Town-Crier Newspaper April 7, 2023

FLORIST HOSTS SPRING OPEN HOUSE

New Speed Tables

Hit A Bump With Some

Acreage Residents

Several residents rose at the Wednesday, March 29 meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors to express concerns and frustration, even fear, regarding what they perceive as a major uptick in speeding in their neighborhoods. They blame new, flatter speed tables, which they believe don’t do enough to slow traffic.

Wellington Chamber

Hosts Installation

Lunch At Showgrounds

Members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce attended the 2023 Board Installation

Luncheon held at Wellington International on Wednesday, March 22. Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig was on hand to install the new chamber board, led by President Daryl Lyon of First National Bank Coastal Community. Page 5

Wood Paper Glass Art

Studio Hosts Grand

Opening In Wellington

Co-owners Kris Barnett and Terri White of the new makeand-take art studio Wood Paper Glass celebrated the store’s grand opening with family, friends and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, April 1. Page 7

13 Teams Competing

In The U.S. Open Polo Championship At NPC

The apex of the Gauntlet of Polo season, the U.S. Open Polo Championship, is now underway at the National Polo Center-Wellington. The draw took place Thursday, March 23 to determine the brackets, and play got underway Tuesday, March 28. Page 21

Wellington Eyes Future Annexation Areas With Caution

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

When it comes to annexing territory, Wellington is having internal discussions about whether it should take a fresh look at crossing a barrier it has never pierced: Southern Blvd.

Beyond that traditional northern border lie 5,700 acres of communities northwest of the village that are not yet incorporated into existing municipalities in a stillevolving corridor of Palm Beach County.

“Once you talk about annexing these areas out here this far west, aren’t we losing the character of Wellington at that point?” asked Vice Mayor Michael Drahos during a day-long visioning workshop Wednesday, March 29.

“No, we’re just expanding our character,” Mayor Anne Gerwig said. “They’re going to get our character.”

Help Women Of The Wellington Chamber ‘Clear The Shelter’

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Once again this year, the Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce are working with Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control to help find homes for shelter pets.

The initiative began in 2016 when Michela Green, executive director of the chamber, adopted a dog from the county’s shelter.

“It really opened my eyes to how amazing the Palm Beach County shelter dogs are, and how

much the people who work there love them, care for them and try to enrich their lives,” Green said.

And that’s how the Women of the Wellington Chamber, a subset of the Wellington Chamber, began its special annual campaign, “Clear the Shelter.”

“Sometimes I feel like our county shelter gets a bad reputation, and it’s absolutely outstanding,” Green said. “I wanted to encourage people to go there in person and see what it’s like and meet these dogs.”

In general, the chamber is bringing awareness to the many animals that need a home. This year, they’re placing a special emphasis on the dogs at the Animal Care & Control shelter.

Over the last two weeks, many members of the Women of the Wellington Chamber have come to the county’s shelter, as well as Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, to meet the dogs and record short video clips where they introduce various dogs in need of a home. Green is expecting at least 50 dogs to be highlighted in this year’s video series.

“Because we film with them, we get to know their personalities. These are the best dogs, they’re friendly, outgoing and sweet,” Green said. “It’s just amazing to see these dogs that are just waiting patiently for their homes.”

The videos — just a few minutes long at most — are being shared within the chamber members’ networks.

“These videos are being shared everywhere,” Green said. “We’re boosting them, we’re sending them out on Facebook. We’re sharing them with all of the different communities.” Animal Care & Control is over capacity right now with more than

See SHELTER PETS, page 4

Flag League Breaks Through; AAL Still Acreage Cornerstone

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier

The grass is looking green and the future bright for Acreage Community Park with the completion in March of a $580,000 renovation to the north fields and $3 million upgrade getting underway soon at its southern end.

“We’re excited about the renovations to the north fields,” said Wendy Tirado, acting president of the Acreage Athletic League, which kicked off its 2023 flag football season March 4 following 10 months of major upgrades to electrical and drainage systems, lights and scoreboards, plus a complete resodding.

Improvements on the south end will include an artificial turf, regulation-size football field, new bathrooms, equestrian parking for better access to the trails, new lighting and the construction of a new skate park.

But on the sidelines and behind the bleachers, a schism has broken open between members of the AAL, which has run youth sports in the area for three decades, and the upstart Breakthru Athletic League, which has taken its flags and footballs and some 330 players and moved on.

Led by former AAL flag football president Samantha “Sam” Harris, Breakthru players practice

at Western Pines Middle School and play their games at Seminole Ridge High School.

Breakthru, which hosted its first season in 2022 under the auspices of NFL Flag, plays 5-on-5 in games divided into boys and girls, said Chris Harris, Sam’s husband and president of the league. They began their 2023 season April 1, with their “Super Bowl Tournament” set for May 20.

The acrimony generated by the split has spilled onto the dais of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, which is charged with overseeing parks for the area’s 45,000 citizens. The

See PARKS, page 4

For now, the talk is more about Wellington’s stance on possible future annexations than any pending proposals to bring neighbors within its municipal boundaries.

The debate touches on whether those residents are coming to Wellington anyway for restaurants and other amenities, as marketing pitches to sell homes often emphasize proximity to the village. Formally being part of Wellington can help promote what Gerwig called a “manicured” look through code enforcement, among other benefits.

But others questioned whether it just dilutes what makes Wellington desirable, without clear evidence it makes economic sense. Annexations increase the tax base, but also require increased spending for services over a wider territory.

“There’s no reason to annex something if the cost is more than we’re getting,” Councilman Michael Napoleone said.

The annexation discussion came at the tail end of the visioning workshop, during a portion of the

meeting called “Wellington: Past, Present, Future.” The staff-led discussion was more about gauging the council’s interest in the controversial topic.

Annexation is an issue that ties into calculations about how local governments can keep revenues coming in as they run out of space within their current borders. Earlier in the day, council members heard presentations about how everything from interest rates to inflation could affect budgets.

Home values, closely linked to local government coffers, have been on quite the roller coaster ride in Wellington.

In 2022, the median singlefamily home price in the village reached $715,000, up 25 percent from 2021, said Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, who made a presentation during the workshop session. Yet in the first two and a half months of 2023 alone, that median price fell 8 percent from 2022 to $655,000, Jacks said.

The notion of Wellington crossing Southern Blvd. has come up before, but never come to fruition. Attempts to have the land that is now the Arden community north of Southern Blvd. near 20-Mile Bend join Wellington nearly two decades ago were blocked by Palm Beach County authorities in a contentious episode.

Still, much has happened since then. Development, current or planned, has continued apace in areas open to potential annexation now, on the northern side of Southern Blvd., west of Wellington. Meanwhile, communities tucked near Wellington’s south end are also coming up again in the village’s annexation conversation, including the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club and Farmington Estates.

Talks with such nearby unincorporated pockets are not new, happening off and on for many years.

CAFCI DIVINE WINE AND HIGH TEA EVENT

CAFCI hosted its Divine Wine and High Tea event on Saturday, April 1 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center to benefit the Vivian and Adrienne Ferrin Memorial Scholarship Fund. The day included a wine tasting, hat contest, music, fashion show and ticket auction. Shown above are Annette Edman, Audrey Smith and Kanetia Clarke. MORE

Artist Tito Mangiola’s Mosaic To Be Displayed In Italy

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Not every village can claim that it is home to a world-renowned Italian artist, but Wellington can.

Artist Tito Mangiola, who lent his skills to area high schools as a teacher, has spent the last 30-plus years with his wife, Leonarda, calling Wellington their home.

Just recently, Mangiola finished a 54-inch-by-36-inch mosaic project that pays homage to the “Bronzi di Riace” Greek sculptures found under the sea in Italy.

“I was born in the part of Calabria formerly called Magna Grecia,” Mangiola said. “I remember well the discovery of the bronzes in the sea of Riace.”

The bronze sculptures, discovered in 1972, are two bronze statues of bearded, naked warriors that are life size. They’re called the Riace warriors, the Riace bronzes or the Bronzi di Riace, and were found in the Mediterranean Sea by Stefano Mariottini.

The statues are dated to around 460 to 450 BCE, and are on display in Reggio Calabria, Italy, at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Di Reggio Calabria, or the National Archeological Museum of Reggio Calabria.

The statues were created using a lost-wax technique, and last year marked the 50th anniversary of their discovery.

Mangiola wanted to create a mosaic to commemorate the dis-

covery. He used stone, ceramic, porcelain, marble and travertine to make the unique mosaic, which weighs in at 50 pounds.

He searched for the right materials to give the project justice. The frame looks like waves as a nod to the statues being found under the sea.

Ancient Greek sculptures have always captivated Mangiola, especially with the methods of sculpting hair and beards. Those details were something that Mangiola took special care to add in his mosaic.

At the museum, one statue is in the foreground and the other in the background. This is replicated in Mangiola’s mosaic. The mosaic took time, effort,

research and dedication to put together.

“I have been using this mosaic technique for more than a year,” Mangiola said. “It gives me so much satisfaction, both in the decorative form and in the freedom of expression.”

Mangiola’s mosaic is expected to go on an exhibit tour before going to the National Archeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, its final destination, where it can be exhibited permanently with the sculptures.

For more info., and to learn more about Mangiola’s artwork, visit www.titomangiola.com.

Learn more about the museum, at www.museoarcheologicoreggiocalabria.it/?lang=en.

Wellington Florist held a Spring Open House on Monday, April 3 to celebrate the recent expansion of the longtime Wellington landmark. The business recently expanded its footprint and brought in additional product lines. At the open house, guests enjoyed light bites and cake, and were able to select flowers and make their own bouquet. Shown above is owner J.P. Varvarigos (center) with Karen Roberts and Paula Castro. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18

Staff Report

PHOTOS, PAGE 16

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Leonarda and Tito Mangiola with Tito’s mosaic homage to the “Bronzi di Riace.”

Wellington Chamber member Laura Bostwick with Carl.

New Speed Tables Hit A Bump With Some Acreage Residents

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Several residents rose at the Wednesday, March 29 meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors to express concerns and frustration, even fear, regarding what they perceive as a major uptick in speeding in their neighborhoods. They blame new, flatter speed tables, which they believe don’t do enough to slow traffic.

“It was dangerous before, now it’s extremely dangerous. Something bad is going to happen,” said a woman who lives off 120th Avenue North, where eight old, teeth-rattling speed bumps have been replaced by four larger, smoother speed tables. “I’d hate for my child to have to sit on the side of that road and wait on a school bus.”

Several residents of 120th

Avenue North and the streets that connect with it to the west told supervisors that the new speed tables do little to slow trucks and other traffic using the narrow, canal-side road as a cut-through to avoid often-congested Coconut Blvd. They said they can no longer enjoy walking along 120th, which does not have a sidewalk, and are fearful for children riding bikes, walking or playing in the area.

“Speeding is definitely a problem,” Supervisor Elizabeth Accomando agreed.

“It’s going to get worse and worse until State Road 7 gets done,” added Supervisor Keith Jordano, referring to the delayed SR 7 connection from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd.

The new speed tables are part of the “Complete Streets Mobility Plan” adopted by the board in

2020, ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson explained. In December 2022, the board approved redoing 40 existing speed tables and adding another 20.

The work was to be broken into two priority zones, with the area north of Orange Blvd. and south of Northlake Blvd. and east of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and west of 120th Avenue North to be priority one. Priority two will mostly include areas west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Hanson said at the time.

Each speed table costs about $16,400 to install, according to ITID staff.

The new or improved tables bring the district into compliance with Palm Beach County standards and address concerns expressed by Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue regarding emergency vehicles having to cross

over the old speed bumps, Hanson said.

ITID would like to install stop signs or lower speed limits on a number of streets, he said, but since ITID is not a municipality, it does not have that authority. That rests with the county.

But concerned residents living in the area who attended the meeting were having none of it.

“Maybe we need to take a step back… [and] put on our creative hats,” ITID Vice President Betty Argue said.

One possibility, Hanson said, would be creating some one-way streets — a move that might not require county approval but would surely inconvenience some residents.

“We would want to hear from residents,” Accomando said. “We need to think this thing through.”

In the end, the board directed

Hanson and district staff to look at possibilities for dealing with the issue and return with recommendations.

In other business:

• ITID board members requested a change to staff’s recommendations regarding the notification of millings.

Instead of setting a 30-day response time for residents on a street where millings are planned, residents will have 45 days from when the first-class letters go out. A batch of letters went out on Thursday, April 6, according to staff.

The district also will use door hangers and road signs to inform residents.

The board also asked staff to come back with suggestions for how to better decide which roads will get millings, rather than the current first-five to submit valid

forms and $500, plus a lottery system currently in use.

Residents often sleep outside district offices before deadline day, Oct. 1, in an effort to be among the five assured of millings that fiscal year.

• ITID board members passed a resolution honoring former longtime supervisor Michelle Damone, who died March 4 after battling cancer. She served on the board from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2004 to 2016.

The board also voted to name the playground at Citrus Grove Park at 8501 Avocado Blvd. in her honor and plant two trees at Downers Park, located at 16700 East Downers Drive, with the addition of a plaque bearing her name. “I knew her for 20 years,” Jordano said. “Whether for the parks or the horse community out here, she was a fierce fighter.”

Delmar Wish Program Makes Dreams Come True For KCF Families

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Last holiday season, Claudia Campbell of Delmar Farm had an idea: what if she collected toys for the children at the Kids Cancer Foundation during the holiday celebration at her Loxahatchee farm?

That initiative morphed into another one: what if she had KCF kids visit for a special day at the farm? They’d have a chance to interact with many of the animals that live there: one TikTok famous cow, three barn cats, six donkeys, eight sheep, eight goats, 10 dogs and 17 horses.

“I see the benefits of the interaction between children and animals,” Campbell said. “About 80 percent of our animals are rescues, and having them be loved on by these children, and vice versa, is such a wonderful connection.”

She connected with Michelle O’Boyle, founder and executive director at the Kids Cancer Foundation, and a plan was hatched.

Each month, a family is able to visit Delmar Farm, located near Lion Country Safari, and meet with the animals.

“It’s really whatever the child wants,” Campbell said. “If they want to ride a pony, they get to work with the miniature horses.”

The Kids Cancer Foundation chooses which families are invited to the farm based on their age,

if the children like animals, and where they are in their treatment.

“We’ve had two families who have been able to go out to do it. They’ve enjoyed it. They’ve enjoyed seeing all of the animals,” O’Boyle said. “They can go out, on a day that works for them and is convenient, and see the different animals.”

At the farm, which is a nonprofit sanctuary, the children and their families are able to interact with the animals. They can brush and wash the minis, enjoy pony rides and interact with the farm animals. They can give them treats, and all the while, they’re learning about the animals.

“The kids love it,” Campbell said. “They’re eager, excited and loving — it’s just beautiful.”

Being able to visit the farm gives the children and their families a fun day that they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience.

“I want families to come here and feel they’re at Disney World, but with animals,” Campbell said. “I want families to escape the stressful reality that they’re currently experiencing by leaving all their worries behind when they come through the farm’s gates. It’s so serene and so peaceful… It’s an escape from reality to come here, even if it’s for a brief moment.”

The difficulties families face when battling cancer aren’t foreign

to Campbell, who lost her father to cancer. Less than three years ago, her children’s father also passed away from cancer.

“I’m no stranger to dealing with the battle, and I know how devastating it was to my daughters, so I felt this would be a really nice thing to offer to others, since I have the sanctuary already,” she said.

Campbell models the day after other special events offered at the farm, such as story time, mommy and me, special holiday events,

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summer camp and other special programs.

“I’m happy to collaborate with any other organizations that this would benefit,” she said. “It’s an amazing concept, and I want to be able to do more of this type of work, but I need help.”

Campbell has many volunteer opportunities available for those age 13 and older.

For more info., call (561) 3159516, visit www.delmarfarm.org or e-mail delmarfarm@bellsouth. net.

Patricia Ann Curry

February 23, 1943 - April 2, 2023

Pat was a resident of Wellington - Loxahatchee since 1978. She was a local Realtor in the western communities. She was also a physical education coach at Wellington Elementary School, where she was known as Coach Curry. Pat had a passion for animals, the Rotary Club and pet sitting. She had a great sense of humor and was a good and loyal friend.

Pat is survived by her son Kevin Patrick Donohue, daughterin-law Michelle Campbell Donohue, granddaughter Kayla Michelle Donohue and grandson Kyle Patrick Donohue.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

to

PM

Kids Cancer Foundation families enjoy a day at Delmar Farm.

HAPPY, ‘Heroes’ Help Westlake Boom, While Keeping City Safe

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The City of Westlake and its major developer/landowner Minto have positioned it as a place where those who run toward danger can find affordable homes and feel safe and appreciated. That has paid off in robust home sales and a low crime rate.

The point was emphasized again when Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Craig Turner, commander of PBSO District 17, delivered his annual crime report at the Tuesday, March 14 meeting of the Westlake City Council.

Only 16 arrests for crimes against persons were listed in 2022 among the community’s approximately 4,000 residents, many of whom have careers in public service, including law enforcement and firefighting. One robbery outside of a convenience store accounted for several of those arrests, Turner said. No homicides

or sexual assaults were reported. With most criminals, “if they see a lot of law enforcement vehicles parked in driveways, they find another area,” Turner said later, adding that Minto has focused on sales to those types of professionals. “They encouraged that.”

Minto’s “Welcome Heroes” program and the city’s HAPPY program — Housing Assistance Purchase Program Yearly — also provides housing discounts or tax breaks to teachers, medical professionals, government workers and active-duty members of the military. HAPPY includes military veterans.

“In our mind, [they] are heroes for all they do,” Mike Belmont, president of Minto Communities USA, has said. “We felt a good way to show our gratitude was helping them defray the cost of their dream home.”

But even in a place with a large law enforcement presence,

reinforcing good safety habits is important, especially for children.

That’s why Westlake is hosting a Safety Awareness Day on Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5490 Kingfisher Blvd., near the Westlake Adventure Park.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and healthcare professionals will be on hand. ID kits will be available.

City Manager Kenneth Cassel was pleased after reviewing the 2022 crime report.

“It’s about what I expected,” he said. “Things will go up and down, but taken as a whole, I’m happy with the results.”

According to the PBSO report, there were seven arrests for armed assault, two for simple assault, five for robbery, and one each for child abuse and an obscene or harassing phone call. There also were two drunk driving arrests and one for a drug-related charge.

Turner described Westlake as “extremely safe.”

“The stats are minimal for crimes against people,” he said. “When they occur, it’s usually at a bar. It’s not residents on residents.”

Property crimes have increased, however, but that is to be expected with the city’s building boom.

“Construction theft is one of the larger issues,” Turner said.

Westlake saw an increase in construction burglaries from 10 in 2021 to 13 in 2022. There were two residential burglaries reported in 2022; none were reported in 2021. No vehicle burglaries were reported in 2021; there were 10 in 2022. Also showing increases were larcenies (4 to 8) and vandalism (3 to 7). However, the biggest law enforcement issue in Westlake remains speeding and other traffic-related violations, especially along Seminole Pratt Whitney

Road, the major artery that runs north and south through the heart of the young community.

“There are a lot of traffic issues on Seminole Pratt Whitney,” Turner said. “You have a lot of traffic out here with lot of houses being built. The roads are busy. They’re always busy.”

Traffic crashes in the city increased 57 percent (53 to 83) over 2021, while traffic stops increased by 7 percent (853 to 912).

In 2022, 204 traffic citations were issued, only two more than in 2021; many more verbal or written warnings were given.

Vehicle crashes and hit-and-runs have been going up countywide, Turner said.

“It’s a trend we’ve been seeing for four years,” he said. “Traffic enforcement is a big concentration… We stop a lot of people. But accidents still happen and people still speed.”

Another concentration for the

six PBSO deputies assigned to Westlake is community policing.

“They need to be talking to people and getting to know who lives in the neighborhood,” Turner said. “If you can’t fit five traffic stops and stopping and talking to at least five residents throughout your shift, you’re not doing your job.”

In other news:

• Westlake will host a Spring Festival on Saturday, April 8. The event will take place in the large lot off Kingfisher Blvd. between Town Center Parkway North and South. It will feature an egg drop from a helicopter, prizes, music, face painting and food trucks.

• The next Westlake City Council meeting will be Wednesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. At 5 p.m., council members and Seminole Improvement District supervisors will meet in a joint workshop session. Both meetings will be held at the council chambers at 4005 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

Groves Council Looks To Update Rules And Procedures For Meetings

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council held its annual re-organizational meeting on Tuesday, April

4. At the meeting, Vice Mayor Laura Danowski was chosen to serve as mayor, while Robert Shorr, who had been serving as mayor, was tapped for vice mayor.

Shorr was chosen as chair of the dependent Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, while Councilwoman Marge Herzog will remain as treasurer of the LGWCD.

The meeting included a discussion of rules regarding the town’s advisory boards, as well as a discussion of the council’s own rules and procedures.

Town Attorney Elizabeth Lenihan said the rules and procedures were last updated in 2019, with related code changes last updated in 2008. Several items are not up to date with current procedures, such as the time of meetings, and need to be updated, she said.

Lenihan said that while a list of discussion items was presented, it is up to the council to decide how to proceed.

Suggested discussion items included: which meetings (including board and committee meetings) should get livestreamed; who and how many council members sign documents; the use and placement of lights when council members wish to speak; cellular phone use; the appropriate manner of address-

Shelter Pets ‘Clear The Shelter’ Campaign

continued from page 1 200 dogs for 144 kennels, so the more people who see the videos, the better.

Because of the overcrowding, through the end of April, the county is waiving adoption fees. The dogs come spayed or neutered, with their vaccinations and their county tag, microchip and rabies vaccine. They are also started off with a small bag of dog food and a free vet visit with participating veterinarians.

Melanie Perazzo, public relations specialist at Animal Care & Control, added that fostering is also another way to help, which opens up space for another dog in need.

If you aren’t in the position to have a dog long term, there are fostering opportunities available through Animal Care & Control.

All of the supplies — food, leash, collar, crate and preventative medicines — are provided.

“They just provide the love to the animal,” Perazzo said. The logistics of having a dog aren’t as difficult as they might have been in the past. With neighbors and friends, and many dog care businesses, it’s possible to have someone available to walk your dog during the day.

“There’s a big misconception that you can’t have a dog if you work,” Green said. “The dog is just as happy sitting in your house, in the air conditioning, watching TV or listening to music or just hanging out in his bed until you get home as he is sitting in a kennel that’s severely overcrowded.”

ing each other during discussions; the tone and tenor of comments from council members; the use of one-on-one meetings with staff prior to council meetings; and effective use of Monday agenda review meetings.

Danowski said that all town meetings should be livestreamed and remain available on YouTube to provide as much information to the public as possible, and the rest of the council agreed. Regarding cell phone use, the council agreed not to use phones on the dais.

The most challenging item was regarding the tone and tenor of council comments. Council members have been known to get into arguments with each other on the dais.

“There is not a doubt in my mind that we are passionate,” Danowski said. “That’s the reason we’re up here. I think, myself included, we need to be a little more tolerant and understanding.”

She also asked that council members try to stay more on topic.

Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia, who is often a dissenter on council items and has been known to strongly disagree with other members, said that she understands the concerns. “I’m doing my best to try to tone it down,” she said, suggesting the use of a mediator.

Councilwoman Marianne Miles said that she would like the see an end to insinuations and accusatory allegations against other council

Animal Care & Control and Barky Pines have plenty of friendly, caring, loving dogs who are just waiting for a forever home.

Most of the dogs, Perazzo said, are strays or surrenders due to finances or moving.

And working with the chamber has helped many dogs find their forever home.

“It means a lot to do this with the chamber,” Perazzo said. “We’re able to promote our animals, network them to different audiences, which is a great opportunity to them.”

In just one week, six of the featured dogs were adopted and one was fostered.

The dogs, Perazzo said, are all sweet and well socialized.

“One thing that we do like to explain to people, is that Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control is the only open-admission shelter in the county,” she said. “We have to take in any animal that comes to us, regardless of medical condition, behavior, if we’re at capacity. We still have to take in those animals because we are technically their last resource. We are that resource for the community. Other resources, or other shelters, can stop allowing animals coming in.”

To meet one of the many dogs available for fostering or adoption, Perazzo suggests coming in during viewing hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

In order to adopt, the head of the household needs to be present.

They have dogs of all activity levels, are friendly with children and friendly with pets. Kennel techs, Perazzo said, will help if there’s a certain dog in mind, but “we always say, let the dog or cat pick you.”

On Thursday, April 27, the

members. “We are public officials, and to insinuate that some things are going on, I don’t think that’s right,” she said.

Shorr said that it is necessary to have thick skin in this job, particularly when it comes to hearing from members of the public. “That’s their choice. It’s free speech,” he said.

Regarding agenda review meetings on Mondays, Miles said she did not feel they were effective in their goal to streamline council meetings. She suggested just having one-on-one meetings with staff.

Maniglia said that she wanted to keep the Monday meetings because she feels it is a timesaver for staff to address questions from all council members at one time.

Shorr said that there is a fine line between asking questions of staff and going too far along in the decision-making process at the agenda review meetings. “As mayor, I felt that I got an idea of the flow of meeting and what the hot topics would be,” he said.

Herzog agreed that the Monday meetings were more cost effective.

Danowski suggested that the Monday meetings continue through June, and then readdress the issue.

On a related topic, Danowski later suggested having more guest speakers at meetings, such as other local officials from Palm Beach County and neighboring communities. “For so long, Loxahatchee Groves has been ‘love it and leave

it alone.’ But I think we have done ourselves a disservice by insulating and not having a clue about what is going on around us and how we can be good neighbors and part of a system,” she said.

Workshop Annexation Discussion

continued from page 1 Hurdles to joining with various neighborhoods have ranged from a lack of consensus within homeowner groups to complications involving matters like drainage and utilities.

Like dating, it’s a two-way issue. Both sides need to see it as a good thing. A big question within the village is how ardently to pursue a “romance,” as more than one council member put it, with such potential partners.

Historically, the village’s annexations have come in fits and starts, alternating between periods of border contentment and bursts of expansion.

In 1995, Wellington encompassed a little more than 18,000 acres, staff members noted. Between 1998 and 2016, the village grew to nearly 29,000 acres,

Parks Acreage Leagues

continued from page 1

AAL operates youth sports in The Acreage under a long-standing service provider agreement (SPA) with the district.

At a January board meeting, Supervisor Patricia Farrell suggested there is a “vendetta” against the founders of Breakthru and their supporters.

“Some people are more negative,” said Chris Harris, who has operated Nomad Mobile Fitness at Acreage Community Park since 2014. “We’re pretty chill people… We’re focused on the kids.”

While pointing out that her children grew up playing AAL sports, Farrell said, “We have a responsibility to make sure [the AAL] is following through on its SPA.”

In other business, one major action item on the council’s agenda was postponed to the next meeting. It was the awarding of a $1.45 million contract for the paving of 11 roadway segments

with much of that coming from developments to its east — but also taking in a large portion of preserve land controlled by the South Florida Water Management District that massively increased the village “map size” but without much of a population increase.

At one stage, “it was part urban legend, part joke, that basically we were just going out trying to annex anything,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. “There was a concerted effort not to be the Magellans, the Columbuses of the world, exploring new lands and putting our flag down and saying, ‘We claim this in the name of Mother Wellington.’”

Barnes said it could be useful to determine if there is interest within the village to pursue annexations more proactively at this point.

“What’s the cost benefit to the community?” Napoleone asked.

“Are we going to get more in revenue than we spend servicing that area?”

An evaluation has to be made

overall, she said, adding that she hopes the AAL can add more sports, including wrestling and rugby, along with fishing, archery and running clubs.

“We’re doing our best,” said Tirado, a Miami native who has lived in the area since 2009. “There are ups and downs… [but] there’s an opportunity for the league to continue growing. That’s our goal.”

Chris Harris said Breakthru has similar goals and may seek to add lacrosse. “We don’t want to get in over our head,” he said. “Our goal now is to increase participation in flag football.”

The AAL is in discussions with ITID about renewing its SPA, Tirado said.

Policies for the district’s nine parks and the Hamlin House multiuse facility need an overall review “not aimed at any one organization or person,” ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson has said.

to J.W. Cheatham LLC, the lowest responsible bidder among the six received. The item was postponed because the necessary budget amendment was not ready for council action.

on a case-by-case basis, Barnes said.

He said the pitch to join Wellington might include, for example, better service from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Wellington’s district, in terms of deputies per capita, compared to the PBSO’s service to unincorporated areas. But he can’t rule out that at least some residents of potentially annexed areas won’t pay more in taxes for that and other services, Barnes said.

For a lot of people, the bottom line on taxes may be fairly close, and they get the benefit of a genuine Wellington address that tends to boost property values.

Of course, even that has its downside, Barnes acknowledged. Higher home values tend to mean higher property taxes for someone who just wants to stay put.

“That’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “Folks who don’t want to move don’t want their property values to go up that much.”

shops has been suggested as a way to “get a handle” on the use of park policies and the use of recreation facilities, Hanson said, but so far none have been scheduled.

Among the issues the workshops could cover are: limits on use and sales of alcohol at the parks; creating tiers of fees depending on the size of gatherings; limiting use of the parks to district residents; requiring liability insurance for smaller gatherings; redefining what constitutes an event as opposed to a simple gathering and what that means in terms of facilities use; fees for the use of the Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park as a de facto training facility; and improved security not only for events but also for ITID property.

“We’ve seen the fields get torn up, people jumping fences, playing on them and we get left holding the bag for the taxpayers to fix it,” Hanson said.

Women of the Wellington Chamber is holding its Pooches, Pearls & Prosecco event, with a fashion show, boutiques, restaurants and other showcases, where the goal is to help more dogs to get adopted.

To participate, you have to be a guest of a current member of the chamber, as only 50 to 75 people can attend the event.

“If you do have room in your home, and do have room in your budget to have a pet, there’s a dog for every shape, size, person, personality, family, everything,” Green said.

To learn more about the animals available for adoption or foster, or volunteer opportunities, visit www.pbcgov.org/animal or call (561) 233-1200. Businesses and organizations interested in helping promote the animals available for adoption can call and request more information.

The county’s shelter is located at 7100 Belvedere Road, just west of Florida’s Turnpike.

Tirado joined the AAL’s executive board in 2016 and was named acting president in November when Carlos Castillo resigned. An election will be held in July when this former flag football “team mom,” coach and board member will seek a full, four-year term.

“We want to create a safe, fun atmosphere for kids,” said Tirado, who has seen each of her four children enjoy AAL programs. “Our main goal, no matter what, is to do something that gets them outdoors.”

Tirado’s husband, Alex, was a prime mover behind the addition of basketball to the AAL’s roster of programs, which include girls and co-ed 7-on-7 flag football, tackle football, soccer, baseball and softball.

Basketball “has exceeded our expectations,” said Tirado, explaining that 90 kids signed up the first year and 180 the second year with 240 expected to tip-off the 2023 season in June.

Approximately 600 young athletes participate in AAL programs

“Our parks are beautiful. We have a lot of things at our parks,” Supervisor Keith Jordano said at a recent board meeting. “There’s no reason we can’t have things at our park that can bring in money to make them self-sufficient.”

ITID has spent $7 million on its parks over the last five years, according to Jordano.

At a recent board meeting, he suggested that parks-related programs should go out for bid, including the services provider agreements.

“We need to start bringing in money for our parks, so our residents don’t have to keep paying all this money,” he said.

ITID Vice President Betty Argue, who has worked closely with AAL for years, said there is no reason to shift away from the all-volunteer organization made up mostly of parents.

“The district is not here to make money,” she said. “[But] we need to have a very robust discussion about what is appropriate and what isn’t.”

A series of ITID board work-

Already, during the renovation of the park’s north fields, security fencing was added to deter the riding of horses or ATVs on the fields; and ITID continues to work with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to install video cameras at all its parks, Hanson said.

Supervisor Elizabeth Accomando, who recently hosted the Barky Pines 5K at Acreage Community Park, is proud of the facility. “The park looks great,” she said, adding that she is eager to find more ways to encourage residents to use the park.

She suggested frequent 5Ks and the revival of movie nights at the park. The movie nights ceased during the pandemic and have not been revived.

“People came out. It was a lot of fun,” Accomando recalled. “It’s something that doesn’t cost the district a ton of money to put together… yet it’s a great way to get the community together.” Barky Pines also will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at the park on Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shelter dog Chambery is looking for a home.

WELLINGTON CHAMBER HOSTS INSTALLATION LUNCHEON AT SHOWGROUNDS

Members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce attended the 2023 Board Installation Luncheon held at Wellington International on Wednesday, March 22. New members got a chance to introduce themselves while chamber members were treated to a tasty lunch. Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig was on hand to install the new chamber board, led by President Daryl Lyon of First National Bank Coastal Community. Learn more about the chamber at www.wellingtonchamber.com.

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PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Chamber Executive Director Michela Green welcomes attendees.

Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig swears in 2023 Wellington Chamber of Commerce board members (L-R) President Daryl Lyon, Past President Scott Sweigart, Treasurer Stuart Hack, Chamber Counsel Dermot Mac Mahon, Board Member Maureen Brennan and Board Member Jane Garifo.

(L-R) Chamber President Daryl Lyon, Past President Scott Sweigart, Treasurer Stuart Hack, Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig, Chamber Counsel Dermot Mac Mahon, Board Member Maureen Brennan and Board Member Jane Garifo.

Shanell Foster and Jason Valdez of sponsor Thrivent Financial.

New members Jeanne and Bill Morrone of Capital Bankcard.

Newest chamber members Carolina Nielsen of C/N Home and Realtor Laura Mater were recognized by the chamber.

Chamber member and Women of the Wellington Chamber committee representative Arlene Smith at the podium.

Outgoing President Scott Sweigart thanks chamber members for their support. Chamber members enjoyed a show jumping competition at Wellington International held concurrently with the luncheon.

Incoming President Daryl Lyon of First National Bank Coastal Community addresses attendees.

New member Nelly Lopez of Sunshine Glow Spa.

New members Lisa Trumpy and Jessalyn Macomber of the UPS Store.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

Don’t fret about your colonoscopy – new prep is easier to swallow

When your doctor says it’s time to schedule a colonoscopy, do you start thinking up excuses to put it off? You may be concerned about unpleasantness and inconvenience as you prepare for the exam. But it’s time to stop worrying – the prep process is much easier these days.

Yes, one of the keys to a successful colonoscopy is the “clean out” beforehand. But improvements –in the liquid you drink, the amount you must drink and the timing – make the whole process easier to swallow.

Regular colonoscopies can save your life. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and the third leading cause among women in the United States.

consume only clear liquids. “It’s important to keep patients hydrated and flush the prep through the intestinal tract,” advises Dr. Hellman. “The clear liquids aid in that process.”

Most patients who develop colon cancer have no obvious risk factors. “The colon, itself, is a risk factor,” says David Hellman, DO, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Wellington location.

Bowel residue polyps are a precursor for cancer, and they can be overlooked if the colon lining is not clear of solid and liquid. “Many people fear drinking the laxative prep to cleanse the bowel more than the colonoscopy itself,” says Dr. Hellman. But it’s a key part of the procedure.

Three steps for a good prep:

• Cut out fiber. Two days before the exam, start a low-fiber diet.

• Switch to clear liquids. The day before the procedure,

TALK WITH AN EXPERT.

• Start the prep. Many physicians today prescribe a split-dose regimen, where half the prep is taken the night before and the other half in the morning. But if the exam is in the afternoon, the prep is taken the morning of the colonoscopy.

A better-tasting solution

“The liquid bowel-cleansing agents now taste better and less of the liquid is consumed. This means that the prep is, quite literally, easier to swallow,” explains Dr. Hellman. Those two factors, combined with the split-dose approach, improves the experience for patients.

The screening age for individuals without a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps dropped to 45 years old from the traditional 50 years old. Visit ClevelandClinic.org/Colonoscopy to learn more.

Cleveland Clinic Florida is a leader in digestive health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hellman or another gastroenterology specialist, call 877.463.2010 or visit ClevelandClinic.org/Colonoscopy to learn more.

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Improvements – in the liquid you drink, the amount you must drink and the timing –make colonoscopy prep easier than ever.

David Hellman, DO Gastroenterologist

WOOD PAPER GLASS ART STUDIO HOSTS GRAND OPENING IN WELLINGTON

Co-owners Kris Barnett and Terri White of the new make-and-take art studio Wood Paper Glass celebrated the store’s grand opening with family, friends and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, April 1. The studio is located in the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 4. It hosts art classes, parties, kids camps and special events. Guests at the grand opening got to view some of the art on display, which they can create and take home after the classes. About 75 people came to the grand opening and were treated to snacks and wine samples while strolling through the studio. Learn more at www.woodpaperglass.com.

PHOTOS BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Store’s Unapproved Paint Color Concerns RPB Zoning Commission

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier

Staff Report

At the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 28, the commissioners were concerned about an unapproved color painted on the exterior of a local retail store without a village variance. The Going Going Gone store at Southern Palm Crossings, located at 11081 Southern Blvd., might have to repaint the building after changing the color. The main building is now cilantro green with beige trim and has white heron paint on the recessed façade, with chateau brown as a lower base color. Unfortunately, the area has a list of pre-approved colors, and the green is not a match.

“The architect stated that the design of the buildings used the proportions and massing relationships commonly associated with Mediterranean-inspired commercial structures in South Florida, however it introduces a more postmodern element by the simplification of details,” said Senior Planner Josue Leger, who went on to explain that the colors are meant to reinforce the design scheme. “Staff does not believe that the proposed green cilantro is a muted or earth tone color. Furthermore, village code states that all primary façades of a building be designed with consistent architectural design with the colors harmonious.” This means that bright or bril-

liant colors are only intended for accents.

“The whole building was this pastel green and didn’t go with the rest of the mall. So, the property management asked us to pick a color, so the background would blend in. There are three different shops that have the projected façades. Marshalls is blue, HomeGoods is red,” applicant Jason Westmoreland said. “I realize we are out of compliance. This is an offshoot of Dick’s Sporting Goods, and this is the Dick’s Sporting Goods color. It was an oversight, and I apologize for that.”

Commissioner Adam Miller expressed his appreciation for the honesty, but the building has already been painted and is currently

NEWS BRIEFS Wellington A Finalist For National Award

The Village of Wellington has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 All-America City Award. Wellington is one of only two communities in Florida that made finalist spots. The All-America City Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes communities for their outstanding work in improving the health and well-being of young people.

The National Civic League has recognized 20 finalists for the award, representing 12 states and ranging in size from 4,700 residents to more than 8 million. The finalists were chosen for their focus on authentically involving and welcoming youth in their work to improve the community.

Wellington is excited to be among the finalists, which also include Port St. Lucie, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas, Texas; and New York City, among others. All of the finalists share a common goal of building the civic capacity of young people and improving the well-being of all residents.

The competition for the AllAmerica City Award will take place in June, where Wellington and the other finalists will present their work to a panel of judges.

“Being named a finalist for the All-America City Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our community,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. “Wellington is committed to improving the lives of our residents, especially our youth, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts. We look forward to showcasing our community and competing for the title of All-America City in June.”

Wellington’s Egg Hunt April 8

Get your baskets ready for Wellington’s annual Egg Hunt. The Egg Hunt returns to the Village Park softball fields, located at 11700 Pierson Road, on Saturday, April 8. The event begins promptly at 10 a.m. and will be divided into four age groups: ages 2 and under, or those in need of special accommodations; ages 3 to 4; ages 5 to 7; and ages 8 to 10. At each egg hunt, two eggs will have a pink bunny ticket inside, indicating a special prize. Families

are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion. Remember to bring your own basket or bag to collect eggs. Learn more at www.wellingtonfl.gov/egghunt.

Earth Day At The Okeeheelee Nature Center

Celebrate Earth Day at a free special event at the Okeeheelee Nature Center on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will include a variety of activities scheduled throughout the day. Activities will promote awareness of environmental protection and earth conservation. Come on your own or bring the family to celebrate an important milestone in conservation history with your local nature center.

Enjoy live animal encounters, eco-friendly crafts, environmental presentations, guided nature walks, the PBSO Therapy Dog Unit and Mounted Unit, a rehabilitated animal release, raffles to benefit the Friends of the Okeeheelee Nature Center, food trucks, environmental exhibitors, vendors and more.

This year’s Earth Day event is sponsored by the Friends of Okeeheelee Nature Center.

The Okeeheelee Nature Center is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department and is located in Okeeheelee Park at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. For more information on the Okeeheelee Nature Center and other county-operated nature centers, visit www.pbcnature.com

Barky Pines Easter Egg Hunt

Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary will host its first Barky Easter Egg Hunt for the community on Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Acreage Community Park’s southern expansion (6501 140th Avenue North). There will be eggs filled with goodies for the kids hidden around the area.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 22

Wellington will participate in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) nationwide “Drug Take Back Day.”

event will be held on Saturday,

at the Walgreens store located at 10420 W. Forest Hill Blvd. near the Mall at Wellington Green.

Wellington has partnered with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, Safe Kids PBC and Walgreens to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an annual event aimed at educating people about the potential for abuse of prescription drugs and providing a safe and responsible way to dispose of them. The Wellington site is one of three locations in Palm Beach County to host this event.

In addition to the Drug Take Back Day event, the village has a year-round pill drop-off location at the PBSO District 8 Substation at 14000 Greenbriar Blvd. Residents may also find all the year-round locations in Palm Beach County by visiting www.pbcdrop.org.

Family Events At Yesteryear Village In April

Two family events are coming to Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds in April. A breakfast and a meet-andgreet with the Easter Bunny, along with an Easter egg hunt and other activities, will be held Saturday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under. Parking is free. For more info., call (561) 793-0333 or e-mail Lorie Stinson at lorie@southfloridafair. com. Visit www.southfloridafair. com to learn more.

The 23rd annual Sweet Corn Fiesta will be held Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This event features freshly harvested corn, live music, a green market, children’s games, corn shucking and corn eating contests, including the National Sweet Corn Eating Championship. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children age 5 and under. Parking is free. For additional information, call (561) 996-0343 or visit www.sweetcornfiesta.com.

April 13 Health & Wellness Fair

Wellington invites the community to attend its third annual Health & Wellness Fair, offered

in violation. His concerns are that approving the cilantro green could lead to other applicants making similar changes and then asking forgiveness. “One of the reasons we have the [pre-approved] color palette is to discourage businesses to use the façade to brand their building,” Leger said. He did point out that there is a more muted shade of green on the approved list.

The commissioners recommended approval under the condition that the building be re-painted with a color that is listed on the approved color palette. There is not a specific timeline set for the applicant to fix the violation without being fined.

in combination with the weekly Food Truck & Music Series event on Thursday, April 13 along Wellington’s Town Center Promenade (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).

The Food Truck & Music Series occurs every Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. Approximately 10 to 12 food trucks attend each week alongside live music. The April 13 event features the Livesays at 6:30 p.m., self-described as “Heartland Rock revivalists offering up a blend of Americana and Roots Rock infused with pop, blues, funk and soul.”

In addition to food trucks and live music, visitors will have the opportunity to attend the free Health & Wellness Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit a variety of health and wellness vendors offering services and support for all ages. Donate blood with OneBlood’s Big Red Bus, receive free health screenings, information and giveaways, learn about Wellington fitness programs, and participate in a free “Low Impact Aerobics with Paula Bruce” class demo at 5:30 p.m. For more information on the Food Truck & Music Series and the Health & Wellness Fair, including a list of participating vendors, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events.

Fair Housing

Month Webinar

April is National Fair Housing Month, and the Village of Wellington is committed to promoting fair housing practices and educating the community on their rights and responsibilities. Wellington invites the community to take part in a Fair Housing Month Webinar, taking place on Wednesday, April 12 at noon via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend. Registration is now open at www. wellingtonfl.gov/fairhousing.

The webinar will feature speakers from Palm Beach County’s Office of Equal Opportunity and the Department of Housing & Economic Development. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about programs and services offered through these offices and gain a better understanding of the Fair Housing Laws in Florida.

“We are proud to collaborate with Palm Beach County to promote fair housing practices through hosting this important webinar,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. “By educating our community, we hope to raise awareness and promote fairness in housing.”

In other business:

• New wall signs are coming to 1430 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., where Fireplace & Grill, a business focused on selling grills and fireplaces, is planning to better display their presence. DesignsToGo, on behalf of L&M PB Holdings LLC, presented the new design. Both village staff and the commissioners were in support of the change. “I’m glad they are putting a sign up,” Commissioner Philip Marquis said. “I’ve been in there and wondered why they didn’t have a sign. A lot of people don’t know you’re there.”

• The Strathmore Gate West HOA requested approval to update the exterior paint for all the buildings in the community, located on Indian Head Circle. The main body of the buildings will be Benjamin Moore’s Cumulus Cloud with Graphite trim. With village

staff recommending approval, the commissioners supported the request.

• A new paint scheme is in the works for the Village Shoppes at 10101 Southern Blvd., along with other façade modifications. The building colors are Sherwin Williams Heron Plume for the body of the buildings, and Sherwin Williams Jogging Path as an accent color. The color Desert Sandstorm will also be used on the end cap of new architectural features. Leger explained that the renovations are expected to take place in three phases. Staff recommended approval as submitted, which was approved unanimously.

The next meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled for Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

Wellington Art Society To Celebrate Two New Exhibitions April 18

The Wellington Art Society is thrilled to announce its new municipal art exhibitions, “Variations” and “Vivid.”

“Variations” is going on now through July 18 at Wellington Village Hall, located at 12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington.

“Vivid” runs from now until May 16 at the Wellington Community Center, located at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Both exhibitions are free and open to the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The public is invited to the opening reception celebrating both exhibitions on Tuesday, April 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy the original artwork of 26 artists with more than 100 works of art. Meet the artists and vote for your favorite artwork. There will be door prizes and refreshments to enjoy.

All artwork in the exhibition is for sale, and a portion of the

proceeds goes toward scholarship and outreach programs.

To arrange for the purchase of artwork hanging in the exhibition, e-mail presidentofwas@gmail. com.

Featured Wellington Art Society member artists are: Hartley Barnes, Lou Ann LaBohn, Monica Postell, Betty Brodie, Nancy Lee, Marion Roberts, David Ciofalo, Maureen May, Debra Rosen, Ayesha DeLorenzo, Rose Gong Monier, Lois Spatz, Kim Di Giacomo, Susan Mosely, Carl Stoveland, Faye Ford, Charles Moses, Cindi Taylor, Jay Harmon, Ana Noble, Raymonde Talleyrand, Carol Krenkel, Susan Oakes, Tammy Wolfson, Laura Jaffe and Leslie Pfeiffer.

For more information about the featured artists and the exhibition, visit www.wellingtonartsociety. org.

Human-Animal Alliance Fundraiser In Wellington

The Human-Animal Alliance, a local nonprofit, recently hosted its inaugural dinner in Wellington to raise funds and awareness with local equestrians and South Florida professionals. The event raised approximately $100,000 in donations.

The event was a private, intimate gathering for 25 guests to raise funds and get the word out about what the organization does.

There was a mix of professional and amateur equestrians, along with South Florida professionals. The mission of the Human-Animal Alliance is to transform lives nationwide through the power and value of the human-animal bond. Grants keep people and animals together and bring people and animals together. To learn more about the alliance, and to donate, visit www.h-aa.org.

Co-owners Terri White and Kris Barnett celebrate the grand opening.

Wood Paper Glass co-owners Kris Barnett and Terri White take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Wellington Chamber of Commerce members and Mayor Anne Gerwig.

Kelsie Barnett, Kenny Barnett and Kris Barnett with Terri White, John White and Olivia White in front of the new art studio.

Ruth Scott enjoys her new face painting.

Mackenzie Black got her face painted during the event.

Co-owner Terri White shows Charlotte Fields and Sam Taylor some of the stained-glass projects they can work on. Riley and Brixley show off their new face art.

Wood Paper Glass co-owners Kris Barnett and Terri White with Wellington Chamber of Commerce President Daryl Lyon.

Elaine Tomchin, Joan Scherer and Benaaz Russell examine the crafts at the art studio.

The Human-Animal Alliance recently held an intimate gathering for 25 guests to get the word out about the organization.

ROTARY CLUB’S WELLINGTON FAMILY AUTOFEST RETURNS TO VILLAGE PARK

The Wellington Rotary Club held its monthly Wellington Family AutoFest on Sunday, April 2 at Wellington’s Village Park. The car show includes many extra activities for families. Future events are planned monthly on Sunday mornings, including May 7 and June 11. Learn more at www.familyautofest.com.

WELLINGTON SENIORS CLUB HOSTS LUNCHEON AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

Wellington Seniors Club members gathered for lunch on Wednesday, March 22 at the Wellington Community Center. While eating lunch from TooJay’s, the seniors enjoyed a musical performance by Holly Faris as she portrayed an array of famous celebrities.

BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Car show winners with their trophies.

Rotarians Randy and Leslie Pfeiffer, Walter Imperatore, Andrew Burr and Marc Stritch.

Holly Faris performs as Joan Rivers.

PHOTOS

Al and Beverly Ziker.

Mary Jo Sprenger won the People’s Choice Award for her 2023 Corvette.

Elizabeth and Jerzy Strodzki.

Triple winner Debra Vingiano with Andrew Burr.

Nancy Koloff and Selma Waters.

Wellington Interact Club event volunteers Gianni Dornevil, Empera Frias, Andrea Bustillo, Erin Benitez and Andrew Rochman.

Hartley Barnes with his book A Veteran Speaks

Maya Bigby and Zeiana Bigby got their bunny faces painted by Kristen Patten from Stella Beauty Art.

Alan Poulos with his 2016 Corvette. Matthew Conolly with his 1969 Chevelle.

Jean Occhiogrosso and Tony Alfalla hand out lunch.

Wellington Seniors Club President Eileen Kuhnel with Rosemarie Goldson and Ramon Silvacoll.

AUTHOR BRINGS BOOK SERIES TO LIFE AT TIGER SHARK COVE PARK

Author Karina Frederiks hosted a party Saturday, March 25 at Tiger Shark Cove Park in Wellington to introduce children to her book series, Grumbalina. Frederiks got her start in the U.K. before moving to Florida. She owns a farm not too far from Tiger Shark Cove. “I want to encourage children’s creativity and imagination,” she said. “I also want to give back to the community.” Grumbalina is meant for children ages 5 to 9, and it’s also great for parents reading to their children. The series is about a fairy in her hometown of Pufftown learning spells and how to make the best of situations instead of being grumpy about it. The event included a coloring competition with prizes. There were also mocktail drinks and ice cream. Kids got to meet Grumbalina and Mitchie from the book series. Learn more at www.grumbalina.com.

PHOTOS BY ERIN DAVISSON/TOWN-CRIER

Arts For Smiles Packages Share Spring Joy

Where there is love there is hope, and where there is art there is joy, as the local nonprofit Arts for Smiles recently organized community donations and delivered more than 100 spring care packages filled with snacks, stuffed animals, candy and art.

The special packages were distributed to Belle Glade families as well as several families within the Wellington and West Palm Beach areas.

Arts for Smiles is dedicated to bringing joy and relief through the arts to individuals facing adversity, with a primary focus on children.

“We believe that having a creative outlet, particularly in times of adversity, eases distress, and restores hope and positive energy to help move us forward,” founder Carolina King said. “For our next

Pets Are Family, Too!

By Randall S. Dugal, D.V.M. PET INSURANCE VS PET WELLNESS

Some people may think that pet insurance and wellness plans are the same. Even though both are meant to help ensure a pet’s health and longevity, there are distinct differences between them. Pet insurance is meant to help pay for the veterinary costs associated with unexpected injuries and illnesses. It also includes diagnostics, treatment, and medication. Pet wellness plans are meant for routine veterinary care such as vaccinations, dental cleanings, microchipping, and preventative maintenance. They are designed to spread out the costs of routine care over a year. Deciding which plan to choose can be challenging and depends mainly on the needs of the owner and the pet. In some cases, it can be beneficial to have both.

Are you concerned about managing your pet care costs? Be sure to ask us at COMMUNITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF ROYAL PALM BEACH if you would like to consider pet insurance. We are a comprehensive pet care clinic, offering diagnostics and internal medicine, surgical care, dentistry, nutrition counseling, and emergency care. And without compromising quality of care, we will always inform you of alternatives in treatment so you can balance your pet’s health with your budget. Please call 798-5508 for appointments or emergencies pertaining to your pet’s health. We are conveniently located at 11462 Okeechobee Blvd., 1/4 mile east of Royal Palm Beach Blvd., Where Pets Are Our Passion! OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

P.S. Unexpected illnesses include cancer and urinary tract infections.

Volunteers help create the spring care packages.

project, we would love to get sponsors for our upcoming visits to Kids Cancer Foundation in the summertime.” If you would like to donate or volunteer, visit www.artsforsmiles. org.

‘Day For Kids’ April 15 To Mark B&G Club Anniversary

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington, the club has partnered with the Village of Wellington and the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce to present a “Day For Kids” on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club, located at 1080 Wellington Trace.

All Wellington children are invited to this celebration, which will include free food as long as the supplies last, slides, free shirts for the first 300 kids, Kona ice, a foam party, face painting, entertainment, local vendors and more.

“The late Neil Hirsch was a huge supporter of Wellington’s children. He would be so proud to see how his Wellington Boys &

Girls Club is making a difference in the lives of so many children,” said Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. “This event is a wonderful way for the community to honor Neil’s legacy while providing a fun day for our families. We thank the village for all they do year after year to support our efforts and for partnering with us on this special day.”

Hirsch passed away in 2021 and is remembered by the community as a highly involved supporter of the club. In 2012, Hirsch made the lead gift to construct a new club building in Wellington. The generous donation made it possible for the club to more than triple in size. For more information, visit www.bgcpbc.org.

Author Karina Frederiks with characters Mitchie and Grumbalina.

Books from the Grumbalina series.

Emma and Addy enjoy the coloring competition.

Nalin Behnke served up mocktails.

Author Karina Frederiks with one of her books.

Karley Hopwood was there to support her friend, author Karina Frederiks. Kids take part in the coloring competition. Mitchie and Grumbalina visit with children.

(L-R) Lois Spatz, James and Sandy Van Putten Vink, Jeremiah and Gaby Ballenger, founder Carolina King and Faye Ford.

INSPIRED LIVING IN RPB CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY VEGAS STYLE

Inspired Living at Royal Palm Beach celebrated its second anniversary on Wednesday, March 29 with a Viva Las Vegas Open House Poker Event. The event featured casino games, food, music, an Elvis impersonator, a magic show and bingo. Inspired Living at Royal Palm Beach is located at 11911 Southern Blvd. Learn more about the senior living facility at www.inspiredliving.care. PHOTOS BY

DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Barrett-Jackson To Hold 20th Anniversary Palm Beach Auction April 13-15

Barrett-Jackson, the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions,” is returning to South Florida with its ultimate automotive lifestyle event, April 13-15, at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Celebrating 20 years in Palm Beach, the 2023 Palm Beach Auction will once again be the East Coast’s epicenter for collector car enthusiasts featuring a docket of coveted collectible vehicles, dozens of sponsor and exhibitor displays, and thrill rides in the latest performance vehicles from Dodge, Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet.

“As one of our longest-running events, the Palm Beach Auction has become a pinnacle event for enthusiasts to find an incredible selection of collectible vehicles in one of the country’s most popular destinations,” said Craig

Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Unlike anything else, Barrett-Jackson’s ultimate automotive lifestyle event has something for everyone. From our diverse no reserve docket featuring hundreds of desirable collectibles to exciting auction action in the arena and hot laps and thrill rides in the latest performance vehicles on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track, it’s the perfect event for the entire family.”

Among several of the top vehicles crossing the auction block in Palm Beach with no reserve is a 2020 Ford GT and a 2005 Ford GT, both from the Steve Todhunter Collection. The 2020 third generation Ford GT is finished in Triple Yellow Tri-Coat paint, accented by Shadow Black overtop stripes reminiscent of a 1967 GT40 rac-

ing livery and has less than 1,300 miles. The 2005 model, finished in Mark IV Red with white Le Mans stripes and a Code LB Ebony Black leather interior, has just 538 miles.

The diverse docket will also feature an impressive selection of custom one-off vehicles like the custom 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS nicknamed “Novakill” and impeccably built Resto-Mods, including examples from the highly desirable SUV market such as a custom 1969 Ford Bronco powered by a Gen 3 Ford 5.0-liter Coyote crate engine.

Novakill is powered by its supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 crate engine mated to an 8-speed transmission and has been rotisserie-restored and upgraded with the latest technology. Riding on its Detroit

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honors

Detective Clarence G. “Bud” Backherms

Who died in the line of duty on April 7, 2019 after a long illness caused from being shot in the line of duty on February 28, 1990 while proudly serving the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Palm Beach County

Speed chassis, this one-off custom vehicle was finished in January of this year and features just 100 test miles. This custom 1969 Ford Bronco’s Gen 3 Ford 5.0-liter Coyote crate engine produces more than 460 hp and is paired to its 6-speed automatic transmission. Built by OMF Car Craft, this tan Bronco rides on a Kincer chassis with a 2.5-inch lift and includes modern upgrades such as Vintage Air, a 7-inch Apple Car Play display, Bluetooth capability, Dakota Digital gauges and a color-matched Raptor-lined interior and engine compartment as well as a black Raptor-lined undercoating.

“On the heels of our record-breaking Scottsdale Auction in January, we’re eager to bring the hobby’s momentum and passion

to the collector car community in Florida once again,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson.

“With a diverse docket appealing to collectors at every level, we’re committed to growing this hobby by ensuring the first-time buyers, and veteran collectors alike, can find the crown jewel they’ve always dreamed of owning.”

Barrett-Jackson made history in January by surpassing the $150 million milestone in total dollars raised for charity. To date, the company has raised nearly $152 million and will continue to advance its charitable giving in Palm Beach with the sale of multiple charity vehicles. Among the charity vehicles crossing the block is a 2009 Ford Mustang Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition benefiting the Ellis Island Honors Society.

Number 15 of the 45 Iacocca Mustangs built, this 45th Anniversary Edition vehicle has less than 1,000 actual miles on the odometer.

Rare and highly collectible, this iconic Mustang benefiting the Ellis Island Honors Society will help support their efforts in honoring the contributions made by immigrants and their descendants throughout American history, by creating scholarships, supporting cultural events and programs, and helping raises funds for disaster relief efforts worldwide.

Those interested in registering to bid for the 2023 Palm Beach Auction may do so at www. barrett-jackson.com/bidder. To purchase tickets and VIP packages to the event, visit www. barrett-jackson.com.

Area Resident Engagement Director Aimee Paris, Sales Director Christy Zillmer, Dining Service Director Adrea Tucker, Executive Director Matthew Sarnelli and Administrative Assistant Maryse Metelus.

Residents Janice Springer, Toni Brickelle and Maxine Ahrens.

Heritage International Realty’s James Hoffman, and Zillmer Wealth Management’s Josh Zillmer play blackjack with dealer Les.

Server Sheena Butcher, Dining Service Director Adrea Tucker and Regional Dining Director Evelyn Vega.

Magician Darren “Dizzy” Partridge, Olivia Partridge and Christine Hernandez.

Laura Whitford gets serenaded by Eric Fayer as Elvis.

Vivian Konrad and Jim Dawson.

Delray Inspired Living’s Debra Goomrigian helps Darren “Dizzy” Partridge with a card trick.

He will always be remembered

TO SERVE AND PROTECT WAS THEIR OATH TO HONOR THEM IS OUR DUTY

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DIVINE WINE AND HIGH TEA RAISES MONEY FOR FERRIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

CAFCI hosted its Divine Wine and High Tea event on Saturday, April 1 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center to benefit the Vivian and Adrienne Ferrin Memorial Scholarship Fund. The day included a wine tasting, hat contest, music, fashion show and ticket auction. Fashions were provided by Elsie Stephenson of Modern Girl Trend in Royal Palm Beach. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Guests enjoyed an elegant afternoon wine and tea party.

Dr. David Watson

Dr. David Watson has participated in over 400 clinical trials for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease over the past twenty-six years and is considered one of the top leaders in this field. He is a Certified Clinical Trial Investigator and presently serves as Principal investigator on numerous clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease. He first became interested in treating and hopefully one day finding a cure for this disease while caring for his Grandmother who suffered with Alzheimer’s disease. He subsequently has lost several family members to Alzheimer’s. Dr. Watson has dedicated his career to finding a cure and is one of the most passionate individuals in this cause.

Mayor Fred Pinto sings as Junior Stevens plays the steel drums.

Roseline Ragland samples makeup from Marilyn Andino of Mary Kay.

School Board Member Marcia Andrews and RPB Mayor Fred Pinto.

Junette Powell and Norma Thornhill.

Louie Watson, Topacs Wallace and Norman Martin.

Emcee Leonie Escoffery at the podium.

Scholarship Chair Genieve White and CAFCI President Dennis Wright. Donnielle and Mayor Fred Pinto.

Audrey Gordon, Verona Lyn-Manning, Antoinette Walker and Nicole Spence.

Hat contest winners Ava Wint and Aldin Smith.

Yvonne and Dennis Wright get a wine sample.

Junior Stevens plays the steel drums as Vinnie Perrin sings.

Models Deidre Merejo, Doreen Grayson Thomas and Michelle Henriques receive gifts.

Shirley Palmer gives thank you gifts to volunteers Jamir Hutchinson, Jackson Doeren and William Hicks.

AMBER’S ANIMAL OUTREACH HOSTS EASTER ‘PAWTY’ AT ANIMAL HOSPITAL

On Saturday, April 1, Amber’s Animal Outreach held its annual Easter “Pawty” at the Community Animal Hospital of Royal Palm Beach. Amber Nelson, founder of Amber’s Animal Outreach, has been rescuing dogs since she was 13 years old. Since then, she and her team have rescued more than 300 dogs. The event started with an Easter egg hunt for very young children, with two other egg hunts to follow for older age groups. Also available were pictures with the Easter Bunny, a raffle and a bonnet contest for dogs. While this was going on, three dogs from Amber’s Animal Rescue were on hand, including two-year-old English bulldog Diesel, abandoned at a turnpike rest stop, and siblings Scotch and Tequila, two-month-old mixed-breed puppies. This year’s event was sponsored by Community Animal Hospital. Learn more about Amber’s Animal Outreach at www.aaodog.org.

PHOTOS BY ERIN DAVISSON/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Art Society To Present Photographer Barry Seidman April 12

The Wellington Art Society will feature commercial and fine art photographer Barry Seidman on Wednesday, April 12. The meeting and presentation will take place at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The meeting will open with a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the member spotlight and a brief meeting. The event will conclude with a presentation by Seidman called “From There to Here” in which he will discuss his life’s work and the transition from commercial to fine art photography. For more information, contact Laura Jaffe at presidentofwas@gmail.com.

Originally from New York, Seidman is a renowned member of the international photographic community. He was educated at the

Pratt Institute and has established himself as one of the top advertising print media photographers in the country. He specialized in still-life photography and worked for top major brands in the world, eventually expanding his work to include celebrity photography and directing television commercials. He has contributed to numerous award-winning national and local advertising campaigns. Recognition for his work includes every possible industry award. After a distinguished career in advertising, Seidman started to devote more of his time to fine art photography, using his vast techniques and knowledge of lighting and design as a foundation. This led to various solo and group exhibitions, all while still connected

to the advertising business.

Seventeen years ago, Seidman and longtime business partner and wife, Mary Ann Kurasz, relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, where he built a studio to focus on his fine art work. He also maintains a studio presence in New York, where he continues to shoot for advertising clients. Seidman has exhibited in solo and group shows both in New York City and Florida. In 2012, he published a photobiography titled New Eyes , a spectacular collection of his fine-art photography. Beginning in April, his work will be on display at the Palm Beach International Airport in the “Journeys” exhibition. His work is held in many public and private collections worldwide.

To learn more about Seidman,

Wellington Receives Award Of Excellence In Public

to their hard work and dedication.

Wellington has been honored with the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO) Award of Excellence in Public Procurement for 2023. This prestigious award recognizes organizational excellence in procurement and acknowledges agencies that meet or exceed benchmarks and best practices in the procurement profession.

Barry Seidman

visit https://barry2130.wixsite. com/seidman-2.

The Wellington Art Society is a nonprofit charitable organization in its 41st year. It is open to artists of all mediums and patrons of the arts. For more information about the Wellington Art Society, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

The Excellence in Public Procurement Awards Program measures innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership attributes of the procurement function. Wellington’s procurement team, including Tisa Bracey, Jeff Gomez, Maria Miserendino, Emma Ramirez and Danielle Zembrzuski, has truly distinguished itself within the state, and this award is a testament

“Our village’s procurement team has worked tirelessly to achieve this recognition, and we are very proud of them. This is an accomplishment to cherish, and we congratulate them on this well-deserved award,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. Wellington is one of only 19 agencies to receive this award from FAPPO, and the achievements of Wellington’s procurement staff will be honored at a special ceremony in Lake Buena Vista on May 23. The FAPPO was established in 1968 and is an organization focused on and driven toward education, professional development, and agency collaboration and cooperation through networking. For more information, visit www. fappo.org.

Children have fun during the Easter egg hunt.

Tammy Dugal and Dr. Randall Dugal of Community Animal Hospital with Tequila and the Easter Bunny.

The Easter egg hunt for the youngest age group.

Older kids line up for Easter egg hunt.

Amber Nelson with Diesel, an English bulldog ready for adoption.

Volunteers Jaycie Cohen and Ashley Poer.

Amber and Kelly Nelson with the Easter Bunny.

OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATES THE RECENT EXPANSION AT WELLINGTON FLORIST

Wellington Florist held a Spring Open House on Monday, April 3 to celebrate the recent expansion of the longtime Wellington landmark. Wellington Florist has been serving the community since 1991. The business recently expanded its footprint and brought in additional product lines. At the open house, guests enjoyed light bites and cake, and were able to select flowers and make their own bouquet. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting. Wellington Florist is located in the Wellington Marketplace at 13889 Wellington Trace, Suite A12. For more info., call (561) 333-4441 or visit www.wellingtonflorist.com.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Karen Roberts, J.P. Varvarigos and Paula Castro.

Herta Suess, Joan Imperatore and Maureen Gross.

Patricia Benussi, Kim Elie and Lindsey Bieri.

Paulina Kufrej, Ashley White and Joan Imperatore.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent expansion of Wellington Florist.

Melinda, J.P., Melissa and Brynn Varvarigos with Pierson Young.

Mark and Kim Elie of K&E Travel.

Wellington Florist owners J.P. Varvarigos and Melinda Varvarigos.

Heidi Harland created this orchid garden.

Councilman Michael Napoleone with Jenny Hassell of the Crowned Pearls of Wellington.

Sigal Carmel with her flowers.

Sue Lightner and Dawn Sears pick flowers for their bouquets.

Denise and Michael Goldman from Gen-X Construction worked with Wellington Florist on the expansion work.

Kim Elie and Patricia Benussi with their bouquet flowers.

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Breakthru Hosts Successful Opening For Spring Flag Football

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Saturday, April 1 marked the opening day of play at the Breakthru Athletic League’s spring flag football program. A total of 25 games were played on the fields at Seminole Ridge High School. According to Breakthru Athletic League spokesperson Matt Green, the opening day of play was a great success. “We have 43 total teams — 22 boys and 21 girls — and all teams played on opening day,” Green said. “Overall, we had a great time at our opening day and got to see some truly amazing plays being made. It’s always such a joy to get to see the kids take the field for the first time each season, after they’ve

been putting in the practice time to prepare with their teams.”

To expand interest and participation in the league, registration was modified.

“A new feature that was added to this season for the high school division was that players could form their own teams and register as a team, rather than individuals who are then drafted onto teams,” Green explained. “We did also accept individual registrations at the high school level for any players wanting to join who didn’t have a team.”

The regular season will conclude on Saturday, May 13. After that, there’s an end-of-season tournament on the weekend of May 20-21.

If you are unable to actually attend the games in person, fans and family members can now follow the action on their electronic devices.

“We’ve established some new features for our league this season that we hope will help to make it more enjoyable for all,” Green said. “They include a league YouTube channel that will host a variety of videos and a game of the week feature where we will highlight and livestream one boys and one girls game each weekend. The full game video will then be hosted on our YouTube channel.”

For more information about the Breakthru Athletic League, visit www.breakthruathleticleague. com.

13 Teams Competing In The U.S. Open Polo Championship At NPC

The apex of the Gauntlet of Polo season, the U.S. Open Polo Championship, is now underway at the National Polo Center-Wellington. The draw took place Thursday, March 23 to determine the brackets, and play got underway Tuesday, March 28. Three rounds of bracket play will continue until Tuesday, April 11, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals before the U.S. Open Final on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m.

The most prestigious polo tournament in the United States, the U.S. Open was first played in 1904. In 2004, exactly 100 years after the tournament’s inception, the U.S. Open relocated to Wel-

lington, where it has been held ever since.

The 2023 U.S. Open Polo Championship will field the same 12 teams that competed in both the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup, as well as one additional team, Palm Beach Equine, that will compete exclusively in this leg of the gauntlet.

The 10-goalers competing this year are all highly decorated, especially in this elite competition. The group includes nine-time U.S. Open Polo Championship winner Adolfo Cambiaso, six-time U.S. Open champion Facundo Pieres and three-time title holder Hilario Ulloa.

Joining Aspen, Mariano Gonzalez will replace Nicolas “Nico” Saenz for the last leg of the Gauntlet. Stoking the flames of familial rivalry, he will compete against his son, Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez, who has been competing with 2023 C.V. Whitney Cup champions Valiente. Relying on familial strength, Aspen’s Francisco Bensadon and Rufino Bensadon look to work together to achieve greatness. In a similar vein, the father-son Cambiaso duo will clash once again, as Valiente and Scone each have made a strong impression in the first two legs of the competition.

The addition of Palm Beach Equine will also see Scott Swerdlin, Raul “Gringo” Colombres and Christian “Magoo” Laprida make their 2023 gauntlet debut.

Raising the stakes, the winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will receive $100,000 in prize money. Once again, in partnership with USPA Global Licensing, each of the teams will select a charity of their choice from 10 polo nonprofits, and both charities of the winner and runner-up will receive a $2,500 donation.

The list of participating teams in their newly announced tournament brackets are:

BRACKET I

1. Aspen (22) — Francisco “Pancho” Bensadon (7), Mariano Gonzalez (5), Rufino Bensadon (8) and Stewart Armstrong (2).

2. Two Trees By Jefferies (21) — Juan Sánchez Elia (5), Mariano Aguerre (7), Miguel Novillo Astrada (8) and Will Johnston (1).

3. Park Place (22) — Hilario Ulloa (10), Juan Britos (9), Andrey Borodin (0) and Jason Wates (3). BRACKET II

4. La Elina (22) — Jared Zenni (6), Jeff Hall (6), Matt Coppola (5) and Nicolas “Nico” Escobar (5).

5. Dazos (21) — David Farache (0), Dylan Rossiter (6), Nicolas “Nico” Pieres (9) and Santiago “Santi” Torres (6).

6. Pilot (22) — Curtis Pilot (0), Facundo Pieres (10), Matias Gonzalez (4) and Matias Torres Zavaleta (8). BRACKET III

7. Shack Attack — Santiago Toccalino (8) and Santino Magrini (4) with two players to be announced.

8. La Fe (22) — Francisco Elizalde (9), Louis Devaleix (1), Lucas Diaz Alberdi (6) and Roberto “Robi” Bilbao (6).

9. Dutta Corp/Show+ (22) — Joaquin Avendaño (4), Mariano “Nino” Obregon (6), Timmy Dutta (4) and Tomas Garcia del Rio (8). BRACKET IV

10. Valiente (22) — Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Bob Jornayvaz (0), Lucas “Luckitas” Criado Jr. (6) and Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez (6).

11. Scone (22) — Cody Ellis (4), David “Pelon” Stirling (9), David Paradice (0) and Poroto Cambiaso (9). BRACKET V

12. Palm Beach Equine — Scott Swerdlin (0), Raul “Gringo” Colombres (8), Christian ‘Magoo’ Laprida (8) and a player to be announced.

13. Tamera (22) — Alejandro Poma (1), Diego Cavanagh (9),

Pedro “Pedrinho” Zacharias (7) and Segundo Saravi (5).

There will be a minimum of three games played per team for a total of 25 games in the tournament.

Following the first round, all teams will be ranked on win-loss, then net goals, then gross goals. The top three ranked teams will advance straight to the quarterfinals. Teams ranked 4 through 13 will play a third game and will draw their opponent. Following the completion of the third game, the top five teams based on win-loss,

then net goals, then gross goals will fill the remaining five quarterfinal spots.

All Sunday featured games will be held on NPC’s U.S. Polo Assn. Field One.

Spectating from the NPC stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgates and special hospitality tents all overlooking U.S. Polo Assn. Field One is an unparalleled experience available for Sunday matches throughout the Gauntlet of Polo series. Tickets can be purchased at www.nationalpolocenter.com.

TKA Girls Lacrosse Team Ready For Strong Postseason Push

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The King’s Academy girls varsity lacrosse team has a winning, yet streaky, regular season record. After beginning the regular season with four straight wins, followed by four straight losses, the Lions concluded the regular season with an impressive 10 consecutive victories. In those 10 wins, TKA scored 165 goals and gave up only 37 goals.

After concluding the regular season on Tuesday, April 4 with a 17-2 victory against local district rival the Oxbridge Academy, the Lions (14-4) will enter the Florida High School Athletic Association’s post season on a positive note.

The FHSAA playoffs — starting with the Class 1A, District 14 tournament on Monday, April 10 — will eventually conclude with the state championship on Friday, April 28 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples. TKA

will be making every effort to earn a spot in that FHSAA championship girls lacrosse finale.

In the Class 1A statewide playoffs, it’s vital to earn a spot in the regionals, and a strong performance in a local district tournament will help, according to head coach Brett VanAlstyne.

“For the Class 1A regional playoffs, the four district champions move on to the regionals, as well as the next four highestseeded teams within those four districts,” he explained. “Teams that may have lost during the district tournament may move on in the regional playoffs if they are seeded high enough.”

According to VanAlstyne, now in his eighth year as the school’s head coach, TKA is now better prepared to win tough matches after playing against tough teams earlier in the regular season.

“The four losses were all close, by two or three goals,” he said.

“The team learned that sticking

together and staying focused on the game plan can help be the difference in close games.”

In the current 10-game winning streak, two of the more convincing victories were against high schools in the western communities. On March 15, TKA overwhelmed Wellington High School by the score of 17-1, and on March 31, TKA dominated Seminole Ridge High School, 19-2.

While VanAlstyne is proud of his entire roster for their contributions in practice and games, some players on the team are playing a more prominent role than others.

“Senior attacker Sarah Scannell is our leading scorer with 60 goals and 17 assists,” he said. “Senior midfielder Mia VanAlstyne has 57 goals, 40 draw controls and seven assists, while sophomore midfielder Savanna Webb has 32 goals, seven assists, 118 ground balls and 12 interceptions. Junior goalie Lucy Dailey has 143 saves and a 63 percent save rate.”

The King’s Academy 2023 girls varsity lacrosse team.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship trophy.

PHOTO BY GLOBAL POLO ENTERTAINMENT

Scone’s Pelon Stirling and Poroto Cambiaso. Scone comes into the U.S. Open with momentum after defeating Pilot in the USPA Gold Cup Final on March 26. PHOTO BY DAVID LOMINSKA

Berean’s Luke Schartner Is Honored For Coaching Excellence

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Luke Schartner, the head coach of Berean Christian School’s boys varsity soccer team, has been recognized by The Palm Beach Post as its boys high school soccer coach of the year for the recently completed 2022-23 season. Schartner, who just completed his 17th year as Berean’s head coach, led the team to an 11-6-2 record this past season. This year, Berean won its second consecutive Class 3A, District 13 title.

The soft-spoken Schartner was surprised when he was told about this first-time coaching honor for him. “I was pretty shocked,” said Schartner, who believes that his best days as a coach are still in his future. “I’m still working on becoming a great coach. Hope-

fully, I’ll get there one day.”

Berean’s biggest win of the season was its 3-2 victory over Miami’s Riviera Prep on Feb. 8 in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A, Region 3 quarterfinals. In that match, Berean was the No. 6 seed, while Riviera Prep was the heavily favored No. 3 seed.

After that regional quarterfinal victory, Schartner’s team traveled to Miami for a regional semifinal game against No. 2 seed, Archbishop Carroll. While Berean lost 4-0, the game was closer than it appeared on paper, as the match was scoreless for the first half.

As Schartner reflects on the 2022-23 season, he was impressed by his players’ ability to be competitive with an even keeled and mature mindset.

Palm Beach Symphony Hosts Sold Out Swings For Strings Golf Invitational In Wellington

It was all fore one great cause when 120 Palm Beach Symphony supporters took to the links of the Wellington National Golf Club in the sold out Swings for Strings Golf Invitational that raised more than $75,000 to support the orchestra.

On Friday, March 10, guests were treated to an unforgettable buffet lunch before being inspired by Dennis Walter, who shared his golf and life lessons. A team shotgun scramble kicked off the golf outing.

Those finding glory on the green included Mike Townsend and Janet Gusman, who won the closest-to-the-pin competition, while Bennett Cotton and Luba Randall earned the honors for longest drive. Team Wellington, comprised of Bennett Cotton, Doug Marty, Danny Navarrete and Tom Schlechter, and Team Nelligan with Rick Cerone, Duston Cone, Mike Garavaglia and TJ Nelligan took the prizes for first place gross and first place net, respectively.

The second place gross award went to Team Cary Stamp & Co. with golfers Jordan Elsen, Phil Kudisch, Tom Prestia and Ryan Swenson. Team Consulting Technology Solutions took home the second place net prize thanks to Michael Athmer, Dave Duncan, Tim McDulin and Chris Peddicord.

The fun continued as the String Quartet from the Dreyfoos School of the Arts serenaded guests as they arrived back from golf to enjoy an awards cocktail party featuring DJ Kirill Basov from UKI Productions and a silent auction with spectacular finds curated by the auction committee of Sarmite Bulte, Christa Dombraski, Janet Gusman and Joan Simpson.

The event was chaired by Symphony Board Member Todd Dahl-

strom with a hardworking executive committee comprised of honorary chair Doug Marty, Cressman Bronson, Thomas D’Agostino Jr., Clayton Idle, Michael Miller, Burton Rocks, Cary Stamp and Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont.

The Swings for Strings Golf Invitational was sponsored by PNC Private Bank, Hospital for Special Surgery, CIBC Private Wealth, Fox Rothschild LLP, Wellington

National, Cary Stamp & Co., ADA Site Compliance, Harlan Capital, Consulting Technology Solutions, IThink Financial, Tortoise Properties, SmartSource, Risk Strategies, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas and Palm Beach Patio.

The Palm Beach Symphony is South Florida’s premier orchestra known for its diverse repertoire and commitment to community. For more information, visit www. palmbeachsymphony.org.

“My players were loose, relaxed and they knew how to have fun,” he said. “On the field in games, my players were tough as nails and believed in themselves. They could problem solve as a group during games.”

While every player on Schartner’s roster contributed to the success of the team, three of his players truly emerged as invaluable team leaders. They were Trey Lance, Miles Kelly and Jacob Wells.

Lance, a senior, was the team’s center-forward with a knack for scoring goals. This past season, Lance had 21 goals and two assists. “Our coaching staff was wondering where the goals were going to come from, and then Trey stepped up as a goal scorer,” Schartner said.

Kelly, a junior, was the team’s starting goalkeeper. Kelly is a very efficient goalie.

“Miles is our leader from the back of the defense,” Schartner said. “He is excited about the chance of being the hero.” Wells, a senior midfielder, leads by example in practices and games.

“Jacob was always the first to arrive at practice,” Schartner said. “He is quiet, humble and hardworking.”

While Schartner will lose some players to graduation in May, he is confident that Berean’s winning ways will continue next year, since he has a deep roster and a competitive junior varsity squad this past season, which will fill the voids left by departing seniors.

Wellington To Host Three April Events Celebrating Earth Day And Arbor Day

Wellington is hosting three events on Saturday, April 22 in recognition of Earth Day and Arbor Day.

The Great American Cleanup — Each year, the Great American Cleanup, an initiative of Keep America Beautiful, inspires thousands of volunteers of all ages across America to take part in efforts to clean up and improve their local communities.

Starting at 10 a.m., the Village of Wellington will be taking part by collecting as much trash as possible in selected neighborhoods throughout Wellington, with the assistance of staff and volunteers.

If you are interested in participating in this event, contact Ian Williams with the Community Services Department at (561) 7914796 or iwilliams@wellingtonfl. gov. The Great American Cleanup in the Village of Wellington is coordinated in partnership with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful and the Solid Waste Authority.

Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration — Following the Great American Cleanup, the community is invited to enjoy a free day of fun and learning at Wellington’s Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration along the Town Center Promenade (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join the Wellington Village Council at

the start of the event for the planting of a pond cypress tree in honor of Arbor Day.

The event will feature earthfriendly products and demonstrations, free face painting sponsored by 88.1 Way FM, free native seedlings, a free raffle for a red maple tree in a 15-gallon container, giveaways, local vendors and community partners, a visit from Smokey Bear and a proper tree pruning demonstration.

The event will also feature a FLOWER (Fabulous Landscapes of Wellington Earning Recognition) Awards Ceremony, and visitors can stop by booths highlighting the Wellington Garden Club, the Wellington Art Society and the Wellington Tree Board. Wellington Garden Club Horticultural Specialty Flower Show — The Wellington Garden Club will be hosting a National Garden Club Horticultural Specialty Flower Show, offered in conjunction with the Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration. The show is free and open to the public, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., inside the Wellington Community Center. A selection of plants will be available for purchase. Learn more about Wellington’s Earth Day and Arbor Day activities at www.wellingtonfl.gov/ earthday.

Berean Christian School soccer coach Luke Schartner (center).

(Left) Bennett Cotton, Doug Marty and Danny Navarette. (Right) Gil Martinez, Todd Barron and Michael Barron. PHOTOS BY CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honors the memory of Deputy Sheriff Richard J. Landes

Who died in the line of duty on April 18, 1981 while proudly serving the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Palm Beach County.

He will always be remembered

TO SERVE AND PROTECT WAS THEIR OATH TO HONOR THEM IS OUR DUTY

Vogel Storms To Big Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix Win At WEF Finale

The exclamation point on a spectacular season for Richard Vogel was a victory in the $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix during the final Saturday Night Lights of the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International. Vogel, of Germany, expertly guided the nine-year-old Deutsches Sportpferd gelding Cepano Baloubet to the horse’s debut victory at the CSI5* level.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Vogel exclaimed. “Two weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to do this horse in this big a Grand Prix. But he felt really good, and then we thought, ‘We’re here, and he’s in very good shape, so let’s give it a try.’ He was amazing.”

Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge set a challenging track for 40 contenders during the Rolex-sponsored finale week of

WEF. Vogel set an early pace as the second to attack the course, and a total of seven jumped clean.

Vogel set the time to chase from the pole position in the tiebreaking jump-off. His time of 40.53 seconds was nine seconds faster than the runner-up, Roberto Teran Tafur of Colombia riding Dez’ Ooktoff, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion. Third place went to Irish Olympian Bertram Allen in the irons of Pacino Amiro, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding.

“My plan was not to risk too much in the jump-off, but also to put the pressure on the ones coming after me so they had to risk a bit more to be faster, and I was lucky it all worked out,” said Vogel, who has earned four international wins during the 2023 season at WEF. “This horse did a great job

and deserves a break, so he’s got a couple of weeks off.”

Cepano Baloubet just found a new home in Vogel’s stable after Veronica and Molly Tracy purchased the gelding for him to compete. “I first rode this horse when he was six, and not too long after, the horse came to our stable with the same owner, and we were able to produce him. In January, they purchased the horse for me to keep it in the stable, so I’m lucky to have such good owners... Wellington has been very good to us; we’ve had a great season.”

Teran knew he wouldn’t have the footspeed to take a win but was thrilled with the second-place finish. “When I bought this horse, he was quite green at this level,” said Teran, who represented Colombia at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. “He’s not a fast horse, but

he’s consistent in clear rounds. I’m ecstatic with him because we’ve been working with him for more than three years, and he’s now very consistent at this level.”

After another successful season in Wellington, Allen and Pacino ended on a high note despite an unlucky rail at the final fence that kept him from the top position.

“[Pacino Amiro] has been fantastic for me; he always likes it here in Wellington, and he’s had some great wins here,” Allen said.

“He jumped fantastic tonight, probably the best of the circuit, and it’s a big disappointment to get that close to winning a Rolex Grand Prix because there’s not that many chances you get to be that close.”

Vogel was presented as winner by Kyle Younghans, sports marketing manager for Rolex Watch USA, and Anne Pradal-Carrega,

Scone Steals Gauntlet Spotlight With USPA Gold Cup Victory

On Sunday, March 26, the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo culminated in the USPA Gold Cup Final. The competition found defending champions Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Matias Gonzalez, Matias Torres Zavaleta and Facundo Pieres) battling 2021 USPA Gold Cup victors Scone (David Paradice, Cody Ellis, Poroto Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling and sub Tomas Panelo). Meeting for the second time in

the Gauntlet of Polo this year, the final offered an explosive rematch of the very first game of the C.V. Whitney Cup that ultimately took Scone out of contention in the first leg of the series.

A low-scoring final, Scone’s fourth chukker momentum ultimately created enough space to ward off threats of a Pilot comeback. As the final horn sounded, Scone held to an 8-6 lead, marking their first Gauntlet title since 2021.

Along with the trophy, Scone was awarded $50,000 in prize money. The win also marked the continued Cambiaso domination across the Gauntlet of Polo, as now both Adolfo and Poroto have stood atop the podium this year.

“The strategy obviously was high intensity, try to get Facundo when he doesn’t have the ball because when he’s got it, it’s very hard to take it away,” Ellis said of Scone’s strategy. “And just trust in ourselves. We’ve got a pretty good system that we’ve been working on since the beginning, and I think it showed a little bit today that we can do it.”

Characterizing Scone’s style of play, Panelo said, “The idea of playing is open and fast, and, of course, Poroto managing the ball, he’s probably the best one doing it. I think it worked really well. Cody played really well, David helped us a lot marking and [on] defense — defending, attacking, everything. So, I think we played well.”

With Panelo playing in place of Stirling, Scone was awarded one goal on handicap at the onset of play. A slow first chukker, Scone’s Ellis was the sole player able to find the goal, giving Scone an early 2-0 lead. Pieres and Cambiaso traded goals in the second chukker to maintain the gap. Zavaleta and Pieres were both able to capitalize from the field in the third. A single response from Panelo placed Pilot within one, with Scone narrowly leading 4-3 at halftime.

Re-energized and refocused, Scone came out strong in the fourth chukker, with goals from Cambiaso, Panelo and a Penalty 1 outpacing a single score from Zavaleta to extend Scone’s lead to 7-4. Pilot came back with vengeance in the fifth, shutting Scone out completely — only a Penalty 2 from Pieres diminishing Scone’s advantage 7-5. In the final chukker, a Penalty 2 from Cambiaso was matched by a field goal from Pieres, but Pilot’s late offensive drive was not enough to overtake Scone’s lead. As time expired, Scone clung tightly to the 8-6

lead, capturing their second USPA Gold Cup title and first Gauntlet recognition in two years.

Scone team owner Paradice was thankful for the friendship and support of Valiente team owner Bob Jornayvaz.

“It’s his organization and the combination of him and Adolfo Cambiaso [that] have put all of this together,” Paradice said. “It has been years and years in the making; it’s great to be a part of it. They do things properly. Whether it’s business, or whatever it is. Bobby’s been great for me. He gives me advice on the field, he’s a good thinker on the field. He helps me think about what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Him and Adolfo have been a big part of us being here.”

The win was especially sweet for Ellis, who competed in the 2022 USPA Gold Cup Final with Park Place but lost to Pilot 11-10 in overtime. “It means everything, to be honest,” he said. “I think we’ve got a really good vibe on the team, especially when the going gets tough, we group together quite well and have a little chat and say, ‘Hey boys, we’ve got to fix something here.’ I think that paid off well. The changes that we made in the throw-ins and the little things we did, I think that made a big difference today.”

For his impressive work igniting both the offensive and defensive fronts for Scone, along with two

field goals, Tomas Panelo was named Most Valuable Player.

Reflecting on the recognition, Panelo said, “Thank you very much. For me it’s a really great opportunity to play on a team like that. It’s a young team, it’s nice [that] Pelon gave me his string, he’s really well-mounted, and Adolfo also gave me some horses. [It’s] a great opportunity, I enjoyed it a lot, and I’m really happy.”

Poroto Cambiaso’s first chukker horse and last chukker spare, Cabe Bailarina, was presented Best Playing Pony honors. She is a 10-year-old Argentine chestnut mare owned by La Dolfina. “Cabe

Bailarina was bred by our veterinarian Juan Pablo [Quiroga] and owned by my dad and La Dolfina,” Cambiaso said. “And I believe she has been my best horse all season long. She’s very strong and very complete. I think she deserved it.”

In addition to the title, Scone received $50,000 in prize money. This year’s Gauntlet of Polo, in partnership with USPA Global Licensing, also embraced the spirit of giving, with nonprofit charities chosen by the finalists receiving a donation. Scone chose to support the Retired Racehorse Project with a $2,500 donation, while Pilot contributed $2,500 to Polo for Life.

Camp Lingua is a unique, bilingual summer camp where children enjoy an enriching, fun experience while developing language and critical thinking skills in a nature-based environment. The camp’s all-new Palm Beach County location is home to an action-packed, equestrian-themed camp and offers day and sleepaway experiences. Geared toward those 5 to 15 years old, it includes horseback riding, indoor and outdoor camp activities, arts and crafts, hoe-downs, waterfront fun, sports, archery, ropes, barn care and much more. For more information, and to register, visit www.camplingua.com.

Science and tech camps are back in session this summer! Summer at the Cox Science Center is made for marine biology, astronomy, dinosaurs and more. Join in the upcoming summer camps for young scientists and engineers ages 5 to 12. Camp days are packed with engaging lessons, labs, crafts and outdoor activities led by expert science educators. For additional information, visit www. coxsciencecenter.org/camps.

For those exotic animal lovers interested in an exciting summer program, Wellington Conservation Center is now taking reservations for children ages 8 to 14 for the summer months. This camp is an all-access pass to animal fun for the summer! Become a junior zookeeper, learn about conservation or even just focus on some of the animals at the farm. There are three unique programs, with each week full of hands-on learning experiences sure to excite the interest of kids of all ages. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with before and after care available. The cost is $300 per week per child. To register, call Cole at (203) 206-9932. Learn more at www.wellingtonconservationcenter.org.

LMC’s summer camp programs are interactive, educational and stimulating. Geared towards children ages 6 -13 and includes fun activities such as snorkeling, fishing and scientific projects.

• Camps start on June 5th and hours are: Monday - Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

• Late pickup is available for an extra fee

• Three unique experiences to choose from

• Multi-week and sibling discounts available

Located in Loggerhead Park 14200 U.S. Highway One

Juno Beach, Florida 33408

Questions? Email: reservations@marinelife.org

Richard Vogel and Cepano Baloubet, winners of the $500,000 Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix. PHOTO BY SPORTFOT communication and image sponsoring for Rolex SA. To close the evening, winning groom and Cepano Baloubet’s caretaker Fe-

licia Wallen was honored with the $500 Grooms Award, presented by Double H Farm’s Quentin Judge and Cayce Harrison.

Gold Cup Champions — Tomas Panelo, Poroto Cambiaso, Cody Ellis, David Paradice and David “Pelon” Stirling of Scone, presented by USPA Chair Stewart Armstrong. PHOTOS BY DAVID LOMINSKA

Scone’s Poroto Cambiaso hits an immaculate neckshot.

Michelle McGovern Joins Comcast As VP Of Government Affairs

Comcast recently announced that Wellington resident Michelle Oyola McGovern has joined the company as the new vice president of government affairs for the Florida region.

In this role, McGovern will lead the Florida Region Government Affairs team in fostering strategic relationships with local government officials and community leaders in Comcast’s service footprint throughout Florida, as well as small portions of southeastern Georgia and Alabama.

“As one of the world’s largest media and technology companies, Comcast is responsible for prod-

ucts and services like high-speed internet that are becoming an increasingly important part of our daily lives. It is also a major employer and significant contributor to the economy in communities across Florida,” McGovern said.

“In my new role, I am looking forward to utilizing my years of experience in the public sector as well as my passion for our communities to support Comcast’s business objectives and its place as a trusted community partner.”

McGovern will help spearhead

Comcast’s work to bridge the digital divide by bringing its internet services to unconnected areas,

including expansions as a part of the state’s Broadband Opportunity Program. Comcast was recently awarded grants to bring its Xfinity 10G network to unserved areas of the state.

McGovern will also continue Comcast’s longstanding commitment to digital inclusion in Florida through its signature digital equity program, Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials provides low-cost, in-home internet access for qualified households, plus multiple options to access online digital literacy and skills training. She will work with community partners to garner more visibility

Yolette Bonnet Of Wellington Joins The Quantum Foundation Board

The Quantum Foundation’s board of trustees recently appointed a new board chair, Brian Kirkpatrick, as well as three new members to the board, including Yolette Bonnet of Wellington.

Kirkpatrick is equipped for his role as board chair given his experience in leading one of the largest engineering businesses in the United States. He takes the position after two years of Dr. Gerald O’Connor’s distinguished leadership and strategic direction in improving the health of Palm Beach County residents.

“I’m honored to sit as the Quantum Foundation’s next board chair as I was immediately drawn to the organization’s outstanding reputation for healthcare-related grant giving, specifically focused on the needs within Palm Beach County,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m especially proud of the foundation’s role in leading the conversation and grant-giving activities related to ‘social determinants of health’ and what is required for better health outcomes.”

The Quantum Foundation is a health foundation that was formed from $135 million in proceeds from the sale of JFK Medical Center. Now in its third decade of community investment, the foundation has assets of approximately $150 million. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded $165 million to hundreds of Palm Beach County nonprofit grantees. Every dollar the foundation grants stays in the county to benefit local communities.

Joining the board are new trust-

ees Yolette Bonnet, Dr. Karl Dhana and Michele Jacobs. Additionally, the board and staff welcome Jill Hanson and Bradley Hurston as new committee members.

Bonnet, who also serves on Quantum’s grants committee, is the founder and former CEO of FoundCare. There, she led the expansion of the organization into a federally qualified healthcare center providing comprehensive pediatric and adult services, as well as dental and behavioral healthcare. She holds her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the City University of New York and her master’s

degree in business administration from Dowling College. Bonnet and her husband have four adult children and live in Wellington.

Dhana, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, brings more than 24 years of medical expertise to the board and grants committee as the chief medical officer at MorseLife.

Jacobs, also a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, brings more than 25 years of marketing and management knowledge as the president and chief executive officer at the Economic Council of Palm Beach County.

Hanson, a resident of Jupiter, offers more than 40 years of her legal background to the foundation’s grants committee. Prior to retirement, she served as an attorney and founding partner at Hanson, Perry & Jensen.

Hurston, a Royal Palm Beach resident, joins the finance and investment committee as the vice president and senior portfolio strategist of First Horizon Advisors.

For 15 years, he has played an integral part in the investment team managing portfolios. Additionally, he currently serves as a board member for the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and is active with the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. He received his bachelor’s degree in family financial management from Ohio State University and his MBA from the University of Miami.

For more information about the Quantum Foundation, or to learn how to apply for grants, visit www. quantumfnd.org.

Know an aspiring scientist? Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Junior Marine Biologist Summer Camp gives children ages 6 to 13 the amazing opportunity to explore Florida’s coastal ecosystems, enjoy hands-on science activities and so much more. Campers will also learn about fun ways to protect the oceans. Sessions include Sea Turtle Savers, Ocean Adventures and Conservation Kids. Camps run Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Late pickup at 5 p.m. is available for an additional fee. For more information, and to register, visit www. marinelife.org/camp.

Western Academy Charter School will host a summer camp for grades K through 8. Kindergartners must be five years old by the first day of camp on June 5. Campers from other schools are welcome. There are three field trips per week, plus two campus activity days. The camp fee includes breakfast, lunch and snacks each day, plus transportation and admission to field trips. Call (561) 792-4123 or (561) 795-2186 for more information.

for the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP) in Florida, which allows qualified households to have the cost of their monthly home Internet service from Comcast paid for by the program’s monthly credit.

Prior to joining Comcast, McGovern was the corporate director of government and community relations at Baptist Health South Florida since 2019. She also previously served as state director for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and has worked for the Florida Department of Children & Families and the Florida Department of State.

McGovern earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University.

McGovern has been consistently recognized for her commitment and contributions to business and nonprofit organizations throughout Palm Beach County and the state, including the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Advisory Commission on Women, the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, SunFest, West Palm 100, Leadership Florida and the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.

Wellington’s Lydia Armstrong Frey To Judge At 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Wellington resident Lydia Armstrong Frey is among the judges at the 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, presented by Purina Pro Plan, in New York on May 8-9. The iconic dog show is set to return to New York City at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. She is one of two judges for the Junior Showmanship Preliminaries.

Armstrong Frey began in dogs after years of watching dog shows on TV and dreaming of being in the sport. She received her first show dog, a standard schnauzer puppy, for her ninth birthday. From there, she traveled and learned from many breeders and professional handlers who mentored her in the sport.

At age 12, Armstrong Frey got her first Bedlington terrier from Laurie Zembrzuski and Gaby Gilbeau of the acclaimed LAMZ Bedlington terrier kennel. After several years of learning the breed,

she became successful in both the breed and Junior Showmanship ring. At 15, she was Best Junior Handler at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and the World Dog Show in Milan, Italy. By the time she was 18, she had won Best of Breed at two Bedlington terrier national specialties, holding the record for the youngest handler to do so.

In recent years, Armstrong Frey had added pointers to her household, handling several dogs to top five breed ranking positions and accumulating several wins with the help of her co-breeder and mentor, Tina McDonnell. She has bred champion standard schnauzers, Bedlington terriers, Kerry Blue terriers, toy Manchester terriers and pointers.

As the daughter of two famous horse show professionals, her life has always been focused on animal sports and events. This is her first Westminster judging assignment.

Junior Showmanship is a competition assessing the handling skills of children 9 to 18 years of age independent of the traits of the dog. The competition promotes proper training and care to prepare future generations for responsible dog ownership, sportsmanship and future success in the sport. There is a preliminary judging round where nearly 100 juniors from across the country are judged with eight finalists being selected to move on to the finals.

The finals competition brings the eight finalists together for one more round of competition. The first-place winner is crowned Best Junior Handler followed by second, third and fourth placements. Since 2010, the Westminster Kennel Club has offered Junior Showmanship Finalist Scholarship Awards to the eight finalists at the show. Learn more about the show at www.westminsterkennelclub.org.

Consign & Design Will Celebrate Earth Day

Consign & Design recently announced that they will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 by offering 20 percent off all consignment items, in-store only, at both locations in Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens.

“Buying and selling on consignment is one of the most sustainable things you can do. Reusing is key. Not only are you keeping things out of landfills, but you are lowering the demand for new items to be produced. It’s a smart way to buy and an easy way to sell,” store

owner Nanci Davis said.

Consign & Design features consigned and new home furnishings with showrooms located in Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens. To learn more about Consign & Design, visit www.myconsignanddesign.com.

The Wellington store is located at 13857 Wellington Trace, and the phone number is (561) 798-5222. The Palm Beach Gardens store is located at 7700 N. Military Trail, and the phone number is (561) 694-0964.

Consign & Design features consigned and new home furnishings at two locations.

Yolette Bonnet

PHOTO BY CAPEHART

Michelle Oyola McGovern

Polo Park’s Cyber Stallions Score Victories At Regional Competition

Polo Park Middle School’s Cyber Stallions robotics teams, under coach David Grad’s leadership, achieved a string of victories at the recent First Lego League Robotics Regional Competition in Palm Beach Gardens. For the second consecutive year, all three Polo Park teams qualified to move on to regional, state and world competitions.

Team 44893, the Royal Reboots, qualified for the Western Edge Invitational in southern California. Team 36112, the Rockin’ Robots, qualified for the Razorback Open Invitational in Arkansas. Team 16113, the Cyber Knights, won the regional competition and are going to the World Championships in Houston, Texas.

“All of these kids have worked so hard to get to this point,” Grad said. “I have watched them grow from individuals into a family.

This is what First Robotics is all about. It also focuses on the six core values, which are fun, teamwork, inclusion, impact, innovation and discovery.”

As travel, hotels and meals

are involved in these upcoming competitions, the Cyber Stallions need help raising funds for this incredible experience. If you can donate, visit https://gofund.me/ d4742f65 to help out.

Rosarian Academy To Expand With Purchase Of Three Buildings

Amidst the steady growth in West Palm Beach, the Rosarian Academy recently took a bold step toward expanding to accommodate the needs of its growing community with the purchase of three properties on North Olive Avenue.

These properties constitute the remaining adjacent properties to its 807 N. Flagler Drive campus. Additionally, the City of West Palm Beach has abandoned the Eucalyptus Street alley that extends east of Olive Avenue and dead ends at Rosarian’s campus. With these purchases, the school can now enclose and secure its campus within one contiguous city block between 7th and 8th streets, North Olive Avenue and North Flagler Drive.

“For 30 years, Rosarian Academy’s leaders have seen the value in acquiring these properties and have made plans to do so,” Rosarian Academy Head of School Dr. Linda Trethewey said. “When the most recent opportunity arose for us to move forward with the purchase of these properties and the abandonment of the alley, decades of experience informed us on our next steps. The timing could not have been more perfect, as the acquisition will allow us to proceed

with expansion plans that directly serve our growing community.”

The Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, is a premier independent Catholic school, serving Montessori through eighth grade students in Palm Beach County. Located on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, it offers a strong academic program enriched by faith, athletics, visual and performing arts, and community service opportunities. STEM, coding, art, drama, music theory and Spanish classes begin as early as two years old.

“This community has had generations of people who have built the Rosarian Academy into the incredible institution that it is today, and making this moment a reality is the result of the diligence and dedication of many people over the years,” said Nicholas Coniglio, the school’s board chair. “I am humbled and thankful for the impact their contributions have made on our students today, and I have seen firsthand how the school has nurtured, guided and given my five children opportunities to grow academically, athletically, spiritually and in the arts.”

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is celebrating its most successful fundraiser to date. The 32nd annual Love of Literacy Luncheon, presented by Bank of America, raised more than $250,000. The proceeds will fund local literacy programs aimed at helping children and adults succeed in school and life.

Nearly 600 supporters attended the March 9 event to hear bestselling author Paula McLain share how reading has impacted her life. McLain is best known for her hit novels The Paris Wife Circling the Sun and Love and Ruin. Her

latest, When the Stars Go Dark, is a suspense novel that weaves together actual cases of missing persons, trauma theory and a hint of the metaphysical. McLain drew from her experience growing up in the foster care system to create the lead character. In addition to Bank of America, the coalition is grateful for the support of platinum sponsors Brenda Medore and Paul & Nancy Zarcadoolas; gold sponsors Akerman LLP, Gentle Medicine Associates, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Karen Rogers, Lewis Longman & Walker, The Palm Beach Post and

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley; silver sponsors Cozen O’Connor PC, First Horizon Foundation, Len & Barbara Gray, Simone & Peter Bonutti, Patricia & David Knobel, the Levenger Foundation, Lynn University, Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath, Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, NCCI, Bernadette O’Grady/WPTV and U.S. Bank. Elisa Glazer of NCCI and Telsula Morgan of Lewis Longman & Walker co-chaired the luncheon.

To learn more about the Literacy Coalition, visit www.literacypbc. org or call (561) 279-9103.

BAM Festival To Celebrate Books, Art & Music In WPB On April 15

The BAM Festival returns on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach and the 400 block of Clematis Street with 28 award-winning authors and illustrators. The free, family-friendly festival celebrates books, art and music with a day filled with author readings, writing workshops, illustrator demonstrations, competitions, street chalk drawing and more. For more information, visit www.bamwpb.org.

BAM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to children’s literacy. Its mission is to provide a countywide literary experience that brings together authors, teachers, students, families and the community to share their love of books.

“BAM is a free community event that allows children and young adults to meet and learn from some of the best children’s authors and illustrators in the country,” BAM Director Claire Salmon said. “The event promotes children’s literacy and a love of

reading and writing with authors and illustrators interacting with the attendees through creative activities and workshops.”

A festival highlight is the onehour workshops facilitated by authors and illustrators. These interactive sessions provide oneof-a-kind opportunities for all ages. Workshops tailored to young readers include the Illustrator Smackdown, where authors and illustrators compete in a kid-judged, live-action drawing competition. Other workshops are tailored to young adults who want to take their writing to the next level. Other themes include Matters of the Mind, which focuses on mental health, and Finding your Voice, which teaches how to use art and language to speak out against injustice. ¡Celebremos! celebrates Latin history and culture. A workshop titled BAM Flash Fiction Challenge initiates a free writing contest where the winner works with author Stephen Kozan to write, edit and publish a book.

The festival also features street art. The public is invited to participate in the street art by e-mailing bam@bamwpb.org. The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Visual Arts and Digital Media will also present an Artist Market in collaboration with BAM, which includes more than 50 students selling their original art to the public.

2023 guest authors and presenters include: Kalynn Bayron, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Pablo Cartaya, Tami Charles, Eric Elfman, Tatiana Gardel, Donna Gephart, Kathleen Glasgow, Joya Goffney, S. Isabelle, Gladys Jose, Fred Koehler, Stephen Kozan, Lily Lamotte, Francie Latour, Sarah McGuire, Jenin Mohammed, Maika and Maritza Moulite, Carmen Oliver, Baptiste Paul, Miranda Paul, Aixa Pérez-Prado, Randi Pink, Jess Redman, Neal Shusterman, Ana Siqueira and Padma Venkatraman. Participants can pre-register to begin receiving information and updates and view a schedule of activities at www.bamwpb.org.

Chris Duke, Lindsay Reinhart, Pam Reinhart and Grasford Smith. Telsula Morgan, Al Malefatto and Laurie Gildan.

Coach David Grad (right, in costume) and assistant coach Brittani Truss (left) with the Cyber Stallions.

The Rosarian Academy’s campus is situated within the contiguous block between North Flagler Drive and North Olive Avenue and 7th Street and 8th Street.

UHS Breaks Ground On New Alan B. Miller Medical Center

Universal Health Services recently held a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony for a new full-service hospital to be located on Pasteur Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. The state-of-the-art hospital is expected to open in 2025 and will join UHS’ growing regional network of healthcare operations, which includes Wellington Regional Medical Center, the ER at Westlake, Wellington Physicians Urgent Care, and other healthcare services and access points.

The name of the new hospital will be the Alan B. Miller Medical Center, named after the founder and executive chairman of UHS.

The Alan B. Miller Medical Center will feature 150 private patient rooms, a medical office building and a helistop. Upon completion of the initial phase of the project, the hospital campus will include 365,000 square feet of hospital and medical office space. It will offer comprehensive medical services, including emergency care, orthopedics and surgical services, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, oncology, cardiovascular and neurosurgical services. In addition, the campus will be home to medical office buildings that will provide outpatient services.

During construction, the project

will create an estimated 1,500 jobs indirectly, and when fully open, the hospital will provide an estimated 800 new healthcare jobs. The Alan B. Miller Medical Center will improve access to healthcare, offer more choices for patients, and serve as an extension of the quality care already offered within the Palm Beach Gardens region.

“While the healthcare industry is highly dynamic, one thing that remains steady is our commitment to focusing on the patients we are privileged to serve,” said Marc D. Miller, president and CEO of Universal Health Services.

“From a care perspective, we are an organization of compassionate providers that has earned a reputation over the last 40-plus years as a leader in healthcare that is trusted and respected. We look forward to investing in and serving this thriving community.”

In 1979, Alan B. Miller had a vision for a healthcare company that would provide superior quality healthcare services that patients recommend to family and friends, physicians prefer for their patients, purchasers select for their clients, employees are proud of and investors seek for longterm returns. More than 40 years later, that vision still stands as the mission statement of UHS, one of the nation’s leading providers of

Engel & Völkers Honors Matt Johnson

hospital and healthcare services.

“Our purpose at UHS is to take care of patients and do so with excellence, integrity and by employing committed, talented individuals,” UHS Founder & Executive Chairman Alan B. Miller said. “We will carry out our duties with superior quality and by making decisions with patient care in mind at all times.”

Construction will be handled by Turner Construction, while the architect/engineering firm is Gresham Smith and Partners.

“This is a wonderful location that will be attractively designed with the possibility of future expansion as the hospital continues to develop its services to match the growth of the community,” said Kevin DiLallo, vice president of development for UHS in Palm Beach Gardens. “We will serve as the community hospital offering leading-edge medical care.”

While Alan B. Miller transitioned his CEO responsibilities to Marc D. Miller in 2021, consistent with the company’s longstanding succession plan, his vision continues to inspire the 94,000 employees who care for 3.4 million patients annually. It is the foundation of UHS’ commitment to care for its communities. For additional information, visit www.abmmedicalcenter.com.

Matt Johnson ranks 11th out of 6,438 real estate advisors in the United States and Canada in the Engel & Völkers Americas Network.

Johnson recently was internationally recognized for his outstanding production in 2022 at the company’s North American conference held at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach during the second week of March.

Engel & Völkers Americas announced Johnson’s accomplishment as a recipient of the Top Producing Advisor Award, which is presented to Engel & Völkers advisors who achieved the highest net commissions and sides closed within their international network in the 2022 calendar year. Johnson closed more than $100.6 million in sales this past year as a private office advisor, an elite group of advisors within the brand.

“Matt exemplifies what it means to be a true real estate leader and sets an unprecedented standard of service, which is evident by his outstanding accomplishment,” said Anthony Hitt, president and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas. “We are very proud to have such a high caliber real estate professional as Matt in our Engel & Völkers network. Year after year, he has been one of our best producers.”

Engel & Völkers Americas President & CEO Anthony Hitt, Wellington’s Matt Johnson and Engel & Völkers CEO Sven Odia.

Johnson said that he is honored to receive this prestigious recognition.

“It’s

Lawn Mowing App GreenPal Expands To Royal Palm Beach

GreenPal, an app that connects homeowners with local, vetted lawn care professionals, recently launched in Royal Palm Beach.

Nashville-based GreenPal allows homeowners to find local, pre-screened lawn professionals. Homeowners can list their lawns with their service date and lawn care needs. Vetted lawn care pros can then bid on their properties

based on Google street and aerial images and any other lawn details that the homeowner provides. Homeowners can then select who they want to work with based on the vendor’s ratings, reviews and price.

Once a vendor has completed the service, the lawn care pro will send a time-stamped photo of the completed work. Homeowners

can then pay via the app and set up more appointments.

“After successfully launching in 250 other markets, we are excited to help homeowners in Royal Palm Beach find reliable, safe and local lawn care,” co-founder Gene Caballero said.

To learn more, visit www.yourgreenpal.com/local/lawn-careroyal-palm-beach-fl.

Wellington Mom Christina Nicholson Creates, Then Sells Podcast Software

Janis Butkevics and Chris Heidger have acquired Podcast Clout, a tool that helps public relations professionals build podcast pitch lists, from founder Christina Nicholson of Wellington. The move to acquire the nearly three-year-old software first started in late 2022 as the new owners explored opportunities in the rapidly growing podcast ecosystem.

The six-figure deal was signed Thursday, March 2. “I got the idea to create software like this after asking another popular PR software to add podcasts to their database for years,” founder Christina Nicholson said. “They never did, so with two kids and a newborn at home from a desk in my bedroom, I made it happen.” Nicholson invested in a tech

team as well as business coaching to bring her vision to life. It launched in April 2020, a month after the world shut down due to COVID-19.

“As the owner of a PR agency, Media Maven, I needed this software for myself, my team and my clients,” Nicholson explained. “So, if I needed it, I knew many other marketing professionals

could benefit from it, too.”

With a trial to a six-month or annual subscription model, entrepreneurs and marketers can build custom podcast pitch lists to appear as a guest on shows their ideal clients are listening to. Subscribers can filter by keyword, category or both to niche down. From there, they’re able to export podcasts that have ranked in the top 200 of their

category in the last 90 days.

“With millions of podcasts in the app, I wanted to focus on quality over quantity,” Nicholson said.

Butkevics, who is a longtime data scientist with a depth of machine learning and natural language processing experience, is well positioned to build upon Podcast Clout’s track record of delivering for clients.

“We are excited to build on the tech that Christina developed by adding a decade of AI expertise into Podcast Clout capabilities to help create matches between PR professionals and podcast hosts,” Butkevics said. Nicholson remains a minority owner in the company and will serve as an advisor to the majority shareholders.

VIPs gather for the groundbreaking ceremony at the future Alan B. Miller Medical Center.

Always Be Careful What You Wish For... You May Just Get It!

There’s a phrase I’ve often considered that goes, “Be careful what you wish for — you may get it.”

It’s true. Ask anyone who works in a candy store. Their childhood wish of “having all the candy in the world” morphs into “sugar overload” in about a week.

The problem seems to be in the details.

If they had wished for “all the candy I care to eat” or “candy without calories” or “a world without diabetes,” things may have worked out better.

But that’s why we have lawyers — to get the details correct and then write them down. Those bookcases filled with law books that appear in every attorney’s TV

ad? Details. Details that were initially overlooked and ended up causing so much trouble that someone had to hire a professional.

When I was younger, I used to wish

I could have a typewriter mounted onto my car’s dashboard because I seemed to

get so many good column ideas while driving. But I knew that would be crazy-dangerous. That was never going to happen.

Ha! Today, half the drivers on the road are typing things into their phones as they fly down the highway. The other half are reading texts that have arrived from someone else. I had never considered incoming typing. Microphones and speakers embedded into dashboards and steering wheels are an advancement, but still a huge distraction. Entire corporate meetings are being conducted between the exits on I-95!

And how many children have told their parents, “I wish I could live with you for-

ever!” Well, thanks to rising home costs and a scarcity of rentals, many of those children are. Of course, it’s not as much fun when they’re in their 20s or 30s. Especially for the parents.

And then there are the conflicting wishes. Wishing that your children become successful and wishing to always have them live nearby doesn’t always work out. Of course, you want them to take that high-paying job. Wait a minute — which state is it in?

Two wishes that always seem to make sense are for good health and more time. But wait. If you don’t have one, do you really want the other? If you’re painfully sick, do you really want that to go on in-

terminably? And if you feel great, would you really be OK knowing that your time is going to be cut short?

I also used to wish I could see into the future. Thank goodness that wish never came true! Sometimes I can barely stand looking into next following week!

A long life is challenging. The pursuit of happiness is especially taxing. If, from the beginning, we knew all the things we were going to have to overcome in our lives, we’d probably be too depressed to go forward. And if we didn’t go forward, we’d never get to enjoy the fact that we survived. We conquered! We surmounted every problem!

With the help of our lawyers, of course.

Fourth ‘John Wick’ Movie Thrills With Over-The-Top Fight Scenes

The new John Wick: Chapter 4 is fast-moving, incredibly violent and totally entertaining. The preceding movies in the series were great setups for this one. Wick, a former assassin, is living alone, mourning his dead wife, when he is attacked and the one being he loves, his dog, is killed. That sets off a series of stylish revenge murders that moved their way through the three earlier films.

In this one, Wick (Keanu Reeves) is still being chased by the “High Table,” the coordinating group for killers of all types around the globe. But he discovers that there is no way out. His former mentor Winston (Ian McShane), the proprietor of the High Table’s base in New York, is told by the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), head of the High Table, that his hotel will be destroyed. His most loyal employee Charon (Lance Reddick) is shot as an example.

‘I’ On

CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

This sets off a great chase with the Marquis assigning Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind master assassin, off to kill Wick in Japan. That leads to a great battle scene at the hotel of another friend, Shimazu’s (Hiroyuki Sanada), that leads to an enormous death toll. And Wick then begins, with advice from Winston and another friend, the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), to get to the Marquis for a duel. In the midst of all of this is a new character, the Tracker (Shamier Anderson), who with the

help of his very talented dog is constantly able to track Wick. The final major battle scene in Paris is a total wow. Wick manages to kill more people, generally at very close range, than James Bond probably has in all his films. But it all holds together beautifully. There are several good reasons for that. First of all, instead of fancy close-ups and quick shots to allow not very good fighting actors to get by, most of the scenes are filmed at enough of a distance to be able to see that people like Reeves and Yen are doing their own stunts. The fight choreography is brilliant. The Paris fight scenes, featuring a major gun fight/knife fight is mixed in with cars hitting many of the participants and lots of near misses. It is a very long fight scene, but it holds together. And the fight in Montmartre near the end, beginning with some fights inside some buildings, building up to a battle on

the 222 steps up to the Sacré-Coeur will be considered a classic. Another reason for the success of the series is the number of interesting characters.

McShane’s Winston is almost always urbane and witty, a man defining the essence of style. But he is also inherently decent. Reddick, who died recently, was superb as the very loyal Charon. Fishburne was very strong in what was almost a comic role. Skarsgård was an ideal villain. Far too young, it was clear that he was in many ways a spoiled child given far too much power and quite willing to abuse it. Clancy Brown as a representative of the rest of the High Table was a very good balancing force. Sanada was excellent, dignified even when under stress, an exceptional fighter for the right reasons, a good friend to Wick and a father, frightened for the future of his daughter (Rina Sawayama).

She was also very good both in terms of acting and in fight scenes. Anderson played a fascinating character really well. He was the most ambivalent of all the characters. He also brought in great humor. But Yen pretty well stole every scene he was in. He was brilliant in the fight scenes and made his character incredibly memorable. Reeves was, of course, the hero, but in some ways he was simpler than most of the others. A warrior, he fought to the death as well as to put it off. He is a welcome return to our old ideas of the hero: tough, decent and not at all a wimp. But the real hero of the film is director Chad Stahelski. This is a long movie, 2 hours and 40 minutes long, and it feels like the action never stops. And the action is superb. If you like tough, excellent action movies, this is definitely one for you. But not for kids.

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

Job Openings -

Front

We’re Hiring for the following position! Position: Field Service Mechanic

Job type: Full-time

Location: Belle Glade, Florida

About the Job

SSI Petroleum is a dynamic growth-oriented distributor of lubricants and fuels to wholesale, retail, and commercial end-user markets throughout Florida. We are seeking a Field Service Mechanic for our Belle Glade, Florida location. Knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, and preventative maintenance and repairs experience is required.

Qualifications/Responsibilities include:

• Applicants must possess the ability to troubleshoot and repair simple mechanical/electrical systems and keep records of those tasks.

• Assemble, maintain, and repair portable tanks, pumps, motors, power generating, and hydraulic equipment.

• Assist maintenance mechanic with all duties, i.e., changing engine oil, and fluids, repair of flat tires, etc.

• Perform basic preventative maintenance functions on fleet equipment.

• Maintain inventory of tools and supplies needed for daily tasks.

• Able to safely operate multiple vehicles and most heavy mobile equipment.

• Physically able to climb ladders and lift heavy objects routinely.

• Willing to travel between branches and job sites throughout Florida as needed.

• Detail-oriented, team player with strong communication skills.

• Motivated to learn and willing to work nights and weekends whenever the job calls for it.

• An energetic, motivated, eager, positive-minded individual that desires to be part of an exciting and growing operation.

Requirements:

• CDL Class A or B or willing to obtain

• Knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems and repair experience Offering a Very Competitive Compensation Package