Town-Crier Newspaper August 25, 2023

TOWN-CRIER

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUN AT B&G CLUB

ITID Board Backs Off

On Letter Opposing

Planned OHV Park

A letter to the Palm Beach County Commission opposing a proposed off-highway vehicle (OHV) park and campground in The Acreage was pulled at the Wednesday, Aug. 16 meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors. The supervisors voted 4-1 against sending the letter that ITID Vice President Betty Argue had pressed for at the July meeting. Page 3

RPB Zoners Reject Site Plan And Waivers For CarMax Expansion

The CarMax location at 10501 Southern Blvd. is having some growing pains after an effort to expand the facility’s staging area and add an auction building were rejected by the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 14. Page 4

674 Of The Nation’s Top Water Skiers Compete

At Okeeheelee Park

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports’ Goode Water Ski National Championships were held at Okeeheelee Park from Wednesday, Aug. 9 through Saturday, Aug. 12. Over the four days, 674 individuals competed in 36 divisions across three events — slalom, trick and jump. Page 16

Pet Supplies Plus

Celebrates Two-Year

Anniversary In RPB

Pet Supplies Plus in Royal Palm Beach celebrated its two-year anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 19 with special savings, giveaways and adoption events throughout the store. The store is located at 11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 160, in Southern Palm Crossing. Page 18

A back-to-school party was held Friday, Aug.

Wellington.

Zoning Board Strikes Cautious Tone On Equestrian Proposals

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

A village panel recommended last week that Wellington should deny or delay hundreds of luxury residences on land, including 96 acres in the Equestrian Preserve Area, until more detailed plans for an expanded showgrounds can be evaluated.

Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board voted Wednesday, Aug. 16 to send the Wellington Village Council a goslow message on a contentious piece of the application from developers working with equestrian businessman Mark Bellissimo.

Voting 6-1, the board approved a portion of the venture, Wellington South, with conditions aimed at lowering the project’s density. In 5-2 votes, members urged rejecting or putting off the Wellington North proposal that removes land from the preserve.

The point is to see what happens with proposed improvements to the Wellington International showgrounds, set to be considered in a separate approval process, officials said.

“It’s important to know the details of what we’re getting if we’re going to make a concession of that magnitude,” Committee Vice Chair John Bowers said regarding a vote to remove land from the preserve.

The guidance is not binding on the five-member Wellington Village Council, which holds final say and is slated to take up the items at a series of meetings tentatively starting Tuesday, Sept. 12. Still, plenty of concerns from advisory groups set the table. The village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee voted 7-0 in opposition in June.

The zoning board approved the Wellington South package after developers offered concessions to

Council Supports Outdoor Seating At RPB

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved a request that would allow outdoor seating at a local brewery, along with several additions to the village’s growing Art in Public Places program on Thursday, Aug. 17.

Royal Palm Brewing Company asked for permanent approval for outdoor seating and an expansion at its brewery and restaurant at 543 N. State Road 7, Suite 103, in the Commons at Royal Palm Shopping Plaza.

To do so, the village needed to increase the size limitation from 5,000 to 6,000 square feet for microbreweries, and also eliminate a prohibition on outdoor seating adjacent to residential zoning districts. Instead, outdoor seating could be granted by the village’s variance process.

Brewery

George, Pamela and Geof Shetka, owners of Royal Palm Brewing, gave a presentation on the history and importance of granting the request.

“We are Royal Palm Beach’s first and only international awardwinning brewery, bringing state and national recognition to our village,” Pamela Shetka said. “We celebrated our fifth anniversary in March 2023, and we continue to support our community in various ways, including this month’s Palm Beach County Back-to-School Food Drive.”

The company had outdoor seating from June 12, 2020, until March 21, 2022, due to special pandemic regulations. The owners found this adjustment allowed them to survive during those hard times, and cited how the extra space provides health benefits for

See BREWERY, page 4

CAFCI MEMBERSHIP

APPRECIATION NIGHT

reduce density. That started with reducing 442 residential units to 391 in the Wellington Country Place Planned Unit Development area, with committee recommendations for 137 fewer units and creating more small farm lots.

Pickleball courts, which some neighbors said could create a noisy nuisance for nearby stabled horses, have been dropped, a developer representative said.

The Wellington South area consists of more than 269 acres near South Shore Blvd. and Lake Worth Road, east of Gene Mische Way.

The Wellington North project sits near South Shore Blvd. and Pierson Road, with development plans involving more than 100 acres. Plans would reclassify 96 acres now designated as part of the Equestrian Preserve Area, opening it up to denser development.

The Wellington South plan

See PZA BOARD, page 14

Indian Trail Board Supports New District Millings Policy

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

It looks like the dust finally may be settling over the Indian Trail Improvement District’s road millings policy.

Trent Frazier’s Pro

Hoops Journey Takes

Him To Play In Russia

Longtime Wellington resident and basketball standout Trent Frazier is fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing professional basketball. But it’s not in the National Basketball Association — at least not yet. Page 21

The ITID Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Wednesday, Aug. 16 to revamp the policy. They also gave at least a three-year paving reprieve to residents of 94th Street North following emotional pleas centered around retaining the dirt road’s rural ambiance.

“We need a policy that is followed and is clear and consistent,”

Supervisor Keith Jordano said.

ITID Vice President Betty Argue agreed. “We need to be able to definitely say to residents who bring in a petition that, yes, it qualifies and, yes, it’s getting done within this fiscal year,” she said.

Under the new policy developed by ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson and district

staff, residents of a dirt road with a 50-percent-plus-one petition asking for millings will no longer have to wait in line to be one of the first five petitioners at the ITID offices on the first business day of the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Instead, residents will have five business days to present their petition at ITID’s offices at 13476 61st Street North. All qualified petitions will be accepted, and the five streets to be guaranteed millings in that fiscal year will be selected through a blind lottery. Residents would not have to pay $500 up front to participate in the lottery, but those selected for millings would be charged.

Once the petition is accepted and the road is selected for millings, there is no mechanism for backing out, Hanson said recently.

Meanwhile, residents of dirt roads selected through the district’s block formula — that is,

selecting multiple roads in a specific area for millings — will be notified through the mail and via door and gate hangers. If any property owner on that road objects to millings, ITID staff will contact all property owners on the road to determine the wishes of the majority. Precautions will be taken to ensure that the responses are legitimate, Hanson said.

If residents vote down millings for a particular road, it cannot be added back into the block plan for three years.

At present, the policy applies only to quarter-mile and half-mile roads, but a revision to the policy to include all the district’s dirt roads is scheduled to come back before the supervisors at their Wednesday, Sept. 20 meeting.

However, some residents, including former ITID Supervisor Christopher Karch, suggested they

See MILLINGS, page 7

as dominoes, a DJ and more. Shown above are Genieve White, Lavern Blackwood, Millicent Peccoo, Pauline Ivey, Joan Williams and Joan Wiener.

Lox Council Gets Groves Town Center Progress Update

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council released the developers of Groves Town Center from a nearly 20-year-old restrictive covenant Tuesday, Aug. 15, agreeing with town staff and the developer that the project’s 23-acre existing conservation easement satisfies the earlier agreement with Palm Beach County.

Also that evening, the council held an informal workshop session with Diane Jenkins of Jenkins Realty, representing Groves Town Center, during which Jenkins updated the council on several businesses she is in negotiations with regarding the nearly 90-acre site, including a top-branded hotel, a small animal veterinarian and a Florida company looking to

develop indoor pickleball courts. During the regular meeting, the council approved the termination of the 2005 restrictive covenant, which predates the town’s incorporation. The covenant transferred to the town upon incorporation. The town held a restrictive covenant over 3.1 acres within the Groves Town Center property for quality native vegetation. It was originally granted by Sundar Heeraman, previous owner of the property, to Palm Beach County in 2005. At that time, Heeraman was using the land for agricultural purposes and promised that should that use ever end, to either set aside the 3.1 acres or make a cash payment to the county’s natural areas endowment fund.

Since that time, the land was

See LOX COUNCIL, page 14

Employees Move Into New Royal Palm Village Hall

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

After years of careful planning, the completely new Royal Palm Beach Village Hall opened this month, and employees have spent the past two weeks settling into their new surroundings.

The first day of operations at the new building was Monday, Aug. 14, and Village Manager Ray Liggins said that the process went as efficiently as can be expected.

“I think it went really smoothly,” he told the Town-Crier . “We closed down on Friday, Aug. 11, and everyone was responsible for packing their own boxes. The movers came in on Friday morning and were done by 3 p.m. By the end of the day Monday, we looked pretty much moved in.”

The new 25,000-square-foot, two-story building replaces a structure that dates back to 1977,

although it was previously renovated and enlarged several times.

The new building is built to hurricane-rated standards and is nearly twice the size of the old building.

“Everyone is generally pleased with the new facility,” Liggins said. “Everything is new and fresh. There is one lobby, not two lobbies, where people have to go back outside to go it. Everyone likes that. There’s more logic to where people go. We worked with all the employees from the very beginning so we could accommodate everyone’s concerns or requests. It was important that we get it right.”

In the new space, access to village departments surround a large open space, with offices and meeting rooms for staff on the second floor. At the far end of the atrium is the new council chambers.

“The plan is that for the Sept.

Members and friends gathered for CAFCI Member Appreciation Night on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Strathmore Gate West Clubhouse in Royal Palm Beach. The event had a garden party theme and included a meeting, the history of CAFCI, a buffet dinner, table games such

MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 13

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

18 at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of

Fun activities like bounce houses and water slides were set up for the club children. HCA Florida Palms West Hospital donated hotdogs and hamburgers, while volunteers made popcorn, sno-cones and cotton candy. Shown above are club advisory board members Mickey Smith, Lidy Mata, Sonali Mendiratta, Shelley Albritton, Jason Kimbrell, chair Marcella Montesinos and Rob D’Angelo. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 8

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

ITID Board Backs Off On Letter Opposing Planned OHV Park

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

A letter to the Palm Beach County Commission opposing a proposed off-highway vehicle (OHV) park and campground in The Acreage was pulled at the Wednesday, Aug. 16 meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

The supervisors voted 4-1 against sending the letter that ITID Vice President Betty Argue had pressed for at the July meeting. Instead, they placed Supervisor Elizabeth Accomando in the role of factfinder and liaison to District 6 County Commissioner Sara Baxter related to the issue — much to Argue’s consternation.

“It should not be in our community at all,” Argue said. “So, negotiating and getting details, we shouldn’t care. We should care

about the impact on the district infrastructure, which is roads and drainage.”

The property in question is a 200-acre parcel in the sprawling Indian Trails Grove area owned by GL Homes in the northwest section of ITID.

GL Homes held permits to build 3,897 homes, 300,000 square feet of commercial space and 50,000 square feet of office space on the property. But under a land swap tentatively agreed to by the county commission, the number of units will be reduced to 2,612, commercial development will be limited to 200,000 square feet and office space to 33,500 square feet.

Lands dedicated for agricultural and water resources are to be increased by 980 acres, and publicly dedicated land will be increased from 640 acres to more than 1,600

acres. A 740-acre water storage area featuring three pump stations will be constructed by GL Homes.

For Acreage residents, the changes could mean some 13,000 fewer daily vehicle trips on the area’s already overstressed roads, local officials have said.

In return, the developer gets the right to build a 1,000-unit adult community on 477 acres of the 681-acre Hyder West property in the Ag Reserve off State Road 7 just north of the Stonebridge Country Club. At the same time, the company would build 277 workforce housing units on 104 acres of the property. As part of the deal, Baxter got GL Homes to agree to build an OHV park and campground at Indian Trails Grove.

Baxter said this week that she plans to hold a town hall meeting

on the issue when more details are worked out. No date has been set.

“Most of the feedback I’ve gotten is that people in the area love the idea of an [OHV] park going there,” she said. “The community wants it there without it causing any nuisances.”

In fact, Baxter said she believes the park would help reduce the unlawful and dangerous use of OHVs on ITID roads by creating a safe and legal place for riders to enjoy their vehicles.

Critics have suggested that it is doubtful local riders will pay to use the park and that it will draw traffic from all over South Florida onto the area’s already congested roads.

Tentative plans for the park would include 80 overnight recreational vehicle parking slots, plus areas for tent camping, Baxter said, noting that the site plan

Village Of Wellington Hosts Successful Community Partners Roundtable Event

The Village of Wellington hosted its much-anticipated Community Partners Roundtable on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The event took place in the Grande Ballroom at the Wellington Community Center, providing a collaborative platform for various community members to come together and discuss shared goals and initiatives.

The Community Partners Roundtable served as an opportunity to foster connections, share insights and develop strategies that will have a positive impact on the local community. Representatives from a diverse range of organizations were in attendance, each bringing their unique perspectives to the table.

The group engaged in meaningful discussions, exploring avenues for collaboration and partnership that will further enhance the well-being of the community. The roundtable showcased the collective dedication of these organizations to working together to create a stronger, more vibrant Wellington.

“The Village of Wellington is honored to have brought together such an incredible array of community partners,” Wellington Community Services Director Paulette Edwards said. “This event marks a significant step toward

building a unified vision for the future of our village, one where collaboration and mutual support lead to lasting positive change.”

The roundtable was deemed a resounding success, setting the stage for continued engagement and collective efforts that will shape Wellington’s future.

Some of the community partners who RSVPed to the event include: Lisa Noel of the American Cancer Society; Monica Kallas of Around Wellington; Maggie Zeller of Back to Basics; Latricia Jenkins of the Boys & Girls Club;

A New

calls for noise mitigation efforts to minimize the impact on the nearby Santa Rosa Groves, Tall Pines and Sunny Urban Meadows neighborhoods.

The board’s strong support of the GL Homes swap was based on the idea that it would help cut traffic from the development, Argue said, but “with the [OHV] park thrown in at the last minute — that’s a contradiction of why we supported GL.”

Argue said that any money being spent by GL to create the park could be better used building out the water storage area that the company promised.

“That’s what it always should have been, and [Baxter] should be supporting that,” she said.

Accomando, a Santa Rosa Groves resident, said she does not believe that the Indian Trails

Grove location is the right one for an OHV park but that the board sometimes is too quick to fire off letters of opposition.

“Just saying ‘no’ does not always work,” she said, noting that the county commission has the final say regarding the park. “I think our relationship with the county is critical… It is better and more appropriate to work with the county so that we have a seat at the table.”

Otherwise, Accomando told her fellow supervisors, ITID residents “are going to get something shoved down our throats that we don’t like.”

In other business:

• The supervisors expressed frustration with a lack of success in getting ITID items through the Florida Legislature.

“All of the right things are there,

Debra Jackson, Marcia Hayden and Alma Henry of the Crowned Pearls; Deborah Feinsinger of Digital Vibez; Maria Antuña of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Susan Foley of the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition; Amanda Vomero of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue; Roy Gonzalez, Nichole Addazio, Robert Humphrey, Matthew DeJoy, Casey Lussier, Jen Baker and Harold Harper of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office; Brianna Perissien of Premier Health; Cory Britt of St. Peter’s United Method-

ist Church; Donna McDermont of St. Rita Catholic Church; Vicki Ward and Rabbi Andrew Rosenkranz of Temple Beth Torah; Dawn Rivera of the Wellington Community Foundation; Gemma Ford and Tracey Kouf of Wellington High

Prostatic Hyperplasia

If you are a male over the age of 45, and suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), there is a new treatment option for you.

BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. There are a variety of treatments — from medication to major surgery — but, until recently, the choices lacked a less-invasive option. Now there is the UroLift® device, which is inserted through the urethra and holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way, so it no longer blocks urine flow. Patients typically can return home the same day without a catheter, and experience rapid symptom relief and recovery with low complication rates.

Community Services Program Coordinator Ian Williams addresses the gathering.

PHOTOS COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON

School; Sue Bierer of the Wellington Historical Society; Pamela Rada of Wellington Regional Medical Center; and Donald Gross and Walter Imperatore of the Wellington Rotary. For information

New Affordable Housing Panel Discusses How To Use State Aid

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

A $711 million state plan offers new money and rules changes to promote affordable housing, but how much of it applies in the pricey confines of Wellington has been the focus of a recently created advisory panel in the village. Local efforts so far largely concentrate on grants to rehabilitate existing homes that are relatively less expensive, as opposed to proposals to build new residences, the village’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee heard at a meeting Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The panel approved changes in village guidelines in an effort to align with requirements in SB 102, the Live Local Act, signed into law in March. Oversight by such a committee is one of the requirements to tap the latest stream of state money.

The state plan roughly doubled funding for certain housing and

rental assistance programs, bumping up to about $700,000 annually the relevant money available to Wellington.

The bill also provides incentives for investment in new residences priced for working families through things like tax breaks and speeding up permitting. At the same time, some provisions weaken the say of local governments in matters such as rent control.

But Wellington staff had no plans for new construction projects featuring affordable housing to talk about before the committee at this stage.

“Aside from dollars that would be available to homeowners if they qualify, are we addressing anything else that provides incentives to developers?” Committee Member John Greene asked.

“Because there’s a lot of things that go along with that bill, in terms of zoning, expediting applications and what not. Are we

addressing any of those issues as part of that bill?”

Village Planner Christian Santa-Gonzalez said there is a “possibility” to add such elements going forward, perhaps involving a developer building affordable housing.

“From what the community needs are and what we have surveyed, it is mostly rehab,” he said, referring to grants to renovate less-expensive homes. Such programs can offer assistance for replacing roofs, air conditioning and other features of a qualifying home, Santa-Gonzalez said.

The state bill represents the latest of many attempts, under various names and programs, to make homes more affordable to own or rent for people like teachers, firefighters and police officers. Home prices have soared in Wellington, falling back only slightly in the dips between booms, making liv-

ing in the village challenging for many with middle-class or lower incomes.

The median home sales price in Wellington hit $675,000 as of July, up 8 percent from a year earlier, according to Rocket Homes Real Estate.

At least two developer proposals for 10 acres near the Mall at Wellington Green mention workforce housing, though such plans remain in the very early stages.

Committee Member John Bowers, who also sits on the village’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board, noted that desires for affordable housing can run into objections from neighbors about greater density and traffic.

In addition, such projects can be tricky to oversee. In recent years, some workforce housing plans in Palm Beach County have been accused of overcharging residents in violation of government requirements.

Wellington’s committee approved revisions to a Local Housing Assistance Plan, adding disaster repair among the ways to help qualifying homeowners.

Awards are projected to include up to $50,000 for owner-occupied rehabilitation and $15,000 for emergency repairs, an increase from previous limits.

Such a local plan is required for village eligibility to receive State Housing Initiative Program funding, estimated at about $414,000 for Wellington in the coming year, according to available records.

Even as the village program expands in some ways, it no longer takes applications for rental assistance or offers to help with security and utility deposits, as ratified by the committee Aug 9.

Committee Member Juan Pagan questioned the wisdom of dropping such assistance. “Not everyone in Wellington has a deep pocket,” he said.

But Santa-Gonzalez said that the village actually has seen few qualified applicants in those categories, as residents often exceed financial and income limits that govern such aid.

People who do not qualify but need help can sometimes be referred to other government or community programs for assistance, staff members said. In other action, the committee discussed applications for $50,000 for improvements to Field of Dreams Park and $200,000 for three new courts at the Wellington Tennis Center, administered by the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program. Queried about why this was part of an affordable housing agenda, staff members said the recreation grant applications had to appear before an advisory committee, and this was the first one meeting quickly enough to meet a deadline.

RPB Zoners Reject Site Plan And Waivers For CarMax Expansion

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report

CarMax is the nation’s largest used car dealership, with 240 locations across the nation. In Royal Palm Beach, the CarMax location at 10501 Southern Blvd. is having some growing pains after an effort to expand the facility’s staging area and add an auction building were rejected by the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday, Aug. 14. There were two items on the agenda related to the CarMax expansion — two important landscape waivers and a site plan mod-

ification. Both were rejected on 3-2 votes after extensive presentations by village staff and CarMax representatives.

The landscape waivers were bundled into one application. Instead of single and double terminal islands with trees planted in the large parking lot used as a staging area, CarMax representatives proposed putting the trees elsewhere on the property. “It actually results in more landscaping. It’s about 3,500 square feet of additional landscaping that we’re providing through this site,” said attorney Christina Bilenki

of the land planning firm Dunay, Miskel and Backman, representing CarMax. “Other dealerships are providing wire fencing, some shrubs, maybe the odd tree — you can look right in there and see a parking lot. We’re not trying to skirt the landscaping requirements here. We are trying to make it really attractive, as well as meet the operational needs of CarMax.”

The proposal includes 421 trees instead of the 160 required by village code, but many of those are planted due to previous mitigation requirements.

“Staff is not in support of this

waiver request because we believe there are multiple other car dealerships with similar circumstances that have provided these landscape terminal islands,” said Josue Leger, a senior planner for the village.

Leger went on to explain that the code does not distinguish between patrons and staff, so even though presenters insisted the area would only be accessed by trained CarMax staff, the lack of striping and islands presented a safety hazard for operating vehicles.

A motion to deny the landscape waivers passed 3-2. Vice Chair Philip Marquis, Commissioner

David Leland and Alternate Kamar Williams voted to deny the request, while Alternate Kara Dery and Commissioner Lauren McClellan supported the waivers. Dery stated her belief that this situation posed an undue hardship on the operation but did not sway the others.

The site plan modification and architectural approval for CarMax’s second phase of development for the site was contingent upon support for the waivers, so the request to allow construction of an auction building was also denied by a vote of 3-2, with the panel voting the same as before.

“My suggestion would be that you work these differences out with staff, because the biggest issue here, again with me, is that we do not want concrete jungles,” Leland said. “Just because you have a junkyard and you put a big fence around it, it still makes it a junkyard. So, I think that’s a bigger concern of the commissioners.”

The team working with CarMax said they will look into other options for making the staging area safer, such as striping or differentiating materials (i.e. asphalt and concrete) for the surface to better delineate rights of way.

Lox Groves Council Nears Vote On Spending Plan For Next Year

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

The Town of Loxahatchee

Groves will need to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year next month, but what exactly it will contain is still up for consideration.

After a number of budget workshops over the past month, with the most recent held Wednesday, Aug. 23, Loxahatchee Groves Town Council members have attempted to hammer out a consensus.

The revenue end is expected to pretty much follow the truth-inmillage (TRIM) rates passed by the council in June. That set the ad valorem property tax rate at 3.0 mills, while the assessment rate for drainage and roads will be $200 per unit, and the assessment rate for solid waste collection was set at $400 per unit. Those numbers are unchanged from the current year, although rising property values means that some residents will pay more.

The rate for solid waste collec-

Brewery Outdoor Seating And Expansion

continued from page 1 patrons, in addition to the revenue for the business.

Councilman Jeff Hmara and Vice Mayor Jan Rodusky voiced support for the request, while Councilwoman Selena Samios was concerned about the noise in the nearby Bella Terra neighborhood, and also why the business didn’t move to a larger space when the opportunity came.

Shetka replied they had no written complaints and Bella Terra’s support. The issues with moving all came down to timing, and they were unable to take advantage of empty spaces, such as the vacant former Friendly’s building, due to code restrictions.

Village Manager Ray Liggins noted that modern microbreweries do not come with the odors, smells and big trucks that people associated with breweries in the past.

“The breweries have changed, and added the service part, and took it out of industrial and into commercial zones,” Liggins said. “They have proven to us in five years that they can co-exist in the commercial zone without offensive smells and trucks being significant.”

Samios was not swayed. She

tion is largely determined by the town’s contract with its trash collection vendor, but the council has a history of using other revenue to reduce the cost to residents. Last year, it was lowered from $450 to $400. While Vice Mayor Robert Shorr made a pitch at the two-hour Aug. 23 workshop to further lower that to $350 this year, the rest of the council did not seem inclined to do so.

“In a year where we had a windfall, we should be giving something back to the residents, even if it is just $50 per can,” Shorr said. “I think we should bring that down to $350.”

Town Manager Francine Ramaglia said that it will cost approximately $78,000 to do that and would likely come out of the franchise fee paid by the solid waste vendor, which would otherwise be earmarked for road work.

“I love the idea of giving something back to the residents,” Mayor Laura Danowski said, but she did

dissented in the 4-1 vote for approval.

Mayor Fred Pinto said that using the variance process will make sure that the current request doesn’t lead to problems in other areas.

“The whole concept of a local elected body having the ability to put in controls to protect our citizens, it’s one of the key functions that we serve, but part of doing that is we have to be practical and have a mechanism in place to address situations that come up that weren’t planned,” Pinto said.

“We hate dealing with variances, but as an elected body, that’s one of our responsibilities. It gives us the opportunity to look at things on a case-by-case basis. Because we provided a variance to one establishment, doesn’t mean the next one is going to get the same thing.”

Also at the meeting, the Royal Palm Beach Public Art Professional Mario Lopez Pisani presented a request for the work of Wenqin Chen to be placed at 11601 Okeechobee Blvd. in the Crossroads shopping center, where the recent Publix retrofit triggered the requirement to add a piece of public art. The piece is part of a series called, “Life Continues in Space,” and the stainless-steel sculpture is titled “Growing #3.”

“The pieces are named by the artist to convey an eternal movement of substance in space. Basically, the sculpture’s shape records that movement in time, and his theory is that the human view of time and space is that when substance

not think it would be financially prudent.

Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia agreed. “We have to get our town fixed first,” she said.

Next year’s budget is projected to spend approximately $4.2 million in the general fund, with approximately $2.2 million to be spent on capital projects. That’s down from last year, which was bolstered by more federal money coming in from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Approximately five miles of road paving will take up a large chunk of the money in the capital projects budget, but exactly which roads will be included has not yet been finalized.

At the Aug. 23 workshop, the council looked at three possible lists of road options prepared by Ramaglia. The third option garnered a great deal of interest, since it provides for more roads to get done, but classifies some as “neighborhood roads” with a

arises, space also arises. So, as substance moves, time is then the movement of the substance. Please do not ask me to explain that,” said attorney Janna Lhota of Holland and Knight, representing the developer. “Upon approval, we will get actual renderings, drawings from the artist of the piece, and we will show that to the village. Once those drawings are approved, we pay 100 percent of the cost.” Fabrication of the structure will take at least two months. The intent is for the artwork to be installed in January 2024. The open, figure-eight sculpture is 11 feet, 5 inches tall with a base of 18 inches, but goes into the ground several feet for stability. The council approved the request unanimously.

The new Royal Palm Beach Village Hall building also triggered the need for a piece of public art. At the meeting, the council chose an artist based on the open call for the village’s own public art commission. The applicants were all rated, with local artists receiving a higher ranking. The top three artists were Beth Nybeck of Kansas City, Owen Morrel of Coral Gables and Vito Di Bari of Miami. The council chose to begin working with Beth Nybeck, who also had the highest rating from staff.

In other business:

• The council granted a special exception approval for a new licensed massage therapy business at 675 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., part of the Royal Inn complex. The former nail salon location will

lower level of service, thinner at 15 feet, without striping.

“I think that gives us a bigger bang for our buck,” Shorr said. “It saves us money.”

But Councilwoman Marianne Miles was concerned about the thinner roads. “When you move over, the road is going to break, just as when we had the OGEM,” she said, suggesting gathering input from the residents on those roads.

However, other council members said that would just slow the process down.

“I think we are doing a little too much micro-managing,” Maniglia said. “We should just have staff come to us with an option and vote. We are spending a lot of time on this instead of moving on.”

Danowski said that she was looking for as many “low-hanging fruits,” to do as many easy roads as possible to make the most impact.

“It is very hard to look at lists of roads and choose between option 1 and option 2,” she added.

be updated by Lilibeth Leon, and instead offer massage and facials available by appointment only, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. While it is located near the Royal Inn, services will only be provided in that specific bay, and not in hotel rooms.

• Despite a lengthy consent agenda, the only items pulled for discussion involved the development of Crestwood North Park. The items amended the budget for the park by transferring $2.7 million into the fund for the park and set in motion the contract with Waypoint Contracting.

Before unanimous votes to approve these items, Samios asked for details on the changes to the park, since such a significant amount of funding was involved.

“We put a million-dollar placeholder to go after grants, and initially, when we applied, it started with basically a pavilion, playscape, basketball court and open fields,” Village Engineer Chris Marsh said. “As the project evolved, we brought on a designer. Parks & Recreation looked at the programs that we needed within the area, like pickleball, tennis and lighting the courts. By adding those facilities, we needed a little bit more parking.”

The site plan includes a reduction of around $600,000 from the original plan, because of the construction costs being particularly high at this point. With a seawall in place, plans also call for better accessibility by adding a walkway

Shorr agreed. “Every conversion of dirt to asphalt gets us closer and closer to not having that upkeep cost,” he said.

Ramaglia said that she will take all the input into consideration and put forward a final road list for approval.

Also at the workshop, the council heard an update from Anita Kane, chair of the town’s Finance Advisory and Audit Committee, which discussed the budget at a meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 16. She noted that town’s reserves are where they need to be at 25 percent.

Kane suggested a 5 percent costof-living adjustment (COLA) for staff. The COLA was 8 percent last year, and the 5 percent, while generous by historical standards, is lower than the county’s average inflation rate over the past year.

The FAAC did not support lowering the tax rate or any of the assessments. In fact, Kane said, the town may need to look at raising

its drainage assessment in the 2025 budget due to rising costs. She noted that both Wellington and the Indian Trail Improvement District raised their drainage assessments this year.

Ramaglia noted that funding capital projects will get more challenging in years to come. “We have tremendous backlog in our capital projects,” she said.

The town has taken in millions of dollars a year in recent years due to windfalls of money from ARPA and the countywide sales surtax. Both of those funding sources are slated to end.

Ramaglia noted that the state rural designation that she is working on with the town’s lobbyists is very important, since it will help with cash flow, open up new potential sources of state revenue and also eliminate the need for matching funds in many cases.

The town’s two required official budget hearings are set for Tuesday, Sept. 5 and Tuesday, Sept. 19.

with railings. After a discussion with the surrounding neighborhoods, some royal palm trees were also added in lieu of the originally planned oak trees.

• The council recognized the Royal Palm Beach 14U All-Star softball team for their recent achievements of winning both the Babe Ruth State Championship and Babe Ruth World Series Championship. “It is our express honor and privilege to be able to recognize tonight the girls 14U softball team. I want to tell you words alone cannot express how proud we are of you and how well you have represented the Village of Royal Palm Beach,” Pinto said. “I’m sure everywhere you played, you showed your ability not only to compete, but to compete and come out victorious. You showed

the world what Royal Palm Beach is really all about.”

• The property at 200 Royal Palm Beach Blvd., vacated by the Western Academy Charter School last year when that school moved to a new location, was approved as the new home of a public charter school designed specifically to serve children with autism. The Learning Center accepts students in pre-K through eighth grade currently and hopes to expand to other grades.

• The former village property purchased by Paint Lux at 6846 Seminole Palms Drive received a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment to change the land use from open space to industrial. This falls in line with the original intent of the village when the remnant space was sold last year.

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council recognized the world champion RPB 14U All-Star softball team on Thursday, Aug. 17.

PHOTO COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH

Village Hall Open For Business

continued from page 1 21 meeting, we should be doing it in the new council chambers,”

Liggins said. “There’s about two weeks of work still to do there.”

Just because the staff is in the new building doesn’t mean the work is done. The focus now shifts to the outside campus area.

“The area where the old building is will be torn down, and

that area in the front will be rebuilt with parking and a reflective fountain. That will take six months,” Liggins said. “Then, we will convert the old council chambers into a rental space for about 75 people.”

While the village staff is still

working on a few odds and ends when it comes to computers and data in the old building, the demolition will begin soon.

“We wrote the contract that we had a month to move in,” Liggins explained. “The plan is that they will start taking it down about the

middle of September.”

Still to come with the new building is a post office annex.

“The post office still needs to build out their area and move in,” Liggins noted.

Liggins is excited that this im-

portant upgrade to village services is nearing completion.

“When the whole site is done, with the front parking area, and the new rental space, I think it will be a campus that the residents should be very proud of,” he said.

Innovation in Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

If lung cancer is found at an earlier stage, it is more likely to be treated successfully. Delray Medical Center is proud to announce the launch of its Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy Program, bringing some of the latest technology to the forefront of lung cancer care. The innovative Ion robotic platform allows for improved access to hard-to-reach areas of the lung, enabling physicians to navigate the intricate anatomy of the lungs with precision, facilitating earlier detection and minimally invasive treatments.

If you are a current or former smoker, aged 55 or older, it may be time to get your lungs screened for cancer.

A look at the second-floor atrium.

The office of Village Manager Ray Liggins.

The main entrance to the new Royal Palm Beach Village Hall.

A look at the new Royal Palm Beach Village Council chambers. Accounts Payable Clerk Stephanie Wulff at her desk.

Administrative Assistant Robin Cronk of the Clerk’s Office.

Winston Blake of the Engineering Department and Senior Administrative Assistant Stephanie Langston in the break room.

Information Systems Director Marina Quintero, Senior Administrative Assistant Jacqueline Davy and Engineering Assistant Hunner Gensbugel enjoy lunch in the break room.

Permit Technician Josephine Melnick assists Maria and Fernando Chapman in obtaining a permit. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

If you’re a younger or middle-aged adult bothered by hip pain, your first thought is likely not about hip surgery – but you may need it. Many young, athletic people are having hip surgery after finding out that a deep cartilage tear is causing their mysterious, nagging pain.

Cleveland Clinic Florida sports medicine specialist

Evan Peck, MD, who sees patients in West Palm Beach and Coral Springs, answers questions about identifying and treating painful labral tears.

Q: What is a labral tear?

A: It is a tear in the ring of cartilage (labrum) in your hip that cushions and seals the joint.

Q: What causes it?

A: Trauma (from a car accident, for instance) can cause a labral tear. But it’s seen more frequently among athletes whose activities flex the hip while twisting – including yoga and Pilates. A variation of normal anatomy can cause a labral tear, as well. Often this is hip impingement, where the shape of the hip causes abnormal contact between the ball and socket of the joint. The most common root cause of a labral tear is onset over time due to physical activity combined with a bony abnormality.

Q: Are certain groups more likely to have a labral tear?

A: Women are about twice as likely to experience a labral tear, and it often happens in younger, active patients.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: Many people can have a tear and not have any symptoms at all. If you do notice a symptom, though, it’s typically pain deep in the hip joint that doesn’t get worse when you push on the area. It often comes with certain activities (movement in a particular direction, for instance).

Q: How do doctors diagnose a labral tear?

A: We can get most of the information we need from a health history, examination and a good set of X-rays. An MRI is often needed in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Q: What are the treatment options?

A: There are a few conservative treatments for a labral tear, which are typically attempted for three to six months to try to alleviate the pain.

These options include:

• Taking a break from activities that cause the pain

• Using anti-inflammatory medication

• Receiving a guided injection of cortisone into the hip joint

• Using physical therapy which unloads some of the pressure from the hip joint

• Modifying activities to a lower, less painful level

Q: What if conservative treatment doesn’t help?

A: If these things aren’t working, we can do an MRI to get a better idea of the pathology of the injury. This shows whether there is cartilage damage, arthritis in the joint or injury to other muscles that might cause problems. Depending on how severe the symptoms are, your doctor might recommend surgery to fix it.

If you are having hip pain deep in the joint that lasts for more than a month and occurs with particular movements, check with your doctor to see if you might have a labral tear. The sooner you pinpoint and address the problem, the sooner you can get back to your normal activities with less pain.

Wellington Cares Presents Visionary Approach For Continued Senior Support To Foundation

The Wellington Community Foundation hosted a presentation by representatives of the nonprofit Wellington Cares on Monday, Aug. 7.

The presentation by Director of Operations Diane Gutman and Board Member Marge Sullivan shed light on the organization’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for seniors who choose to age in

their own homes. Teaming up with the Wellington Community Foundation since its inception, the foundation has voted to continue to fund essential items to assist Wellington Cares in providing this much-needed support to Wellington seniors in need.

Founded in 2012 by Kathy Foster, Wellington Cares has been a beacon of hope for seniors in need, offering assistance and compan-

ionship that allow them to remain independent. The organization’s mission revolves around providing services to individuals aged 65 and above, who often find themselves unable to afford assisted living facilities or in-home help and lack close family support.

Central to the organization’s success are its 51 dedicated volunteers, whose average age is 67. These selfless individuals gener-

ously donate their time, expertise and even gas expenses to support their fellow seniors. With a participant base averaging 82 years of age, Wellington Cares volunteers provide more than 850 hours of service and travel more than 4,000 miles per quarter. The organization’s offerings include transportation services, companionship, social visits, respite companionship, hospitality calls, and even assistance with home maintenance and food pantry needs.

Wellington Cares’ unique approach has resulted in more than just immediate support; it has fostered a sense of purpose and belonging for both participants and volunteers. The presentation highlighted the expansion of services to include the Royal Palm Beach community, benefiting 122 participants across the regions. Moreover, the organization has been instrumental in addressing social isolation through community partnerships, caregiver support groups, and engaging initiatives such as birthday floral arrangements and holiday meal distribution. The forward-looking strategies

unveiled during the presentation showcased the organization’s dedication to continuous improvement.

Over the next year, Wellington Cares plans to focus on combatting social isolation by investing in games, crafts and puzzles for the Social Visit and Respite Companion programs. Additionally, the organization aims to scale its efforts to meet the rising demand for food pantry assistance and expand the Lite Home Maintenance program to aid participants with essential repairs.

“We are deeply committed to our mission of supporting seniors to age with dignity and independence. Our future goals align with

Wellington Vice Mayor Michael Napoleone Launches Campaign For Mayor Of Wellington

Wellington Vice Mayor Michael Napoleone has officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Wellington. On Tuesday, Aug. 2, Napoleone filed paperwork to become an official candidate. The election will be held Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

“I’m running for mayor to continue serving the community I love. Wellington is on the right track, and we must make sure we continue to address resident priorities and concerns,” Napoleone said. “During my time on the council, I have made public safety a priority, voted to keep taxes low, and supported long-term investment in our parks, public schools and roadways. Wellington is a great hometown, and we need to continue to focus on what we do

Millings New Policy Approved

continued from page 1 wanted nothing to do with millings — also known as reclaimed asphalt pavement or RAP — because they assert it damages the environment.

“They’re a health hazard,” asserted Karch, who owns an engineering firm and has lived in The Acreage since 1987. Later, he said, “Millings break apart. They get into the swale, then into the smaller canals, then into the larger canals, where they can leach into the groundwater… Protecting our drinking water is imperative.”

A better way of dealing with the district’s nearly 400 miles of dirt roads would be to “retrofit” them with a rock base that stabilizes the road and establishes the first step for traditional asphalt paving, if residents want it, Karch said.

Still, millings are a popular road covering that has lower maintenance cost than dirt roads

well — and then keep doing it better, so that future generations will want to call Wellington home.”

The mayor’s seat is open, due to incumbent Mayor Anne Gerwig being term limited. She is instead running for a state house seat.

As mayor, Napoleone will continue working to maintain Wellington’s unique charm and family-oriented character, while ensuring that it remains the premier community in Palm Beach County for years to come. He said that his eight years on the council has proven that he is the best candidate for the job.

From helping Wellington recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and keeping the village running seamlessly during hurricanes, to managing growth

and is much cheaper than traditional paving, according to ITID staff. About 90 million tons of RAP are used each year, Federal Highway Administration data shows. ITID crews put down about 20 miles of millings per year, and could do 50 percent more if funds were available, according to a recent staff report.

Hanson said recently that it is not financially feasible for the district to continue to maintain several hundred miles of dirt roads.

A report recently found that doing so would cost ITID more than $22 million over the next 10 years.

Despite changes to the petitions policy, Argue said the district’s overall policy on millings remains what it always has been.

“As long as it is financially feasible, we’re going to mill the roads, if residents want it,” she said.

As part of the same millings discussion, supervisors voted down a compromise plan to mill 94th Street North from Mandarin Blvd. east to the L Canal and leave it dirt from Mandarin west to 190th Street North. Residents

and protecting greenspace, Napoleone said that he is the only candidate with real, on-the-job experience to keep Wellington a top-rated community.

As vice mayor, Napoleone has been devoted to developing a long-range vision for Wellington that addresses resident concerns while looking toward the future needs of the community. He said that he believes resident input and a transparent and inclusive government are key to ensuring that decisions are made with the best interests of the community at the forefront.

Napoleone is an accomplished attorney with a strong passion for Wellington’s community. He was elected to the council in 2016. A longtime resident of Wellington,

of the road in the northwest part of The Acreage have been jousting for some time with mill and don’tmill petitions.

“There are going to be situations where we’re going to have to make decisions that are going to make some people happy and some not,” Supervisor Elizabeth Accomando said. “Some of those people are desperate to get that section [milled].”

However, it was the anti-milling contingent that came out in force and passionately spoke against milling any part of the two-milelong road.

Shelli Smiley, a professional equestrian who lives near the L Canal, said that keeping 94th Street North dirt is essential to her livelihood and the way of life she cherishes.

“I am the equestrian community [in The Acreage],” said Smiley, who has lived in the area since the 1980s and on 94th Street North since 1998. “I use that road. I ride my horses down that road… It’s how I maintain them to compete professionally.”

Despite changes to the petitions policy, ITID Vice President Betty Argue said the district’s overall policy on millings remains what it always has been. “As long as it is financially feasible, we’re going to mill the roads, if residents want it.”

Quarter Auction Event Sept. 18

A quarter auction to benefit Barbara Saldivar will be held Monday, Sept. 18 at Big Rocco’s Pizzeria & Tavern, located at 10479 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the auction starts at 7 p.m. Paddles are $2, and there will also be a gift basket raffle and a 50/50 raffle.

Saldivar has been battling colorectal cancer, the third most common form of cancer in the United States, for the past two years. She has endured several rounds of chemotherapy and has had numerous surgeries. The quarter auction will support her in her time of need. Bring a few rolls of quarters and join in the fun evening.

Benefit Magic Show Sept. 9

Eli the Brave’s Birthday Benefit Magic Show will be held Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Palm Beach Central High School auditorium at 8499 W. Forest Hill Blvd. It will be held on what would have been pediatric cancer patient Eli Paine’s eighth birthday weekend. Paine lost his battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pon-

NEWS BRIEFS

tine Glioma (DIPG), a malignant brain tumor, last September. September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and the goal of the event is to spread awareness and raise funds to help families currently battling this disease and to help fund research for a cure for DIPG. All proceeds will benefit the local pediatric cancer community. Doors open at 3 p.m., and the show starts at 4 p.m. featuring magician Peter Boie. Early bird pricing is available through Aug. 27 for $20 per ticket, or a family four-pack for $70. VIP tickets for $35 each include reserved seating with a meet-and-greet. Get tickets or make a donation at www.classy.org/event/eli-thebrave-magic-show/e494150.

PBCWUD Wins Prestigious Award

The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) has been recognized for its operational excellence and reliable wastewater services. PBCWUD received two honors from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the leading association for public wastewater

management in the United States.

The PBCWUD Western Region North Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved the prestigious Gold Award, signifying a momentous milestone as it ascends from its previous Silver Award status. PBCWUD also garnered a Gold Award for its Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility, renowned for maintaining impeccable permit compliance. For the most up-to-date information concerning the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department, visit www.pbcwater.com or follow @PBCWUD on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

St. Matthew Craft & Tag Sale

Vendors are wanted for St. Matthew Catholic Church’s 12th anniversary Giant Craft & Tag Sale, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The church is located at 6090 Hypoluxo Road, Lake Worth.

Starting now, participants can rent a 9-foot-by-17-foot parking space spot for $25, or two spaces for $40. All profits are yours to keep.

For more information, e-mail stmatthewsale@gmail.com or call the office at (561) 966-8878.

he and his wife Cyndi chose the village as the perfect place to start a family. Together they are raising two sons, Christopher and Luca, who both attended public schools in Wellington.

As a lawyer, Napoleone represents businesses and individuals in complex business, probate and real estate matters, and has a strong record of civic and professional leadership, including as past president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He actively serves on multiple boards and committees, including the executive boards of the Palm Beach County League of Cities and the Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency.

Napoleone is a past member of the executive board of the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach

She added that beyond her professional needs, there is a rural character to the place that a milled road would wreck. “This is my piece of the pie,” she said.

Smiley described walking barefoot across the road to fish in the canal and seeing deer, wild boar and even Florida panthers over her morning coffee while looking

ITID Board Lobbying Concerns

continued from page 3 yet nothing seems to be happening,” said Argue. “Maybe it’s time for a change [of lobbyists]. Maybe a fresh perspective to change it up might help.”

The district currently pays the Tallahassee lobbying firm of David Ramba & Associates $48,000 a year.

The board asked ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson to provide the names of several qualified alternative firms and request Ramba’s attendance at their Sept. 20 meeting.

Meanwhile, Hanson presented a list of four possible priorities that ITID might wish to push for during the 2024 legislative session.

They are: the M-0 Canal outfall appropriation of $500,000, which received legislative approval this year but was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis; the M-0

our core values, and we seek the community’s support to achieve these aspirations,” Gutman said. If you or a loved one can benefit from these programs, or to learn more about Wellington Cares and its programs and initiatives, visit www.wellingtoncares.org.

The Wellington Community Foundation is dedicated to partnering with programs such as these to continue its mission. The foundation is a charitable organization committed to benefiting Wellington’s seniors, children and veterans in need by supporting and improving their quality of life with the overall goal to help “build a stronger community.”

County, as well as past chair of both the Professionalism and Diversity committees of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and was creator and chair of its Leadership Academy for Young Lawyers. He helped develop the Florida Bar’s Benchmarks program, which promotes and teaches civics education, is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County (2022) and Leadership West Palm Beach (2005), and is an active and engaged parent with Cub Scout Pack 125.

Two council seats and the mayor’s seat are up for election next March. Candidates have until November to qualify for the ballot.

As of this week, Bob Margolis and Jay Webber have filed to run

out on the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area.

“I just want to live on my beautiful dirt road,” she said. “Please don’t take away my dream.”

Accomando said she was disappointed in the outcome, and especially the aggressive language directed at the pro-millings residents, whom she suggested were

Canal west spoil mound mitigation of $250,000; equestrian trail motorist education and signage of $10,000; and the expansion of property rights protection for small hobby farms and other agricultural uses that are not large-scale agricommercial businesses.

The supervisors voted 5-0 to accept the list, with the equestrian trail request upped to $25,000.

“I’m tired of us groveling,” Argue said. “I’m tired of the district not getting our fair share. I’m tired of Tallahassee in general.”

• Hanson reported that county traffic officials may be open to the so-called “traffic inconvenience plan” that would create a number of one-way streets in an effort to curtail cut-through traffic between Northlake Blvd. and 60th Street North, especially along 120th Avenue North. Hanson said he plans to set up a meeting with homeowners in the area to discuss what he called a “pilot program.”

“It’s certainly going to be an inconvenience for those residents,

for Seat 1, being vacated by Councilman Michael Drahos. Shelly Albright has filed to run for Seat 4, being vacated by Napoleone. While Napoleone and Kesnel Theus have filed to run for mayor.

intimidated into staying home and not participating further in the debate.

“I’m saddened by some of the incidents that have occurred,” she said. “I’ve been guilty of being overly passionate at times, and I vow to do better… All [the fighting] is doing is creating divisiveness in the community.”

but it also may cut down on the cut-through traffic,” he said. In a related issue, Hanson said that a quick traffic study of 120th Avenue North showed the average speed of all traffic on the road is only 29 miles per hour. But on Friday and Saturday nights, it becomes “a drag strip” with some vehicles flying along the two-mile stretch of residential two-lane at speeds up to 114 miles per hour.

• Argue noted that the Western Equestrian Shows & Trails committee of the Acreage Landowners’ Association is planning a Halloween horse event tentatively set for Oct. 21. Riders are encouraged to dress in costume.

• The supervisors approved the purchase of one John Deere 620G Motor Grader ($282,791) and one John Deere 333G Skid Steer ($555,793); and the lease of one John Deere 620G Motor Grader ($72,834 per year for three years) and one John Deere 672GP Motor Grader ($101,193 per year for three years).

Senior Social Soirée To Be Held In Honor Of Local Senior Residents

A free Senior Social event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Wellington National Golf & Country Club for residents in the western communities. The event is free and open to all seniors 65 and older.

The Senior Social was created to help local senior citizens meet other individuals with common interests in the hopes of encouraging new connections and friendships.

“We saw a need for local seniors to make new friends and acquaintances,” said host Ryan M. Tarnow of McLaughlin & Stern. “Our seniors deserve a night to have a dinner party in their honor where they can mingle and have fun.”

The event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. In addition to dancing, dinner and drinks, guests will be treated to live entertainment.

“I have so many friends with parents who have moved from other states to be closer to their families,” said co-host Aimee Weisberger Stern, founder of the Mom’s Club of Wellington (PBC)

& All Across Florida. “Although my parents are no longer with us, I’ve met so many seniors who remind me of my mom and dad.

I’m confident that the seniors attending will meet new people they can connect and bond with.

Each table will be designated with a sign indicating a different hobby or activity, which will determine where guests will sit based on their interests.

“Rather than have assigned seating, guests can sit wherever they will feel most comfortable by common interests they have with other guests,” Tarnow explained.

Categories such as mahjong, golf, travel and dining are just a few of the tables that will be labeled for guests to be seated at.

“Not all of our seniors have been able to meet friends, especially those who are new to Florida,” Stern said. “Both Ryan and I are very family-oriented and wanted the best for our parents and inlaws. This is our way of helping connect local seniors.”

Community businesses will also be donating gifts to be given away in a raffle for the guests. Additionally, local residents will be volunteering their time to help make this event the best it can be.

Local leaders that oversee groups and programs for seniors will be in attendance. They will be on hand to introduce guests to fun activities that take place in the surrounding areas to help offer attendees more information on events they can attend on a more regular basis.

During the pandemic, programs had been on hold. Now that there are so many activities up and running for seniors, the goal is to make guests aware of all the options they have close to home.

“We are really looking forward to this event and hope our guests have a wonderful time,” Stern said.

“Our seniors deserve the best!” For more information, contact Aimee Weisberger Stern at (561) 504-1814.

Michael Napoleone

The Wellington Community Foundation board gathers to hear the Wellington Cares presentation.

(L-R) Barry Manning, Michael Gauger, Dr. Gordon Johnson, Jim Sackett, Maggie Zeller, Pam Tahan, Marge Sullivan, Diane Gutman, James Seder, Donald Gross and Robert Margolis.

KIDS ENJOY BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IN WELLINGTON

A back-to-school party was held Friday, Aug. 18 at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. Fun activities like bounce houses and water slides were set up for the club children. HCA Florida Palms West Hospital donated hotdogs and hamburgers, while volunteers made popcorn, sno-cones and cotton candy. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Nurturing

•

Hibiscus Drive, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-408-3466 littledinosacademy@gmail.com

www.tiktok.com/@littledinosacademy123

Mickey Smith adds ice to the sno-cone machine.

Jamie Huls, Laura Kaszer, Shelley Nesbitt and Mariam Abraham from Palms West Hospital serve hamburgers and hot dogs.

Mhadia romps through the bubbles supplied by Palms West Hospital resident pediatricians.

B&G Club Advisory Board members Mickey Smith, Lidy Mata, Sonali Mendiratta, Shelley Albritton, Jason Kimbrell, chair Marcella Montesinos and Rob D’Angelo.

Jason Kimbrell, Marcella Montesinos, Latricia Jenkins, Jaene Miranda, Michael Napoleone, James Smith and Ian Williams.

HCA Florida Palms West Hospital resident pediatricians were on hand to volunteer.

Director of Operations Anthony Davis, Advisory Board Chair Marcella Montesinos, Executive Club Director Latricia Jenkins and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County CEO Jaene Miranda with club members Ezra, Jayden and Jonathan. Palms West Hospital CEO Jason Kimbrell and Food Service Director Tim Krusko grill hotdogs and hamburgers.

Dr. Elizabeth Bruno and Marcella Montesinos. Althea and Adriana enjoy popcorn.

Sonali Mendiratta and Mickey Smith with cotton candy.

Dr.

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CAFCI MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT HELD AT STRATHMORE GATE WEST

Members and friends gathered for CAFCI Member Appreciation Night on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Strathmore Gate West Clubhouse in Royal Palm Beach. The event had a garden party theme and included a meeting, the history of CAFCI, a buffet dinner, table games such as dominoes, a DJ and more. Learn more about CAFCI at www.cafcipbc.org.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

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Joan Williams, Joan Wiener, Carol Hacker and Avery Graham.

Andrey Smith with Henworth Ferguson, who recited a poem.

Juliette Bramwell, Karlene Stephenson and Majorie Aiken.

Sadie Robinson, Rhonda Ferrin Davis, Nova Brown, Dr. Winston Davis, Radcliffe Woody Brown and Lauriston Simms.

Sadie Robinson and Nova Brown.

Prudel Belle, Valerie Dorsey and Audrey Campbell.

New members Phyllis Charleton and Patricia Charleton with Yvonne Wright (center).

Laxine Squire and Barbara Gordon.

Cindy Beckles gives Venus McGregor-Lowe her raffle prize.

CAFCI President Dennis Wright.

Genieve White, Lavern Blackwood, Millicent Peccoo, Pauline Ivey, Joan Williams and Joan Wiener. Councilman Jeff Hmara, Nova Brown and Carolyn Hmara.

Lox Council Groves Town Center Update

continued from page 1 purchased by Solar Sportsystems, developer of Groves Town Center, and merged with the surrounding land. In 2020, the current landowners recorded a restrictive covenant and conservation easement covering approximately 23 acres, including a large part of the former Heeraman property.

“The property owners of Groves Town Center have requested that the town recognize that the requirement to set aside 3.1 acres of native habitat has been satisfied by the granting of the limited access conservation easement in 2020,” Town Attorney Elizabeth Lenihan explained.

Last month, the council was asked to drop the earlier restrictive covenant, but the representative at that meeting did not have maps showing the location and other background details. At the Aug. 15 meeting, Jenkins had more specific maps available.

“We knew this was there,” Jenkins said. “It was discussed with ERM [Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management], and it was understood that this was going to be part of our conservation easement. We all thought this was a non-issue because it was taken care of years ago.”

However, it came up when one potential buyer asked that title for the property be cleared of the old restrictive covenant.

“There was never a question that we would be preserving 3.1 acres,” Jenkins said. “We knew on this property, there would be a lot more to preserve than that.”

During public comment, resident Nina Corning brought more details she found regarding the original agreement and suggested that the developers should add an additional 3.1 acres of preserved native vegetation.

However, in the end, the council agreed unanimously that the current, 23-acre preserve satisfies the old agreement.

Before the meeting, the council held a “developer concept review” workshop on the Groves Town Center site, which is located at the

northeast corner of Southern Blvd. and B Road.

Jenkins’ last presentation before the council was on eliminating the adult living facility (ALF) planned for the site and replacing it with a non-branded “boutique hotel.” While the council preferred a hotel to the ALF, the term “boutique hotel” was confusing.

“Because of the feedback that I received, we went back into the marketplace and found a different developer for a hotel,” Jenkins said. “We do now have somebody with a branded hotel, one of the very top names. Those plans are being finalized now.”

While plans for the hotel will likely be submitted soon, there will be master plan issues and zoning issues to work through. There is also a small animal veterinarian clinic coming into the western part of Pod E, which is located north of the existing Aldi store.

“We have had another interesting group approach us and request the opportunity to join us in Loxahatchee Groves,” Jenkins continued. “That group is called the Pickleball Club, with pickleball being the fastest-growing sport in America.”

The company builds indoor pickleball facilities, along with some non-lit outdoor pickleball and bocce courts. The group, based in Sarasota, already has six locations with approximately 20 planned across Florida. It is a club concept with a membership fee.

The site possible location for the pickleball group is not yet decided and depends upon where the hotel ends up, and how much of the space is left.

During public comment, resident Pat Johnson was not excited about the pickleball idea. “This seems to be an attempt to make us more into Wellington,” she said. “This is not something for our community.”

The council, however, expressed more interest in the idea.

“Thank you for coming and bringing us something different,” Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia said.

“It’s a new sport, but I don’t see it going away anytime soon,” Vice Mayor Robert Shorr added.

However, Shorr, along with Councilwoman Marge Herzog, said that the look of the facility would need to fit in with the town’s Rural Vista guidelines and not

resemble a big warehouse, like the company’s other locations.

“If they were to come here, they would need to follow the Rural Vista guidelines,” Jenkins agreed. “I give those to everybody, so they see those coming in.”

The overall project is broken into eight pods. Pods A and B are already under development. Pod A has the existing Aldi’s store, as well as the Wawa store under construction and a planned AutoZone store.

Pod B, fronting Southern, has an approved car wash site, as well as the Culver’s Restaurant, which is almost ready to open. Also on that site will be Heartland Dental with one spot still available.

Pod C, just behind the Aldi store, was approved earlier this year for a Palm Beach Orthopedic Institute medical office. Pod D, the final unsold area fronting Southern, is not on the market yet.

This leaves Pod E (fronting B Road), Pod F (an internal area closer to C Road) and Pod G (further north on the site), as well as the Town Commons area at the center of the property.

Jenkins discussed an idea presented previously of switching

Pod G with the Town Commons site. Pod G was slated to be the ALF and is closer to residential areas, while the Town Commons site would be a better option for the hotel.

“If that switch is made, Town Commons would end up being bigger,” Jenkins noted.

For the hotel to replace the 120bed ALF, it would require changes to the master plan. Once the hotel site is finalized, that would determine the location of Town Commons and other amenities, including where the pickleball project might go.

Councilwoman Marianne Miles and Mayor Laura Danowski said they were not opposed to the concepts presented. “I would love to see the footprints for where these potential places would go,” Danowski said. Jenkins said that would be the next step.

“It’s a process,” she explained. “We need to do site plans to get to the next phase, but I don’t want to have people spend money on site plans if we come in here and you don’t want it.”

To learn more about the project, visit www.grovestowncenter.com.

“It’s a process,” Diane Jenkins said. “We need to do site plans to get to the next phase, but I don’t want to have people spend money on site plans if we come in here and you don’t want it.”

PZA Board Headed Next To Council

continued from page 1 proposes to sell land to double the Wellington International showgrounds to 190 acres, consolidating hunter riding, show jumping and dressage in one place with seating for up to 7,000 spectators. Dressage would move there from its current, separate space at Equestrian Village, slated to be part of Wellington North.

“Our goals are clear and shared,” said Doug McMahon, chief executive officer of Wellington Lifestyle Partners, the group shepherding the residential development. “Let’s successfully move dressage to the new showgrounds, and work to further expand and enhance those facilities. Let’s create a new residential community that adds to all of Wellington. We’re committed to ensuring that Wellington

remains the horse sports capital.”

Neighborhoods that feature golf and other amenities can serve as a feeder system for future horse show participants and spectators, McMahon and his associates maintain. All of it is important to compete with rival equestrian venues in places such as Ocala, proponents contend.

In the end, the committee recommended rejecting or delaying rezoning requests and amendments to comprehensive and master plans related to Wellington North, until it can be considered alongside a full assessment of the showgrounds proposal. The Wellington North plan seeks 300 residential units, 278 of them multi-family.

The committee held hearings over three nights on the issue starting in July, with the third night’s meeting Aug. 16 stretching past five hours. Several neighbors reaffirmed a stand against the plan as interested parties. “The amount of opposition, the amount of time that we’re taking, just highlights that we need to do a reset,” said James

Gavigan, a lawyer representing the Jacobs family, owners of Deeridge Farms on Pierson Road.

Some residents say the plan is welcome, among the more than 270 written comments on the Wellington North proposal.

“I fully support this project,” resident Anthony Calle said. “Not only will it increase the housing options for people who live here full time, but it will also give us more activities to do in our town. With a limited housing market in the State of Florida, this will provide more inventory and higher taxes for the village. Job growth will follow for the locals as well.”

However, a majority of written and spoken comments expressed opposition, with a common theme that it risks spoiling what makes Wellington special.

“This is a pure attempt to get rich on luxury housing not even intended for our equestrian community,” resident Kristine Holloran said.

Others invoked the refrain, “Horses before houses.”

674 OF THE NATION’S TOP WATER SKIERS COMPETE AT OKEEHEELEE PARK

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports’ Goode Water Ski National Championships were held at Okeeheelee Park from Wednesday, Aug. 9 through Saturday, Aug. 12. Over the four days, 674 individuals competed in 36 divisions across three events — slalom, trick and jump. Okeeheelee Park is ranked one of the top water ski parks in the nation and attracts skiers from around the country. The event was hosted by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches. Learn more about local water-skiing opportunities at www.okeeski.com.

event, skiers use

Top finishers in the Girls

4 (ages

A slalom skier celebrates a successful run.

A skier competes during the trick event.

Skiers kicked up a wave of stray while competing during the slalom event.

Alana Jones placed first during her slalom run.

Martin Kolman and Bailey Wolford with Silver, representing title sponsor Goode.

Seth Vaughan, Solie Stenger and Sailor Stenger enjoy their day at the competition. A skier competes during the jump event.

Competitive water skiers Yvonne Austin, Regina Jaquess and Kelli Kerns.

* Subject to insurance approval and authorization 10111 Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite 110 Wellington, FL 33414 561-877-5870 nicklauschildrens.org/Wellington

For

Jurassic Quest Dinosaur Experience At The Fairgrounds Sept. 15-17

North America’s most popular interactive dinosaur experience is back, bigger and better than ever. South Florida families can walk among the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs when Jurassic Quest opens at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center for one weekend only, Sept. 15-17.

Loved by millions, only Jurassic Quest can bring families memories this big! Walk through 165 million years of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to learn about the creatures that ruled the Earth.

In addition to life-like dinosaurs, Jurassic Quest’s classic experiences for the whole family include some of the largest rideable dinosaurs in North America, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities including a fossil dig, and real fossils like t-rex teeth, a

triceratops horn and a life-size dino skull, a “Triceratots” soft play area for the littlest explorers, bounce houses and inflatable attractions, photo opportunities and more. New for 2023, Jurassic Quest is bringing more hands-on activities, education and fun. This evolution, Jurassic Quest includes an expanded Excavation Station and more Jurassic-themed rides and inflatables. Even the animatronic herd has expanded to include fan favorites, the Utahraptor and Giganotosaurus. In addition to “The Quest,” a self-guided, scavenger-hunt-style activity where budding paleontologists can become Jr. Dinosaur Trainers, Jurassic Quest has launched a new video tour that is already getting “roaring good” reviews from families and features star dino trainers Safari

Sarah, Dino Dustin, Prehistoric Nick and Park Ranger Marty (available onsite and on your phone via QR code). All expanded activities are included with general admission.

The Jurassic Quest herd of animatronic dinos, from the largest predators to playful baby dinos, are displayed in realistic scenes with some that move and roar, allowing guests to experience them as they were when they roamed Earth millions of years ago. Jurassic Quest works in collaboration with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated in every detail, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers, drawing on the latest research about how dinosaurs looked and moved. Families also have the unique opportunity

to meet the babies, hatched only at Jurassic Quest: Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T-Rex and Trixie the Triceratops. Advance purchase online is recommended to ensure the desired date and availability at www. jurassicquest.com, or tickets are available on-site, and include a 100 percent ticket guarantee. In the event of a show cancellation or postponement for any reason, ticket purchases will be automati-

cally refunded for the full purchase amount. General admission tickets include access to the dinosaur exhibits, arts and crafts activities, and dinosaur shows. There are rides and activities that require activity tickets available on site, or guests can upgrade to the Kids Unlimited Ticket (the best value for children ages 2 to 10). Entry is free for children under age 2.

Guests can walk through the

dinosaur experience at their own pace, and strollers are permitted. Socks are required for inflatable attractions.

Hours are: Friday, Sept. 15 from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center is located at 9067 Southern Blvd. For more information and tickets, visit www.jurassicquest.com.

Cresswind Women’s Club Of Westlake Holds Local School Supply Drive

The Cresswind Women’s Club of Westlake recently held a twoweek school supply drive to support students and teachers at Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School.

A large collection box was placed in the clubhouse lobby for

Cresswind residents to drop off donations. The generosity of the community was overwhelming, and the overflowing box had to be emptied twice. Several of the club members gathered to put together gifts for 63 teachers. A small group of

members delivered the gifts and school supplies to Principal Richard Myerson on Monday, July 31, so they could be distributed to the classrooms before the start of the new school year. It was an amazing effort and show of support from Cresswind for this local school.

Ultracon 2023 At The South Florida Fairgrounds Aug. 25-27

Toy collectors and fans from around the globe will come together in the name of fun, family and toy collecting when the muchloved Ultracon returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center from Friday, Aug. 25 through Sunday, Aug. 27. Marking its 11th year, the sirens will be sounding and lights flashing as the duo from everybody’s favorite 1980s cop show CHiPS headline this year’s Ultracon. Erik Estrada (Frank Poncherello) and Larry Wilcox (Jon Baker) from CHiPS will be joined by a cavalcade of actors, voice actors, artists and toy vendors.

For pro-wrestling fans, appearing at their first ever Ultracon will be WWE Hall of Famer Brutus the Barber Beefcake and former

WCW Champion Scott “Big Pappa Pump” Steiner on hand to greet fans and sign autographs.

This year’s Ultracon will also feature Pirates of the Caribbean star Martin Klebba, and longtime fan-favorite from movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Last Dragon, Red Sonja (with Arnold Schwarzenegger) and TV’s Sidekicks, Ernie Reyes Jr. And for the nerd in everyone, Brian Tochi from Revenge of the Nerds Police Academy and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films will also be joining the Ultracon line up.

And for fans of some of the greatest cartoons of all time, Ultracon will host a reunion of mega-hits like Dragonball Z. Vic Mignogna (Broly), Linda Young (Frieza), Cynthia Cranz (Chi Chi)

and many more will meet fans and sign autographs. It must be fairies if Carlos Alazraqui as Mr. Crocker from Fairly Odd Parents will be there. He is also known as Garcia from Reno 911 and Rocko from Rocko’s Modern Life Come meet Elmo, Doc McStuffins, Andy from Toy Story and Muppet designers. Ultracon has something for everyone — fans of the cartoons, comic books and sci-fi series of yesteryear, as well as devotees of the eye-popping modern shows being produced today.

The event offers free parking, and kids 10 and under are free. Tickets and a full list of Ultracon attractions can be found at www. ultraconcity.com.

Pets Are Family, Too!

By Randall S. Dugal, D.V.M. HARMFUL

HOUSE PLANTS

Houseplants add beauty and freshness to our indoor spaces, but it’s important to be mindful of the potential dangers they may pose to our feline companions. Several plants can be toxic or harmful to cats if ingested. One example is the popular and visually striking Dieffenbachia, also known as the dumb cane. Its leaves contain oxalate crystals that can cause severe oral irritation and swelling if chewed by cats. Another plant to avoid is the lovely but toxic lily, which can lead to kidney failure and even death in cats. Additionally, plants like the pothos, philodendron, and snake plants contain substances that can be toxic to cats, causing gastrointestinal upset and irritation. Consulting with a veterinarian is always recommended.

Don’t hesitate to get your pet medical attention whenever an emergency occurs or a problem appears. Quick action on your part may mean the difference between developing a serious condition and effecting a speedy recovery. Please call COMMUNITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF ROYAL PALM BEACH at 798-5508 for appointments or emergencies pertaining to your pet’s health. We are conveniently located at 11462 Okeechobee Blvd., 1/4 mile east of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, happy, healthy pain-free pets are our passion.

P.S. Keep your local poison control center phone number readily available in case your pet accidently ingests a toxic substance.

(L-R) Cresswind residents Hernan Ramos, Marcy Soifer, Sheree Biafore, LGES Principal Richard Myerson, Coco Forlizzi and Davina Bennett.

Get up close and personal with life-size dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest.

Colorectal Surgery in the Palm Beaches

Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group provides comprehensive care for patients with conditions that involve the lower digestive system – the colon, bowel and rectum. When surgery is required, our colorectal surgeons use some of the latest surgical advances, including minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, to detect and treat colorectal illnesses and disorders.

From Food To Toys To Treats & More, We Have You Covered!

Your neighborhood Pet Supplies Plus has everything you need for your furry, scaly and feathery friends. Our shelves are stocked with the right products, including a wide selection of natural and made in the USA products. Easily find all their favorites at prices you love, whether you shop with us in store or online using free curb side pickup or same-day delivery.

Trent Frazier’s Pro Hoops Journey Takes Him To Play In Russia

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Longtime Wellington resident and basketball standout Trent Frazier is fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing professional basketball. But it’s not in the National Basketball Association — at least not yet.

After a star-studded and accolade-filled career playing travel basketball with the Wellington Wolves, high school basketball at Wellington High School and college basketball at the University of Illinois, Frazier turned professional last year and headed to Europe with a suitcase of clothes, his favorite pair of Nike Lebron James basketball shoes and his passport.

That was in the late spring/ early summer of 2022. Without an agent representing him, Frazier found a professional basketball playing opportunity with FMP, a pro team in Belgrade, Serbia.

Frazier’s professional basketball journey in Europe took him to Finland, Montenegro, Lithuania and Croatia to play.

“I have lots of stamps on my passport,” said Frazier, who graduated from the University of Illinois in 2022 with a degree in sports management. At mid-season, which was back in mid-January of this year, he started playing with another pro basketball team. It was the Zenit Basketball Club, which is based in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“My contract was bought out by Zenit at mid-season to go play for them,” Frazier recalled. “You are allowed to leave a team at midseason as long as both clubs come to an agreement.”

While in Russia, he played 15 games for Zenit before the team was eliminated in the league playoffs back in May. He was one of four Americans playing for Zenit last season. After the Russian playoffs, Frazier returned to Wellington. Since arriving home, he has been getting ready for another year of professional basketball overseas by running on a treadmill and playing pickup basketball games at the Wellington Boys & Girls Club.

“On the treadmill, my goal is to run a mile in less than five minutes and 30 seconds,” Frazier said.

Looking back, Frazier enjoyed his new Russian surroundings earlier this year, despite the frigid temperatures.

“It was very cold in Russia,” he Trent Frazier playing last season in Serbia.

said. “But St. Petersburg is a gorgeous city, and I feel safe there. I have an amazing opportunity to live overseas and play pro basketball. And the food is good. I like the sushi, and I eat a lot of duck.”

The Russian experience was so good for Frazier that he has signed a new one-year contract to return and play for Zenit for the 2023-24 basketball season. He left for Russia on Sunday, Aug. 13 and arrived on Monday, Aug. 14. He won’t return until next May. In addition to his salary, his compensation includes an apartment, access to a car, and round-trip airfare to and from Russia. With Russia being such a big country, Frazier said that his team flies from game to game in its own charter jet to compete in the 14-team league.

Last year, Frazier traveled to Russia by himself. This year, he is being joined by his girlfriend Jade Vernaci. While Vernaci’s past European travels have taken her to Italy, Switzerland, France and Monaco, visiting Russia is different, especially now with the country at war with Ukraine.

“I’m a little worried, but Trent has assured me that we will be safe,” said Vernaci, who graduated from Florida International University with a degree in special education. “My parents are a little concerned. The only thing I know about Russia is what I have seen on the news.”

Getting to Russia these days is not easy. According to Frazier, he and Jade flew from the U.S. to

Istanbul, Turkey. From there, they boarded a flight to Russia.

Despite being a long way from home, Frazier stays in close contact with his parents back in Wellington.

“I call them every night between 8 and 10 p.m.,” added Frazier, who turns 25 in September. “We use a group chat within WhatsApp. At that time of night, it is early afternoon here in Wellington.”

His parents — and anybody, for that matter — can also watch his games for free with an app affiliated with his team, Zenit. The app is VTB League Official. It’s a free download.

Throughout the upcoming Russian basketball season, Frazier will be working on finding a professional basketball opportunity back in the U.S.

“I hope to be playing in the NBA’s Summer League next year and land a spot with an NBA team,” Frazier said.

Looking back on his time growing up in Wellington, which included seven seasons of travel basketball with the Wellington Wolves and four years of varsity basketball with coach Matthew Colin at Wellington High School, he’s thankful for the involvement of Colin in his life.

“Besides being one of the best coaches I’ve played for, he has been such an impactful mentor in my life,” Frazier said. “He has helped me open up many different areas of my game.” Frazier also benefited by playing

for the University of Illinois in the rugged Big Ten Conference.

“I learned who I was, not only as a player, but as a person,” Frazier said. “Being able to adjust to different roles and still be the player I am.”

If you want to follow Frazier on

social media, where he regularly posts his basketball videos and images, follow him on Instagram @TrentFrazier. Frazier currently has more than 86,000 Instagram followers who are tracking his life as a professional basketball player.

Broncos Look To Rebuild As Schools Prepare To Open Season

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

This year’s edition of the Palm Beach Central High School varsity football team is the exact opposite of last year’s team, but that will happen when a squad loses 26 seniors to graduation, as was the case for the Broncos.

Last year’s squad — which reached the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 4M state semifinals before losing to Apopka, 27-24 — was strong, talented, experienced and confident. This year’s team does not share those same characteristics, at least not yet.

“Last year’s team knew how to figure things out during a game,”

PBCHS head football coach Kevin Thompson said. “This year’s team is still learning. This year’s team is young and inexperienced.”

But, according to Thompson, his 52 players will learn quickly what it takes to win football games at the high school varsity level in South Florida.

The Palm Beach Central Bron-

cos learned a little bit about high school football when the team was blanked 15-0 by Atlantic High School during its kickoff classic game on Thursday, Aug. 17.

“That was a good way to assess the team,” Thompson said.

In addition to an experienced group of coaches, this year’s team does have a group of players who played a leading role on last year’s team. Thompson will be looking for those players to lead by example and guide their younger teammates.

Five of those returning players are junior wide receiver Nedrick Boldin, senior running back Leon Williams, junior cornerback Tony Williams, senior safety Mikey Gayle and junior cornerback Damon Allen.

One of the biggest voids to fill from last year’s team is at the quarterback position. Last year’s starting signal caller Ahmad Haston is now a freshman at the University of Massachusetts, competing for the starting job with the Minutemen. His replacements

The Bronco football team runs on track with assistant coach Karlvan Louis overseeing the action.

Junior wide receiver Nedrick Boldin will be a key player for the Broncos this season. are sophomore Caleb Butler and freshman Kingston Rust.

According to Thompson, both are talented quarterbacks with promising futures.

“Caleb is a gunslinger who knows our system, while Kingston is very, very talented with a strong

arm,” Thompson said. Two of the strongest parts of this year’s team for Palm Beach Central are its group of wide receivers and defensive backs.

“I think we have some of the most talented wide receivers and defensive backs in the area,”

Thompson said. “In games, our wide receivers will not face a more talented group of cornerbacks and safeties than who they see in practice every day. And our cornerbacks and safeties will not see a more talented group of wide receivers than their own teammates.”

In many respects, the success of this year’s team will also depend on how quickly its offensive line gels and operates as one unit working together.

“Our offensive linemen are big, young and talented,” Thompson See FOOTBALL, page 24

Wellington Girls Volleyball Team Is Ready To Set, Serve And Spike

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

A new head coach is leading the girls varsity volleyball program at Wellington High School. His name is Bill Irmiter, and while he may be new to the program at WHS, he’s not new to the sport of volleyball in Wellington.

Last fall, Irmiter was the girls junior varsity coach at WHS. In prior years, he coached the girls junior varsity volleyball team at Palm Beach Central High School for four years, and he served as the head coach of the PBCHS boys varsity volleyball team for one year. He also has experience coaching at the travel volleyball level. For five years, he was the head coach of the Tribe Treasure

Coast for various girls teams.

Irmiter has 13 players on his squad. Each player has a role to play in order for the team to have a winning regular season record and a deep postseason run in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s volleyball state playoffs.

Sophomore Olivia Berman has a huge upside. “Olivia is a strong outside [hitter] with much talent,” Irmiter said. “As a sophomore, she will become very good.”

When sophomore Nicole Koch steps on the court, she raises her game an extra gear. “Nicole’s energy is unmatched, and she has much ambition to perform well,” Irmiter said.

Jillian St. Leger is a very tal-

ented player. “Jill is a superstar freshman,” Irmiter said. “Her backrow ability and all-around play is amazing.”

Senior Roelis Rodriguez has a positive, team-first attitude. “Roelis has the determination to be the best she can be for herself and her team,” Irmiter said.

Avery Trieste, a defensive specialist, is all business when she plays volleyball. “Avery makes being on the court a great time with a great level of focus,” Irmiter said.

Sophomore Faith DiMaria is one of the team’s two main setters. “Faith is vital to the team in many ways,” Irmiter said. “She makes sure we are on the right track, as well as always seeking to improve her game.”

Junior Maddie Lee’s volleyball intelligence sets her apart from other players. “Maddie’s volleyball IQ is unmatched,” Irmiter said. “She is one of the leaders on the team. Her attitude and determination are the some of the best I have seen.”

Senior Ana Contreras is a middle hitter with a strong mental focus. “Ana’s ability to find the ball and put it into good locations to score points is unmatched,” Irmiter said. “Her level-headedness and focus during games are what helps the team be grounded.”

Senior Tegan Miller is another middle hitter who simply loves to play volleyball. “Tegan’s passion for the game and competition is

See VOLLEYBALL, page 23

WHS volleyball seniors (L-R) Logan Seal, Ava Rodgers, Ana Contreras, Tegan Miller, and Roelis Rodriguez.

PHOTO BY NICHOLETTE TREANOR

Trent Frazier on the court in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Wellington High School Boys Swim Team Is Deep And Talented

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

During the past 18 years, Wellington High School’s varsity swimming and diving coach Richard Whalen has produced a number of swimmers who have advanced to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) state finals.

Many of these swimmers have returned home with high finishes in their respective events. And on three occasions, Wellington has produced a state swimming champion from its boys team — in 2000 with Bryce Clough in the Class 3A 100-yard freestyle; in 2014 with the Class 4A 200-yard freestyle relay; and in 2015 with Cody Cline in the Class 4A 50-yard freestyle. However, this year’s group of 25 male swimmers may be the best boys team that Whalen has ever coached at WHS.

“I think we have a good chance of finishing in the top five teams in the state this year,” said Whalen, now entering his 19th year as the head coach of the WHS boys and girls swimming and diving teams. The big end-of-season event on the schedule is the FHSAA’s Class 4A state championships, which will be held in Ocala at the Florida

Volleyball Wellington Girls Team

continued from page 21 what drives this team,” Irmiter said. “She will always be uplifting the team and making sure that we do everything that is possible to walk out with a win.”

Junior Grace Kouf is an opposite hitter who has a strong mental game. “Grace is super uplifting and is always doing what she can to make herself better on and off the court,” Irmiter said.

Senior Logan Seal is a talented opposite hitter. “Logan controls the game through her stellar game play and the ability to make great plays out of tough situations,” Irmiter said. “Her IQ for volleyball will always go unmatched.”

Junior Brielle Dorish is an outside hitter who plays with heart and determination. “Brielle is one of the main leaders on the court,” Irmiter said. “She will always be the one holding the team accountable and making great plays happen all the time.”

Aquatic Swimming & Training (FAST) Center on Friday, Nov. 10.

One of the biggest reasons for Whalen’s optimism is the presence of the DaSilva brothers, senior Caleb and sophomore Andreas, on the team.

Caleb’s specialty events are the two sprint freestyles: the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Last year, at the FHSAA’s Class 4A state finals, which were held in Stuart, Caleb finished in fifth place in the 50 and in seventh place in the 100.

As Caleb works to improve his starts, turns, stroke and kicking, he can possibly return home as a state champion in one or both events. The higher the finish, the more points he will earn for WHS in the all-important team points competition at the state meet.

Whalen added that Andreas will also have a strong fall campaign in the water.

“Andreas had a great summer with our club team in Wellington [the Wellington Wahoos], and he is swimming faster than a year ago,” Whalen said.

Andreas is expected to excel in his two best events, the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly. Andreas competed in last

The captain of the team and the “coach” on the court is senior outside hitter Ava Rodgers. Irmiter is looking for leadership from Rodgers in practice and in games.

“Her role is much more than being an influence on the court,” Irmiter said. “Her job is to be sure that she holds the team responsible for things while I run practice. The standard she holds for her team is never questioned. She does the best job possible while always improving her leadership skills in being captain of the team.”

As a coach, Irmiter wants his team to win and to win well.

“My goal as a coach for this team is to win and create a great team unity that will hopefully bring us many victories this season,” Irmiter said. “Developing your people is more important than developing skills. If you have good people, the skill overall will increase with the team.”

Irmiter said he learned a great deal about his team from his squad’s two pre-season matches.

“With the first preseason game, I learned who works well together

year’s Class 4A state finals in the 100-yard backstroke, where he finished in 16th place.

Other swimmers who Whalen is expecting strong performances from this season include sophomore Dillon Metz, who specializes in the two distance freestyle races, the 200-yard freestyle and the 500yard freestyle; sophomore Ever-

hart Fergus, also in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle; and freshman Julian Granison, in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.

Whalen expects that Granison will provide great competition for Caleb DaSilva in the two sprint races. “I expect Julian will push Caleb in the 50 and 100 free-

style,” Whalen predicted.

In addition to his flock of successful swimmers, Whalen expects his two divers, Gavin Cowell and Marcel Kurowski, to also advance to the Class 4A state diving finals in November.

Another big points producer for the WHS boys swim team will be the two freestyle relays, the

200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Last fall, the 400-yard freestyle relay team advanced to the Class 4A state finals. That quartet finished in 10th place with a time of 3:14.77. This year, Whalen expects both relays, plus possibly the 200-yard medley relay, will earn a trip to Class 4A state finals.

and what situations my players are capable of playing in,” Irmiter said. “We played St. John Paul, which always has a good program. It was a great, close game with each set being within points of each other. This was the time I was able to see the leaders play and influence the team.”

Irmiter is optimistic that his squad will have a memorable season, which is always important for the seniors on the squad. “We have the potential to be one of the top teams this year,” he said.

All 13 players and their coach are on the same page when it comes to team goals and how to achieve them.

“I like to have open communication with our goals as a team and what that looks like for each player,” Irmiter said. “We all have bought into our goals and know what the mission of our team is. These first weeks are vital to the development of the team. As a coach, having a team that meshes well will make the season yield good results. I am super excited to see where the season will end up for us.”

Wellington High School swimmers Caleb and Andreas DaSilva. PHOTOS BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER

Coach Richard Whalen oversees a training session.

WHS Girls Varsity Volleyball Team — (Front row, L-R) Faith DiMaria, Jillian St. Leger, Avery Trieste, Roelis Rodriguez and Maddie Lee; and (back row) Olivia Berman, Nicole Koch, Ava Rodgers, Ana Contreras, Tegan Miller, Brielle Dorish, Grace Kouf and Logan Seal.

PHOTO BY NICHOLETTE TREANOR

Football Regular Season To Open

continued from page 21 said. “We are now teaching them to be connected and to work together.”

The Broncos open up the regular season with a long road game, when they will travel north to Creekside High School near Jacksonville on Friday, Aug. 25.

The Broncos and the host Knights will start at 7 p.m. Next week, the Broncos travel to play the Boca Raton High School Bobcats on Thursday, Aug. 31 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

As for other high school football teams in the western communities, three will be led by first-year head coaches: Ross Pryor at Wellington High School, Dan Burack at the King’s Academy and Kevin Green at Berean Christian School.

The Wildcats from Royal Palm Beach High School will open their regular season on Friday, Aug. 25 when they play at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy. The kickoff is at 7 p.m. Landon Earl will be Royal Palm Beach’s starting quarterback. Royal Palm Beach head coach Chuck Kenyon, starting his second year with the Wildcats, said that his young players are continuing to show weekly progress. “We are slowly starting to see the pieces of the puzzle come together,” Kenyon said.

The Wellington High School Wolverines will host the Park Vista High School Cobras on Friday, Aug. 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Wolverines will be led by quarterback Jonathan Paul. Next week, the Wolverines will host the Martin County High School Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 31 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Seminole Ridge High School Hawks opened their season at home on Thursday, Aug. 24 when the Glades Central High School Raiders from Belle Glade visited. The leader of the Hawks’ defense will be junior middle linebacker Ty Jackson, who set a school record last year for the most tackles in a season with 138. Next week, the Hawks host local rival Royal Palm Beach High School on Thursday, Aug. 31. That game has a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

The King’s Academy Lions begin their season on the road Friday, Aug. 25 when they travel to Boca

Raton to play the St. Andrew’s Scots. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Next week, the Lions will host Glades Central on Friday, Sept. 1 for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Bulldogs from Berean

Christian School will travel to Sarasota to play their season-opener against the Thunder from the Out-of-Door Academy on Friday, Aug. 25. The kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Next week, the Bulldogs

will host the Oxbridge Academy from West Palm Beach on Friday, Sept. 1 for a 4 p.m. kickoff. That game will mark Berean’s first-ever on-campus football game in school history.

Kashmir Solidarity USA Commemorates India Independence Day

In a display of unity and celebration, Kashmir Solidarity USA hosted a flag-raising event on Tuesday, Aug. 15, marking India’s 76th Independence Day. The event paid homage to the nation’s hard-won freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. The City of Greenacres honored the occasion with a proclamation read by Councilwoman Susy Diaz, proclaiming Aug. 15, 2023, as “India Independence Day.”

The event brought together a diverse crowd of supporters and community members who gathered outside to witness the flag-raising ceremony. Against the backdrop of a 30-foot flagpole, the Indian national flag was hoisted, embodying the spirit of courage, determination and unity that defined India’s struggle for liberation. Attendees delighted in the festivities, savoring an exquisite Indian meal catered by Palace Indian Restaurant in Davie.

Denyse Baboolal, the founder of Jayadevi Arts, an Indo-Caribbean community organization, was also in attendance at the event and was bestowed with an honor by Surinder K. Zutshi, chair of Kashmir Solidarity USA, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to the community through her dedication to preserving Indian cultural heritage.

The Greenacres proclamation highlighted the historical significance of Aug. 15 and its role in India’s journey to independence. The document emphasized the non-violent resistance and civil disobedience that characterized India’s fight for freedom, inspiring countless individuals worldwide.

The mutual commitment of India and the United States to safeguarding freedom, dignity and human rights was acknowledged, underscoring the shared values that bind these two nations.

Greenacres Mayor Joel Flores lauded Zutshi for his exceptional leadership and unwavering efforts to combat global terrorism and promote peace in the region. The proclamation recognized his significant contributions, which have left an indelible mark on the path toward a harmonious and secure future.

The flag-raising ceremony and proclamation exemplified the power of unity and shared values, transcending borders and cultures. Kashmir Solidarity USA remains steadfast in its mission to promote peace, combat extremism and bridge communities, reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful and harmonious world.

New head coach Ross Pryor (left) oversees practice as the Wellington High School squad works on offensive plays (right).

Seminole Ridge linebackers Ikong Blake, Ty Jackson, Luis Guillen, Azariah Alvin, Michael Jordan and Diego Lopez with assistant coach Morgan Roland.

This year’s Seminole Ridge High School varsity football team.

(L-R) Austin Lee, Gigi Chazu, Denyse Baboolal, Susy Diaz and Surinder Zutshi.

Gigi Chazu, Susy Diaz, Sandy Mistry and Surinder Zutshi raise the Indian flag.

Broder Family Trust Awards Scholarships

Jay Broder, executor of the Broder Family Trust, awarded its second annual Donna Broder Memorial Scholarships on Thursday, Aug. 10 to two women who were selected as applicants from Dress for Success of the Palm Beaches (DFS), a nonprofit organization.

Daphlie Cenat, an intern at DFS in the boutique, has been learning many administrative functions while helping to keep the organization operating. She has proved invaluable as a mentor in the Road to Success program.

Cenat is in her last year of completing her human services undergraduate degree at Palm

Beach State College and going on to pursue her master’s degree specializing in marriage and family therapy. She feels that her internships at DFS while attending school will provide the administrative background she needs to establish herself as a leader in the human services field.

“Daphlie has proven to be extremely dedicated and committed. She is aware of where she is going and what it takes to accomplish her goals,” said Jodi Cutler, director of programs and outreach services at DFS.

Morgan Anderson was also highly recommended by the DFS

Grandma’s Angels Luncheon Will Ring In Holiday Season

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Grandma’s Place will hold its eighth annual Grandma’s Angels Holiday Luncheon at the Sailfish Club in Palm Beach.

The Royal Palm Beach-based nonprofit is thrilled to announce Jodie Schmitz and Sunny Hawkins as co-chairs of this event. Committee members include Jane Bruno, Susy Burrowes, Amy Considine, Margaret Donnelley, Manda Galin, Helena Guest, Patti Hadden, Barbara Hollender, Eleanor Jones, May Liguori, Mary Lewis Moews, Toni O’Brien, Joan O’Connell, Dina Rubio, Lisa Shapiro, Marcie Singer, Jamie Taylor and Monique VandeKamp.

The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. with a wine reception and a fabulous silent auction. During lunch, there will be a small live auction while local CBS12 News anchor Liz Quirantes once again serves as the celebrity emcee.

The proceeds benefit Grandma’s Place, which provides shelter and loving care to children who have suffered abuse or neglect and have been removed from their homes,

staff. She is deeply committed to the mission and goals of DFS and is a recent graduate of the DFS Road to Success program. “Their programs have been lifechanging for me,” said Anderson, who will be a junior at Palm Beach State College majoring in human services.

After overcoming major personal challenges over the past few years, Anderson has managed to maintain a 3.27 grade point average while working full time, attending school, and participating in DFS programs and activities. One of her aspirations “is to work with an organization that delivers empowering and impactful

services to individuals and the community,” Anderson said. Her “can do” attitude and overall passion to help people, which began at an early age and continues through her life journey, was the reason for her recommendation for this award.

Donna Broder, namesake of the scholarship, was a major force as a volunteer for many years at Dress for Success and took on many administrative responsibilities until succumbing to the ravages of cancer. She passed away in February 2022 and is fondly remembered by all who have encountered her over the years.

Volunteer opportunities are available and needed. For info., visit www.dressforsuccesspb.org or call (561) 249-3898.

Arts For Smiles Hosts 2023 Back To School Drive

Brand-new backpacks will bring smiles to more than 170 children this year as Arts for Smiles Inc. completed its third annual Back to School Drive, delivering backpacks for children in need at several locations in Palm Beach County.

The backpacks were filled with notebooks, pencils, binders, crayons, markers, glue, ruler, folders and paper, and directly delivered to Belle Glade’s Ella’s Closet and Light House Café, teachers at Lake

Worth’s North Grade Elementary, and a few local families in need that reached out directly to the organization. Donations for this year’s drive came through Facebook fundraisers, Amazon wish list donations, and the largest donation coming from Wireless Vision (a T-Mobile company), which donated 58 backpacks and various school supplies.

Arts For Smiles is a Wellington nonprofit organization that

began as a grassroots effort with a mission to connect local artists with the community to bring joy through art, culture and education directly to children facing adversity in Palm Beach County.

Now that this year’s Back to School campaign is complete, Arts for Smiles will start preparing for its first art exhibition, the Joy of Art, set for Nov. 11-12, which will feature local artists, live music and a book reading of Life and Lilly by Lilly Pulit-

To learn more about Arts for Smiles’ upcoming exhibition, or to see how you can become a partner, sponsor or volunteer, visit www. artsforsmiles.org

Jodie Schmitz and Sunny Hawkins

and also provides respite care for young children with disabilities while offering support to their parents/caregivers to maximize each child’s safety and success.

Tickets are $200 per person or tables at $2,000 each. To receive an invitation, donate an auction item, purchase a ticket or sponsor the event, call Roxanne Jacobs at (561) 376-0488, e-mail roxanne@ grandmasplacepb.org or visit www.grandmasplacepb.org.

Wellington’s McKinley Taylor Earns Congressional Award Gold Medal

McKinley Taylor of Wellington

High School has been awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor for civilian youth. This medal honors youth for their commitment to voluntary public service, as well as personal development and physical fitness.

Through the Congressional Award, Congress urges young

people to challenge themselves. Any interested, motivated student, ages 14 through 24, may participate in the Congressional Award by setting and achieving individually challenging goals in four program areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition/ Exploration. The Congressional Award adapts to meet the needs of

every participant, as they set goals according to their own interests and level of abilities.

To earn this award, Taylor made cards for veterans, troops, nursing home patients and cancer patients, among other efforts.

“It made me so grateful for what I had,” she said. “I also made blankets for patients at St. Mary’s trauma hospital to learn a new skill

and contribute to a worthwhile cause, too. These blankets also were given as a school project for migrant children at Hope Rural School’s PK4 to provide them warmth and something that just belongs to them. I came to appreciate my situation even more as a result of seeing first-hand what others were going through day in and day out. My last project was

tutoring students in the math lab at school. My goal was to try and help as many people as I could throughout our community and spread the outreach beyond this area too.”

To earn the Gold Medal, each participant must complete at least 400 hours of voluntary public service, which means sharing their time and talent for the betterment

of the community, 200 hours of personal development, which can include developing social and life skills as well as interests, and 200 hours of physical fitness, spent in any way that improves their health and quality of life. Additionally, they must spend at least five days and four nights exploring a new environment or culture.

(L-R) DFS Executive Director Joe Ann Fletcher, Daphlie Cenat, Morgan Anderson and Jay Broder.

(Left, front row) Faye Ford, Jeremiah Ballenger, Art for Smiles founder Carolina King, Gaby Ballenger, Brianna and Alexandra Garcia, and Sophie Nelson, and (back row) Charles Moses and Lois Spatz; (Right) Lois Spatz, Light House Café Director Martha Lynn-Weeks and Arts for Smiles founder Carolina King.

Sophie and Francine Nelson, along with Brianna and Alexandra Garcia, put items in the backpacks for the children.

zer’s granddaughter Lilly Leas Ferreira.

Southeastern Grocers Announces Sale Of Winn-Dixie Stores To Aldi

Southeastern Grocers Inc.

(SEG), parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, announced last week that it has entered into definitive agreements with Aldi and Fresco Retail Group to effectuate a comprehensive strategic divestiture of its businesses. Under the proposed merger agreement, Aldi will acquire all outstanding SEG capital stock in an all-cash transaction, which encompasses all SEG grocery operations under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners. This includes approximately 400 stores in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, where 75 percent of the stores are located.

Following the completion of the sales process, Aldi will serve the customers and communities of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets through the continued operation of the banners’ existing stores. The retailer will evaluate

which locations will convert to the Aldi format. For those stores that are not converted, ALDI intends for them to continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.

Concurrently, SEG has agreed to divest its Fresco y Más operations. SEG anticipates that the sale of the Fresco y Más banner will conclude in the first quarter of 2024. The Fresco y Más banner, including all 28 stores and four pharmacies, will be sold to Fresco Retail Group, an investment group strategically focused on food and grocery. Fresco Retail Group plans for all stores and pharmacies in the Fresco y Más banner to continue operating as they are presently.

“Our successful transformational journey has created a unique opportunity with leading partners who share our vision and common commitments to creating value for their customers,” said Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Jonathan Lam Joins Medical Team At Florida Eye

“We believe these next steps will fuel a phenomenal experience for our customers, new opportunities for our associates and increased value for our shareholders. As the sales processes proceed, we’ll stay acutely focused upon delivering the exceptional quality, service and value that our customers and communities have come to expect from us.”

The merger agreement has been approved by the holders of a majority of SEG’s outstanding shares, and the merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. SEG will continue to operate its respective banners and stores in the normal course of business up to and until the transactions are completed.

RBC Capital Markets LLC served as financial advisor to SEG.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP was transaction counsel, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as antitrust counsel to SEG.

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute welcomes ophthalmologist Dr. Jonathan M. Lam, the newest addition to its team of highly experienced and respected eye doctors. Lam specializes in refractive and premium lens cataract surgery, complex anterior segment surgery, and the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma.

“It is with great excitement that we introduce Dr. Jonathan Lam as the latest addition to our esteemed team at Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute,” said Dr. Barry Schechter, a managing partner and ophthalmologist at the practice. “His dedication to advancing the field of ophthalmology, paired with a deep empathy for his patients, perfectly aligns with our mission. With Dr. Lam’s expertise, we look forward to reaching new pinnacles in eye care excellence and ensuring a brighter, clearer future for all those we serve.”

Lam attended Tufts University in Massachusetts and received his

medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia. After completing his ophthalmology residency, where he served as chief resident, Lam completed additional subspecialty fellowship training in anterior segment, cornea and refractive surgery at the prestigious Harvard/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He has published and presented his research at both national and international scientific conferences and served as an investigator on clinical trials.

Lam is currently available for appointments at Florida Eye’s West Boynton Beach location, located at 9868 S. State Road 7, Suite 240, adjacent to Bethesda West. For appointments, or more information, call (561) 737-5500.

Established in 2004, the Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its presence to multiple locations, including Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, West Boynton

Dr. Jonathan M. Lam

Beach and Wellington. The center’s surgical facility enables individuals of all ages to benefit from the latest advancements in eyecare procedures, with the support of a dedicated team of more than 75 highly skilled professionals who cater to the diverse needs of families. To learn more, visit www. fleyedocs.com.

Phenomenal Fashion Bargains Found At Dress For Success Pop-Up Sale

Shop for Success, one of the most popular pop-up sales among savvy fashionistas and a critical fundraiser for Dress for Success Palm Beaches (DFSPB), is returning Thursday, Sept. 7 through Saturday, Sept. 9, at the nonprofit’s boutique and headquarters, located at 2459 S. Congress Avenue, Suite 204. The same space where women in need come for the nonprofit’s free job readiness coaching and workplace attire will be converted for the three-day flash sale into a bargain-hunter’s paradise featuring rows of gently worn or new fashions and accessories that don’t meet DFSPB’s criteria for clients.

The donated goods include couture label items priced no higher than $150, prestige designer styles at $35, and everyday favorites from $5 to $20.

General public shopping hours are Friday 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday is reserved for a ticketed VIP Preview Reception, $50, from 4 to 9 p.m. This advanced shopping time, which features extended hours to accommodate those who appreciate a head start on the extraordinary deals, will also include a light refreshment. Registration is limited and available online only at https://bit.ly/VIPOverstockSale.

“We’re billing this an ‘overstock

Mommy & Me Play Date At Wellington Green Aug. 30

The Mall at Wellington Green will present “Mommy & Me Play Date,” a free children’s event for ages 5 and younger, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the mall’s Grand Court area.

Guests will enjoy music and dancing, giant Lego bricks, Connect 4 and other games, arts and crafts, sweet treats from Great

sale’ because we’re bursting at the seams with so much inventory,” said Rhonda Russell, volunteer co-chair of the event. “From the runway to everyday, there are some tremendous buys to be found. We’ve even created for the first time a ‘clearance section’ where everything is priced at $5. Counted among the couture offerings are a nearly new Carolina Herrera dress for $75, a pre-owned Givenchy suit for $100, and barely worn Louis Vuitton shoes, also for $100.”

According to fellow co-chair Marlene Feldman, “Designer names represented on the racks include Coach, Eileen Fisher, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, Tahari

and Theory, to name a few, with clothing, shoes and handbags bearing those labels priced at $35. As for popular everyday brands like Banana Republic, Chico’s, White House Black Market and Zara, the prices are unbeatable: $15 for dresses; $10 for tops, pants, skirts, sweaters, shoes and handbags; and $5 for jewelry, t-shirts and most accessories. In addition to clothing in sizes petite to plus, an array of accessories including jewelry, belts and scarves will be available.”

To learn more about DFSPB, its programs and services, call (561) 249-3898 or visit https:// palmbeaches.dressforsuccess.org.

Palm Beach International Airport Welcomes New Delta Service To White Plains, New York

American Cookies, and other fun surprises. For more info., visit www.shopwellingtongreen.com/ event/Mommy-and-Me-PlayDate/2145575090.

The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit www.shopwellingtongreen. com.

There will be

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) will now offer direct service to White Plains, New York (HPN), located in Westchester County, with the launch of a new Delta flight.

“We’re thrilled there will be another nonstop service option for passengers at PBI,” Director of Airports Laura Beebe said. “PBI has robust demand for air service to the New York Tri-State Area,

and we know many will take advantage of this new Delta flight.”

The new Delta service will begin Nov. 10 and continue with daily flights to and from White Plains through May 6, 2024. The service will be operated with a Boeing 717 with a seating capacity of about 110.

The daily Delta flights will depart PBI at 7 p.m. and arrive about three hours later. The departure

time at HPN will be 3 p.m. with a similar flight duration.

The new air service comes as many seasonal flights resume this fall at PBI, including direct service to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Houston, and Islip (Long Island).

PBI is currently experiencing record passenger volumes with more than 7.3 million people traveling through the airport in a 12-month period.

The popularity of the Dress for Success Pop-Up Sale is owed to its irresistible bargains.

Palms West Hospital Robotics Night Offers Hands-On Experience

HCA Florida Palms West Hospital recently celebrated its accreditation as Palm Beach County’s first Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by inviting the public to try their hand at the intricate maneuvers of robotic surgery.

The Robotics Night, hosted at Palm Beach State College’s Loxahatchee Groves campus on July 24, included two of the four surgical robots that are used in the operating room at Palms West Hospital daily.

Palms West Hospital CEO Jason Kimbrell led a panel discussion on the benefits of robotic surgery with general surgeon Dr. James J. Goad, urologist and oncologist Dr. Fred Muhletaler, vascular surgeon Dr. Arul Chidambaram, gynecologist Dr. Colette Brown-Graham, ob/ gyn Dr. Aliese Smith and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mamun Al Rashid.

“Collectively, our physicians have performed thousands of

robotic surgeries, creating better outcomes for patients throughout our community,” Kimbrell said.

“This event is just the beginning of what we hope to be many opportunities for students, teachers and community members to learn more about the technology available in our hospital.”

Palms West has been accredited by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery based on rigorous standards of high-quality care and patient safety. Additionally, Dr. Goad and Dr. Muhletaler have also been accredited by SRC as master surgeons, based on the outcomes of nearly 5,000 robotic surgeries that the surgeons have performed combined.

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive technique in which a physician sits at a console using a view finder and the tips of their fingers to move the surgical instru-

(L-R) Dr. Fred Muhletaler, Dr. Arul Chidambaram, Dr. Colette Brown-Graham, Dr. Aliese Smith, Dr. James Goad, CEO Jason Kimbrell, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alex Gumiroff and Chief Operating Officer Jamison Robinette.

ments. The technology provides a 3D view through incisions that require little more than a Band-Aid

to cover, resulting in a lower risk of infection, faster healing time and shorter hospital stays.

World’s Largest 3D Printed Building Completed In Wellington

Printed Farms is ready to unveil its latest project, a state-of-the-art, luxury 10,000-plus-square-foot equestrian facility in Wellington, in the heart of the “equestrian capital of the world.” Florida is now well positioned to lead the country in 3D printed buildings. Increasing catastrophic

climate events will necessitate stronger more sustainable buildings, and 3D concrete printed (3DCP) structures fill that need. They are also energy efficient and have lower cooling and heating costs.

After an abundance of interest from around the world, Printed

Farms founder and CEO Jim Ritter is inviting members of the media and business community to an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 30. To receive credentials and further details, e-mail Printed Farms at info@printedfarms.com. Printed Farms LLC is a world

leading contractor of 3D concrete printed buildings based in South Florida. Printed Farms’ first single family residential print was completed in 2021, and it has now broken the record for the world’s largest 3D print with its luxury equestrian facility. Learn more at www.printedfarms.com.

Greenacres Adult Day Care Celebrates A Decade Of Service

Greenacres Adult Day Care celebrated its 10th anniversary on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The occasion featured the presence of esteemed guests, including representatives from the office of Mayor Joel Flores, who recognized the remarkable contribution of owner and administrator Sandhya K. Mistry.

The Greenacres City Council issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 15, 2023, as the “10th Anniversary Celebration of Greenacres Adult Day Care.” The proclamation pays homage to the exceptional service and unwavering commitment that the business has provided to the senior community.

With more than 20 years of service in the medical field, Mistry’s expertise and compassion have been instrumental in creating an environment that offers seniors not only care, but also companionship, engagement and personalized attention.

Under her guidance, Greenacres Adult Day Care has become a hav-

en where seniors are cherished and celebrated. The facility provides a safe, nurturing space that promotes well-being and enhances the quality of life for the senior community.

In attendance at the celebration were distinguished guests from the mayor’s office, including Austin Lee, Councilwoman Susy Diaz, and Gigi Chazu, director of economic development for the City of Greenacres.

As the community commemorates the milestone, Flores extended heartfelt congratulations and deepest gratitude to Mistry. He praised her vision, dedication and compassion for transforming the lives of the senior community.

Flores also acknowledged the outstanding staff and caregivers of Greenacres Adult Day Care for their commitment to enhancing the lives of seniors.

Greenacres Adult Day Care is located at 6623 Forest Hill Blvd. For more information, visit www. greenacresadultdaycare.com.

“HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is the robotics hospital,” Kimbrell said. “We are excit-

ed to share the state-of-the-art technology we offer with the community.”

‘Barbie Zumba’ Aug. 27 At The Mall At Wellington Green

On Sunday, Aug. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Mall at Wellington Green will host a “Barbie Zumba” master class in The District. The fun dance fitness party program combines heart-pumping music with high- and low-intensity Latin dance moves designed to burn calories and boost cardio endurance. All ages and levels are welcome.

Participants are invited to dress

in their best Barbie attire for a chance to win exciting prizes. The cost is $10 per person. Space is limited. For more information or reservations, visit www. shopwellingtongreen.com/event/ barbie-zumba/2145575196. The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 227-6900 or visit www.shopwellingtongreen.com.

Greenacres Director of Economic Development Gigi Chazu with Sandhya K. Mistry, holding the proclamation.

City of Greenacres Director of Communications Austin Lee presents a gift to Sandhya K. Mistry.

Don’t miss Barbie Zumba at the Mall at Wellington Green.

General surgeon Dr. James Goad provides instruction on how to maneuver the surgical robot.

My Husband’s Injury? It’s Not Like I Didn’t Try To Warn Him!

So here’s the thing: I have turned into an evil, selfish person. I wanted you to know that up front because, oftentimes, a person who writes a humor column is looked upon as friendly and fun. And I was that person, ever since my first column in 1981. But not anymore.

On July 14, my column was about summertime injuries. Among other things, I told you how my husband Mark slipped while working on his boat, injuring his heel. But I think you deserve the backstory. The backstory is that, after two years of my trying to talk him out of buying any kind of a floating vessel, he flagrantly did so anyway. I had told him how expensive

boats were. I had told him how people our age sell boats, they do not buy them.

I had told him that it was going to be a nightmare if he got hurt on that boat with no one around to help him. Deaf ears.

Fate stepped in on July 7. (We won’t

call it women’s intuition or karma or any of those other, more accurate things, out of respect for the injured party.) On that day, Mark’s plumber took a chunk out of the back floor (a “hatch”) to work on the bathroom (the “head”) and left it like that, in the dark, while he went up front (to the “bow”). Mark (the “victim”) came down the two normal steps and then fell into the hole (the “bilge”). The plumber (an “idiot”) had neglected to close it up or to warn anyone else on the boat that it was open. Mark, being a guy, wanted to assume it was a sprain so he a) did not elevate it, b) did not ice it, and c) did not go to urgent care. He simply hoped it would be better

in the morning. It was not. He also had to face the fact that he should probably call me. When he finally did, I (being a girl), a) yelled, b) screamed, and c) told him to get to an emergency room STAT. That’s when he found out his heel was cracked so deeply that it had almost separated from the rest of his foot. He was told that he needed surgery followed by six to eight weeks of immobility and that, if any infection set in, he could lose his leg. Sigh. You can’t even say, “I told you so” to someone who has just received that diagnosis. You can’t say it, even though your long-awaited, pandemic-postponed, three-years-late trip to Switzerland is

Overall, Controversial Movie ‘Sound Of Freedom’

Because of all the critical arguments, I felt I had to see Sound of Freedom to see for myself whether it was a “true story about sex trafficking and heroic efforts to stop some of it” or “a right wing fantasy designed to accuse our government of assisting in creating a lot of young slaves.”

It was not easy getting to see the film a few weeks ago. I was shocked when told that not only was the show I wanted to see sold out, but so was every showing for the entire weekend.

This small movie whose estimated cost was $14 million has passed $150 million in ticket sales and has not yet gone to international markets.

What we do have is a really good B-movie. You know, no stars, no wild special effects and no quick comedy lines to break the tension. It shows how Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel), a federal agent, manages to stop a creep smuggling an eight-year-old boy into the country for

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

sexual purposes. The producer (and also co-star) Eduardo Verástegui from the start milks the tension, as we see the young boy and his sister kidnapped in Honduras, despite the efforts of their father, and brought to Colombia before the boy is shipped to America, after spending weeks in Mexico being raped. Ballard, having saved the boy, finds out that his older sister had also been kidnapped and starts working to help her.

Eventually, he leaves government work because it is too restrictive (his boss is

sympathetic, wants to help him but can’t allow him to go too far beyond normal boundaries) and goes down to Colombia, where working with Vampiro (Bill Camp), a former drug kingpin who has gone straight, he sets up a sting that saves more than 50 young sex slaves, but not the sister. So, he winds up in an essentially insane bid to raid the camp of a guerrilla group where the sister has been forced to be the mistress of the boss.

At the end of the film, we are told that Ballard’s work rescued more than a hundred of these children. And, boy do we feel good.

The question has arisen in terms of truth. Quite a few critics said this was a product of the imagination of QAnon, a radical right-wing group. But that does not really hold up. Many of the organizations pooh-poohing the film actually covered the events, which happened in 2014. I saw an interview on MSNBC

scheduled to leave the next day. All you can do is tell your sister-in-law that we’re lucky we bought the travel insurance, and then fill out 14 pages of forms to try to get your $3,500 back.

Then you sit at home for 11 days until the surgery date, go in for a post-op visit 18 days later and listen while the doctor says he “isn’t happy with it” and may want to operate again. He’ll let you know in two weeks. If he does, that would effectively re-set the time clock back to day one. And you can’t complain because you’re not even the injured party. All you can do is write about it in your column. Because you’re an evil, selfish person.

Is Pretty Good

where both the interviewer and interviewee laughed at the whole notion and told people to miss it. However, MSNBC actually covered the action back when it happened. And, of course, that further convinces the conspiracy theorists that they are right.

That does not mean that everything shown in the film is completely accurate. Some people involved have pointed out that many of the elements are not all that well backed by facts, although they agree the overall story is pretty accurate.

What are we to believe? Rotten Tomatoes, the web site that tabulates reviews, reports that 69 percent of critics liked it but 99 percent of the people who saw it did.

Over time, our political and social factions have become so split that because we hear Ballard/Caviezel say the line, “God’s children are not for sale,” somehow this is a right-wing fantasy movie. It is not. The U.S. government and all

its people are shown to want to stop trafficking and are sympathetic characters. The bad guys are shown to be really bad. The action, although slow at first, picks up sharply under director Alejandro Monteverde, and I could hear the sell-out movie audience (on a Wednesday afternoon) holding their breath as the sting operation looks like it might fall apart.

The cast, generally actors most of us have never seen, is very good. Caviezel is strong, far too daring, all the characteristics we see in B-movie heroes. Camp steals a lot of scenes. His confession of why he changed from bad guy to good guy after being with a hooker who he thought was a world-weary 25 only to find out she was 14, and had been “doing business” since she was six, was harrowing. Mira Sorvino, in a small but key role as Ballard’s wife, was very good.

Again, a very good B movie. No laughs, but it is incredibly powerful.

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St.Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us.