Town-Crier Newspaper August 17, 2012 by Wellington The Magazine LLC

‘TELL THE TRUTH’ RALLY IN WELLINGTON SEE STORY, PAGE 3

LGWCD’S SAUNIER CONTRACT DISCUSSION SEE STORY, PAGE 7

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TOWN - CR IER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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Volume 33, Number 33 August 17 - August 23, 2012

MEDICAL DIRECTOR WELCOMED

Look For The August Issue Of ‘Forever Young’ In This Week’s Paper

WRMC’s Expansion Nears Completion

Wellington Regional Medical Center’s $50 million expansion project is well underway, with a grand opening scheduled for Oct. 3. The three floors of the 103,000-square-foot Alan B. Miller Pavilion will add 80 new private patient rooms and upgrade the comfort and overall patient experience. Page 3

Local Water-Skier Ready To Compete

A Wellington resident, Ashley Stevens was destined to be a water-skier. She comes from a long line of professional waterskiers, from her mother Judy Stevens to her grandfather George Stojanovich, both of whom still ski. Page 7

OPINION Mecca Farms Land Swap: Best Possible End To A Bad Situation

The Palm Beach County Commission this week took the necessary first step in relieving taxpayers of the ongoing burden known as Mecca Farms. Ideally, we would have loved for Mecca Farms by now to be a bustling biotech campus bringing jobs and economic growth to the western communities. But that was not to be. At this point, we need to move on and get this boondoggle off our backs. Page 4

The Royal Manor Skilled Nursing Facility held a welcome reception for new medical director Dr. Shamsad Begum on Thursday, Aug. 9. Staff and vendors joined in welcoming Begum. Shown above is Begum (fourth from left) with Royal Manor department heads. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Extends Cheatham Tennis Contract Two More Years By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council abandoned plans this week to rebid its tennis contract in favor of a two-year contract extension with current provider Tommy Cheatham Inc. The unanimous decision is the culmination of a months-long process to solicit bids for management and programming of the Wellington Tennis Center. When council members decided to re-bid the contract last month after an appeal by unsuccessful bidder A1A Tennis, staff members were directed to negotiate a 90-day contract extension with Cheatham to keep the tennis center running during the bidding process. The current contract with Cheatham ends Sept. 30, and the bid process could take several months. But representatives for Cheat-

ham argued that with the tennis season beginning, a short contract renewal created uncertainty. “It wasn’t that Mr. Cheatham wasn’t interested in a 90-day extension,” attorney Howard Sohn said. “A 90-day extension would basically put Mr. Cheatham out of business. His staff would leave. His suppliers would not bring more merchandise. His members would not purchase annual passes, which come due Oct. 1.” Further, Sohn said that Cheatham has difficulty operating under a one-year term as he has for the past two years. In light of council discussion last month about whether to move the tennis center during the rebuilding of the Wellington Community Center, Sohn suggested a three-year contract extension. “It’s not fair for… anyone to be making bids and investing large sums of money with that uncer-

Dressage Arena Given Council’s Blessing For 2013 By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The 2013 Global Dressage Festival got the green light this week when members of the Wellington Village Council agreed to suspend revocations of plans for the Equestrian Village property — with conditions. In a meeting that dragged on until early Wednesday morning, council members voted 4-0 to suspend a decision they made earlier this year that removed Equestrian Sport Productions’ ability to hold the shows for the upcoming season. As conditions of approval, show promoters must abide by 21 regulations, including limiting the number of spectators to 2,000, ending the show by 10 p.m. and coordinating show times with those at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to limit traffic. Changes to the special-use permit process by the former council made it impossible for show promoters to apply for a conditionaluse permit, Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz explained at an agenda review meeting Monday. He noted that in February, the council made some changes decreeing that “if you want to get a seasonal equestrian use permit, and that permit is for more than two events or eight days, you have to go through the exact same process as a conditional-use process.”

That, Kurtz said, would require that the Equestrian Preserve Committee and the Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board review the issue before the council does. “Ordinarily that process takes, at minimum, three to four months,” Kurtz said. Council members agreed to instead discuss suspending revocations on the site at Tuesday’s meeting. “I applaud the village council for their decision,” Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “I believe this was the right decision for the community. I felt the council took the decision very seriously. They understood the facts and distanced themselves from the rhetoric and some of the crippling conditions offered up by the Jacobs family.” Council members were asked in a letter by nearby Deeridge Farms owner Lou Jacobs to impose stricter conditions, including ending all weekday shows by 6 p.m., limiting use of the on-site barns and disallowing use of the site’s derby ring for four jumping competitions. “This not only calls for dressage events, but also for jumping events,” said attorney John Shubin, representing the Jacobs family. “I don’t know that we embrace the jumping events as enthusiastically as we embrace dressage.” Supporters of dressage came See DRESSAGE, page 16

OLYMPIC SWIMMER

Peterson Win Sets Up Faceoff With Abruzzo For Senate Seat By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Equestrian activist Melanie Peterson’s narrow victory over attorney Geoff Sommers in Tuesday’s Republican Primary for the newly drawn District 25 Florida Senate seat has set the stage for a faceoff against State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo (D-District 85), the Democratic nominee for the seat.

Peterson received 8,539 votes (50.54 percent) to Sommers’ 8,357 votes (49.46 percent). “I appreciate the opportunity, and all the voters who came out and voted for me,” Peterson told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “I am looking forward to representing Palm Beach County in the state senate.” Peterson said that while the race

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tainty,” he said. “This would give the council time to review the plans.” Sohn said that council members had no obligation to re-bid the contract, and Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz agreed. But Laurie Cohen, attorney for A1A Tennis, contended that they did have to re-bid the contract. “To throw [the bid process] away and give Mr. Cheatham an extension is really a circumvention of bidding laws,” she said. “We would submit to you that it is improper and illegal. This is not a question of fairness. This is a question of your obligation to protect the public purse.” She argued that the existing contract between Wellington and Cheatham required that any extension be done by June 1. “If you fail to exercise that option, the option expires,” she said. See TENNIS, page 16

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Melanie Peterson (second from left) and supporters celebrate the election results Tuesday night at Flanagan’s in Wellington. PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

was closer than expected, she is proud of the campaign she ran. “We went to all the editorial boards,” she said. “We were very transparent with who I am and what the issues are.” But, she said, her eye has been set on the general election from the beginning. “I think we always had our eye on November and on job creation in the county,” she said. “We’ve taken a pretty large approach. There are so many different needs in different areas of the county.” The top issue for all areas is jobs, she said. “We have got to get people in Palm Beach County back to work, and create an environment where small businesses can grow and thrive, Peterson said. She noted that Palm Beach County has a high home vacancy rate, which continues to be an issue for her. Another issue she is focusing on is homeowners’ insurance. But all of these issues tie back to one thing: jobs. “If we can get more jobs here, we can get people in homes,” she said. “We can make the insurance See PETERSON, page 16

Former Wellington youth swimmer and 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Cetlinski hosted a clinic for kids Friday, Aug. 10 at the Wellington Aquatics Complex. Shown above are Cetlinski with swim coaches Daphne Markey and Jeni Hollister, and head coach Rich Whalen. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Countywide Officials Cruise To New Terms By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Tuesday was a great day to be an incumbent constitutional officer in Palm Beach County. Five countywide officials were up for re-election, and all five were returned to their positions by large margins. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw easily defeated two challengers, taking 78.5 percent of the vote (97,473 votes). Challenger Joseph Talley garnered 17.6 percent (21,829 votes) and Cleamond Lee Walker took 3.9 percent (4,833 votes). “That is a mandate by the citizens of Palm Beach County that

the men and women of this agency have been doing a great job for the past eight years,” said Bradshaw, who celebrated his big win with supporters at E.R. Bradley’s in West Palm Beach. “They want to keep doing what they’ve been doing, which is to stop these gangs and stop this violent crime. It’s all about keeping their neighborhood safe.” While operating Tuesday’s election, Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher was also on the ballot seeking a second term in office. Despite a few high-profile election glitches over the past four See ELECTION, page 9

Mecca Farms Land Swap Gets Tentative County OK By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach County Commission gave tentative approval Tuesday to a deal trading the 1,900-acre Mecca Farms property for $30 million and 1,400 acres of land. The proposal could resolve what has been a years-long conundrum for the county. The county bought the land, off Northlake Blvd. just north of The Acreage, in 2004 for the development of Scripps Florida’s planned biotech complex. The location was challenged by environmentalists, and Scripps eventually ended up

building its campus in Jupiter. This left the county holding the partially built Mecca property as a white elephant. Under the proposed deal, the South Florida Water Management District is requesting free title to the 1,919-acre Mecca property minus some county right-of-way. In exchange for the property, preliminary negotiations would transfer about 1,495 acres in five separate parcels of SFWMD land with an assessed value of about $24.66 million to the county, plus a cash payment of $30 million. Additionally, existing leases on the SFWMD properties will gen-

erate $305,000 in income per year, and it is possible some parcels could be sold. The county originally bought the property for $60 million and then put millions into infrastructure improvements. Mecca costs the county about $250,000 a year to secure and maintain, in addition to debt service payments of about $6.5 million per year from 2012 through 2015, about $3.8 million per year between 2016 and 2025, and about $610,000 per year for the remaining three years of debt service. Proceeds from the sale would be used to offset future debt ser-

vice requirements. Although the county still owes about $45 million in principal on the Mecca Farms acquisition and other costs associated with the purchase, the debt would not need to be paid off before swapping the land. Lisa Interlandi of the Everglades Law Center said it wholeheartedly supports the deal. “We see this item as a great end to the saga of Mecca Farms and a really great result for the citizens of Palm Beach County,” she said. “The water management district, to my knowledge, has already identified funding for the design and construction of the water stor-

age features on Mecca Farms, so we’re very hopeful that the project in the near future [will provide] water flow to the Loxahatchee River.” Interlandi said that one of the main reasons environmentalists opposed the Scripps project at Mecca Farms was that the land had been identified by the water management district as an important location for water storage for the Loxahatchee River. “We really were concerned that we wouldn’t have the water that that river needed if we didn’t put water storage there,” she said. See MECCA, page 16

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NEWS

Wellington Regional’s Major Expansion Project Nears Completion By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington Regional Medical Center’s $50 million expansion project is well underway, with a grand opening scheduled for Oct. 3. The three floors of the 103,000square-foot Alan B. Miller Pavilion will add 80 new private patient rooms to bring the total number of licensed beds to 233. It will also upgrade the comfort and overall patient experience, with décor that is anything but institutional. “It’s beautiful. You don’t typically see finishes like this in a hospital. It’s more like a spa. We really think this will set us apart, on top of the care that we provide. It’s first-class,” Lauren LaPonzina Saver, director of media relations, told the Town-Crier on Tuesday. The addition of the pavilion will reconfigure the hospital so the entrance is on the north side, rather than the south side as it is now, allowing direct access from the parking lot, with a large patio and drive-through at the entrance to allow patient and guest drop-off. “We’re trying to create a patient

experience like no other in the area,” Saver said. “I’ve never seen a hospital that is going to look quite like this one in terms of patient comfort.” The pavilion will contain an expansive new lobby, registration area and cafeteria that will not be the traditional hospital environment. The three-floor superstructure also allows construction of two more stories to accommodate anticipated future growth. The additional space will allow the expansion of existing services such as neurosurgery, cardiology and orthopedics, with the goal of developing a medical oncology unit in the future. Development plans are also under discussion for an ante-partum and women’s services unit on the second floor of the hospital, contiguous with maternity services and the hospital’s Level III neonatal intensive-care unit, which treats newborns who are in need of high technology to survive. The expansion will take general pressure off the hospital operation, which has been at near ca-

WRMC Expansion — (Left) Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Jerel Humphrey in front of the new tower. (Right) Director of Media Relations Lauren Saver shows off the interior design plans. PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER pacity. “We’re running at 80 percent occupancy year-round, which in hospital terms is full, so it’s time to grow,” Saver said. “When you’re consistently operating at that level, with the new tower, we can look at all kinds of programming. We can do more in each of those areas, and relieve the pressure on the existing hospital.” The increased bed capacity will

help alleviate congestion in the hospital’s busy emergency department, increasing efficiency and patient comfort, according to CEO Jerel Humphrey. “The expansion will allow us to increase the overall patient experience,” Humphrey said. “We’ve had a lot of success, and unfortunately, we don’t always have beds ready for patients that we are tak-

ing care of, and it sometimes takes us a little bit to get them processed through. The new tower is going to allow us to decompress our emergency department and allow direct [admissions] in a more streamlined fashion. I think it will be a much more patient-satisfying experience.” Nursing stations in the new building have been designed to

allow for maximum efficiency and optimal patient care. Building designers worked collaboratively with front-line staff and physicians over several months to understand work flow needs and obtain a patient perspective, resulting in a design influenced by the caregiver and focused on the patient, reducing travel distance to medicaSee WRMC, page 16

Rally Aims To Give Recent Wellington Events Historical Perspective By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report A group of residents concerned about misinformation surrounding the Equestrian Village property met Monday, Aug. 13. The crowd packed the courtyard in the original Wellington Mall for the “Tell the Truth” gathering. Speakers included former County Commissioner Ken Adams,

former Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans President Tony Fransetta and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria. They discussed the effects of Wellington’s charter, comprehensive plan and policies on recent events, as well as the effects of development on Wellington. Adams told the crowd that Wellington’s charter had been made

Ken Adams discusses Wellington’s incorporation.

Morley Alperstein moderates the evening’s discussion.

with several unique provisions to protect the community. “The infrastructure for land development was to be paid for by the developer, not the taxpayer,” he said. “We also would preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of the community.” Adams said the charter also requires a super-majority vote by the council to increase density in an area. These promises, he said, encouraged residents and government officials to get behind incorporating Wellington. Regarding the Wellington Equestrian Preserve, Adams said that Wellington has been going through without a plan. “Originally, there was a crossover design at the intersection of South Shore and Pierson,” he said. “Thirteen years later, we are just beginning to think about doing that. Our policy over these years has been to have no plan. Is it any surprise when an ambitious developer pushes for maximum possible density?” Adams said that contrary to claims that property values will

plummet with low-density housing, they skyrocketed. “Property values went up over a quarter-billion dollars because the horse shows are there,” he said. “The people who bought are our customers.” Fransetta said he thought that Wellington had come to this point because of a developer exploiting the relationships he had with elected officials. “A developer who has a relationship with the previous elected people in Wellington was using that relationship, and it wasn’t in the best interests of people like myself and most of you,” he said. Fransetta said that people pegging current council members as “anti-equestrian” are playing politics. “I don’t think I talked to anyone who was against the equestrians having the stadium and doing events over there, and I heard time after time that the new council has said that,” he said. “What I see coming at us is a political move to try to diminish the reputation of those [on the] council now who

are simply trying to do the right thing.” Fransetta also said he had heard Wellington would not have been able to support the World Equestrian Games, yet not getting the games was blamed on council members. “Why are they being blamed for a horse show that wouldn’t have happened anyway?” he asked. Santamaria said that many residents moved to the area because of its open space, equestrian activities and quality of life. “We elect people to represent us to maintain our quality of life, but slowly but surely, the things we have come here for have been stolen from us by the people we elect. It’s a real shame,” he said. Santmaria said he strongly supported councilmen John Greene and Matt Willhite and Mayor Bob Margolis because they guaranteed that they would uphold ethics in government and the Office of the Inspector General. “They agreed to follow the mandate of the 72 percent in the last election to support the inspector general and the ethics commis-

sion,” he said. “The majority of people want ethics in government — they demand it.” Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield was on hand to answer questions from the audience regarding the decision by the council on the dressage facility. Richard Jackson asked whether council members had discussed conditions suggested by Lou Jacobs. “The council discussed it at some length,” Schofield said. Bart Novak expressed concern that the equestrian issues were being fought primarily between two individuals. “Why don’t the people have a say in this?” he asked. Novak also criticized the council’s policy of not responding to questions posed during the public comment portion of the meeting. “Why don’t we get some answers?” he asked. Schofield said that staff tries to meet with residents to address their concerns. Discussion on these issues and more are expected to continue as part of Santamaria’s monthly public forum meetings.

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OUR OPINION

Mecca Farms Land Swap: Best Possible End To A Bad Situation The Palm Beach County Commission this week took the necessary first step in relieving taxpayers of the ongoing burden known as Mecca Farms. A deal to trade the property for $30 million and 1,400 acres of land was tentatively approved Tuesday, with most in agreement that it was time to cut the county’s losses and move forward. In 2004, the county purchased the property, located north of The Acreage, for $60 million with the intention of having it serve as the home to Scripps Florida’s planned biotech complex. But concerns from environmentalists resulted in Scripps choosing Jupiter for its location and the county left with a $60 million white elephant. In addition to the initial cost, the county also spent millions of dollars on infrastructure improvements. Since then, it is estimated that the property costs $250,000 a year to secure and maintain, with millions more in debt service payments for years to come. From an economic and business perspective with the goal of creating the greater Acreage area as having its own economic base, we supported Scripps at this location years ago. This was, in our opinion, a good place for Scripps because it could have been of extreme benefit to the western communities. However, that’s not going to happen. It hasn’t been within the realm

of possibility for more than five years now. Scripps Florida is happily based in Jupiter. There are people who do not like the fact that the county paid $60 million for this land and is selling it for $30 million. What they’re overlooking is that the county paid $60 million at the height of the real estate boom. If we wait for it to be worth $60 million again, well, that could take decades if it ever happens at all. The fact remains that this is well more than the county was ever expecting to get for the land a few years ago; it solves a number of technical problems regarding Everglades restoration and the restoration of the Loxahatchee River; it gets the money to pay off a large share of the debt on the property; and it gets the county other parcels of land that the taxpayers will get some kind of income from, and that land itself has value and perhaps can be sold in the future. Ideally, we would have loved for Mecca Farms by now to be a bustling biotech campus bringing jobs and economic growth to the western communities. But that was not to be. At this point, we need to move on and get this boondoggle off our backs. We need to end this chapter and begin a new one, and this deal with the South Florida Water Management District ends the chapter with numerous positives.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Don’t Let One Party Dictate Dressage Terms Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to last week’s letter “Jacobs Supports Dressage… With Conditions.” After reading Lou Jacobs’ list of conditions Mark Bellissimo and his partners must adhere to for his dressage arena approval (limited hours and no concerts, fireworks, lights or loudspeakers), I am convinced this guy thinks he is God. Instead of working with Mark and his partners to make dressage events appealing to the average Wellington family that brings families to see local cheerleaders, bands and an entertainment venue with an equestrian event, Mr. Jacobs wants to control all equestrian events in Wellington to his personal liking. That should be Mr. Bellissimo’s opportunity to help introduce dressage to non-equestrians and increase attendance, which benefits all of us. Increased attendance brings us more parttime jobs for youth and seniors, and our local small nearby businesses. This type of obstruction and interference should not guide the Wellington Village Council from making the right decision for the good of the entire community, not a select few. Al Paglia Wellington

Dressage Facility Is A Treasure For Wellington Editor’s note: The following letter, in response to last week’s letter “Jacobs Supports Dressage… With Conditions,” was sent to the Wellington Village Council. A copy was sent to the Town-Crier for publication. Dear Council Members: The letter from Lou Jacobs to Mark Bellissimo is so shocking that if this situation was not so serious, it’s laughable in its egotism. This fight is no longer a personal vendetta about Mark Bellissimo, even though some people continue to think it is. Please, it is not. It is, however, about all of the people in equestrian sports and the people who make a living from it, related or not to the sport itself, globally. This letter shows me, as we in dressage all knew, that the Jacobs family cares little and knows nothing about the sport of dressage and what will make it a success. Who is he to direct what we can and cannot have, or how business should be run in our town? With this letter, he is showing his hand as exactly what everyone thought: that the Jacobs family — a wellknown, deep-pocketed family —

is now trying to dictate the terms of doing business in the Village of Wellington, regardless of who it hurts. And it will hurt many, many, middle- and lower-income people who make their day-to-day living by providing services for the numerous people who will come to, what could be, an international world-class venue. These dictated terms will kill the growth of the sport as a whole. Are you as a council going to continue this permit argument and destroy our hope? Again, this is not about the “I Hate Mark Club.” This is about all of us. It is about a dream. It’s about reaching and hoping for something more than the Jacobs will allow. When they ran Stadium Jumping, it was well known that they treated it as their own personal horse show. They treated dressage shows like garbage. We were deemed unimportant and always relegated to dangerous situations with our horses. There was not a decent toilet on the whole grounds. It was disgusting, simply disgusting. Lou Jacobs has by his own hand lit a massive fuse. If people weren’t engaged before, they are now. Again, this has now gone viral. It is not about Equestrian Sport Productions and permits. It’s about freedom. It’s about capitalism. It’s about the American dream. I am begging that you to think of all of us. Please do not betray us. Don’t relegate us to the back of the filthy show grounds in tents on the street, with one filthy toilet. When Global Dressage started, many of us in the community, myself included, were tentative. After going to the shows and experiencing the absolute highest level of professionalism that Global Dressage displayed, there was not one person involved in our sport who was not completely overwhelmed with how fantastic and wonderful it truly is. We could all see the dream, and it was unfolding in front of us. The level of anticipation of what could be was so exciting because finally, it was done right. Unfortunately, someone started to exert their power, and squad cars started to regularly harass us. The village shut down the shows on technicalities and forced Olympic horses and riders to schlep their gear and horses to tents. Then the village shut off electric. One person — who is extremely vocal at all council meetings and not a member — would show up regularly with a tape measure! When mounds of dirt were moved, the village shut down the show. Some people are so scared, they show their support but hide behind “anonymous.” This level of intimidation has now culminated in Lou Jacobs’ letter dictating terms. We all have it, he was so proud of it that he had his PR people e-mail blast it.

I implore you: take a step back. Put aside the pettiness and think of the wonderful opportunity you have as a council to create through this ancient sport — an international mecca. Even though some may not like it, sports is entertainment. Going forward with the master plan and Global Dressage will only turn into good things for our village and for all of the hardworking people who live here 365 days a year. Carol Cohen Wellington

Horse Riding Tips From Indian Trail Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to Tim Palmer’s letter “Educate Us On Horse Riding Dos And Don’ts” published June 22. Dear Mr. Palmer: In response to your letter of June 22, the following information is provided by the Indian Trail Improvement District. ITID thanks both the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Acreage Horseman’s Association for help in preparing this information. The Acreage is an equestrian community. Horse riders may use the swales, sidewalks and roads throughout The Acreage. The signage to which you refer demarks a route from 40th Street North to the Corbett Area (north of Northlake Blvd.) through The Acreage on swales and roadways that are generally not the most heavily traveled roadways by vehicles. More information on this route is available on the ITID web site, www.indiantrail.com (choose the “My Community” tab then select “Equestrians”). This route is a suggested route. Horse riders may use the swales, sidewalks and roads throughout The Acreage. The questions about horse riders using the roadways is more complicated. ITID thanks the PBSO for assisting and providing accurate information. If the horse is pulling any type buggy/cart, etc., the horse and attachment should follow vehicular traffic rules, meaning they travel with the flow of the traffic. If it is just the horse and rider, and they choose to use the roadway, they should travel against the traffic. This is particularly difficult because horses naturally react very strongly to objects they see coming toward them. The safer option is for horse riders to use the swales and sidewalks. ITID and the Acreage Horseman’s Association encourage all equestrians to enjoy The Acreage, responsibly taking care of horse waste appropriately. ITID has adopted a policy (Parks Department Policy PK 95XI) that restricts horses to specially designated areas or parks where horseback riding is permitted. Cur-

rently, the only ITID Park approved for equestrian use is Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park located at 14780 Hamlin Blvd. The amenities and equestrian park policy are listed on the ITID web site (choose the “Departments” tab then select “Parks”). The Acreage library has hitching posts along the eastern portion of the parking lot near the entrance from Orange Blvd. There are also hitching posts on the southeastern portion of the Publix shopping center near Kocomo’s. Also, the Indian Trail Improvement District Board just approved reinstatement of the Equestrian Trails Committee at the Aug. 8 board meeting. We will be providing additional information as the committee is formed and becomes active. Tanya Quickel District Administrator Indian Trail Improvement District

Neighbor Has No Problems With Dressage Facility Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to last week’s letter “Jacobs Supports Dressage… With Conditions.” It is addressed to the Wellington Village Council. A copy was sent to the Town-Crier for publication. Dear Council Members: I find it hard to believe that the village has been forced into such a battle over something so vital to the community. Most towns would give their eyeteeth for the opportunity to have such a worldclass facility and the revenue it brings to them. Instead, Wellington is throwing every possible obstacle at this developer who has done so much for the community. I live on Polo Island Drive, directly across from the dressage facility. Once the construction slowed and the shows started, I never heard any more complaints. There were no traffic, noise, odor or light problems. One neighbor didn’t even realize that they were having night events, and most didn’t know whether there were horses in the barns. What more could you ask for? Having read Lou Jacobs’ letter concerning restrictions that he wants placed on this facility, it is obvious that he feels he has enough control of the village council to request this. It is a blight on society to think that one family can exert so much control through the use of their great wealth. Why would he not want to allow jumper events? They have been going on there since the start of the polo club. Why restrict the use of the barns or move them? Let’s use them first and find out if there is a problem. Let’s operate the facility and see what complaints we get before applying so many restric-

tions that the owner can’t afford to keep it going. Why create a problem when there is none? Let’s not force any more lawsuits. Let’s assist Mark Bellissimo in completing this wonderful facility and let it operate within the regular village ordinances. My wife and I are perfectly happy living beside it. If problems arise, you can adjust as you go. Bob Bushey Wellington

Presidential Poll Has No Credibility A recent Quinnipiac University presidential poll covering three states — Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania — is so skewed in its sampling that it is meaningless. Yet it gets national coverage. Let’s look at the data: Florida – 51 percent for Obama, 45 percent for Romney; Ohio – 50 percent for Obama, 44 percent for Romney; and Pennsylvania – 53 percent for Obama, 42 percent for Romney. The sampling of 1,177 voters in Florida was 36 percent Democratic and only 27 percent Republican. That is a 9 percent difference. The actual state registrations are 40 percent Democratic and 36.1 percent Republican, a 3.9 percent difference. The Romney camp called the Quinnipiac data “unrealistic.” It certainly is since a survey by the Democratic Policy Polling during the same period showed a virtual tie in Florida, with Obama leading by 48-47 percent among likely voters. What was all over the TV news that day was Obama pulling ahead in Florida. There was no mention of the skewed sampling. What kind of a polling company stacks the deck? One with an agenda, that’s who! Morley Alperstein Wellington

The Threat To America Is Real Ronald Piretti’s concerns in his recent Town-Crier letter (“Administration Is A Threat,” Aug. 3) are quite real, and are the exact concerns of many intelligent Americans who have paid attention. The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so, to quote Ronald Reagan. Attempting to distort the truth by spinning a few facts into a mix of fabricated nonsense is ineffective, as is the attempt to de-

grade Mr. Piretti’s thoughtful perspective, with under-the-bed comments. Castro’s overthrow of Cuba was successful due to his ability to entice his cult-like followers into believing that big government would take care of them. In stark contrast of this view are Gov. Mitt Romney and his choice of Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice president — two great minds, who can and will bring America back from despair to prosperity. The left’s inability to find any real skeletons in Gov. Romney’s pristine closet is totally maddening for them. Their only weapons are lies, intimidation and character assassination about Romney’s taxes, his hidden money on remote islands and to criticize Ann Romney for being a stay-at-home mom or having a horse! His wealth is self-made (he donated the entire inheritance from his father to his church) and he has had a “stellar business career,” to quote President Bill Clinton. Romney has nothing to hide, nothing to apologize for, he has broken no laws and has lived the American dream. And, truthfully, “You can’t help the poor by destroying the rich,” to quote Abraham Lincoln. We know nothing about Obama’s past, except what we read in his books. He has had all of his life’s records sealed from public view. Why? As the documentary 2016 states, “Love him or hate him… you don’t know him!” This fierce protection of Obama’s past has only magnified the fact that the left are complete hypocrites, compounded further by the leftwing media’s bias. Gov. Romney’s accomplishments, the huge success of the companies he started, the many jobs he created, were all done with investments from private money, not tax dollars! Like… Burger King, Clear Channel Communications, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, Sports Authority, Staples, Toys “R” Us, and many others. President Obama’s attacks on Gov. Romney’s record in the private sector also attack real job creation — the free enterprise system! President Obama can’t speak about his own corrupt record and the billions of tax dollars given to companies now bankrupt, and who were also contributors to his own campaign. Had Congressman Ryan known how the stimulus money was to be wasted, he certainly would not have supported it in 2009. Thankfully, the transition from the left to the right by many AmerSee LETTERS, page 16

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090; or you can e-mail letters@goTownCrier.com.

OPINION

Sheriff’s Office Deputies Keeping Residents Safe On Land And Sea My deputies aren’t just busy protecting you on land. They are also working hard to safeguard everyone on our waterways. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit enforces marine laws, investigates boating accidents and other crimes, handles underwater search and rescues, and offers boating education to the thousands of watercraft drivers passing every year through Palm Beach County’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, canals and lakes. With a staff of 14 deputies and commanders, our unit is tasked with everything from keeping illegal immigrants and drug runners from landing on our shore to preventing boating accidents and re-

POINT OF VIEW By PBC Sheriff Ric Bradshaw ducing “boating under the influence” incidents in our parks. There are also diveand-rescue experts who search underneath the water surface for people and property in virtually any weather or water conditions. In addition, we have four highly trained volunteer civilians who work

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just as hard in protecting and saving lives on the water. Patrolling miles and miles of these waterways is not easy. Over the years, the number of boats and personal watercrafts has skyrocketed, and on certain busy weekends, many of these waterways are congested, creating conditions for accidents and reckless behavior. As a result, my marine deputies are constantly checking boaters for mandatory safety equipment so they are aware of their responsibilities. We’ve been spending a lot of time, as of late, reducing rowdy behavior on Peanut Island, a popular hotspot for boating off Riviera Beach. The county banned drinking alcohol there in May, but my dep-

uties are still keeping the peace in the waters off the island, where hundreds of boaters gather in the shallow waters on many weekends. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the marine unit has taken on a higher-priority role. It’s on the frontlines, as my deputies work with our partners, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, in monitoring threats coming in from the ocean. Using an advanced radar system, they can track suspicious boats up and down our coastline. We also patrol the Port of Palm Beach, escorting cruise and container ships to ensure safe passage into the deeper waters of the ocean. Again, a large part of what the unit does is educate.

BARRY S. MANNING Publisher

JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor

JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher

DAWN RIVERA General Manager

JASON BUD JINSKI Community Editor

RON BUKLEY Managing Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF/ Chris Felker • Denise Fleischman Jessica Gregoire • Lauren Miró CONTRIBUTORS/ Jules Rabin • Ellen Rosenberg • Leonard Wechsler • Deborah W elky ART & PRODUCTION MANAGER/ Stephanie Rodriguez ADVERTISING/ Betty Buglio • Evie Edwards • Wanda Glockson STAFF/ Shanta Daibee • Carol Lieberman • Geri O’Neil

My deputies often board boats to encourage passengers to wear personal flotation devices at all times. They also urge boat operators to perform routine safety checks before heading out, making sure the watercraft has the proper safety equipment on board, including a working fire extinguisher, flares, and a horn or whistle. They also ask boaters to check weather reports before leaving the dock, since weather, especially in tropical South Florida, can change rapidly on the water, turning a pleasant day into a dangerous situation. I hope you all find the time to enjoy our beautiful waterways. Be safe out there!

POSTAL STATEMENT The Town-Crier (USPS #021547) is published weekly by Newspaper Publishers Inc., 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414-7458. Periodicals Postage Paid at West Palm Beach, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The TownCrier, c/o Newspaper Publishers Inc., 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 334147458. Founded In 1980 By Bob Markey Sr. Copyright 2012, Newspaper Publishers Inc. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising.

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NEWS

ROYAL MANOR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY WELCOMES NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR The Royal Manor Skilled Nursing Facility held a welcome reception for new medical director, Dr. Shamsad Begum, on Thur sday, Aug. 9. Staff and vendors joined in welcoming Begum, and refreshments were served. Royal Manor is located at 600 Business Park Way in Royal Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 798-3700. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Greg Brooks, Sacia Forbes, Steve Delach, Nadia Eghneim, Dr. Shamsad Begum and Nicholas Pancoast.

Fabia Gritzalis, Dolly Hughes, Rose Chairdullo and Catherine Amico.

Health at Home’s Nicholas Pancoast, Dr. Shamsad Begum and Dr. Howard Streigold.

Hospice of PBC’s Avery Siders, Dr. Shamsad Begum, Pacifica Senior Living’s Claudia Alexander and Patricia Conlon.

Dr. Shamsad Begum, Julette Browne, Dee Abraham and Marcy Garvey.

Dr. Freddy Avni and Dr. Shamsad Begum.

GOOD EARTH FARM HOLDING ‘AFTERNOON WITH THE ANIMALS’ EVERY SUNDAY The Good Earth Farm in Loxahatchee Groves held its weekly “Afternoon with the Animals” on Sunday, Aug. 12. The family event includes hay and pony rides, a petting zoo, and green market, and will continue every Sunday until Sept. 15. For more info., call (561) 792-2666. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Volunteers Holly Moritz and Emiliana Yanez.

Mina Foster and Gianna Mason enjoy a hayride around the farm.

Volunteers bring in horses from the rain.

Page 6 August 17 - August 23, 2012

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Pet Pig Stolen From Acreage Residence

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By Lauren MirĂł Town-Crier Staff Report AUG. 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A resident of Orange Blvd. called the Palm Beach County Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Officeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Acreage/ Loxahatchee substation last Sunday afternoon to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim said that sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. last Saturday someone stole her pet pig from her yard. The victim said when she came home to let in the pig, it did not come to the back door. The stolen pig is described as a female wild fowl pig. It is approximately 200 pounds and black with tan and white spots. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ AUG. 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a business in the Coral Sky Plaza on State Road 7 last Wednesday regarding a theft. According to the report, the manager of the business was alerted to the fact that there were two fire connections missing from the rear of the building. The connections enable fire-rescue personnel to hook up hoses. The manager told the deputy that the last fire inspection was in May, and the connections were there. The stolen items were valued at approximately $1,000. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. AUG. 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A resident of Royal Ascot Estates contacted the PBSOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation last Thursday afternoon regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 a.m. last Wednesday and 3 p.m. the following afternoon, someone entered the victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property and removed a tag from her trailer. The victim said the trailer was parked near her shed, and wires held on the tag. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. AUG. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched to a home on Lakeview Drive last Saturday evening regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, the victim left her home at approximately 1 p.m. When she returned about six hours later, she found her front door open. According to the report, someone entered her home and stole two televisions, two diamond rings, a compressor, several model racecars and Budweiser beer mugs with approximately $2,500 cash in them. The stolen items were valued at more than $28,100. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. AUG. 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A resident of Greenway Village North contacted the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach last Sunday evening after he arrived to discover two men trying to break into his home. According to a PBSO report, the victim arrived home and observed two unknown men near his door. The victim said one was on the lookout, while the other was doing something to the door lock. According to the report, the victim said he startled the suspects, who ran up to him and pushed him out of the way to leave. The suspects fled in a green Dodge van, and the victim followed but lost them on Southern Blvd. According to the report, the men were not able to gain entry to the home. The first suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10,â&#x20AC;? with a thin build, dark hair and facial hair, and wearing a dirty white T-shirt and black shorts. The second sus-

pect was dark-skinned, approximately 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;11,â&#x20AC;? with a broad build, dark hair and facial hair, and wearing a brown tank top. The victim was able to provide a license plate number, but there was no further information available at the time of the report. AUG. 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to the Wellington Municipal Complex on Tuesday night regarding a case of assault. According to a PBSO report, the victim was assaulted following a comment made during a Wellington Village Council meeting. The victim said his assailant was upset about an issue before council and got up to speak during public comment before returning to sit next to the victim. According to the report, when the council took a recess, the victim made a comment to the perpetrator. A witness told the deputy that the perpetrator then reached up and smacked the victim on the back of his head with enough force to be heard from several rows away. According to the report, the victim said that he believes he was struck with a ring and that it caused him to stumble forward. The victim said the perpetrator left the meeting without further incident. According to the report, the deputy was able to get the perpetratorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information from a comment card he filled out and has requested a warrant for his arrest. There was no further information available at the time of the report. AUG. 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A Wellington woman called the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach Tuesday afternoon to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, the victim was shopping in Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arts & Crafts on State Road 7 at approximately 2 p.m. when an unknown Hispanic woman approached her and engaged her in conversation. The victim said she stopped the conversation when she realized it was making no sense. According to the report, when the victim approached the cashier to pay for her items, she discovered her wallet was missing from her bag. The victim said she is unsure if the unknown woman or someone else removed the wallet. The wallet contained approximately $160 cash, along with the victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank cards. According to the report, the victim was contacted by a bank representative, who said that someone charged $1,700 on her card at the Walmart Supercenter on Belvedere Road. The deputy was able to review the security surveillance footage and observed a white male and white female purchasing a laptop computer and an iPad. There was no further information available at the time of the report. AUG. 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; An employee of the Subway restaurant on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. contacted the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach to report a burglary. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 4:59 p.m. an unknown suspect used a cinderblock to shatter the front window of the store. The suspect entered the store, took the empty cash register and fled the area. The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male wearing a sleeveless basketball shirt, a multicolor cap, black sneakers, black-andwhite basketball shorts and gardening gloves. AUG. 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded Tuesday evening to a home in Counterpoint Estates regarding a residential See BLOTTER, page 16

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help in finding these wanted fugitives:

â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Bennett, a.k.a. Carl Beckford and Calvin Roberts, is a black male, 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10â&#x20AC;? tall and weighing 190 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has a scar on his left cheek. His date of birth is 11/ 16/84. Bennett is wanted for fraudulent use of personal identification information. His occupation is laborer. His last known address was Parkside Drive in Greenacres. Bennett is wanted as of 08/09/12. â&#x20AC;˘ Clayton Fields is a black male, 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;8â&#x20AC;? tall and weighing 240 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 08/19/83. Fields is wanted for organized scheme to defraud. His occupation is cashier. His last known address was 10th Avenue North in Greenacres. Fields is wanted as of 08/09/12. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stopper s at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com.

Clifton Bennett

Clayton Fields

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. CRIMESTOPPERS IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SHOWN HERE.

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County Planners Meet With Residents Over New Livestock Rules By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County planning staff took comments Wednesday from among 50 residents who attended a community meeting at the Vista Center in West Palm Beach about a proposed ordinance to allow Acreage and Jupiter Farms residents to keep livestock on their property. The input was in preparation for final adoption of the new rules at a Palm Beach County Commission zoning meeting Thursday, Aug. 23. During opening comments Planning, Zoning & Building Executive Director Rebecca Caldwell said the draft ordinance would provide protection to property owners in the rural and exurban tiers who choose to keep livestock. Otherwise, they would be subject to citations. “We hope to do that in these regulations by addressing the structures associated with livestock as an accessory use to residential structures,” Caldwell said. Caldwell said she personally has a close association with farmers, coming from a farming family. “I want to assure you that anything under my stewardship would not be meant to hurt anybody who

is a farmer,” she said. “We also have the rights of all citizens to consider, so that’s what we’re trying to achieve.” Caldwell said the proposed regulations are narrowly tailored to distinguish raising poultry from bird breeding and designed to protect residents’ rights to keep livestock as provided in the comprehensive plan. The regulations address standards for portable and permanent accessory structures for keeping livestock, which are more lenient than what is currently in the uniform land development code, she said. “The proposed regulations will benefit the residents in these areas,” Caldwell said. Permanent accessory structures would have to be at least 15 feet away from the side and rear property lines. A portable structure that could be moved around can be located in the front yards. Audrey Norman, director of the county’s Agricultural Extension, said raising livestock is extremely educational for children and that the ideal livestock for children is poultry, but they can be a nuisance to neighbors. She also pointed out that it is not necessary to have a

rooster for hens to lay eggs for consumption. Norman said keepers of livestock should also be concerned about animal waste management. “Large animals generate a lot of waste, but small animals do, too, if you have a lot of them,” she said. Norman pointed out that the lack of grass around immobile chicken coops reflect a need for them to be moved periodically so the ground will not become oversaturated with chicken waste and become a sanitary issue. “In the case where you have a portable structure, by moving and rotating it, you can be sure there will be grass,” she said. She also pointed out the health caveats of home-produced eggs. “Eggs are wonderful things to have, but they can become a food safety issue,” she said. “If you are selling them, there is a host of health issues.” Norman added that animals should be secured for their protection from predators. “Bobcats and raccoons especially love chickens,” she said. “You should keep them enclosed so they don’t get loose in the neighborhood. They should not be running loose up and down the street.”

Former Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Mike Erickson reiterated a suggestion he had made at the preliminary reading to delete the limitation on the number of livestock yard sales to six a year and instead limit sales to the amount of livestock or produce they can grow on their property. “The concept of six sales is not even enforceable,” Erickson said. “You can limit it to the produce or livestock that the property owner produces on the site itself.” Acreage resident Deborah Milligan said she thinks the community is falling victim to excessive regulation. “I’m a single mom, and I wanted room for my child to play,” Milligan said. “I want him to experience the rural lifestyle.” Fred Drexler said he has owned a home in The Acreage since 1986 and believes in having livestock, but that he has a neighbor with 60 or 70 goats that draw flies, attract vermin and produce a stench. Jojo Milano asked about the difference in permanent and accessory structures, and Caldwell said there is no clear answer under the Florida Building Code. “As much as I would like to give you black and white, I cannot,” Caldwell said.

“As director, I can assure you the requirements will be reasonable.” Acreage resident Sue Nelson said balance is needed to control livestock breeders who go too far, pointing out that her neighbor is breeding goats and that the odor is unbearable. “I can’t go out in my yard to have a barbecue,” she said. “It has got to the point that the quality of my life is diminished.” A representative of the Palm Beach County Health Department pointed out that that there is a state statute on sanitary nuisances that would cover her problem and urged her to contact them. Robert Custer of Jupiter Farms said he had been in code enforcement most of his life but chose Jupiter Farms 12 years ago because of the lack of regulation. “We were able to breathe,” he said. “They did not have rules and regulations.” Custer said that he personally has some goats, chickens and dogs. “Anything that would impede that would be a detriment,” he said. Land use attorney Susan Kennedy of Jupiter Farms said she had some concerns about language in the ordinance but ap-

proved of it in principle. She said she understood the point staff was trying to make that under existing regulations, residents of the rural and exurban tiers have no protection from citations for keeping livestock. Kennedy pointed out that the growing number of people moving to the area are not familiar with the community and are going to complain about people keeping livestock. “We’re getting hurt, and people are complaining about what they consider nuisances,” she said. “These people moved out into The Acreage with the anticipation of living in the Hamptons or Abacoa but with a bigger lot. I support the staff and all your hard work.” County Commissioner Jess Santamaria said he appreciated what staff had done so far but that more work needed to be done, and they should not rush the ordinance. “This issue is very simple,” he said. “These people here [county staff] have been working very hard.” Santamaria told staff that what they come up with has to benefit the great majority. “You have done good work, but there is more that needs to be done,” he said.

LGWCD Taps Rockett To Negotiate A New Contract With Saunier By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District supervisors Tuesday appointed Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Jim Rockett to negotiate a new contract with LGWCD Administrator Clete Saunier. Under the arrangement, supervisors would provide input through the district’s legal staff and forward it to Rockett. Saunier said he preferred to avoid public discussion of his contract before a final settlement is reached. Saunier’s 2003 contract was for $80,000 a year with an automatic 3 percent annual increase each October, plus benefits. Nine years later that has translated to a base salary of approximately $122,800, which rises has high as $176,000 once benefits are included, according to various district sources. Supervisor Don Widing had been named at the board’s last meeting to review Saunier’s contract, and a question arose for legal staff whether it was appropriate for a board member to negotiate. Other supervisors desired to provide input, but it was deemed inappropriate under Sunshine Law provisions. “My concern was issues with Sunshine, and I’d like legal staff to give us interpretations of wheth-

er it applies or not,” Widing said. LGWCD Attorney Mary Viator said the Sunshine Law permits a person or entity to discuss contracts outside the law’s purview as far as information-gathering goes. “These discussions could then be relayed back to the entire board for consideration,” Viator said. “That type of meeting would not be subject to the Sunshine Law.” Viator said it is OK for Widing to discuss the contract with Saunier, but they must be careful how it is done. “Mr. Widing would not be the one who would sit down and discuss all the options, and determine those options with that particular employee,” she said. Supervisor Frank Schiola said he thought the other supervisors’ hands were tied as far as providing their thoughts about the contract. Widing said the contract had been in effect for almost 10 years and was drafted under conditions of unrest within the district. “The district was trying to move forward with some professional engineering, and to secure the contract. What was agreed to was a contract that by today’s standards probably has very limited protection for the district,” he said, adding that financial liabilities in

the event Saunier were to be dismissed are substantial. Widing pointed out that if Saunier were terminated, the district would be bound to pay the equivalent of 15 months’ compensation. Supervisor John Ryan said his understanding was that Widing would meet with Saunier, then board members would review the results and meet individually with Saunier regarding changes they thought appropriate. “That would be done between this meeting and the September meeting,” Ryan said. “At that time we would get into discussion of details of how the contract would be addressed.” Ryan said that it is a clumsy process that no one is comfortable with. He suggested a closed-door session, but Schiola said he would prefer to have public discussion of the contract. “I don’t see the reason for not including the contract on the agenda,” he said, pointing out the outcome of the town’s recent executive sessions with Callery-Judge Grove, which resulted in stalemate and numerous complaints from residents. “I’m for keeping this in the public eye. The public has the right to know what the manager is making.” Schiola added that he was look-

ing for significant reductions in the contract. Supervisor Robert Snowball said he would like someone not on the board to negotiate with Saunier. “I would like to get a volunteer from the public to go to Clete and negotiate,” he said. “I don’t want to discuss this in front of a bunch of people.” Ryan suggested Rockett, who has experience at employee negotiations in the private sector. “If we go to a member of the public, I think Jim Rockett would be the solution,” Ryan said. “The contract will involve significant changes. We have to face up to the cost of doing that and rely on Clete’s continued interest in doing that.” During public comment, Rockett said he would put aside his opinions of employment agreements during negotiations but that he felt that all salaries need to be predictable and controllable. “There should be no such thing as an automatic increase,” Rockett said. “It should be based on some measurable method. It is unimaginable in my mind for an administrator to be making more than $100,000 with comp time over 40 hours.” Rockett said he also was opposed to carryover of annual leave and company car use for personal

business. “This contract is far too lucrative,” he said. Resident Lung Chiu, who is also the Palm Beach County School District’s new inspector general, pointed out that his contract negotiations were done in a public meeting by the school board. “My contract was discussed openly, page by page,” Chiu said. “Don’t worry about discussion in public. I agree there should be public discussion.” Town Councilman Ron Jarriel said he favored Ryan’s recommendation to appoint Rockett. “Responsibilities of the district have changed,” Jarriel said. “If Jim is willing to volunteer, it gives all of you the opportunity to communicate with him.” Saunier said he has thoroughly enjoyed working for the district and never felt his position was unsafe. “In many respects, I still feel that way,” he said. “The provisions of my contract were developed over a number of years.” Saunier pointed out that he has not exercised all the provisions of his contract, such as a new car every three years. “The last car I had had 117,000 miles and was seven years old,” he said. He added that the district has

always come in under budget during his tenure. “We have accomplished more in the past 15 years than the previous 85 years,” Saunier said. Saunier said he has reservations about negotiating with Rockett, considering Rockett’s views on employee contracts. “God bless Mr. Rockett, but he has stated some strong things that he said should be in my contract,” Saunier said, adding that he would prefer a politically disinterested consultant. Ryan said he has no confidence in finding an outside consultant and made a motion to have Rockett discuss the contract with Saunier. “Mr. Rockett brings character and experience and does not have preconceived notions,” Ryan said. “We might decide not to go with what he recommends, but that’s a reasonable and efficient way to proceed.” Rockett said he would agree to volunteer, adding that his comments that evening were public input. “My job would be to take your recommendations as board members,” he said. The motion carried 4-0, with Chairman David DeMarois absent. Saunier’s current contract expires Nov. 14.

Local Water-Skier Ready To Compete At National Championships By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report Gliding from side to side, waterskier Ashley Stevens goes 32 miles an hour on Lake Okeeheelee as she practices for this week’s GOODE National Water Ski Championships at Okeeheelee Park. A Wellington resident, Stevens was destined to be a water-skier. She comes from a long line of professional water-skiers, from her mother Judy Stevens to her grandfather George Stojanovich, both of whom still ski. Water-skiing is not just a sport for Stevens; it’s a family activity. The entire family competes in water-ski competitions, and they are known for being a water-skiing family. “She was one-and-a-half when I put her on my skis with me,” Ashley’s mother said. “She got on her own skis when she was about 2 or 3 years old.”

For Stevens, nothing is more exciting than skiing. “I like the feeling of it, especially when I jump or go over a wake,” she said. “I like being in the air, and I like completing a new course.” Stevens has been competing in water-ski competitions since she was 7, and since then won several competitions. Now at 14 years old, she is competing in this week’s GOODE National Water Ski Championships along with the nation’s top water-skiers. Stevens is one of a few athletes from Wellington competing in the competition, and received the chance to participate after winning second place in the southern regional competition, for which she practiced diligently. “I practice at least five days a week,” she said. “It all depends on how busy I am.” This month, Stevens will be See STEVENS, page 16

SEE VIDEO OF ASHLEY STEVENS AT WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Ashley Stevens practices water-skiing on Lake Okeeheelee.

Ashley Stevens with her mother Judy and grandfather George Stojanovich. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Tami Donnally, Republican for Florida House of Representatives District 86

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NEWS

CENTRAL CHAMBER HOSTS TEXAS HOLD ’EM POKER TOURNEY AT KENNEL CLUB

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce held a Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament on Sunday, Aug. 12 at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Michael Sexton won the first-place $1,000 prize and a seat at the World Series of Poker circuit at the Palm Beach Kennel Club next February. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Philip Colaizzo rakes in the chips.

Barry Manning, Arnie Silverman, Henrik Nordstrom with dealer Sandy Zompa.

Wanda Butcher with Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster.

Maritza Clark, 50/50 winner Al Klimpl and Jessica Clasby.

Brad Collins’ good-luck talisman helped him win second place.

Central Palm Beach Chamber CEO Jaene Miranda with Dr. Juan Ortega.

Dale and Wanda Butcher enjoy the tournament.

Jay Broder studies his cards.

Andy Burr and Tom Neumann plot their next move.

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NEWS

OLYMPIC SWIMMER MATT CETLINSKI HOSTS YOUTH SWIM CLINIC IN WELLINGTON Former Wellington youth swimmer and 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Cetlinski hosted a clinic for kids Friday, Aug. 10 at the Wellington Aquatics Complex. Wellington Wahoo Swim Team members practiced dolphin kicks, holding their breath, breaststroke, freestyle and more. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Kenny Gallarday gets a photo signed by Matt Cetlinski while Rich Whalen and Daphne Markey look on.

Matt Cetlinski teaches the correct breathing tips.

Matt Cetlinski (back) with Wellington Wahoos Britney Pryce, Verania Andrade, Augustina Romero, Carly Banister, Kelsey Fertig, Jett Holister, Jesse Stephens, Kenneth Gallarday, Zeeshan Ali, Alecsander Campbell and David Munoz.

Jett Hollister gets an autograph from Matt Cetlinski while Daphne Markey looks on.

The kids look at Matt Cetlinski’s 1988 Olympic gold medal.

Matt Cetlinski gave the swimmers balls, which teaches them to cup their hands to displace more water.

Election

New Terms

continued from page 1 years, Bucher became the first elections supervisor to win re-election in Palm Beach County since the disputed 2000 presidential election. Bucher received just under 68 percent of the vote (81,801 votes) in a three-way race. Delray Beach Mayor Nelson “Woodie” McDuffie took 28.1 percent (33,845 votes), and former elections office employee Caneste Succe received 3.9 percent (4,729 votes). “I’m ecstatic that it’s complete,” Bucher said. “It will allow me to get back to work so that we can properly set up the presidential election in November.” Bucher said she is especially relieved that she will not have to campaign this fall. “It’s an inter-

esting prospect to run in a presidential election when you are the supervisor,” she said. The office also has an interesting canvassing board that it has never had before, with no county commissioner and no supervisor. “They’re doing a great job,” she said. “We have a judge, a lawyer and a municipal clerk, but I am certainly pleased that we completed yesterday.” Bucher said she had hoped for a greater turnout, which was just above 15 percent. “I think that because it was a very early primary, one of the earliest we’ve had, and we also had some weather, we didn’t see a real large turnout,” she said. Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock received 76.3 percent of the vote (86,956 votes) in a two-way race against mortgage fraud activist Lisa Ep-

stein, who garnered 23.7 percent (27,016 votes). With the win, Bock earned herself a third term. She was also at E.R. Bradley’s celebrating with supporters Tuesday. “I am truly honored to be reelected by the people of Palm Beach County, and I think it’s a testament not only to my leadership, which I greatly appreciate, but really the 750 employees that are so well-trained and so dedicated to the people of Palm Beach County, so I thank them for their support,” Bock said. After 20 years on the job, Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits was returned to office by county voters. Nikolits took 70.1 percent of the vote (84,331 votes) against attorney Robert Weinroth, who received 29.9 percent (35,991 votes). “We’re very pleased with the results last night, and especially the confidence that the voters

showed in our ability to do the job that we do for them,” Nikolits said. “I look forward to the next four years of continuing to maintain a high level of service on behalf of the taxpayers of this county.” In the Democratic Primary for Palm Beach County Tax Collector, incumbent Anne Gannon easily defeated former Tax Collector Peter Carney. Gannon received 87.1 percent (58,065 votes), while Carney took just 12.9 percent (8,611 votes). Gannon faces only a writein opponent in November. “It was because of our focus on customer service,” Gannon said. “They’re quick and efficient in our office. It says to me that the voters like what we’re doing in our office and that they believe in the service that we give. Our employees have done a great job of following the leadership in our agency to improve customer service.”

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw celebrates his victory with Wellington residents Michael and Ellie Michaud. PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

Children’s Medical Care Is Soaring to New Heights. Palm Beach Children’s Hospital is raising the quality of care for Wellington families. Wellington is a special place to raise kids. And when your kids are in need of medical attention, there’s a special place to turn to. Palm Beach Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in the area that offers a children’s ER/trauma center that’s open 24/7 and has neonatologists, pediatric interventionalists and hospitalists in-house around-the-clock. And best of all, it’s all just 20 minutes away. Palm Beach Children’s Hospital ensures that children have access to the care they need close to home.

More than 170 doctors representing 30 specialties.

Reaching new heights for kids.

Learn more at PalmBeachChildrens.com cardiology & cardiac surgery

limb reconstruction & lengthening

901 45th Street, West Palm Beach, Florida

neurosurgery

emergency trauma care

oncology

neonatal intensive care

For your free KITE, call 561-841-KIDS

Page 10 August 17 - August 23, 2012

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NEWS BRIEFS Golfers Needed For Benefit Tournament

Inaugural Wellington Kids Triathlon Sept. 22

The Binks Forest Golf Club will host a scramble format golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 25 to benefit Paula Richards, a Wellington resident in need of a liver transplant. The $80 per player entry fee includes player gifts, prizes, dinner and more. Tee time is 1 p.m. The golf tournament will be followed by a silent auction and buffet. A player’s goody bag included with each player ’s entry fee includes a $20 gift card to the PGA Tour Superstore and a replay certificate from Binks Forest Golf Club. Golfers will also be playing for hole-in-one prizes that include a MacPro desktop computer, a 27” iMac, a $1,000 iTunes gift card, an iPad2 and a $1,000 shopping spree at the PGA Tour Superstore. To secure your team, call Dave Olszewski at (772) 233-5862. The entry deadline is Monday, Aug. 20. Entry forms are available at the golf course, located at 400 Binks Forest Drive in Wellington.

Young athletes are invited to swim, bike and run in the inaugural Wellington Kids Triathlon set to take place Saturday, Sept. 22 and based at the Wellington Aquatics Complex (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The Wellington Kids Triathlon is limited to children born between 1998 and 2008, and is designed as an introduction to a multi-sport endurance event in a safe and positive environment. The top male and female finishers in each age group will receive a trophy, and all participants will receive a medal. Registration costs $35 and includes a T-shirt for each competitor. Participants will swim, bike and run at distances based on their age. The age divisions are as follows: Super Seniors (born between 1998 and 1999), Seniors (born between 2000 and 2001), Super Juniors (born between 2002 and 2003), Juniors (born between 2004 and 2005) and Trikes. Wellington will accept complet-

ed registration forms and fees through no later than Wednesday, Sept. 19 by mail, fax or in-person at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) as well as in-person at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Registration can also be completed online at www.active.com. All competitors must have a USA Triathlon (USAT) membership card, or have their parents and guardians purchase a oneday membership for $10 on the day of the race. Registration is limited to the first 250 entries, so registering early is recommended. For additional details, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.

ITID Seeks Volunteers For History Project The Indian Trail Improvement District is asking for volunteers to work on documenting the history of The Acreage. If you are interested in working on this project, or know someone who might be, contact ITID at info@indiantrail.com or (561) 7930874 for more information.

Underwater Snorkeling Trail Coming Soon Palm Beach County, through the Environmental Resources Management and Parks & Recreation departments, will soon begin construction on a unique artificial reef at Phil Foster Park in the Lake Worth Lagoon. This location was selected due to its proximity to the Lake Worth Inlet and clear oceanic water adjacent to a guarded county beach. An area immediately adjacent to the project is already well known to scuba divers for the variety of sea life found there. The new reef project plan has been reviewed and endorsed by the Palm Beach County Diving Association. It is expected to become an important ecotourism destination, making the area more accessible to a broader range of county residents and visitors. The project area is located south of the guarded beach on the southern shoreline of Phil Foster Park. The beach will be open during construction with water access restricted in some areas. To learn more about this project, visit

www.pbcgov.com/erm, then click on the “Project Fact Sheets” icon. Phil Foster Park is located at 900 E. Blue Heron Blvd. in Riviera Beach. Parking is free.

Operation Brakes On Fakes Nets More Arrests Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne Gannon has reported that Operation Brakes on Fakes recently made an additional 13 arrests. This brings the total number sting arrests to 32. The initial sting action on Oct. 19, 2011 netted 19 arrests. Two outstanding warrants remain. Brakes on Fakes charges range from false or fraudulent motor vehicle insurance card, sale of motor vehicle with altered odometer, title fraud, petty theft and fraudulent use of personal identification. The Brakes on Fakes operation is a multi-agency task force initiated by Gannon to crack down on fraud. In addition to Gannon, task force members include the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit, the Delray Beach Police Department, the Florida De-

partment of Financial Services, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Riviera Beach Police Department. At Gannon’s request, local law enforcement trained agency staff to detect fraudulent documents and vehicle identification numbers. Service centers screen all documents for fraud as standard operating practice. All questionable proof of insurance coverage documents are reported to the insurance company for verification. Fraud detection at Gannon’s service centers continues to identify new suspects since the initial sting. She estimates that 10 new fraud cases a week are forwarded to the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud. Detective Ted Padich reports that a new group of 20 warrants were issued netting 15 arrests. Investigators at the Division of Insurance Fraud claim the majority of the fraud is committed by people who unknowingly purchase bogus auto insurance from scam artists. Gannon advises all auto owners to only purchase auto insurance from reputable agents and or companies. People selling insurance from their cars or on the street are likely scam artists.

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NEWS

GIRLS NIGHT OUT EVENT AT PLAYERS CLUB BENEFITS SICKLE CELL FOUNDATION The monthly Girls Night Out event was held Thursday, Aug. 9 at the Players Club in Wellington. Various vendors showcased their products, from handbags to jewelry. The Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast was this month’s charity beneficiary. For more info., call (561) 795-0080. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Karleen Razzo of Razzle Dazzle shows Caitlin Prather a purse.

Denise Chase looks at jewelry from Judy’s Online Gifts.

Judy Tannehill, Ruth Taylor and Joan Jensen.

Ncognito Fitness owner Marcus Nisbett gives Dolores Schlick a message.

Sanda Gané of Sanda Gané European Day Spa.

Mindy Sepinuck of FAB Finds by Mindy.

Elizabeth Traver and Harriet Basilovecchio.

Korte & Wortman Hosts Inaugural Wellington HOA Symposium Thirty residents active in their homeowners’ associations attended Wellington’s first HOA Symposium last week, taking advantage of an opportunity to ask legal, financial, procedural and maintenance questions of local experts serving HOAs throughout Palm Beach County. Members of every Wellington homeowners’ association were invited to the two-hour symposium, which was sponsored in partnership with Korte & Wortman, P.A. Scott J. Wortman, Esq., a boardcertified real estate attorney who specializes in representing HOAs

and condominium associations, discussed important legal strategies in maximizing collection procedures and navigating the various issues associated with the mortgage foreclosure crisis. “Associations throughout the country are facing major issues of unpaid obligations,” Wortman said. “It’s obviously critical for HOAs to have a fine-tuned collection procedure.” Other panelists were Brian Tight and Paula Rappold of Campbell Property Management, and Seth Bernstein and Eric Wolkoff of Gerstle, Rosen & Goldberg, P.A., Cer-

tified Public Accountants. The residents also asked questions about security and code enforcement from Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office community policing deputies and Wellington Code Enforcement Manager Steve Koch. “We realize many of our associations are struggling because of foreclosures and other economic issues,” said Meridith Tuckwood of Wellington’s Safe Neighborhoods Office, who arranged the symposium. “Our goal is to give the HOAs as much information and support as possible so they can successfully manage their

communities. This not only helps them but Wellington as a whole.” Using a discussion format, residents asked questions about taking title to properties for non-payment, tax liability for collecting rental income, patrols, parking, governing document amendments, and even what do to about squatters in homes. Wellington plans to hold the seminar about once each quarter, Tuckwood said. “We had a very engaged group of participants, and hopefully more members of the HOAs will come out to the next one,” she said.

Symposium panelists Scott Wortman, Brian Tight, Seth Bernstein, Eric Wolkoff and Paula Rappold.

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SCHOOL NEWS

WHS Mighty Wolverine Sound Needs Help With New Band Uniforms The band members, parents and instructors of the Mighty Wolverine Sound are getting ready for another pride-filled marching season at Wellington High School, but each year gets a little harder on their pride. The students spent the past two weeks of their summer working hard, learning marching maneuvers outdoors and practicing their music inside the school each afternoon. But as their marching and musical talents get better with time, the uniforms they will perform in this year are wearing apart. The Wolverines’ uniforms were purchased in 1998, the same year that most of the sophomores were born, and with a larger band this

year, the pickings are even more slim. Each year many band parent volunteers spend hours sewing and making alterations just to make do, and so the students will each have the honor of wearing the Wellington uniform with Wolverine pride. This year, as 52 freshmen take the field with the 90 returning students, there is even more work that needs to be done. “The tattered and worn uniforms really do not match the level of the Village of Wellington’s acknowledgement of our community priorities concerning the importance and standards of our students,” said Lois Spatz, band photographer and chair of the Wolverine Band Booster Board Public

Band parent Tammy Smith tries to help sophomore clarinet player Victor Lucena find a jacket that will fit him.

Relations Committee. “Our students perform in the chamber’s Holiday Parade every year, and last year they were the only band to show up to play for the Veterans Day Parade in West Palm Beach. The band also gives much of their time to several local charity organizations’ fundraising events each year. I think now it is time for our community to reach out and put our arms around them to show them we care.” The Mighty Wolverine Sound budget is mostly funded through heavy fundraising throughout the year, but budget restrictions leave very little money left over after yearly expenses are met. “The band is in dire need of help and would certainly appreciate

any and all donations from our private-sector and business community,” Spatz said. “We are also in the process of asking [Wellington] Mayor Bob Margolis to allow the band to be considered for the Wellington Community Grant and perhaps see if there is any other avenue for funding.” The cost for the new uniforms for the 142 band members and 22 majorettes will be approximately $71,000, and the new uniforms should last another 15 years. Call Cathy Flora at (561) 9065153 or e-mail cmflora@bellsouth. net if you would like to make a donation. All donations are taxdeductible. For more information, visit www. whsband.com.

Band parent Liz Newsome shows sophomore clarinet player Valerie Emery how to adjust the delicate uniform accessories.

Band parents Elizabeth Decard, Paula Deaver and Amy Hessler work feverishly to repair the worn uniforms.

Two South University Professors Win National AMHCA Awards Two South University professors, Denise Cecil-Van Den Heuvel and Darlene Silvernail, have been named recipients of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) annual awards for 2012. Both professors, who are two of eight professionals nationwide to receive this year’s awards, teach at South University’s West Palm Beach campus, located at 9801 Belvedere Road. “Having two honorees from one university certainly speaks to the quality of the psychology faculty at South University,” said David McGuire, president of South University. “Both Dr. Cecil-Van Den Heuvel and Dr. Silvernail bring the kind of current, real-world experience and

expertise that our students value.” Cecil-Van Den Heuvel was recognized for “professional service and leadership to a state chapter.” The AMHCA citation explains that she “united the chapter toward a common goal and led FMHCA [Florida Mental Health Counselors Association] to substantial growth. The chapter kept a strong presence in the state capitol and among new local chapters, held teleconferences and enhanced its web site.” Silvernail was lauded with the Public and Community Service Award. The AMHCA citation states that her “book series on empowerment, with her conferences and

workshops, have motivated people to move forward to achieve personal and professional success.” The AMHCA recognized the award winners at an awards luncheon on July 20 during its annual conference in Orlando. South University’s West Palm Beach campus offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. For more information, visit www.southuniversity. edu. The AMHCA is a growing community of more than 6,000 clinical mental health counselors. The AMHCA gives a voice to the clinical mental health profession nationwide. For more information, visit www.amhca.org.

Established in 1899, South University is a private, accredited academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers over 50 degree programs across its 12 campuses located in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. South University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information about South University, visit the school’s web site at www.south university.edu.

Darlene Silvernail

Denise Cecil-Van Den Heuvel

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Amy Bernard Joins RPB’s Elite Networking Pros

Nicole Hopkins is one of more than 500 cheerleaders chosen to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade.

Graphics Plus Inc. owner Amy Bernard recently joined Elite Networking Pros. Graphics Plus is the culmination of over 30 years of design, sales and customer service experience. After graduating Ringling College of Art & Design, Bernard began the journey that lead to the ownership of this award winning company. Bernard’s years of experience include customer service training at the world-famous five-star resort the Breakers Palm Beach, where only five-star service is acceptable. Bernard also has multiple years of print shop employment as a designer and salesperson, learning the ins and outs of the

printing industry and decades of freelance graphic design on a multitude of products and services. Graphics Plus’ clients include the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Norton Museum of Art, Caregiver Services nurse registry and many nonprofit agencies in Palm Beach County. Elite Networking Pros brings together a group of Palm Beach County business owners and professionals who are truly bestin-class in their respective industries. Its members bond together to help each other succeed in business. Belonging to Elite Networking

Pros is like having a team of salespeople working for you. Every member interacts with friends, clients and business associates who could use your products or services. Elite Networking Pros members will refer you with confidence because of the trust that builds as a result of being a part of Elite Networking Pros. Elite Networking Pros meets every Friday morning for breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in Royal Palm Beach. For additional information about the club, or to attend one of its weekly meetings, visit the Elite Networking Pros web site at www.elitenetworkingpros. com.

Amy Bernard

Michael Hackler of Wellington has received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Western Governors University. On July 14, the online, nonprofit university held its semiannual commencement ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah, and celebrated the graduation of more than 3,200 graduates — WGU’s largest class ever. This year, Western Governors University celebrates its 15th anniversary. Incorporated in 1997, the university has grown to a national institution with more than 33,000 students and 16, 000 graduates in just 15 years. The university conferred 2,036 undergraduate degrees and 1,199 graduate degrees in four disciplines: business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. Graduates from 49

states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as military personnel working overseas, were recognized during the ceremony. WGU founding governor Michael O. Leavitt delivered the commencement keynote address. WGU founding governors Roy Romer and chairman of the WGU Board of Trustees, Jim Geringer, also spoke at the event. Students and graduates who were not able to attend the ceremony were able to watch the event via live video stream on the WGU web site. Featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams , CNN’s Schools of Thought and in The New York Times, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering competency-based de-

gree programs and the only nonprofit, fully online university with students in all 50 states. WGU offers 50 degree programs in K-12 teacher education, business, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU is selfsustaining on tuition of approximately $6,000 per 12-month year for most programs. WGU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU’s Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

The WGU bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs have been accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, the Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education and Zions Bank. More information about Western Governors University is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling (866) 225-5948.

ter of Mati Karni of Loxahatchee. Salois is a 2010 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School. Taylor is a 2011 graduate of Seminole Ridge High School.

who have achieved academic excellence. The announcement was made by NSHSS founder and Chairman Claes Nobel, a senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prize. “On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment that Leah has demonstrated to achieve this level of academic excellence,” Nobel said. “Leah is now a member of a unique community of scholars — a community that represents our very best hope for the future.” “Our vision is to build a dynamic international organization that

connects members with meaningful content, resources and opportunities,” NSHSS President James Lewis said. “We aim to help students like Leah build on their academic successes and enhance the skills and desires to have a positive impact on the global community.” Membership in NSHSS entitles qualified students to enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including scholarship opportunities, academic competitions, free events, member-only resources, publications, participation in programs offered by educational partners, online forums, personalized recognition

items and publicity honors. Founded in 2002, the National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and encourages members of the organization to apply their unique talents, vision and potential for the betterment of themselves and the world. Currently, there are more than 530,000 society members in over 160 countries. NSHSS provides scholarship opportunities for deserving young people. For more information about the National Society of High School Scholars, visit its web site at www. nsbss.org.

Nicole Hopkins To Hackler Graduates From Western Governors U. Perform In London New Year’s Parade Seminole Ridge High School student Nicole Hopkins is one of more than 500 high school cheerleaders and dancers from across the United States who will be performing in the world-famous London New Year’s Day Parade. The individuals invited to perform in the parade qualified for the trip after being selected as an All American at one of the summer camps hosted by Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA). All Americans are selected to try out based on superior cheerleading skills at camps across the country. Only the top 12 percent of the cheerleaders who attend varsity

summer camps earn the chance to march in the holiday spectacular. In addition to performing in the London parade, the All Americans will have the chance to tour London during their seven-day trip. “This is the 26th year we’ve been able to bring talented cheerleaders to London, where they can showcase their skills to a very enthusiastic international audience,” said Mike Fultz, the varsity international event coordinator. Hopkins is in the process of fundraising for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. For more information on how you can help sponsor Hopkins, call (561) 248-3319 or send an e-mail to nmhop@aol.com.

Four Graduate Marine Recruit Training In S.C.

core values of honor, courage and commitment. Training subjects included close-order drill, marksmanship with an M-16A4 rifle, physical fitness, martial arts, swimming, military history, customs and courtesies. One week prior to graduation, they endured the Crucible, a 54hour final test of recruits’ minds and bodies. Upon completion, recruits are presented the Marine Corps emblem and called Marines for the first time. Adams is the son of Jennifer Adams of Wellington and a 2011 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School. Karni is the daugh-

Marine Corps Pvts. Alexander Adams, Liann Karni, Jeffrey Salois and Joseph Taylor earned the title of United States Marine after graduating from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C. For 13 weeks, they stayed committed during some of the world’s most demanding entry-level military training in order to be transformed from civilian to Marine instilled with pride, discipline and the

Carrier Chosen For National Scholar Society The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) has announced that Loxahatchee home school student Leah Carrier has been selected for membership. The society recognizes top scholars and invites only those students

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NEWS

MALL AT WELLINGTON GREEN STARS KIDS CLUB HOSTS BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH The Mall at Wellington Green celebrated back-to-school shopping with a Mall Stars Kids Club Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 11 in the Grand Court. The event included family-friendly activities, live entertainment by Patty Shukla and her band, a strolling artist by Banana Peel Circus, and children received gift bags and prizes. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Sean and Isabella Correia sign up to win a California Pizza Kitchen cookbook.

Joshua, Jacob and Arwen Sobieck Del Real.

Nada, Katherine, Rachel and Chris Reinbold.

i9 Sports owner Jon Popiel with his daughter, Jules.

Chloe and Sonja Ahrens.

Goddard School representatives Zulaica Suarez and Joanna Vargas.

Two New Panthers Are Now On Exhibit At The Palm Beach Zoo Two panthers have arrived at the Palm Beach Zoo and now are on public exhibit. “The arrival of these cats is an exciting moment for the zoo,” Assistant Zoo Director Keith Lovett said. “Our mission is to inspire people to value and conserve the natural world, and nothing does that better than offering them an opportunity to see rare and charismatic animals that are native to our own region. The Florida panther is considered endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. For over 17 years, we exhibited a Florida panther named Colin Patrick, who passed away in March of this

year. He was greatly loved by zoo visitors, and now these kittens, although not born in Florida, will carry on his legacy as ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the Florida panther.” The arrival of the panther kittens will be celebrated Friday evening at a special Safari Night event hosted by Waste Management from 6 to 9 p.m. “ Waste Management is pleased to support the Palm Beach Zoo Safari Nights and welcome the new panther cubs to the zoo family,” said Dawn McCormick, community affairs manager. “As its waste and recycling provider, Waste Management shares the zoo’s commitment to

conservation and sustainability practices, and values its longtime partnership with the Palm Beach Zoo.” The Florida Panthers Hockey Club Street Team will be on hand Friday evening along with a bounce house and games for the enjoyment of the children. The panther (Puma concolor) kittens came to the zoo through the coordination of the AZA Puma SSP run by the Oregon Zoo, whose critical function is to help rescue and rehabilitate orphaned panthers and place them in approved facilities such as AZA zoos. One of the two cubs now at the Palm Beach Zoo was rescued in Washington

State and came to the zoo on April 19 via the Oregon Zoo. The second kitten was rescued in Idaho and came to the zoo on June 28 via the Oregon Zoo as well. The panthers were orphaned when each of their mothers was euthanized as a result of coming too close to human dwellings. The cubs were not discovered until after their mothers were euthanized and each had littermates that were not successfully rescued. Both kittens are approximately 7 months old; however, the kitten from Idaho is slightly larger (60 lbs. versus 50 lbs.) and darker than the kitten from Washington State, making them easy

to tell apart. Palm Beach Zoo staff members have been working diligently to acclimate the kittens to their new surroundings and to build trusting relationships with them through husbandry training techniques. The Palm Beach Zoo will not have a breeding program for panthers due to the regular need to find homes for orphaned kittens such as these new arrivals. The Palm Beach Zoo is located at 1301 Summit Blvd. in West Palm Beach. For more info., visit www.palmbeachzoo.org. (Right) One of the panthers that is now on exhibit at the zoo. PHOTO COURTESY PALM BEACH ZOO

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August 17 - August 23, 2012 Page 15

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NEWS Dressage

2013 Season Approved continued from page 1 out by the dozens to speak on the matter, with many of them stating that they thought Jacobs was being disingenuous. “Since when does one part-time resident dictate to council [members] the conditions they should set?” Victor Connor asked. “The Players Club is actually closer to residences. They have outdoor speakers, outdoor music and outdoor events. The village has authorized them to operate… until 2 a.m. For this council to favor a bar over a family equestrian-oriented event is contrary to everything Wellington stands for.” Resident Carol Cohen, who owns a dressage farm, lambasted Jacobs in a letter she read to the council. “When they ran Stadium Jumping, it was well-known that they treated it as their own personal horse show,” she said. “They treated dressage shows like garbage. We were deemed unimportant and always relegated to dan-

Peterson

Will Face Abruzzo

continued from page 1 market more competitive and see more realistic rates.” She also wants to focus on helping the Glades area. “We need to get an enterprise zone out there,” she said. “We need to get jobs out there by stimulating businesses to invest, then have job training available for citizens.” In the rest of the county she said she’d continue to focus on building infrastructure. Abruzzo said his top issues are the economy, insurance, public safety, education, healthcare and property taxes.

Tennis

Contract Extended

continued from page 1 “If you choose to modify the contract, what you’ve done is enter into a brand-new contract.” Cohen argued that the existing contract was for a one-year term with four optional one-year renewals. “A three-year renewal is not provided for anywhere in the contract,” she said. “There is a distinction between the extension of the contract and a renewal.” But Kurtz said the council could

Mecca

Land Swap

continued from page 1 “We are very glad to see that, and hopefully in the very near future, and we hope that you will support this deal.” Former County Commissioner Jeff Koons, who served as chairman of the Water Resource Advisory Committee, which created the North Palm Beach Everglades Plan to recharge the Loxahatchee River, said he approved of the deal with reservations about the source of the water that would fill the proposed reservoir. “I favor this deal, but I would urge you to inspect where the water is coming from and where the water is going to go,” he said. “If you go up there today, you’ll

Stevens

Water-Skier

continued from page 7 starting her first year at Palm Beach Central High School and has to continue balancing schoolwork and water-ski practice. “Schoolwork always comes first. Then I can ski for the rest of the day, which I always do,” she said. Stevens did not expect to perform as well as she did in the southern regional competition. “It was so windy, and nobody was doing their best,” she said. “I just went out there and did what I love to do, and did not really care about how well I did; I just did it.” The competition consists of a slalom course, in which the boat is timed to go right down the center of a course with six balls on the outside of the course. In order to get a perfect score, the competitor has to successfully weave through the course. “She first has to go through the entrance gate, around six balls, out through the exit gate, and then that’s a full pass,” Stojanovich said. Each course gets more difficult as the competition goes on. “They either increase the speed of the boat or the rope gets shorter and shorter,” Stevens said. Stevens grew up around waterskiing professionals and learned

gerous situations with our horses.” Cohen said she was hopeful when the Global Dressage Festival was created but was disappointed by the response from the opposition. “Unfortunately, someone started to exert their power,” she said. “Squad cars started to regularly harass us. The village shut the shows down on technicalities, and forced Olympic horses and riders to schlep their gear and horses to tents… This level of intimidation has now culminated in Lou Jacobs’ letter dictating terms.” But several residents of Polo Island Drive told council members that the noise, smell and lights from the show grounds have been a nuisance. “My neighbors and I would like to see it go forward in a responsible way,” Alice Mueller said. “The noise that will be created by the night shows will be a problem. The odor has already been a problem for us. People are allowing their horses to defecate and not picking it up. It smells. It’s unpleasant. It’s not what we had in mind when we moved to the neighborhood.” Council members opted to im-

pose the conditions suggested by staff but were split over the use of a temporary barn on the northeast corner of the site near homes. Shubin asked that the barns be put on the southwest corner of the property, far from residences, instead of on a pad already in place. But Bellissimo said that the current location would allow for electricity and water hookups. “The third barn is very important,” he said. “Horse welfare is a huge issue for people coming here with their horses. We are set up to have wash stalls that tie into the septic system. Manure can go in and out very easily. It’s set up in a way that minimizes the impact.” Bellissimo noted that the barn would be more than 200 feet from the nearest residence — almost double what Wellington’s code requires. Additionally, he said, there had been few complaints last season. “I’m very sensitive to the group that’s there,” he said. “If we had a lot of complaints last year, I would have said ‘Maybe we have to rethink this.’ But we didn’t have those issues.” But Councilman Matt Willhite said that in addition to the people

who had spoken out against it, he had also received an e-mail from three residents regarding the barns. Mayor Bob Margolis said that he was primarily concerned with the third barn. “That seems to be a sticking point,” he said. “The third barn seems to be hanging over everyone’s head.” Councilwoman Anne Gerwig pointed out that the third barn had been used the prior season with no issues. Willhite made a motion to approve the agreement with the third barn disallowed, which was seconded by Margolis. The motion died 2-2, with Councilman John Greene not taking part in the discussion. Vice Mayor Howard Coates asked staff whether the third location was the best place for that stable. “If you’re going to have a third temporary tent that has access to the wash stalls so it drains into the sewer system, yes, that is a better location,” Village Manager Paul Schofield said. Coates then made a motion to approve the agreement with the third barn, which was seconded

The Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’Association will meet Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at Palms West Presbyterian Church (13689 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves). The guest speaker for this meeting will be Gina Sauber, who has a program called “A Time Remembered.” She will do a short presentation of how life was “back in the day.” Sauber will talk about how some of the old-time wares were used and share short stories about what life was like before electricity. Then folks will enter a refurbished vintage 1958 Shasta travel trailer for a unique hands-on learning experience. For more information, contact LGLA President Marge Herzog at (561) 818-9114 or marge@herzog.ms.

“When I took office in 2008, we were in a global recession,” he told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “Coming out of it, we need to make sure Florida is in the best position to take advantage of our global economy.” He said he hopes to pass the Student Global Education Act, which would offer incentives to university students to take courses in Mandarin or Portuguese. “Most of our domestic trading partners are from China and Brazil,” he said. “Yet we have a work force that doesn’t speak the language.” The act would enable a student who receives a B or higher in a low-level language course in either language to have the cost of their upper-level language courses covered by the state.

Abruzzo said he also hopes to help business start-ups by passing a bill that would allow new startup companies to pay no corporate income taxes for three years. “What are you doing in your first three years as a business owner? You’re reinvesting into your business,” he said. Abruzzo stressed that he has a proven track record over the past four years. He has gotten 20 bills passed, many of which support business in Florida. He also noted that he has been a champion of bringing an inland port to the Glades area. “Not only do I have the ability to work across the aisle with the majority party,” he said, “I now will have the ability to work across the hall with members of the House of

Representatives. I have strong relationships in both chambers.” Senate District 25 takes in all of western Palm Beach County, from west Boca Raton, north to parts of Palm Beach Gardens, taking in all of the western communities and the Glades. Tuesday’s election also saw the return of several incumbents in the Palm Beach County judiciary races. In the race for the Circuit Judge Group 2 seat, Judge Timothy McCarthy was re-elected with 70,088 votes (62.3 percent) to attorney Jody Lane’s 42,342 votes (37.7 percent). In Group 9, Judge Ron Alvarez narrowly defeated attorney Jaimie Goodman with 59,013 votes (51 percent) to Goodman’s 56,747 votes (49 percent). Judge James Martz defeated attorney

Margherita Downey in Group 26. Martz took 64,625 votes (58.1 percent) to Downey’s 46,550 votes (41.9 percent). Voters also returned Group 4 incumbent Judge Peter Evans to the County Court. Evans took 80,332 votes (73.5 percent) to attorney Kenneth Lemoine’s 29,040 (26.6 percent). In the County Court Group 6 race, retired Judge Edward Garrison was returned to the bench, defeating attorney Jane Sullivan. Garrison took 64,414 votes (58.4 percent) to Sullivan’s 45,831 votes (41.6 percent). Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Wayne Richards won his Democratic Primary election. Richards took 13,176 votes (62 percent), defeating builder Joseph Anderson, who took 8,085 votes (38 percent). Richards will face Republi-

can George Allen Black Jr. in November. In the race for U.S. Congress in the newly drawn District 18, voters set up a race between U.S. Rep. Allen West and businessman Patrick Murphy. West defeated his opponent, Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder, 45,761 votes (74.4 percent) to 15,744 votes (25.6 percent). Murphy easily defeated his two opponents, taking 26,762 votes (79.7 percent). Jim Horn received 3,838 votes (11.4 percent), and Jerry Buechler took 2,975 votes (8.9 percent). District 18 takes in parts of Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee and The Acreage, as well as northern reaches of Palm Beach County and all of Martin and St. Lucie counties.

both modify the contract and renew it. “The contract extension doesn’t expire until Sept. 30,” he said. “There is a provision in the contract for modification of the agreement by the parties. That modification could go to an extension or a waiver of the time period to renew. So I think you do have the ability to renew, if that is what you would like to do.” During public comments, tennis center members expressed enthusiastic support for Cheatham. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Roy Rosner said. Other residents pointed out that they have league and tournament play dependent on at least a one-

year contract to get through the upcoming season. A1A President Dennis Grainger said that he was frustrated with the bidding process. “We were called to see if we would bid on the tennis center again,” he said. “If we didn’t take this to task, you all wouldn’t know what was going on. It has cost us a lot of money.” Meanwhile, A1A Treasurer Blake Merrell pointed out that his company had higher rankings before local preference was applied. “We won by 34 points,” he said. “A1A was well above the other venues.” Council members agreed to support extending the contract with

Cheatham but debated over a term of one, two or three years. “I regret that we screwed up,” Vice Mayor Howard Coates said. “This would have been decided and Mr. Cheatham would have won. There was a valid point raised that the process was not done correctly.” He said, however, that he was concerned about members who have commitments for the upcoming season. “I’m not in favor of doing anything to destroy the tennis season,” he said. “I’m in favor of an extension. I think six months to a year would be reasonable. We don’t know what we are going to do yet [regarding moving the ten-

see the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area is at 19 feet. The Loxahatchee Slough that the county manages is at 17 feet. There are different water storage levels at different areas up there. That is the richest water basin in South Florida, and that was the purpose of being able to go in there. Mecca’s got to get water from somewhere.” The North Palm Beach Everglades Plan is designed to have water go north to the Loxahatchee Slough from there, Koons explained. Joanne Davis of 1000 Friends of Florida thanked the commission for engaging the SFWMD in the deal. “I really appreciate the effort that is being made here,” she said. Davis pointed out that the city’s water catchment area is being held

at 19 feet because it is being used for water storage. “The Loxahatchee Slough and other water catchment areas are being managed as natural areas,” she said. “They are being managed at as close as they can get to the historic levels that those resources should have been at prior to drainage and development.” Davis said she thought county staff members have excellent qualifications to work with the SFWMD on the restoration process, and they have already begun the process at little cost to taxpayers. “If the district and the county can get together on this, I think we will have a wonderful situation for Mecca Farms, the Loxahatchee River, the northern water supply and Grassy Waters,” Davis said. Commissioner Karen Marcus made the motion for conceptual approval. “This will be the significant water to the Loxahatchee River that we have been waiting for, but it will also help Everglades restoration because the water that was previously slated to go to the north will now go to the south, so you get a double win,” Marcus said. “Not only does it fix the Lox River, it will do it a lot quicker, and it also supports Everglades resto-

ration. Hopefully we will move it forward and come back with a good agreement for everybody.” Commissioner Jess Santamaria said the proposal is a good conclusion to a longstanding problem. “I could not have asked for a better conclusion to this Mecca Farms situation that has concerned all of us for the past six or seven years,” Santamaria said. Commissioner Steven Abrams said that in addition to the environmental benefits, the proposed agreement allows the county to cut its losses and improve its budget picture. Abrams asked whether the county has taken into account in its value assessments that development is planned on the Vavrus property to the east of Mecca and that the Mecca property is also partially developed. Intergovernmental Liaison Todd Bonlarron said the county and the SFWMD are both conducting due diligence, but that current values are based on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s valuation as well as independent appraisers’ valuations. The motion by Marcus for approval of the tentative agreement carried unanimously.

nis center], and I don’t see us doing anything with the courts for at least 18 months.” Coates said he would support a one-year extension as long as the contract was re-bid at the end of the year. “I don’t want to penalize [A1A] by now extending a contract two or three years when their opinion is that it should have been awarded to them from the get-go,” he said. Mayor Bob Margolis said he supported a three-year extension. “I don’t think it’s fair to put [Cheatham] through three years of uncertainty and not knowing where he’s going to be the next year,” he said. “We know that we have one of the best-run tennis centers in the county.” Coates also noted that Cheatham is a for-profit provider that receives subsidies in the form of village-provided facilities. “This is the only vendor in Wellington with which this occurs,” Coates said. “That’s why I think it’s appropriate that it is brought

up on an annual basis. I want to make sure that it is fair and transparent, and that everyone has an equal shot.” Councilman Matt Willhite, concerned about the possibility of moving the tennis center, made a motion for a two-year contract. Coates seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. In other business, council members unanimously approved maintaining the village’s property tax rate at 2.5 mills, the same rate as the previous three years. The rate of 2.5 mills means a property tax of $2.50 for every $1,000 of taxable value. At that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 after exemptions would pay $375 in village property taxes next year. At the proposed tax rate, Wellington will take in about $12.88 million in property taxes — $120,000 more than last year. Wellington’s total taxable value this year is $5.42 billion, up for the first time since 2007. Council members passed the item without discussion.

the art of the sport from a very young age. Her grandfather ran a water-ski school in Michigan, and her mother has been competing in national water-ski competitions for many years. “My husband does barefooting on a world level, so it really is in the family,” Judy said. Throughout the year, Stevens competes in various water-ski competitions. “We do between six and 10 a year,” Judy said. “It’s a short season, which starts after school is out and ends right before it begins.” Stevens spends most of her time competing and practicing, and her family is with her throughout the entire time. “It’s a lot of weekends, and Wednesday night tournaments,” Judy said. Stevens is thankful to have her family out there with her. “I’m happy they are there helping me get to my goal,” she said. “They are supporting me every step of the way, and are not forcing me to do anything. I’m just having fun.” The feeling Stevens gets while skiing out on the water is indescribable, she said. “You don’t have any gravity to you, and I do have some control, but I definitely don’t have all of it,” she said. “There are a lot of factors like the wind that also affect my performance, and you have to know how to handle every one out there.”

Letter continued from page 4 icans since Obama, Pelosi and Reid took charge are encouraging! “Big Government” doesn’t work here, in Cuba or anywhere! Americans are tired of watching the left live off the hard work of others, while this administration continues to force new regulations, to tax and strip the rights of the ultimate “job-providers,” the business owners. The Obamacare tax will break the backs of the alreadystruggling middle class. Over 500,000 union leaders and members, plus many other organizations, who loudly supported “nationalized health care” in the beginning, have now asked (and have been granted) “exemption” from the enormous burden of providing coverage. Bloomberg News reported that the Affordable Care Act tax will impose an estimated $813 billion in “new

taxes” on job creators and middle class families! President Bill Clinton, in 1996, imposed a five-year limit on welfare benefits, requiring able-bodied recipients to go to work after two years, and it gave states incentives to create jobs for people on welfare. He said it was far from perfect legislation but went a long way toward overcoming “the flaws of the welfare system for the people who are trapped in it.” Today, unemployment is over 8.3 percent, not counting those who have given up seeking employment, but live on welfare programs as a “career.” We are out of time if we are to save America, much of it wasted in reporting nonsense rather than truth. The mistakes of the past can only be corrected by electing competent leaders in November. Marge Fitzgerald Wellington

by Gerwig. It, too, died 2-2. Willhite said he was primarily concerned that wash racks and manure bins for the third barn would not be shielded from the residences. Bellissimo agreed to shade the barn from view with fencing, plants or other village-approved material. “We could put up a buffer,” he said. “I think that would work.” Willhite requested that Bellissimo fill the two permanent barns before occupying the third barn, which he agreed to do. Coates amended his motion to include the changes. Gerwig seconded and council members voted 4-0 to approve it, eliciting cheers

from the crowd. Greene recused himself from the issue because of his relationship with a nearby property owner. During council comments, however, he expressed his support for dressage. Bellissimo thanked Greene for his support. “Despite the fact that he recused himself, he reached out to me, because of his commitment to following through with his campaign promises,” Bellissimo told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “I am confident that had John not recused himself, it would have been a 5-0 vote. I’m grateful for his support.”

Next LGLA Meeting Aug. 23

WRMC

Major Expansion

continued from page 3 tion stations and multiple nursing stations on each floor. Supporting technology, including a computer station in each room for bedside charting, will enable nurses and physicians to spend more time at the bedside. Each floor will offer an eight-bed ICU step-down unit, providing support for existing medical-surgical and ICU services. “That provides support for all ICU services,” Saver said. The expanded hospital will also be good for the community, with increased jobs and support services. “In beefing up those programs we hope it will allow us to bring on more people and create more jobs,” Saver said. “A lot of this will come organically as these programs develop, which is good for Welling-

Blotter continued from page 6 burglary. According to a PBSO report, the victim asked her neighbors to go feed her dogs, and when the neighbors arrived, they discovered broken glass on the dining room floor. According to the report, sometime between 6 p.m. last Sunday and 7:20 p.m. Tuesday evening, someone entered the victim’s home and stole several watches, a white gold diamond necklace, and the victim’s license and bank cards. According to the report, the victim’s neighbors recalled seeing a blue car near the victim’s driveway. A second neighbor said she saw a white four-door sedan approach the home. There

ton, good for the medical arts district, good for the hospital, and it’s good for people.” Economic studies by the hospital show that by 2017, the anticipated economic impact of the project to the community will provide 100 full-time positions and $5 million in annual salaries. Additional economic effects of the expanded hospital will be through increased purchasing of goods and services that the hospital routinely requires, as well as a positive impact on local housing. The pavilion is named after Alan B. Miller, the CEO and founder of WRMC’s parent company Universal Health Services. Miller is expected to attend the grand opening on Oct. 3. Saver, who came to the hospital from WPTV-NewsChannel 5 a month ago, said it is an exciting time to become part of the staff. “The people here are really wonderful,” she said. “It’s such a great team, which is why I chose this hospital.” were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. AUG. 15 — A resident of Goldenrod Road called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Wednesday morning to report a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between midnight Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday, someone entered the victim’s back porch, where he keeps his tools, and removed approximately $225 worth of tools. The PBSO deputy observed that the porch is visible from the street and that someone had cut the screen. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

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August 17 - August 23, 2012 Page 17

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Gaited Trail Riders Offer Great Riding & Fun Events

Formed in September 2011, the Gaited Trail Riders of South Florida meets twice a month to go on trail rides in different spots. They also hold training clinics, moonlight rides, campouts, poker runs and equine chiropractic demonstrations. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 21

August 17 - August 23, 2012 Page 19

Wellington Wolves Third In AAU Nationals

The Wellington Wolves eighth-grade travel basketball team took third place at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championship tournament held July 2026 in Orlando. Led by Coach Randy Soto, the Wolves went 8-1. Page 31

Shopping Spree A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

Business Grand Reopening Set For Aug. 25 At Frannie’s Restaurant In Royal Palm

For more than 20 years, Frannie’s Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach has been providing home-cooked meals in a comfortable atmosphere. New owners Al and Margaret DiNuzzo are the third owners in the restaurant’s history. The DiNuzzos held a soft reopening June 16 and will hold a grand reopening on Saturday, Aug. 25 with menu specials and balloons for the children, and they hope people will come in and try the restaurant. Page 23

Sports Wellington’s Natalia Hernandez Gearing Up For Soccer At FAU

The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team took the field in a pre-season friendly Saturday, Aug. 11, hosting Florida Gulf Coast University. The FAU squad has several new players, including Natalia Hernandez of Wellington, a 2012 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School. Page 31

THIS WEEK’S INDEX COLUMNS & FEATURES ........................ 21-22 BUSINESS NEWS..................................23-25 DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ...................... 27 SPORTS & RECREATION........................ 31-33 COMMUNITY CALENDAR ......................34-35 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................36-40

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FEATURES

Great Riding & Fun Events With The Gaited Trail Riders About two years ago, Jamie Wilson and a few friends found themselves riding their horses out on the trails in their Jupiter Farms neighborhood two or three times a week. Soon, others were asking if they could join them, and they started talking about forming an actual group. That’s exactly what happened in September 2011, and the Gaited Trail Riders of South Florida was formed. But you don’t need a gaited horse to join. “We called it Gaited Horses because it seemed like a lot of our original members had gaited horses,” Wilson explained. “Del Van Dorn, who became president, and Judy Spillman, the vice president, have Missouri Fox Trotters. I have a Tennessee Walker. We love the way these horses go, and our rides let them show off their paces a little. We don’t just walk, we like to move out at a fox trot or a flat walk. A normal horse would have to trot to keep up with us.” The group now has about a hundred members from all over — Lake Park, Lake Worth, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach, even as far away as Cocoa Beach and Ocala. Annual membership is nominal: $20 per person or $35 for a family. They meet up twice a month and go out on trail rides in different spots, including DuPuis, Riverbend, Nine Gems, Hungryland, Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/ HorseTalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails By Ellen Rosenberg Cypress Reserve, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Lucky Buck, Old Indian Town Grade, Blue Field Ranch and Atlantic Ridge in Stuart. They also hold other events, such as training clinics, moonlight rides, campouts, poker runs and an equine chiropractic demonstration. There are also purely social (read: unmounted) gatherings. “We held a Kentucky Derby party in May,” Wilson said. “We all wore big, silly hats, and, of course, we drank mint juleps as we watched the race. We also like holding old-fashioned picnics at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.” Having fun with horses is what it’s all about. “I think the most fun event we ever held was an obstacle course practice back in April,” Wilson said. “We met at Dr. Lester’s ranch in Okeechobee. He has a big field with some really wild permanent obstacles, and we had a lot of fun going through them. He’s got some common ones, like jumps of different heights, pole bending, a tarp on the ground for the horses to walk over, and a gate to open, go through and then close. But he’s got some different ones as well. There was a narrow

Jamie Wilson with Sundance. bridge the horses had to walk over, then turn in a circle and come back over, either frontward or backing. He’s got a car wash, with the dangling streamers for the horse to walk through, two ponds — one for wading the horses in and one they can swim in, and there

was a huge beach ball to bat around in the water.” The attendees really enjoyed the different obstacles. “He had poles with balloons on top of them. See ROSENBERG, page 22

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FEATURES

I Could Read A Stack Of Magazines, But I’d Rather Vent If you came over to my house, you would see a big stack of unopened magazines. I read magazines. I love magazines. But you would see this stack because I am staging a protest. I had just extended the subscription of my favorite magazine on into infinity when the publisher decided to get rid of it and replace it with a cheap, pathetic substitute. I hate the new magazine. The paper is flimsy, the ink is crummy, the articles have no bearing on my life, and the photographs are uninspired. If I pored over them for hours, I might stumble upon a recipe I could use, but, instead, I am staging my own little boycott here. I refuse to waste my time. And, yes, I know that the logical thing would be to throw them out, but I prefer to Get your Sonic Boomer humor every day! Follow Deborah Welky on Twitter at twitter.com/TheSonicBoomer. On Facebook, stop by “The Sonic Boomer” page and click the “Like” button.

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER stack them up so I can haughtily ignore them. The stack is getting pretty tall. And I do need something to read. But no! I will not buckle! I will stand up for my principles even if it’s just me, alone in the bedroom, staring down a pile of paper and getting angrier by the minute. I know how this happened — lack of advertisers. You take a quality publication with standards so high that it will not accept ads for cigarettes, booze, gambling, sex toys, expensive makeup or overpriced fashion, and here’s what you’ve got — a dead magazine. This is where one has to admire Martha

Stewart. I know she went to jail, but I don’t care. She knows how to put out a magazine. I’ve read a lot of books (authorized and not) about Martha, and she is one tough cookie. I would not want her for my neighbor. But when all I want is a good magazine, her Martha Stewart Living never lets me down. Yes, it’s encyclopedic at times. Yes, the crafts are too easy. Yes, Martha’s personal calendar of Things to Do makes me laugh. But everything is spelled correctly. The sentence structure is good. The ink doesn’t rub off on my hands. Plus, the photography is no less than stunning. I know they spend hours, days and weeks laboring over these photos. You can tell. They can make a worn-out old house dress look good. When a food photograph includes crumbs on the plate, it only makes you hungrier. And they have absolutely perfected the close-up over there. The whole magazine is inspirational. When Martha says, “Look at this collection of egg cups,” you are going to see egg cups like you’ve never seen before. When

she says, “Flopping flowers into a bowl is OK as long as it’s done artistically,” she means it. If she features a room decorated for the holidays, it is done to the nines — and in a way no other editorial group imagined. In short, when I’m done reading that magazine, I want to get busy. And who needs advertisers when you’re supporting the whole endeavor yourself? Page after advertising page is devoted to selling glitter (made by Martha), paint (made by Martha) and pet supplies (made by Martha). It’s genius! And, yes, there are others. I also like Country Living, Bliss: Victoria, Mary Jane’s Farm and a few more. I still miss Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, but its advertising pool was limited to craft supplies for hard-core crafters. Until Mary starts selling the Mary glitter, Mary paint and Mary fabric necessary to finance her publication, it’s just me in my bedroom, glowering morosely at a stack of unread rags. And sharing my disappointment with you.

Political Satire ‘The Campaign’ Is Funny, Until The End The new political satire The Campaign is a bit of a strange film — funny but strange. Political satire does not generally work well in this country because things are often so weird that real life seems filled with irony. It is hard to top some of our own real-life politicians in the dumb things category. In the movie, longtime Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) speaks totally in clichés with a rapt public simply echoing him. When he manages to ruin what little is left of his reputation by leaving a pornographic voice message at a wrong number, a pair of billionaire brothers (John Lithgow, Dan Aykroyd) decide it would be better to replace him with someone even dumber who will allow them to ignore environmental rules and pay imported Chinese workers 50 cents an hour. They choose Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), who seems to fit the bill perfectly. At that point, the political contest just gets wilder and weirder until a conclusion that seems more than a bit rushed. The gold standard for American political satire is the 80-year old musical Of Thee I Sing by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In the play, John Wintergreen is nominated for pres-

Rosenberg

Trail Riders

continued from page 21 You took a lance with a tack at the end of it, and you had to ride down the line of poles and burst as many balloons as you could,” Wilson continued. “He also had a cannon booming loudly every few minutes. And then there was the trench. The trench is this huge hole in the ground, about 5 yards wide and maybe 10 feet deep. There’s a jump at the start of it, so the horse jumps the jump heading down this earth ramp into the trench, then you go along the bottom and up the ramp

‘I’ On CULTURE By Leonard Wechsler ident on a platform of love, and he promises to marry the winner of a national beauty pageant. Along the way, he falls for the sweet young lady who was hired to run the pageant. They marry, which causes an international kerfuffle because the winner of the contest, Miss South Carolina, is “the illegitimate daughter of the illegitimate son of the illegitimate nephew of Napoleon.” Wintergreen is about to be impeached when his wife gives birth to twins and France prepares for war. Everything is settled when the vice president steps in to marry the girl under the rule that if the president is unable to complete a duty, it will be done by the vice president. Silly, absolutely. The show was helped immeasurably by the score written by George and Ira Gershwin. One

on the other side, and there’s another jump you have to jump to get back out. That was a real challenge. It took a while to acclimate some of the horses to the trench.” Wilson said that the group’s trail rides usually last around two hours. They ride on actual trails and travel for miles. They alternate going out on Saturdays and on Sundays, to accommodate everyone’s schedule. They also usually pack along a picnic lunch to sit around, back at the trailers afterward, and socialize. “That’s what our club’s all about,” she explained. “Riding on trails, socializing and having fun.” Linda Klimeika is one member.

song went, “Who cares what banks fail in Yonkers, long as you’ve got a kiss that conquers.” Now that is great satire, and it held up all the way through. There have not been very many movies that attempt to satirize politicians, and most are very partisan and usually disappear quickly. This movie avoids that. Although it is clear where the hearts of the producers are (real broadcasters are used, but only from MSNBC and CNN), but the on-screen battle is not a liberal vs. conservative argument as much as a chance to poke fun at the system itself. The cast is fine, although almost everyone is portrayed as more than a bit of a boob. Ferrell, of course, is great at playing a real idiot, and Galifianakis always delights in being strange. Dylan McDermott is perfect as the absolutely amoral political intriguer who cares nothing at all about his candidates. Lithgow and Aykroyd are appropriately amusing in very simple roles. Sarah Baker was really good as Galifianakis’ wife, and Karen Maruyama stole the movie every time she appeared as a wise-guy maid. My main objection was the clear idea that the American people are morons. The candi-

“Their rides are a lot of fun,” Klimeika said. “I enjoy bringing my Appaloosa along and joining in. I’d say this would be a great way for someone who’s kind of isolated, has a horse at home, to meet up with other riders. This is a nice way to have a social life with your horse a couple of times a month, or if you board at a show barn and no one else goes out on trails very much. Horses love going out on trails, seeing different things, being with other horses. If you’re not sure if the club’s right for you, come and ride once or twice for free to try it out.” Wilson said that riders should be at least intermediates, because they

dates did bizarre, dumb things. But, somehow, each time they did something wrong, more people liked them. Brady ran an ad boasting of his sexual conquests despite being married, and his popularity rose. Huggins pulled a stunt where he got Brady’s son to call him “dad,” and his popularity jumped. So Brady seduced Huggins’ wife, surreptitiously filming it and putting it on TV to raise his share of the vote, and then Huggins shot him in the leg, which raised the other man. Yes, many Americans vote incorrectly (defined as those who vote differently from me), but most do it because they actually believe in their candidates. Here, all the voters are idiots. Even worse, for movie purposes, the movie tries to get noble right at the end, which ruins most of the message. That’s when the film stops being funny. Being truly cynical for 90 minutes and then turning noble ruins the whole joke. But it is funny for most of its run time. This is definitely not a great comedy, not even a really good one. But there is a lot of good humor, a lot of topical jokes, and it refuses (until the last minutes) to take itself too seriously. It was a pretty decent good time.

do move out. Sometimes, however, they’ll split into a faster and slower group, if there are enough people who’d prefer to mainly walk. Also, riders younger than 18 must wear a helmet. “Other than that, you can ride any sort of horse in any sort of tack, even

bareback, if that’s what you’re used to,” she said. “We’re very casual. Our main goals are to go trail riding, camping, enjoy social events and mostly to have fun with our horses.” For more information, visit www. gaitedtrailriders.com.

The Gaited Trail Riders of South Florida in action.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Owners Al and Margaret DiNuzzo inside Frannie’s Restaurant. PHOTO BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

Grand Reopening Aug. 25 For Frannie’s Restaurant In Royal Palm Beach By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report For more than 20 years, Frannie’s Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach has been providing home-cooked meals in a comfortable atmosphere. The popular eatery is known not only for its Southern-style food, but for its extensive history in the western communities. The homegrown, family-owned and operated restaurant first opened on Southern Blvd. near the South Florida Fairgrounds, and used to be called the Frat House. When Southern Blvd. expanded, the original owner decided to move the restaurant to Royal Palm Beach, in the Royal Plaza at the corner of Southern and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. Now under new ownership, Al and Margaret DiNuzzo are the third owners in the restaurant’s history. The DiNuzzos acquired the restaurant in May and did a soft reopening on June 16. They will be celebrating their grand reopening on Saturday, Aug. 25 with menu specials and balloons for the children, and they hope people will come in and try out the restaurant under its new ownership. The DiNuzzos want to keep the same local, family atmosphere that the past owners offered, which they believe is strongly needed in the community. “We’ve looked around, and there really is no place to go eat, be cozy and relax while they eat,” Al said. As experienced businesses owners, the DiNuzzos own other businesses in the community — Al’s Locksmith and Pizzano’s Pizza. “I owned a locksmith business for 30 years, and we both own a pizza shop that is in the same plaza,” Al said. Frannie’s Restaurant serves country-style breakfast and lunch, and is open from 6 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Some of the menu items include country-fried steak with mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, omelettes and hash browns. The DiNuzzos kept most of the former owner’s menu items and tried to continue the same comfy feel. “We wanted to run the same type of business,” Al said. They also kept the same chef but have all new servers. “We want everyone working here on the same page,” Al said. “We want a friendly environment in the front as much as in the back, and we got it.” Frannie’s Restaurant also caters to business people, and offers a meeting room area for business breakfast or lunch. “If they want to come in and have a meeting, we have a side here that is kind of semi-private; that’s something we can do,” Al said. Starting Sept. 3, Frannie’s will be offering a salad bar for lunch. “We will also have breakfast items at the salad bar, so that they can get grab-and-go food like muffins,” Al said. The DiNuzzos want to meet the needs of all their clients, and encourage people to customize their orders or make suggestions on menu items. “We try up until the last minute to give them what they want,” Al said. “Like the other day, someone asked for horseradish with their fish, and we went and got it for them because every time someone asks for something that’s not on the menu, we provide it.” The DiNuzzos want people to feel at home when they eat at Frannie’s Restaurant. “This is somewhere they can come in and read the paper without getting hassled by someone pressuring you to go because they need the table,” Al said. Frannie’s Restaurant is located at 251 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, call (561) 766-1041.

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Leadership PBC Announces 2013 Class Members Leadership Palm Beach County recently announced participants in its 2013 Leadership Program, which aims to identify and unite diverse leaders in order to increase understanding of countywide issues and improve participants’ ability to lead effectively. LPBC’s 10-month Leadership Program brings class members to significant sites throughout the county to meet with community leaders and gain hands-on experience with major industries and issues. LPBC Executive Director Christina D’Elosua described the selection process. “We couldn’t have been more impressed by the applicants for the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2013,” she said. “This year’s class is again comprised of top-tier leaders in a variety of industries that represent the diverse demographics of Palm Beach County. The Class of 2013 is looking forward to deepening their civic commitment and awareness of diverse industries in Palm Beach County, as well as meet-

ing and engaging the county’s top leaders.” The Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2013 is as follows: Mary Aguiar, Thomas Bean, Amy Bernard, Minx Boren, Perry Borman, James Bowman, Peter Brandt, Dana Brookes, Patricia Brown, Guia Brown, Diana Carvajal, Miguel Carvajal, Christina Cassata, Joseph Chase, Barbara Cipriano, Carolyn Dipaolo, Ryan Dobson, Caroline Eaton, Preston Fields, Dena Foman, Charles Frazier, Lena Hartikainen, John Howe Lesser, Eric Inge, Christian Janney, Catherine Kent, Becky Macaluso, Ryon McCabe, Christina Macfarland, Brenda Hockman, Laura Morse, Andy Newitt, Christopher Noe, Rose Novotny, Bradford O’Brien, Austin Pantaleo, Lisa Park, Jerold Parrot, Julian Poole, Kelly Powell, David Reynolds, Kelly Rowland, Donald Scantlan, Hannah Sosa, Joanne Stanley, Brittany Tallon, Jason Thomas, Ashley Tripp, Ofelia Utset and Wes Wiggins. For more information, visit www. leadershippbc.org.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Ramsey-Chessman Named Finance Association President

Shannon Ramsey-Chessman, chief operating officer of finance at the Palm Beach County Office of the Clerk & Comptroller, recently was installed as president of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) of Palm Beach County. Ramsey-Chessman will serve a one-year term as president of the local FGFOA chapter. Her term will expire June 30, 2013. She also serves on the legislative committee for the statewide organization. The FGFOA was founded in 1937 and serves more than 2,700 state, county and city government finance officers, as well as other finance professionals providing education, information and other resources. The organization is dedicated to promoting the improvement of government financial administration in Florida. Ramsey-Chessman is a certified public accountant and a certified government finance officer. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Flor-

ida Atlantic University. Ramsey-Chessman first worked for the clerk’s office from 1997 to 1999, returning to continue her career with the office in 2006. She has held a variety positions in the finance department including director and chief officer. Ramsey-Chessman also spent two years with Palm Beach County’s Office of Financial Management and Budget, and five years with the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. She grew up in Palm Beach County and lives in Loxahatchee with her husband, Noel, and their four children. The Florida Constitution established the independent Office of the Clerk & Comptroller as a public trustee, responsible for safeguarding public records and public funds. Clerk Sharon Bock is directly elected by and accountable to Palm Beach County residents. In addition to the roles of Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Recorder and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, the Clerk &

Shannon Ramsey-Chessman Comptroller is the chief financial officer, treasurer and auditor for Palm Beach County. For more information about the Office of the Clerk & Comptroller, visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com or call (561) 355-2996.

Send business news items to: The Town-Crier Newspaper, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS

EWPB Names Officers For 2012-13, Honors Past Leaders Executive Women of the Palm Beaches (EWPB) recently announced its new board members for the 2012-13 year at a dinner reception at PGA National Resort & Spa. The event also honored the leaders who served this past year. The EWPB officers are as follows: President Ellen Block, the Jay Block Companies Inc.; President-Elect Minx Boren, Coach Minx Inc.; Secretary Trish Lowry, Florida’s Blood

Centers Inc.; Treasurer Nanette Norton Winzell, Lamn, Krielow, Dytrych & Co. CPAs; TreasurerElect Misty Travani, Travani & Richter, P.A.; and Immediate Past President Monica Manolas, CEMEX USA. Directors include Laurel Baker, Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce; JoAnne Berkow, Rosetta Stone Fine Art Gallery and Rosetta Stone Corporate Art; Tish Carlo, Hospice of

ABWA To Meet Sept. 12 In P.B. Gardens The Northern Palm Beach Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the PGA Doubletree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens. The September speaker will be Lois Margolin, co-owner of Chelsea Information Inc. She will speak on the topic “Understand Generation Values to Help Sell/Grow an Organization or Understand Your Employees.” The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together businesswomen of

diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking, support and national recognition. Networking will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m., with the dinner and program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $30, and guests are welcome. To make reservations, call Dottie Smith at (772) 341-2823 or Sharon Maupin at (561) 329-4485. For more information, call (561) 908-4798 or visit www. abwanpbflorida.org.

Palm Beach County Foundation; Jackie Halderman, Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office; Sandra Kaplan, Bravo KB Inc.; Bonnie Lazar, Keller Williams Realty Services; Beverly Levine, Schrapper’s Fine Cabinetry & Design; Katie Newitt, A1 Moving & Storage/Atlas Van Lines; Betsy Owen, Rotary International; and Melody Sanger, Drug Study Institute. Jessica Cecere of CredAbility was named alternate director. Elaine Meier and Suzy Petersen were named 2012 Members of the Year, while Ethel Isaacs Williams was named EWPB New Member of the Year. “Executive Women of the Palm Beaches is dedicated to the successful advancement of women in the workplace,” President Ellen Block said. “This year’s theme, ‘Exploring Our Leadership Edge,’ will focus on an aggressive campaign to provide the means for talented and deserving women of Palm Beach County to get the education necessary in their chosen career fields that would give them the edge.” This past May, Executive Women’s annual Women In Leadership Awards Luncheon raised more than $85,000 for scholarships and grants

New Officers — Nanette Norton Winzell, Trish Lowry, Ellen Block and Minx Boren were elected as officers of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches for the 2012-13 year. for deserving young women. Television personality and author Joan Lunden was the keynote speaker. The Executive Women of the Palm Beaches’ mission is to provide a dynamic presence dedicated to the professional and personal advancement of women through networking, sharing resources and

encouraging leadership. Through Executive Women Outreach, the organization provides financial support to scholarships and community projects. For more information regarding Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, call (561) 684-9117 or visit www.ewpb.org.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Two New Exhibits Open Aug. 24 At Photographic Centre Palm Beach Photographic Centre President and CEO Fatima NeJame has announced that two very timely exhibitions — “Olympix 2012” and “FOTOcamp Memories 2012” — will open Friday, Aug. 24 at the nonprofit museum located within City Center in downtown West Palm Beach.

Adam Stoltman’s photo of Gold Medalist Gabrielle Douglas.

“Olympix 2012” features photographs from the London Olympics by Adam Stoltman. Just days after the flag-waving, pride-filled closing ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre is presenting an incredible exhibition of images captured in London by Stoltman, a renowned sports photographer and PBPC instructor. An incredible photographer whose work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and its Sunday magazine, Time, Newsweek, and a host of other publications, Stoltman has covered 11 Olympic Games. “I photographed my first Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980,” Stoltman said. “I was 20 years old, had $50 to my name. I slept on floors and, as I was not accredited, I scrounged tickets to be able to photograph; but by the end of the games, I had secured a few significant assignments. In 1984, I covered both the Winter Games in Sarajevo and the Summer Games in Los Angeles working for Newsweek magazine, and have covered eight other Olympics since then.”

Stoltman added that each Olympics “is a little different in terms of news, personality and experience yet the passion of the athletes, and the scope and grandeur of the spectacle is a constant. It is impossible to attend an Olympics without being affected by the spirit of the event, heart of the competitors, the obvious pride of the host city and the diversity of competitors and media from all corners of the globe. The new images from London reflect my own small participation in this grand tradition, and my belief in some of the ideals the games aspire to represent.” “FOTOcamp Memories 2012” features impressive works from budding photographers between the ages of 9 and 17 who attended FOTOcamp 2012 at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. The three FOTOcamp sessions in June and July attracted nearly 50 young participants who were given hands-on experience in all areas of photography, beginning with the basics of picture-taking using SLR digital cameras and progressing to state-of theart digital imaging.

Adam Stoltman’s photo of Michael Phelps and his teammate, Ryan Lochte, competing in the 200-meter individual medley. The Palm Beach Photographic Centre will host an opening night reception Friday, Aug 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. During the reception, one talented FOTOcamper will be named Student of the Year and receive a free SLR digital camera. The public is invited to attend this free event. The Palm Beach Photographic

Centre is located at the City Center municipal complex at 415 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information about the exhibitions, call (561) 253-2600, or visit www.workshop.org or www. fotofusion.org.

S.F. Science Museum Opens ‘Treasure!’ Exhibit Sept. 28 Pirates, treasure hunters and those feeling lucky can go on a treasure hunt at the South Florida Science Museum. Whether it’s from a sunken ship or buried underground, guests can learn about and search for treasure at the museum’s newest traveling exhibit, “Treasure!” The exhibit opens Sept. 28 with Treasure Hunters Nights at the Museum and runs through Jan. 6, 2013. Ever wondered what’s below you while swimming in the ocean? Or if you could be walking over a gold mine? Treasure hunters have gone deep below the ocean surface, dug

down into the ground, and even searched through grandma’s attic to find valuable objects from gold and silver to 19th-century shipwreck artifacts and more, all on display at the South Florida Science Museum’s exhibit “Treasure!” Become a “treasure hunter” and try your luck at striking gold by using metal detectors, a remote operated vehicle (ROV) in water, cracking open a safe, panning for gold or even a map and compass. Guests are also invited to see what their weight is worth in gold by stepping on a special scale for the current market value.

Museum-goers can pan for gold at the “Treasure!” exhibit.

“Treasure is exciting and the thought of discovering it is even more exciting,” said Lew Crampton, CEO of the South Florida Science Museum. “We hear about gold coins and other sunken treasure discovered right off our coast, now folks can have the chance to be their own treasure hunters and discover where X marks the spot at the science museum.” The 5,000-square-foot, hands-on adventure for guests of all ages also explores the history of treasure hunting and the people and personalities who hunt for treasure through videos, biographies and treasure hunting tales from around the world. The “Treasure!” exhibit is presented by NRG! Exhibits. The exhibit opens with “Treasure Hunters Nights at the Museum” from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests can go on an adventure to look for treasure throughout the museum using maps and compasses. The evening will also feature panning for gold, guests trying to crack open a safe and more. Admission for museum members is free. The cost is $11 for adult nonmembers and $7 for children. Children under 3 are admitted free. Planetarium shows and miniature golf are not included with admission. Founded in 1961, the South Florida Science Museum is currently in the process of an expansion anticipated to be complete June 2013, and is open while under construction. Featuring fun and educational programming for all ages, the South

Crack open a safe at the South Florida Science Museum’s “Treasure!” exhibit, which opens Sept. 28. PHOTOS COURTESY NRG! EXHIBITS

Florida Science Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology. The museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, fresh and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. Each year the museum welcomes more than 125,000 visitors and reaches more than 45,000 students through workshops at the museum and outreach programs to local schools.

The South Florida Science Museum is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach at the north end of Dreher Park. Admission is $11.95 for adults, $10.45 for seniors 62 and older, $8.95 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 3 and museum members. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 12 to 6 p.m. For more information, call (561) 832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Wellington Wolves Finish Third In AAU National Championship By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Wolves eighthgrade travel basketball team took third place at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Championship tournament held July 20-26 in Orlando. “Out of 138 teams, they came in third,” Wellington Wolves President Chris Fratalia said. “We’ve never had an eighth-grade team place that high.” Led by Coach Randy Soto, Fratalia said the Wolves went 8-1, beating out top teams from all over the country to take third place. “The teams they were beating were elite organizations from other parts of the country,” he said. “They beat the Carolina Elite Squad, which is the best of the best from North Carolina. The team they lost to was comprised of the best eighth-grade boys in the greater Boston area. It wasn’t a small, local team like we have here.” Fratalia said that there were several MVPs from the tournament, including Lester Gates, Mike Mondelli, Christoff Nairn and Alex Gieutonne. “These players were very instrumental to the team’s success,” he said. Though the Wolves have play-

ers from neighboring communities like Royal Palm Beach and Lake Worth, Fratalia explained that many other teams pluck the best talent from all over their area to make up their team. “All of our players come from within 5 to 8 miles,” he said. “We work hard to build strong teams that are able to compete at that level.” Fratalia also noted that other organizations focus on one level of play, but the Wolves have teams from third through 11th grades, many of which have been successful over the years. This year alone, the seventh-grade team finished seventh in the nation and the thirdgrade team came in fifth place. “It’s not just one of our teams having success,” he said. “That is a testament to the great coaches that we have in our organization.” The success has drawn interest from local high school coaches, who have recruited several members of the team for their varsity squad. “Most of the kids that are going to play high school ball have overstepped the level of freshman or junior varsity basketball,” Fratalia explained. “The coaches are looking at them for their varsity roster. Already five players have made

Wellington Wolves — (Front row, L-R) Nick DeFeria, Patrick Mayes, Harry Paul, Max Fratalia, K.J. Ruff, Jamal Ellick and Chris Marzouca; (back row) coach Mike Colin, Lester Gates, Alex Dieudonne, Ethan Bureau, Christoff Nairn, Mike Mondelli, Sean Dinkins and coach Randy Soto. varsity as a freshman.” But, the team will continue to play together — next year as ninthgraders. “The core of that team has been playing together since sixth

grade,” Fratalia explained. “But they’ll be playing high school ball as well, so they will have to accomplish what they usually do in eight months in three.” The Wellington Wolves are

looking for businesses to sponsor needy children who want to play travel ball but cannot afford it. For more information, visit the Wellington Wolves web site at www. wellingtonwolves.com.

Wellington’s Natalia Hernandez Gearing Up For Soccer At FAU By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team took the field in a pre-season friendly Saturday, Aug. 11, hosting last year’s conference champions, Florida Gulf Coast University. Both teams play in the Sun Belt Conference. Last year, the Lady Owls fell to the Eagles 4-0. This year, the outcome was slightly different. FAU played the defending champs to a 0-0 draw. They out-shot the Ea-

gles 8-4, but fell short in the PK shootout 4-5. The FAU squad has several new players added to its roster. One is a local player Natalia Hernandez of Wellington. Hernandez was a 2012 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School and was a member of the varsity girls soccer team. Hernandez was last year ’s Sun-Sentinel 5A-4A Player of the Year, having found the net 39 times in 19 games and helped the Broncos earn See SOCCER, page 32

Natalia Hernandez battles for possession with a Florida Gulf Coast midfielder during last Saturday’s pre-season event.

Natalia Hernandez sprints up field for a pass. PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

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SPORTS & RECREATION

AAL RECOGNIZES DOLPHIN PREP CHEERLEADERS AS SQUAD OF THE WEEK

Soccer

Hernandez

continued from page 31 a District 9 runner-up position. Hernandez, an education major, chose FAU because she immediately became fond of Owls head coach Brian Dooley. “FAU is close to home, and my mom can come to all the home games,” Hernandez said. Hernandez also said that soccer at the college level is more competitive, and the training is more intense; weight training and conditioning are both a large part. She said she was able to make a smooth transition from the high school game to the college level because she trained most of the summer, running and taking shots on goal. She hopes to be a contributor to the team’s success as a freshman. For aspiring high school athletes who desire to play at the next level, Hernandez has some advice. “Mentally prepare yourself, train hard and play harder,” she said. Dooley said this was the first time to see the ladies play together against a different team, and it was a good opportunity to evaluate the players to see what needs to be worked on before the season starts. Dooley mentioned the athletes only get 16 days to prepare as a team be-

Natalia Hernandez takes possession of the ball against a Florida Gulf Coast University player. PHOTO BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

fore their first game, which is an NCAA rule. Dooley also stated they have higher expectations from their new players. “We just need to clean up some of our decision making,” Dooley said, after the 0-0 draw. “We need to put goals on the scoreboard.” Dooley was impressed with Hernandez. “She’s a top athlete, a hunt-

er,” he said. “She’s relentless to the ball and the net. We’re still trying to see where we’re going to play her. She started at left outside mid today, and we worked her in at forward as well.” The FAU women’s soccer team’s first home game will take place Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. against Jacksonville.

The Acreage Athletic League has announced the Acreage Cheerleading Squad of the Week. The Dolphin Prep cheerleaders are the youngest squad in The Acreage. The girls have a great time cheering for the Prep Dolphins tackle team. These girls are coached by Alona Schneider and Christina Bonvechio. Pictured are the 2012 Prep Dolphin cheerleaders: (front row, L-R) Laney Pedraza, Savannah Mazzeo, Autumn Smith and Keegan Bonvechio; (back row) Annabelle Schneider, Abby Venero and Jazlynn Williams. Not pictured: Julianna Wright.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Northwood Golf Team Selects Binks Forest As Home

M.J. Holland is declared the new champion in Orlando.

M.J. Holland celebrates his win with Kru Alan Bowonthamachakr.

Holland Welterweight Muay Thai Champ Bowon Muay Thai Academy has announced that its very own Matthew “M.J.” Holland is now the 2012 IKF World Classic Super Welterweight Amateur Muay Thai Champion. The championship event is held once a year in Orlando, with competitors from all over the world converging to compete in the three-day Muay Thai/kickboxing tournament.

Holland has been training and fighting for approximately four years under Kru Alan Bowonthamachakr, a professional Muay Thai instructor and owner of Bowon Muay Thai Academy. The Bowon Academy staff is proud of Holland for his hard work and dedication. And now Holland’s dream of becoming a professional Muay Thai boxer is an-

other step closer to becoming reality. Bowon Muay Thai Academy is an authentic Muay Thai training facility in South Florida. It is located at 3132 Fortune Way, Suite D-7, in Wellington Commerce Park. For more information about the academy, call (561) 313-2419 or visit the Bowon site at www.bowonmuay thai.com.

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ership to the team. Last season the women’s team finished eighth overall at the NAIA Championships conducted in Greenville, Tennessee. The men’s team placed 24th at its men’s championship in Salem, Ore., with McCurdy medalling with individual honors. “We’re looking forward to hosting some great college golf,” said Wheeler Stewart, Binks Forest Golf Club’s head golf professional. “There are many talented players competing in that conference, and it will be a pleasure to be hosting events.” The Binks Forest Golf Club is located at 400 Binks Forest Drive in Wellington. For more information about the club and its services, visit its web site at www.binks forestgc.com.

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Northwood University has announced that it has selected the Binks Forest Golf Club to serve as its home course for the 2012-13 golf season. The Sun Conference school, located in West Palm Beach, is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). “We’re very excited to have a challenging course like Binks as a home course,” said Brandon Miller, Northwood’s head coach for the past three seasons. “I think the course design lends a level of difficulty that will give us a clear advantage.” Northwood University anticipates a strong season led by AllAmerican First Teamer Brett McCurdy Jr., and Dorothy Gloeckrer, an All-Conference Academic winner. Both will provide senior lead-

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Saturday, Aug. 18 • The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will stroll Okeeheelee Park on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast afterward. Call Daisy Palmer at (561) 439-5780 for more info. • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will host “Coffee & Tea Club” on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. Every month the coffee bar features a unique coffee and tea to enjoy. A reusable mug is recommended. There is no charge. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 904-4000 for more info. • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will present its fourth annual Back-to-School Bonanza on Saturday, Aug. 18 from noon to 2 p.m. Safety quizzes will be given out with plates for a $5 donation to the Police Athletic League to be used for school supplies for local children in need. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 904-4000 for more info. Tickets will also be sold at the door. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host a meeting of the Acreage Avengers on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Bring your ideas to make the library a better place for all teens. Call (561) 6814100 to pre-register. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will make Recycled Jewelry on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m. for ages 10 to 14. Trash becomes treasure when participants make jewelry out of recycled materials. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host a Teen Advisory Posse meeting for ages 12 to 17 on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m. Find out what’s coming and share your ideas for future teen programs. Snacks will be provided. Call (561) 7906030 for more info. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Chess Club for Kids” for age 8 and up on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m. Chess fans practice their strategy skills with other players. Basic game knowledge is required. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature an Anime Club meeting for ages 12 to 17 on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. Watch anime, eat Pocky and check out the library’s newest manga titles. Snacks will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to preregister. • Wellington Ballet Theatre will hold auditions for its second annual Nutcracker Tea

on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Dance Arts Conservatory (12260 Fortune Circle, Suite J1, Wellington). The performance will feature highlights of The Nutcracker and also showcase the company’s winter repertoire. High-level dancers, as well as apprentice- and beginning-level students are encouraged to attend. The audition will consist of a master class given by Melissa Waters and will include a classical barre and the execution of various technical steps for the student to perform. To RSVP e-mail info@wellington ballettheatre.com or call (561) 296-1880. Sunday, Aug. 19 • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will host a “Mindful Mexican Cooking Class” on Sunday, Aug. 19 at noon. Tour delicious yet healthful Mexican cuisine. The cost is $5 per person. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 9044000 for more info. Monday, Aug. 20 • The Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon Monday, Aug. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Madison Green Golf Club (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North, Royal Palm Beach). For more info., call Mar y Lou Bedford at (561) 790-6200 or e-mail marylou@cpbchamber.com. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host “Wedding Bells are Ringing” for ages 2 to 4 on Monday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. Enjoy stories about weddings and make a special craft. Call (561) 681-4100 to preregister. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Introduction to Irish Dancing” on Monday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. for ages 7 to 12, and at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Marie Marzi of the Aranmore Academy of Irish Dance will guide you through beginner dance steps. Wear comfy clothing and sneakers. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. Tuesday, Aug. 21 • The Palm Beach County Commission will hold a workshop meeting Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m. in the government center’s Jane M. Thompson Memorial Chambers (301 N. Olive Ave., Sixth Floor, West Palm Beach). For more info., visit www.pbcgov. com. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Chess Club meeting for adults Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Chess fans unite to practice strategy skills with other players. Basic game knowledge is required. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register. See CALENDAR, page 35

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR CALENDAR, continued from page 34 • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Hooked on Crochet” for adults Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. Jessica Shultz will guide you through basic techniques. All skill levels are welcome. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach Community Concert Band will present a concert Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). For info., call the Cultural Center at 790-5149. Wednesday, Aug. 22 • The next quarterly meeting on the longterm plan for achieving water quality goals for the Everglades Protection Area tributary basins will take place Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 9 a.m. at the South Florida Water Management District headquarters in West Palm Beach. For info., contact Lawrence R. Gerry at lgerry@sfwmd.gov or (561) 682-2642. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Restoring a Treasure: The South Florida Ecosystem” for adults Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. Learn from the South Florida Water Management District what’s being done to protect and restore the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee, Everglades National Park and adjacent water conservation areas. Call (561) 7906030 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host a Class for Making Recycled Birdfeeders on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 6. Hear stories about birds and “go green” with a recycled birdfeeder craft. Call (561) 790-6030 to preregister. • The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will host a Crime Prevention Meeting for residents of the Willows neighborhood Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Willows Park (corner of Wildcat Way and Okeechobee Blvd. near the basketball courts). Bring lawn chairs. Call Diane Smith at (561) 9048241 or e-mail smithdiane@pbso.org for more info. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Go Green with Magazine Art” for adults Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Bring your favorite scissors and turn your old magazines into works of art. All other supplies will be provided. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Bilingual Story Time for ages 3 to 6 on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Read, sing and create a delightful

craft at this family bilingual story time. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will host “Healthy Start to the School Year” on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. There is no charge. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 9044000 for more info. Thursday, Aug. 23 • The Palm Beach County Commission will hold a zoning meeting Thursday, Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m. in the government center’s Jane M. Thompson Memorial Chambers (301 N. Olive Ave., Sixth Floor, West Palm Beach). For more info., visit www.pbcgov.com. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Hands-on Craft: Paper Flowers” for adults on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. Make and take easy paper flowers to give your projects a fancy touch. Materials will be provided. Call (561) 7906030 to pre-register. • The Palm Beach County GOP’s 11th annual Lobster Boil will take place Thursday, Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Beach Club (755 N. County Road, Palm Beach). The speaker will be syndicated columnist and pundit Cal Thomas. The cost is $95 per person. Tickets are available in advance only and can be purchased by calling (561) 686-1616. Friday, Aug. 24 • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will host “Mom’s Morning Escape” on Friday, Aug. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. Moms will receive a free mini-massage, coffee or tea, and muffin from the Coffee Bar. There is no charge. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 904-4000 for more info. • Whole Foods Market (2635 State Road 7, Wellington) will offer an Award-Winning Domestic Artisan Cheese Class on Friday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Taste a selection of domestic artisan cheeses from this year’s award-winning producers. Each cheese will be paired with a wine or beer to enhance the flavor of the cheese. The cost is $5 per person. Pre-register at the customer service desk or call (561) 904-4000 for more info. • The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will feature a free screening of the movie The A-Team on Friday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Bring your own seating. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. Email: news@gotowncrier.com.

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MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE SATURDAY & SUNDAY AUGUST 18TH & 19th 7a.m. – 12 p.m. — Dining Room, Broyhill Sofas, Holiday Decorations, Housewares, Toys, Clothing, and more. 116 Cortes Ave. Royal Palm Beach In La Mancha

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER — in W ellington needs EXAM PREP COORDINAT OR Bachelors Degree- Demonstrate Solid Performance on SAT and ACT (either verbal or math sections) Available to work evenings and Saturdays. Also needed: EXAM PREP TUTORS Now Hiring SAT/ACT Preparation Tutors. Must have a 4 year degree preferably in Mathmetics or English. Be available to tutor on Saturdays. Please e-mail your resume to marlenegiraud@hlcwellington.com ENTRY LEVEL RECEPTIONIST — Computer literate. Heavy phones & filing. Fax resume 561-333-2680 WINDOW INSTALLERS WANTED Subcontractors only. Top Pay. No Brokers. Call Matt 561-714-8490 FRONT DESK — Loxahatchee/ Boynton Beach. Busy Dermatology practices, full-time, experience preferred, must be available for flexible hours, evenings and weekends. Fax resume to 561-790-7568 MEDICAL ASSISTANT NEEDED IN LOXAHATCHEE/BOYNTON BEACH — Busy Dermatology practice, full-time, experience preferred, must be available for flexible hours, evenings and weekends. Fax resume to 561-790-7568 PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER NEEDED FOR 3 YEAR OLDS Full-Time 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mon. - Fri. CDA Required 790-0808 PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSISTANT NEEDED FOR 2 YEAR OLDS 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Experience preferred. AFTERNOON ASSISTANT needed Mon.-Fri. 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Experience preferred 790-0808

JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC.—Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted

WE CLEAN OFFICES & PRIVATE HOMES — Licensed & Insured. Call for an estimate and to schedule your ap artment. Discount for Central Palm Beach County Chamber members and to all new clients for first cleaning. 561-385-8243 Lic. #2012-252779

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Software setup, support & troubleshooting w w w.mobiletec.ne t. 561-248-2611 D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3331923 Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach. We accept major credit cards. HAPPY JACK LIQUIVIC® Recognized safe & effective against hook & roundworms by US Center for Veterinary Medicine. Grand Prix 561-792-2853 www.happyjackinc.com Stop scratching & gnawing. Promote healing & hair growth. Stamp out ITCHAMCALLITS! Shampoo with HAPPY JACK® Itch No More, apply Skin Balm® add Tonekote to diet. Goldcoast Feed 793-4607 www.happyjackinc.com

DRIVEWAYS — Free estimates A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. Lic.& Ins. 100045062 561-667-7716

Be a WINESHOP at Home Independent Wine Consultant. Build a career in the wine industry, work own hours, Call 561-843-3288 HELP WANTED MEDICAL OFFICE/FRONT DESK — Part time, flexible hours, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 25 hours per week. May lead to fulltime. Must be computer literate, heavy phones, and filing. EMR and EOB experience a plus. Call for interview 561-236-4557 DRIVERS WANTED — Full time, Part-Time, Day and Night Shif ts. Retirees Welcome. Clean Drivers license required. W ellington Towncar/Cab. 561-333-0181 NOW HIRING — Managers, Asst. Managers, Receptionist,Shipping Clerks and Forklif t Operator positions available for Produce Company in Loxahatchee. Previous produce experiencea plus. FullTime and seasonal positions available. Must be able to work overtime as needed. Excellent pay and benefits. Apply@4003 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee, Fl 33470 between Tuesday - Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

HANDYMAN AND CLEANING SERVICES — Caza Services for all your handyman and cleaning needs. 18 years experience. No job is too small. Call us today. Insured 561-802-8300 or 754-242-3459

HAY FOR SALE — From our farm to yours. New York State Organic Hay. Top Quality. Small Square, Large Square, Round. Call or Email for pricing. We Deliver. 607-538-9685 Scotchvalleyranch@gmail.com

ANMAR CO.—James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528 TOWN-CRIER NEWSPAPER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESUL TS CALLTODAY TO PLACE YOUR AD HERE 561-793-7606

HOUSECLEANING — 20 yrs experience. Excellent local references. Shopping available. 561-572-1782 HOUSECLEANING — affordable cleaning services, Royal Palm Maids. 561-666-7738 “For all your cleaning needs”

HURRICANE SHUTTERS P&M CONTRACTORS — ACCORDION SHUTTERS Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffit s, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE — Auto •Home • Life• Renters •Motorcycle •R V • Golfcart • Boat Serving the Western Communities for 24 years Call for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/ rCavanagh

RJA PAINTING & DECORATING, INC. — Interior Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial.Lic. #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561793-5455 561-662-7102 J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit our website at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

THE MASTER HANDYMAN — All Types of Home Repairs & Improvements. No job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 yrs of satisfied customers. See me on Angies List. Tom (561) 801-2010 or (954) 444-3178 Serving Palm Beach and Broward Counties. BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS INC. REMODEL & REPAIRS — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood rep air, door installation, minor drywall,kitchens/cabinet s/ countertops, wood flooring. Bonded and Insured U#19699. Call 7919900 or 628-9215

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JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Int./ Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident \ JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-6016458

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior p ainting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS DON HARTMANN ROOFING — Roof painting, Carpentry. Lic. #U13677 967-5580 ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in rep airs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763. ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-3090134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC023773 RC-0067207 JOHN C. BEALE BUILDING & ROOFING — Additions, remodeling, roof repairs & replacements, screened porches. Licensed & Insured. Call for Free Estimates. 561798-6448 ccc1326383 ccc1250306

SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

ACCORDION SHUTTERS — Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777 HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE —Jupiter Aluminum Products for your • Windows • Doors • Shutters 561-747-4166

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

SPECIALIZING IN BATHROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980. Quality you expect, service you deserve. Lic. bonded & Ins. U21006 561-662-9258

TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Lic. & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com

PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal. Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman's touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

55 Yr + Villa Apartment for Rent — Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Across from new park. 2/2 water and cable included. Access to pool and clubhouse. 1088 Sq. Ft. of living sp ace with screened in porch, ceiling fans in all rooms, vertical blinds on all windows, tile floors, hurricane accordions on all windows. One year lease $825/month. Contact Carlos at 561-379-3685

APARTMENT FOR RENT — Small ap artment for rent. All utilities included. $700 per month. Call 305-481-3789

FURNISHED HOUSE FOR RENT/ SHORT OR LONG TERM — situated in a cul-de-sac and 5 minutes away from Spruce Meadows, this 2000 sf. 2 story newer house in Shawnessy has hardwood floor throughout and 2.5 bathrooms. Leather furniture, 48” TV and a Piano in main floor. Master bedroom has Jacuzzi. 2 large size bedrooms and bonus room. Wireless Internet, double attached garage, fenced backyard with BBQ. Weekly housekeeping, linen service and lawn cutting plus all utilities included. For more det ails call (403) 808-7254 OR (403) 700-2065 106.33 ACRE EQUESTRIAN FARM NEAR AIKEN, SC — Please call Debbie Harrison, Realtor with Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co., at 803-480-5245 for det ails.

CAR FOR SALE 1991 T OYOTA PREVIA LX — Grey 4 cylinder, great work van, 2 AC unit s, good interior and exterior, 265K, $1,800 561-662-7026

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