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Palms West Monthly • October 2018 • Page 1
Palms West
Monthly
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • WEST PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE GROVES • THE ACREAGE Volume 8, Number 10
PalmsWestMonthly.com
(WET) DOG DAY AFTERNOON Calypso Bay Waterpark opens its doors to dogs on Oct. 20 PAGE 5
FREE • October 2018
They’re back! Local green markets make their return Let’s raise a glass to WPB’s booming craft beer scene
Over the last three years, there’s been tremendous growth in West Palm Beach’s local beer scene … and there’s more on the way.
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Protect your home with PBC’s property fraud alert The Clerk & Comptroller’s office urges Palm Beach County property owners to register for free property fraud alert notifications to help combat property and mortgage fraud.
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Photo by Carolyn Rose Designs/Palms West Monthly
Panther Ridge Conservation Center founder and Director Judy Berens tends to Charlie, a 12-year-old cheetah who Berens says she brought to the center to become an “ambassador” for his species.
Meet Judy Berens, Wellington’s very own
CAT LADY
Berens oversees 20 endangered cheetahs, cougars and jaguars – eight species in all – at Panther Ridge Conservation Center. By RON HAYES Palms West Monthly
Thanks to Habitat for Humanity, two homes dedicated Habitat for Humanity Palm Beach County recently dedicated two homes on the 800 block of Fifth Street in West Palm Beach as part of its National Women Build Program.
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Fright Nights returns for three scary weekends
The carnival of terror at the fairgrounds includes scare zones, entertainment, midway carnival rides and four new chilling haunted houses.
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WELLINGTON — You’ve heard of cat ladies, of course. Those overly affectionate feline fanciers who take in cat after cat after cat, until one sad day when Animal Care & Control knocks on the door and 45 or 50 purring pets are removed from the house for safe keeping. Judy Berens is not that kind of cat lady. She prefers size over multitude. On 10 acres in rural Wellington, where most folks keep horses, Berens is the founder and director of Panther Ridge Conservation Center, a nonprofit home to 20 exotic and endangered cheetahs and cougars, jaguars, leopards and pumas – eight species in all. Judy Berens is a big cat lady. “When I bought here, I had horses and three exotic cats,” she recalls. Visitors to Panther Ridge will meet Isabella, a 9-year-old jaguar who was born at the conservation center.
“Now I have 20 cats and no horses. I don’t have time for both.” Originally from Minnesota, Berens came to Wellington from Nashville after visiting the area regularly for horse shows and equestrian festivals. “But I’ve always loved cats,” she says. “I’m just drawn to their beauty, so in the mid-90s I got a license to have a small exotic pet, a 22-pound ocelot named Sabrina.” She was married then, living in Palm Beach Polo Club, and used to walk Sabrina around the club on a leash while the neighbors walked their dogs. “Well, once you have a license, people call you,” she explains. “The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will call and say they have a cat that’s been confiscated. So I took in another ocelot.” And then she took in a cougar from Loxahatchee that had metabolic bone disease. “I outgrew the Polo Club.” In 1999, she bought the 10 acres that are now Panther Ridge.
HOW TO VISIT THE CATS: WHAT: Panther Ridge Conservation Center, a nonprofit that provides a home and care to 20 exotic and endangered big cats.
WHERE: 14755 Palm Beach Point Blvd. in Wellington.
TOURS: Two tours are offered by
appointment, ranging from a onehour standard tour that costs $25 per person to a two-hour director’s tour that costs $100 per person.
MORE INFORMATION: Go
online to PantherRidge.org or call (561) 795-8914.
“And it just grew.” Today, the center is a beautiful spread of rolling green grass and shade trees, under which the cats’ zoo-sized enclosures stand. With accommodations for 20 cats, the center is now full. There’s Charlie the cheetah, and there’s Amos, the black leopard. Mateo and Isabella are jaguars and Brandy’s a puma. The cats’ enclosures are constructed of chain link fencing, with plenty of room to roam and frolic, and separate homes in each enclosure for sleeping and getting out of the rain. They have toys galore – balls to play with, and bowling pins, tree limbs to stretch out on, slides to slide down and wooden climbing structures. Mateo and Isabella share a swimming pool. “Jaguars are the best swimmers in the cat family,” Berens says. “They can jump on top of a crocodile and crush its skull with one bite.” Over in the food preparation building, Taj, Malee and Lura, three baby clouded leopards, share a temporary holding area. “Clouded leopards have the longest canine teeth in proporPANTHER RIDGE / PAGE 13
Fall has arrived, and with it so has the area’s popular green markets, where the aromas of hot coffee, spices and specialty products waft through the air on weekend mornings. Though the markets may differ in size, they all feature justpicked fruits and vegetables, herbs, spices, fresh flowers and market favorites like decadent baked goods, coffees, teas, vegan offerings and honey. Each also has an array of local artisans selling jewelry, handicrafts and other interesting wares. Here’s a quick rundown of the local green markets:
Wellington Dates & Times: The Green Market at Wellington returns Saturday, Oct. 20 for its fourth season. It runs Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 27, but will be closed the weekends of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, in addition to Jan. 26 and March 23. Where: The Green Market at Wellington is held right next to the Wellington Amphitheater at 12150 Forest Hill Blvd. Why You Should Go: Not only are visitors encouraged to bring their furry friends on a leash, but nearby amenities include a shaded sitting area, lush green space, restrooms and Scott’s Place, a barrier-free playground designed to meet the needs of all children. There’s also tons of free on-site parking. To learn more: Visit GreenMarketatWellington.com.
Royal Palm Beach Dates & Times: The Royal Palm Beach Green Market and Bazaar kicks off its sixth season Sunday, Oct. 21. The market runs through April 28 on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter weekends. As an extra bonus, the market will run mid-week on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. beginning Nov. 7 Where: The green market is held at Royal Palm Beach’s beautiful Veterans Park, 1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Why You Should Go: Along with exciting new vendors, GREEN MARKETS / PAGE 4