diners can sample from the sushi bar to their heart’s content. There’s a full line of sushi, sashimi and special rolls to choose from at very reasonable prices. Intriguing combinations include the Volcano Roll, the Birthday Roll, the Crazy Roll

and the Dancing Eel Roll. If you want something different, those are choices you’ll want to try. For the more daring, try one of the sushi/sashimi platters, or share a sushi boat for the table.

“We find that a lot of parents now want to teach their children to eat Thai,” Alina said. “We’re family-friendly.”

But for those youngsters who are still skeptical, a children’s menu includes mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders and fries. A menu of tempting Thai desserts include mango with sticky rice, fried ice cream and Thai beignets.

And, for the young at heart, there’s always happy hour, Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. where a special menu offers reduced prices on tapas, beer and saki (rice wine). Spices also carries domestic and imported beers from Thailand, China and Japan, and the latest thing in mixed drinks, the wine-based cocktail, available as a piña colada, margarita or mai tai.

“Wine-based cocktails have a lower percentage of alcohol, and they’re less fattening,” Alina explained. “We also have the trendy, modern new cold sakis.”

Experiment with a trilogy by ordering the cold saki “flight” comprised of 1.5 oz. each of Moonstone Asian Pear, Plum Saki and Coconut Lemongrass.

“We live in Wellington, and we wanted to do something locally,” Alina said. “This is a nice, clean, new plaza. And here we are.”

Visit Spices Modern Thai & Sushi in Southern Palm Crossing at 11071 Southern Blvd., Suite 160, in Royal Palm Beach. They are open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, or on weekends from noon to 10 p.m. Take-out and catering is available.

For more info., call (561) 798-3877 or visit www.enjoyspices.com.

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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.

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.

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 Dining Guide 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 info., call (561) 333-4233 or visit www.imgreektoday.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.

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 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 sand-

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Wellington Dining Guide wiches 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 Original Hawaiian Ice Co. brings a taste of the tropics to Wellington with over 100 refreshing treats featuring Hawaiian shaved ice, gourmet Italian ice, smoothies, hot Kona coffee brewed to order and much more. Catering is available for any function. Original Hawaiian Ice is located in Wellington Town Square at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. and is open seven days a week. Call (561) 693-2822 for more info.

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 Ital-

ian 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.

Too Bizaare Café wine, sushi bar and gallery in Jupiter has a varied menu and wine list. There are a variety of tapas, and the sushi bar features vari-

ous sushi and sashimi as well as classic and hand rolls. Specialty dishes include pastas, seafood and chicken dishes. Too Bizaare Café is located at 287 E. Indiantown Road. For more info., call (561) 7451032 or visit www.toobizaare.com.

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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Wellington Calendar MONDAY, JAN. 4 • The Audubon Society of the Everglades will host “Florida’s Fabulous Birds” on Monday, Jan. 4 at the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center (6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). Doors will open at 7 p.m. for refreshments. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more info., call (561) 742-7791 or visit www.auduboneverglades.org.

• Art classes begin on Monday, Jan. 4 and run through Feb. 27 at the Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach). Visit www.armory art.org for a full listing of class offerings or call (561) 832-1776, ext. 33 for more info.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present its Book Discussion Series for adults on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of My Sister’s Keeper

by Jodi Picoult. Call (561) 790-6070 for info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present the “Magic Tree House Adventures Series” on Wednesdays, Jan. 6-27 at 6:30 p.m. for ages six and up. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

FRIDAY, JAN. 8 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Science Club: I Spy” on Fridays, Jan. 8 and 22 at 3 p.m. for ages eight and up. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach) will host “Take Home a Nude” on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. This event is a major fundraiser to benefit the center’s extensive visual arts programming. Call (561) 832-1776, ext. 15 or visit www.armoryart.org for more info.

SATURDAY, JAN. 9 • “Drop-in Story Times” resume at the Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) for ages two and up on Saturdays starting Jan. 9 at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• The Early Bird Ford Club, Palm Beach Region, will hold its 10th Annual “Ford & Friends” Meet on Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Holiday Inn on Lake Worth Road near Florida’s Turnpike. Call Dan or Stacy at (561) 712-9252 or e-mail horizon5 @bellsouth.net for info.

SUNDAY, JAN. 10 • Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will host a Digital Garden Photography Class with photojournalist John Lopinot on Sundays, Jan. 10, 17 and 24. Call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org for more info.

MONDAY, JAN. 11 • The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a membership breakfast Monday, Jan. 11 at 7:45 a.m. at the Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant in the original Wellington Mall. RSVP to Anitra Harmon at (561) 790-6200.

• Palm Beach Dramaworks (322 Banyan Blvd., West Palm Beach) will host a Master Playwright Series: The Old Neighborhood on Jan. 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. featuring a reading of one of Mamet’s important plays. Call (561) 514-4042 or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org for info.

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Wellington Calendar • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present comedian Bob Newhart in Dreyfoos Hall on Monday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 651-4257 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

TUESDAY, JAN. 12 • The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 for more info.

• Violinist Frank Almond will perform on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach).

A dessert and champagne reception with the artist will follow. For more info., call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Tony Bennett on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall. Call (561) 651-4257 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13 • The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club featuring Herve Jaubert, author of Escape from Dubai. RSVP to (561) 792-6525.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Jason Alexander of Seinfeld on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 651-4257 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14 • The Palm Beach Opera will hold its Lunch & Learn Series at the National Croquet Club (700 Florida Mango Road, West Palm Beach) beginning Thursday, Jan. 14 at noon. Enjoy an insightful look inside the Palm Beach Opera’s upcoming productions. Call (561) 833-7888 or visit www. pbopera.org for more info.

FRIDAY, JAN. 15 • The South Florida Fair returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds from Friday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 31. Tickets are on sale now. Call (561) 793-0333 or visit www.southfloridafair.com for more info.

• The Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach) will present “Native to Florida” celebrating efforts for the preservation of Florida’s native species of flora and fauna on Friday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (561) 832-1776, ext. 33 or visit www.armoryart.org for more info.

SATURDAY, JAN. 16 • The Norton Museum of Art (1451 South Olive Ave., West Palm Beach) will open the exhibition “Habsburg Treasures: Renaissance Tapestries from Vienna” on Saturday, Jan. 16. It will remain on display through April 11. Call (561) 8325196 or visit www.norton.org for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Create the Life You Want” for adults Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. Kathy Andio will help you discover how to live the life you dream of living. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

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Wellington Calendar MONDAY, JAN.18 • The Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace (700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach) will offer its monthly “Music for the Mind” concert series on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. featuring the Rosarian Academy show choir. Call (866) 449-2489 or visit www.kretzerpiano.com for more info.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20 • The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a networking mixer on Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DiSalvo Financial Services (1760 N. Jog Road, Suite 150). RSVP to Catherine Engel at (561) 790-6200.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21 • The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will feature Speed Networking on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club. The cost is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members. RSVP to (561) 792-6525.

• The Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach) will host “Bands and Bikers at the Armory” on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.

Tour the studios and see classes in progress, participate in hands-on activities and check out the exhibition “Crafted Melodies” in the gallery. Call (561) 832-1776, ext. 15 or visit www.armoryart.org for more info.

FRIDAY, JAN. 22 • The Palm Beach Opera will present Otello by Giuseppe Verdi Friday through Monday, Jan. 22-25 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Call (561) 833-7888 or visit www.pbopera.org.

• The Palm Beach Zoo will host its gala “Where the Wild Things Are” at the Breakers Hotel Palm Beach on Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. For more info., call (561) 547-WILD or e-mail info@ palmbeachzoo.org.

• The 2010 JustWorld International Annual Fundraising Dinner will be held Friday, Jan. 22 at Belle Herbe Farm in Wellington. Money raised will go directly to helping educate children in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras and Senegal.

For info., visit www.justworldinternational.org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 23 • Temple Beth Torah (900 Big Blue Trace, Wellington) will hold its second annual Monte Carlo Night on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. A cash bar will be available. Dress will be smart casual.

Great food will be served, and lots of prizes will be awarded to winners. Guests should be 21 and older. The cost is $50 per person until Jan. 13 and $75 per person at the door. For more info., call Lois at (561) 793-2700.

• The South Florida Science Museum (4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach) will feature “Shark Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday, Jan 23 and 24. Museum guests will enjoy two days of exploration specific to these sea-bound specimens. Call (561) 832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org for more info.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Saturday and Sunday, Jan 23 and 24. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

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Tuesday, Jan. 26 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Open Mic Night” for adults on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 for more info.

• The Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) will present the Leipzig String Quartet in concert on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets include a dessert and champagne reception. Call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for more info.

• The John Colianni Quintet will be the featured group in the monthly Jazz Concert Series at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace (700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach) on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. For details, visit www.jamsociety. org or call (877) 722-2820.

Wednesday, Jan. 27 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Introduction to Irish Dancing” for adults on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. led

by Marie Marzi from the Drake School of Irish Dance. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• Florida Stage (262 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan) will present Sins of the Mother by Israel Horovitz from Jan. 27 through March 7. Call (561) 585-3433 or visit www.floridastage.org for info.

Thursday, Jan. 28 • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present “The Second City 50th Anniversary” Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 28-30. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

Friday, Jan. 29 • The Palms West Hospital Health Lecture Series will begin on Friday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way) with “Heart Attack Prevention.” Call (561) 790-5149 for more info.

• The Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America will host a Centennial Anniversary Dinner with honoree State Sen. Jeff Atwater on Friday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. RVSP to (561) 694-8585, ext. 221.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg” for adults on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe will present the humor of Molly Goldberg (Gertrude Berg), TV’s iconic Jewish character. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. saTurday, Jan. 30 • The 2010 Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Visit www.komensouthflorida.org for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will present “Presidents and Their First Ladies, Dramatically Speaking: Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson” for adults on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. featuring William and Sue Wills. Preregister in person for free tickets. Call (561) 7906070 for more info.

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Around Wellington

Michelle McGann (center) with first-place team Bruce Fishbein, Onno Van Romondt, Doug Tannehill and Paul Van Romondt.

Seniors Club Officers — The Wellington Seniors Club installed its directors and officers for 2009-10 at a holiday luncheon Dec. 9 at the Binks Forest Golf Club. For more info., visit www.wellingtonseniorsclub.org. Shown here are 2009-10 Directors and Officers Tony Alfalla, Mae Loglisci, Hildi Wanklyn, Estelle Rubin, Joan Kahler, President Howard Trager, Sally Schwartz, Sunny Meyer and Ethel Mossman.

Photo by Denise Fleischman

Diabetes Golf Tourney — The inaugural DRI Wellington Golf Classic to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation was held Dec. 14 at the Wanderers Club at Wellington.

LPGA pro golfer Michelle McGann served as host and held a golf clinic after lunch.

Photos by Denise Fleischman

(Left) Ashley and Joe Maguire receive an award on behalf of presenting sponsor the Rosen Group.

Ashoka Ganesan, Stephane Merot, Paul Gallivan, Melody Duplooy, Dr. Salvatore DeCanio, Marisol Ortiz and Marc-Anthony Fraser.

Holiday Party — Viso LASIK Medspa in Wellington hosted a Holiday Peppermint Party on Dec. 3. Ten percent of proceeds from the day’s sales were donated to the Guide Dog FoundaConyers Celebrates In Wellington — An 80th birthday par- tion for the Blind. Viso LASIK Medspa is located at 2515 State ty was held Saturday, Dec. 5 in Wellington for Congressman Road 7, Suite 210. For more info., call (561) 795-4772.

John Conyers Jr. (D-Michigan), chair of the House Judiciary Photos by Denise Fleischman Committee. The event was hosted by Victoria McCullough of Raquel McInnis gives Jolynn Richey a dermal infusion silk peel. the Davis-McCullough Foundation. Shown below are State Rep. Joe Abruzzo, Congressman John Conyers, Victoria McCullough and State Sen. Ted Deutch. Photo by Carol Porter Talent show judges Dr. Gordon Johnson, nurses Denise Mercandetti and Geri Colbert, and Dr. Jeffrey Bishop.

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