Read us online at PalmsWestMonthly.com
Palms West Monthly • June 2020 • Page 1
Palms West
Monthly
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • WEST PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE GROVES • THE ACREAGE
GET HITCHED ONLINE Palm Beach County residents may now apply for marriage licenses online. PAGE 4
Volume 10, Number 5
FREE • June 2020
West Palm Beach community comes together in crisis
There are so many stories of compassion from one neighbor to the next. The Facebook group WPB Cares Community shares these stories.
PAGE 6
Heading back to the gym? Doctors tell how to stay safe There are many legitimate concerns about how gyms and fitness studios can safely reopen without furthering the spread. But infectious disease experts say risk can be greatly mitigated by following some simple rules.
PAGE 8
Keiser University swim coach named coach of the year Adam Epstein was named Coach of the Year by The Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
PAGE 4
PalmsWestMonthly.com
Reining in
Ever since restrictions were lifted on May 21, summer camps have scrambled to reopen while providing proper social distancing and other safety measures.
Summer Camp By RON HAYES Palms West Monthly
Would there even be summer camps this year? Should there be? If so, where? When? And how? With a statewide lockdown in force and the number of Covid-19 cases in Palm Beach County rising through April and May, towns and cultural institutions pondered the fate of a summer tradition thousands of children look forward to – and many parents depend on. And then, on May 21, Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted the restrictions on summer camps and tossed the ball to local leaders. “I really trust parents,” the governor said. “I trust the physicians who work with the kids, the local leaders, coaches, camps. I think that’s a much better approach than having the state government doing 100 rules for tennis camp.” Since then, many summer camps have revived programs they had canceled. Some have reinvented them virtually, and some are still tweaking their plans in search of a happy and safe compromise. Here’s the latest information on some popular summer camps in the area:
VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH
The Village of Royal Palm Beach had canceled its summer camp program, but was considering a modified version when the restrictions were lifted. “Now we’re looking to open, but not before June 15,” Parks and Recreation Director Lou Recchio said. “And it will be a modified program with social distancing.” According to Recchio, campers will be divided by age and rotate through six rooms in the rec center, spending an hour in each for different games and exercises. The large gym space can accommodate more groups, and a walking trail will welcome one group at a time. Instead of four two-week programs, the camp will offer five one-week sessions, ending in early August. And while the camp once welcomed about 100 children per session, now they will be limited to about 50, with only nine campers per counselor. In addition, the $210 fee will be reduced possibly to $100, said Recchio, though that is not certain. “It’s going to be affordable,” Recchio promised. “We’re only going to charge to pay the counselors. This is a no-frills camp.” Location: Royal Palm Beach Rec. Center, 100 Sweetbay Lane; Contact: Call (561) 790-5124 or visit royalpalmbeach.com.
VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON
The Village of Wellington had never canceled its summer camp, but it was always an option. “Everything was on the table,” said
Wellington Athletics Programs Manager Ryan Hagopian. “We didn’t know what was going to happen.” The camp will happen, but with safety limitations. In previous years, as many as 240 campers participated each week. This summer, the number will be limited to 72 divided into classes of nine campers each that will be assigned to one of eight rooms at the village’s Community Center. Alas, the popular “banana split show,” in which campers make their own ice cream concoctions, has been canceled along with laser tag games and field trips. But the magic, animal and game shows are a go. “We’ve talked with all the vendors about masks and sanitizing, and they’re all on board,” Hagopian said. “It definitely will be different this year, but we’ll make the best of it.” Wellington’s tennis camp is still up in
the air as of press time, but residents are asked to keep checking the village’s website. Location: Wellington Community Center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd.; Contact: Call (561) 791-4005 or go online to Wellingtonfl.gov/SummerCamp or wellingtonfl.gov/Tennis. SUMMER CAMP / PAGE 5
Ashley Pellicone, top, and Caleigh Coleman sit atop Denny at Casperey Stables in Loxahatchee Groves.