Town-Crier Newspaper August 9, 2024

Candidates Make Pitches At Forum; Early Voting Starts Saturday

With primary election early voting beginning Saturday, Aug. 10, a number of candidates seeking state and local offices in the western communities squared off recently in a forum sponsored by Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter. Page 4

SHAKESPEARE RETURNS TO RPB

Wellington

The Village of Wellington hosted its annual Back to School Party

on Friday, Aug. 2

The event was sponsored by the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation and included plenty of games and fun for children. Page 18

WHS And RPBHS Open Fall Football Practice

The varsity football teams at Wellington High School and Royal Palm Beach High School had similar, perspiration-filled workouts during the first two weeks of fall practice, which started Monday, July 29. According to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules, players were allowed to wear helmets on the first two days of practice. On the next three days of practice, the players were allowed to wear helmets and shoulder pads. Page 21

Wellington Education Panel OKs 2024-25 School Grants

By Charles Elmore

Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington students head back to school with more than $400,000 in village grants on the way for tutoring and extra help, as one national publication cites education among the reasons it ranks Wellington as the best place for families to live in Florida in 2024.

The Village of Wellington’s Keely Spinelli grant program provides $37,000 each to 11 Wellington public elementary, middle and high schools, targeting the 25 percent of students who could use the most assistance in language arts, math and other areas. The village’s Education Committee unanimously approved the 202425 grants at a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 6.

One of the goals is to keep graduation rates high, a factor that pops up in the methodology behind Fortune magazine’s 50 Best Places to Live for Families in 2024. It picked a top place for

each state, with Wellington taking that distinction in Florida, and the village ranked No. 36 nationally.

“This wide-ranging analysis provided a broad array of places that offer essential resources from healthcare to education, as well as a sense of community,” the publication explained.

Wellington’s Keely Spinelli grants, named for a respected village principal who died in 2008, mark an uncommon instance of a municipality supplementing state and other funding for public schools with its own direct aid.

“It’s something to be proud of,” Committee Member Kristina O’Brien said.

As a formal last step, the Wellington Village Council is slated to approve this year’s Spinelli grants in its budget in September.

How are they used? At Panther Run Elementary School, for example, the plan is to spend the grant on two part-time reading tutors and supplemental instructional

materials for language and math.

At Wellington High School, the money will go for a site license for a program called IXL Mathematics, along with other spending on tutors and software.

Schools do not always spend the precise amount of their grants in any given year, carrying over surplus or deficits to the next school term.

Equestrian Trails Elementary School, for instance, will have nearly $50,000 to work with in 2024-25, while less than $26,000 is available for Wellington Elementary School, records show. Staff members said such fluctuation is normal.

District officials said challenges in the coming year will include crowded conditions at some schools, including Binks Forest Elementary School. Some easing is expected in subsequent years, with added capacity coming in and adjustments to enrollments at

ITID, AAL Grind Toward New Sports Provider Agreement

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Officials from Indian Trail Improvement District and the Acreage Athletic League met for more than two hours recently trying to work out a new service provider contract, but sparks continue to fly over competition for athletes and access to Acreage Community Park facilities.

“I want us all to get along, and the way that is going to start is with the leadership working with each other,” ITID Supervisor Patricia Farrell said during the July 15 meeting. “I want to take the rivalry out of it.”

However, AAL Treasurer Geoff Grafton shot back, “You guys allowed this whole division to happen when you allowed another league to come in and compete

with us… [It] divided the community.”

Founders of the Breakthru Athletic League broke away from the AAL and began offering fiveon-five flag football to boys and girls ages 4 to 17 in the Acreage/ Loxahatchee area in the fall of 2022. Tensions remain, although the new league does not use ITID facilities for its games, instead training and playing at Palm Beach County’s Samuel Friedland Park on Hamlin Blvd. Breakthru now offers seven-on-seven flag football and pickleball.

Farrell pointed out that the flag football split happened before the ITID board got involved. She praised the AAL’s new web site at www.acreageathleticleague. org and the leadership of Wendy Tirado, who took over as league

president in November 2022.

“Under your leadership, I’ve seen a lot of change,” she told Tirado. “I think you’re definitely taking the right steps, and you’ve got the kids in your heart to do this and grow the program… So, I appreciate what you’ve been doing.”

The AAL was founded in 1993 with some 200 youngsters participating. Today, it serves more than 2,000, according to its web site. AAL sponsors basketball, girls and co-ed 7-on-7 flag football, tackle football, soccer, baseball and softball programs.

However, board members and ITID staff suggested that there were issues to be ironed out before the district could enter into a new service provider agreement (SPA). The issues include more inSee AGREEMENT, page 7

Risa Suarez Takes Over As Panther Run’s New Principal

By Stacy Carchman Town-Crier Staff Report

Panther Run Elementary School in Wellington will start the new school year with a new principal, but not a new face at the school.

Risa Suarez, previously the assistant principal at the school, has been promoted to principal. She takes over for Edilia de la Vega, who was recently named the director of professional standards for the School District of Palm Beach County.

Suarez has been with Panther Run, an A-rated school, since 2017, but she has 25 years of experience as an educator. Suarez started her career in Broward County before moving to Palm Beach County.

“I went into education for the opportunity to make a positive impact in children’s lives,” she said.

Suarez holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership, both from Florida Atlantic University. She is a reading specialist and has a strong literacy and intervention background, along with being nationally board certified in literacy. Earlier in her career, Suarez taught at Royal Palm Beach Elementary School and Pierce Hammock Elementary School. In addition, she was the single school culture coordinator at Crosspointe Elementary School.

“What I like about Panther Run is the family connection, positive school culture, passionate staff and PTA, and the Village of Wellington is very supportive,” Suarez said. “Everyone, including business partners, are very dedicated to student achievement.” Her goals for the future of Pan-

New Sculpture Will Reflect How Residents Feel About ‘Home’

By Denis Eirkis

Staff Report

Royal Palm Beach residents were asked by sculptor Beth Nybeck last week, “What memories comes to mind when you think of home?”

Nybeck is an internationally recognized sculptor and public artist. She creates elegant metal artwork that explores the human connection to the world around us. She is interested in activating her sculptures through public interaction, inviting residents to collaborate in her creative process.

The artist traveled from her Kansas City studio to Royal Palm Beach last week to create a dialogue with residents. She staged three outreach events, all designed to ask village residents about their feelings toward their community.

“The village advertised two listening sessions, both at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park during the Shakespeare performances, but I added a third session at a senior living facility, because I specifically wanted to hear what some of our wisest and most mature residents have to say about home,” she said.

The object of her outreach is to harvest phrases and sentences that she can then incorporate into the sculpture.

Betty Lantiere has lived in Royal Palm Beach for more than 35 years. For the last three years, she has called the Capstone at

Royal Palm, a senior living facility, her home.

“When I think of home, I think of family get togethers each holiday with all of us around the big table with flowers on it, so I submitted the phrase ‘love in bloom,’” Lantiere said.

Marilyn Walsh, a retired teacher who also lives at the Capstone, thought along similar lines and submitted, “center of love.” When asked to expound, she said, “The funny thing is, when I think of home, I think home is the center of everything.”

The artist harvested scores of ideas, phrases and sentences both at the Capstone and during outreach at the park. Fifty of the best phrases will be cut into 3/8-inch-thick aluminum plate and incorporated into the sculpture. The village has veto power over any inappropriate or controversial phraseology.

More than a hundred submissions have been received. Submissions include: “Bike rides, See ROOTED, page 4

ther Run include continuing high expectations for academic excellence for all students, ensuring a safe and secure learning environment, developing well-rounded students prepared for future success, and building community involvement and strong relationships with staff and families to support the learning environment.

“I want to create an environment where children feel involved, supported and challenged to reach their full potential,” Suarez said. “I want to take Panther Run to the next level and continue the foundation I started there seven years ago.”

has

See GRANTS, page 7

Suarez

three adult children — Victoria, 23; Jordan, 27; and Nico, 34. Her hobbies include reading, cycling, spending time at the beach, and spending time with her family and friends.

The Shakespeare by the Palms IV production of King Lear took place Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28 at the Royal Palm Beach Commons Park amphitheater. Considered “one of the greatest tragedies ever performed,” this year’s professional production of King Lear was adapted and directed by Trent Stephens. Shown above is Amy Simms as King Lear with Sara Grant as Cordelia and Lee Ritter

Previously the assistant principal, Risa Suarez was recently promoted to principal at Wellington’s Panther Run Elementary School.

Artist Beth Nybeck with a model of “Rooted,” the sculpture she is designing for the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

Hosts ‘Back To School Party In The Park’ At Amphitheater

in the Park

at the Wellington Amphitheater.

Sheriff Bradshaw Faces Primary Challenge In Bid For Sixth Term

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

After serving 20 years as the county’s top law enforcement officer, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is seeking a sixth term this year. To win, Bradshaw, a Democrat, will need to first earn his party’s nomination in the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Bradshaw faces a challenge from Alex Freeman, a career law enforcement officer who retired as a major from the Riviera Beach Police Department. Freeman has run unsuccessfully against Bradshaw twice before, in 2020 and 2016.

The winner of the BradshawFreeman primary will face the winner of a Republican primary, also set for Aug. 20, between former Bradshaw ally Michael Gauger and Bradshaw’s 2020 general election opponent Lauro Diaz (see related story below)

Ric Bradshaw — A fixture in Palm Beach County since his election as sheriff in 2004, Bradshaw was also well known locally for years before that.

“I am the current sheriff of Palm Beach County, and I previously

served as chief of police for the City of West Palm Beach,” Bradshaw said. “In addition, I have been chairman of the Florida Sheriff’s Emergency Task Force for Region 7 and the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region 7.”

A retired member of the United States Marine Corps, he is a graduate of the Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management and a master’s degree in administration specializing in emergency management.

Bradshaw has also served on the executive board of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Palm Beach County Chiefs of Police, the Law Enforcement Planning Council, the Police Executive Research Forum and the Florida Sheriffs.

“I am the most prepared, experienced and qualified choice to lead the sheriff’s office,” Bradshaw said. “As the head of Palm Beach County’s largest law enforcement agency, I have overseen six departments, 4,300 employees and roughly 1,500 volunteers. From

community policing to homeland security, I’ve worked to ensure that Palm Beach County is one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies, and I have the experience needed to keep it that way.”

Among his top accomplishments as sheriff, Bradshaw noted that he launched mental health teams to provide services to those who need it; organized task forces and law enforcement strategies to bring down gangs, hunt down cyber predators and lock up human traffickers; implemented new technology, including a crime center that provides real-time information to law enforcement agencies and deputies on the street; and invested $13 million in confiscated funds from criminals to support local community programs for children, seniors and underserved communities. Bradshaw also noted that he is a national leader in implementing law enforcement best practices, including “tactical pause” training and body cameras. His focus over the next four years would be on “homeland security improvements, enhancements to the mental health unit I

started, community policing expansion and technology improvements to increase our ability to be more efficient across Palm Beach County.”

Bradshaw noted that under his leadership, the PBSO has been recognized as one of the nation’s most professional law enforcement agencies and that he has demonstrated his ability to effectively lead the agency.

“I am seeking re-election to continue the necessary work to keep Palm Beach County safe,” he said. “My focus is on achieving results that improve public safety, including the implementation of new mental health programs that provide essential services to the community and the upgrade of technology, such as the real-time crime center. The real-time crime center provides deputies with essential real-time information that is crucial in today’s connected world. We have also equipped deputies with body cameras to enhance transparency. Our task forces are targeting gangs, cyber predators and human traffickers. Additionally, my experience on the FBI’s

Joint Terrorism Task Force contributes to protecting our county.”

To learn more about Bradshaw, visit www.ricbradshawforsheriff.

com.

Alex Freeman — Freeman, who has run twice before for sheriff, has a long background in law enforcement.

“I have been certified as a police officer in the State of Florida for the past 31 years,” he said. “I rose through the ranks to deputy chief of police and chief of police in the

this month, he is set to receive a lifetime presidential achievement award from President Joe Biden.

“This is my third time running

Diaz And Gauger Face Off To Earn Republican Nod For Sheriff

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

Two candidates with deep ties to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will face off this month to win the Republican nomination for sheriff.

The Tuesday, Aug. 20 primary will include former PBSO Chief Deputy Michael Gauger and retired PBSO Capt. Lauro Diaz. Both are aiming to unseat fiveterm incumbent Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in November.

While Bradshaw is expected to win the Democratic nomination, he also faces a primary challenge Aug. 20 from Alex Freeman, a career law enforcement officer who retired as a major with the Riviera Beach Police Department (see related story above) Diaz ran against Bradshaw in 2020, taking 35 percent of the vote in the general election. Gauger, meanwhile, is a former Bradshaw supporter and senior staff member turned political challenger.

Lauro Diaz — Diaz has 37 years of law enforcement experience, including 27 spent at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Of-

fice. Among the positions he has held include deputy chief of police, captain of the Organized Crime Division, captain of training, captain of the Law Enforcement Division, captain of the Criminal Investigations Division, and captain of operations and 911 coordinator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in homeland security and emergency management.

“I truly believe that the sheriff’s office is the people’s office,” Diaz said. “The duty of the sheriff is to serve all, not just some, and citizens must always come first before politics. I believe that if we treat each other with equality, respect, professionalism, integrity, compassion and dignity, we can achieve a stronger and safer county.”

Diaz said that his core value is transparency and that he is familiar with operations and administration within the PBSO due to his long career there rising from a patrol deputy to the rank of captain.

“I would like folks to know that I come from a working-class family. My family legally immigrated from Cuba to the United States when I was very young, and I

served honorably in our United States Army,” Diaz said. “I am not only knowledgeable about all areas of policing, including administration, I am also well-versed in politics.”

Diaz believes that his experience, knowledge and concern for residents makes him the best person for the job.

“Most importantly, I sincerely care about the people in this county,” he said. “I am part of a minority population in this county. I grew up here and raised a family here. I know what it’s like to live as a minority person in this county. I have lived and worked here well over 30 years.”

Diaz said that his focus at the PBSO would be on law and order.

“I understand the need for social services, but our job is to work with our community partners in social services and not be the actual social services office of Palm Beach County,” he said. “We are the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. We are here to serve the people. We do that best through the investigation and arrest of people who commit crimes within our jurisdiction.”

Diaz said that a reorganization will be necessary to implement better transparency and to better address the needs of the community.

“The overall goal is to help the members of Palm Beach County to feel heard and represented and to lower crime,” he said. “My goals for the first 30 days are to stop the rampant spending occurring at the sheriff’s office, form community work groups that include problemsolving officers and community members to address community concerns/challenges, and to reorganize the administration.”

He will continue by focusing on building relationships and fighting homelessness.

“My accomplishments for the next 60 days will include continuing the work that began in the first 30 days and to also begin a concentrated effort to form stron ger working relationships with the school board police, so we work as a team to help improve school safety for all students in Palm Beach County,” Diaz said.

ing the rise in drug offenses and other criminal offenses that are on the rise.”

is married to his wife Ines and has two sons, Lauro Jr. and

“Lerman, a West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney with deep experience, is the most likely change agent among 3 Democrats We recommend Gregg Lerman as the best choice”

Dave Aronberg has been a great public servant, but even Dave says it's time for a change. When Sheriff Bradshaw boasts that his Jail is the biggest mental health treatment facility, that's a red flag for improving things in our Criminal Justice System, before all those patients need to go to jail. There are tremendous opportunities for our new Palm Beach County State Attorney to improve the way we handle those needs which, along with substance abuse & homelessness, are the dominoes preventing us from lowering the Crime Rate.

Elder Fraud and Abuse are not being prosecuted. Rogue Cops who beat shackled prisoners are protected by the local Police Unions and get away with no criminal prosecution. Meanwhile poorly trained prosecutors demand jail time for poor Grandmothers who can't afford diapers and think they have no choice but to steal them for their grandkids.

With your help Gregg Lerman will change the current culture & Make Neighborhoods Safer Change will not come from within, not by electing one of the current Assistants running for Dave Aronberg's job

Paid by Gregg Lerman

City of Midway, Florida, and was the deputy chief of police in Jupiter Inlet Colony. I am a retired police major with the City of Riviera Beach.” Freeman added that in 2002, he was named police officer of the year by Victim Services of Palm Beach County, and

Diaz

ranks, and before his retirement, he served as the chief deputy, making him the senior executive staff officer for the Department of Law Enforcement and Corrections. He

Ric Bradshaw Alex Freeman

See FREEMAN, page 14

Lauro Diaz Michael Gauger

Candidates Make Pitches At Forum; Early Voting Starts Saturday

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

With primary election early voting beginning Saturday, Aug. 10, a number of candidates seeking state and local offices in the western communities squared off recently in a forum sponsored by Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter.

Some 50 attendees gathered at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center on Thursday, July 25 to hear from candidates for State House in districts 93 and 94, as well as seats 2 and 4 on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

Early voting continues through Sunday, Aug. 18 at convenient

locations across the county. All polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20, which is the day of the election. Vote-by-mail ballots must be received back to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Aug. 20. Learn more at www.votepalmbeach.gov. Baxter, who lives in The Acreage, said she initiated the forum because “it’s so important for us to make informed decisions when we’re going into the voting booth or filling out a ballot and mailing it in.”

She told attendees at the July 25 event that it is “absolutely imperative” that voters properly research candidates “to see what they stand

for because they will be making policies that affect our lives.”

Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo served as moderator and asked each candidate a series of prepared questions and several supplied by the audience. Candidates also were given time to sum up their reasons for seeking elected office.

Four of the six candidates for ITID Seat 2 attended — Lou Colantuoni Jr., who owns a boatyard and dealership in Jupiter; incumbent Supervisor Keith Jordano, who owns an insurance agency; John Rivera, owner of Sunshine Safe & Lock; and Richard Vassalotti II, a retired captain with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue.

Candidates Kirk Ljongquist, who owns a construction business, and Stian Oksavik, who works for a telecom company, did not attend. All the Seat 2 candidates in attendance agreed that they would strive to develop greater unity in the community and that increased traffic on ITID roads is a major issue. They mostly blamed the area’s traffic woes on development pressure from the nearby Avenir and Westlake developments, and the failure of the state to complete the State Road 7 extension from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd. That project has been delayed by legal wrangling for years. They also focused on preserving ITID’s semi-rural lifestyle and

expressed concerns that the unincorporated area may be annexed piece by piece by surrounding municipalities.

“This community is under exceptional pressure right now, and that is what I’m here to fight against,” Colantuoni said. “To protect the community from the pressure from outside developers and neighboring municipalities.”

Jordano said that his four years of experience on the board have positioned him well to help maintain the community’s equestrian ethos and continue its progress. “I want to see more inclusivity,” he said. “Improved communication is the answer to all our evils.” Rivera said he wanted to make

sure that his daughters and grandchildren are able to enjoy the lifestyle that he has had over several decades. “I’d like to bring the community back together,” he said.

“I’m committed to protecting The Acreage, to protecting our residents,” Vassalotti said. “During my 15 years in fire-rescue [in The Acreage], I would have died for you. That’s who I am.” The evening’s only fireworks came when an audience question seemed aimed directly at the employer-employee relationship between Colantuoni and Seat 4 incumbent Supervisor Betty Argue, who is running for a third See FORUM, page 14

Westlake Tax Rate Coming Down; SID Assessments Going Up

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Many Westlake property owners will get a decrease in their 2025 municipal taxes if planned millage rate reductions hold up during upcoming budget hearings. At the second workshop of the budget season on Tuesday, Aug. 6, the Westlake City Council instructed City Manager Kenneth Cassel to cut the property tax rate from 4.95 to 4.70 mills. The reduction would result in a $180 savings for the average owner of a property valued at $600,000 for tax purposes, according to Cassel. The number does not include taxes from other government entities, and the amount an individual homeowner actually will pay also can be affected by increased property values.

To achieve the reduction, council members agreed to trim staff

plans to add $1,441,500 to the city’s reserves. Instead, the new budget would add $1 million to the $4 million already in place. The reserves are held in case of an emergency, such as a hurricane, and for use when state, federal or other grants require up-front matching dollars.

“I love the idea,” said Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor, who had been pushing for a rate reduction for the third year in a row. “I am so happy and proud to be making a significant cut while being fiscally responsible.”

A reduction to 4.90 mills had been on the table, but Cassel said that “at the direction of the council, we looked at the impact that slowing the growth of reserves would have. We saw that we could slow down and not be hurt.”

“This is a great job by staff,” O’Connor said.

Despite the proposed reduction, most Westlake property owners will be writing larger checks to pay for services under the assessment agreement created with the Seminole Improvement District (SID) when the city came into being in 2016. SID supplies most of the community’s infrastructure, including roads and drainage.

The average Westlake homeowner living on a quarter-acre lot will see a 30 to 37 percent increase — $262 to $294 — in their SID assessment, according to data supplied by the district. That will increase the average assessment from $829 to $1,107.

SID supervisors will hold their next meeting Monday, Aug. 19 and their budget hearing Monday, Sept. 9, both at 4 p.m. at Westlake’s municipal offices at 4001 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

“I understand there’s some con-

sternation out there on the part of some residents,” said Cassel, who also manages SID.

In a letter posted to SID’s web site at www.seminoleimprovementdistrict.com, the district administration wrote that the assessments are for everyone — including developers and commercial businesses — and is billed based on the level of services being used by the property owner.

“The individual or organization that owns the property pays the assessment, even if they do not have any structure on the property. For example, the owner of the property designated General Office will pay $887,565.62 this year. The owner of the property designated Retail will pay $392,226.64. The owner of the Taco Bell site will pay $29,414 and so on,” the letter explained.

SID’s 2025 budget is projected

to increase from $6 million to $7 million, that’s $2.7 million less than anticipated in 2016.

The $1 million increase would include $430,000 in capital improvements — $300,000 in park improvements and $130,000 in road and right-of-way repairs — and repayment of $287,000 for a drainage culvert on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

The letter explained that the original operations and maintenance methodology of 2016 that was adopted by SID projected build-out in 2036, with an operations and maintenance budget of approximately $21.7 million based on 4,546 single family residences and 2.2 million square feet of non-residential buildings.

The assessment rates in the projected 2036 buildout were between $2,593 and $3,807 depending on the single-family property size,

the letter continued. Currently, there are 3,825 single-family parcels platted (84.1 percent), while roads, pathways, landscaping and lakes are approximately 90 percent constructed.

The SID supervisors and administration “have been very conservative in their approach to operations and management of the district,” Cassel said. “As the city continues to build out in terms of both commercial and residential property, these rates will stabilize, but they will not go down.” Meanwhile, City of Westlake officials will hold their first public budget hearing Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Lodge at Westlake Adventure Park, located at 5490 Kingfisher Blvd. The 2025 fiscal year begins Oct. 1 for both the city and the district.

County Ballot Question Asks Voters To Extend Tax Break Program

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

On the Tuesday, Aug. 20 primary election ballot, voters will choose whether to renew Palm Beach County’s ability to give certain economic development tax breaks to employers for creating or retaining jobs.

County Question 1 is titled “Economic Development Property Tax Exemptions to New Businesses and Expansions of Existing Businesses” and would continue the Economic Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter, whose District 6 extends from the western communities to the Glades, supports keeping the Economic Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program.

“One of the things we need to do is incentivize businesses to be here,” she said.

Rooted

Thoughts About ‘Home’

continued from page 1 beautiful sunsets, bird watching, evenings together on the porch, chatter around the kitchen table during family gatherings, great friends (at every stage of life), favorite foods in the cupboard, warm smiles, bread baking, walls filled with memories past and present, Sunday dinners, the smell of orange blossoms on a salmon-colored sky, and always having a place to come back to.”

The “Rooted” sculpture is one of the fruits of the village’s Art in Public Places program.

A Palm Beach County staff report shows the tax breaks were used by six businesses over the last 10 years, including two firms in Belle Glade, with the majority of the financial benefit going to tech stalwarts operating in northern Palm Beach County.

County staff has recommended prioritizing projects in areas needing economic development. Baxter said it could help if more businesses knew about the program. “One of the things I’ve been advocating for is better messaging,” Baxter said. “The larger corporations seem to know where to look for these things. We should be trying to help all businesses.”

Promoting high-quality jobs is a key issue in her district, Baxter said at a Palm Beach County Commission meeting in January before she introduced a motion to put the renewal before voters.

The village established the Art in Public Places section of the code to enhance the quality of the visual environment in the community.

Mario Lopez Pisani, the village’s public art professional, explained, “There are four main benefits to the village’s art in public places program: 1) to increase public access to art and the aesthetically designed environment, further promoting understanding and awareness of the visual arts for the public, 2) to contribute to civic pride and economic development, 3) to enhance the climate for artistic creativity in the village, and 4) to enrich the public environment for both residents and visitors to the area through the incorporation of the visual arts.”

Nybeck’s large-scale metal sculptures are featured in parks,

TOWN-CRIERTHE

The commissioners approved the referendum 6-0 with little discussion and no comments from the public.

The county tax incentives amounted to $6.25 million over the last 10 years. Combined with other forms of state and local assistance, they helped create or retain more than 5,000 jobs countywide, according to a staff report.

They helped stimulate more than $420 million in capital improvements at manufacturing plants and other facilities and created an estimated five-year economic impact of $5.7 billion, the report noted.

The minimum requirements to apply for the tax breaks call for creating and sustaining at least 10 jobs. Recipients of such tax breaks between 2013 and 2023 have included Finfrock Enterprises LLC, a builder of pre-cast concrete

universities, airports, and downtown plazas across the country. She was very pleased with the submissions harvested during her three village outreach events.

“Each city has its unique vibe, culture and experience,” she said. “I was really pleased to speak with so many Royal Palm Beach residents. Some submissions were kind of expected, but we received some really unique feedback.”

“Home,” and the sculpture, mean different things to different people. Krista Manuel, a 12-year resident, applauded the effort. “I love this art program and am so happy the artist is reaching out,” she said. “I love living in Royal Palm Beach because of cool neighbors and because there are so many parks and programs for my kids.”

Meanwhile, resident Virginia

structures with operations in Belle Glade, records show. It received $400,000 in ad valorem tax incentives.

Another was Tellus, a maker of sustainable plates and packaging using sugarcane fiber, with a manufacturing plant in Belle Glade. It got $850,000 in tax breaks. Tellus is jointly owned by three parent companies, Florida Crystals Corp., the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida and American Sugar Refining Inc., according to its web site.

The agenda item considered by the county commission included recommendations from county staff. “Staff is recommending that if the program is approved by the Board of County Commissioners and subsequently by the voters, that the program criteria provide a preference for businesses locating or expanding in low-income

Knebel said one word comes to her when she thinks of “home” — music. It’s not a surprise, since Knebel is a retired piano teacher.

The sculpture will be fabricated in the artist’s studio in Kansas City before traveling to Royal Palm Beach. In November of this year, “Rooted” will be installed near the reflecting pool at the north entrance to Royal Palm Beach Village Hall. The total budget for the artwork is $100,000.

Councilwoman Jan Rodusky, who has advocated for the Art in Public Places program since 2016, said, “I am thrilled about our Art in Public Places program and in this wonderful piece ‘Rooted’ in particular.”

See more of artist Beth Nybeck’s work at www.bethnybeck. com.

census tracts where a majority of households have a median income of 80 percent or less or a poverty rate of 20 percent or higher,” according to county reports.

Many companies taking advantage of the tax breaks are not necessarily operating in lower-income settings.

Beneficiaries in the last 10 years have included Pratt & Whitney, which develops aircraft engines west of Jupiter. It saw almost $1.4 million in tax breaks. Another $3.6 million combined went to Carrier, Otis and other technology and equipment providers in or near Palm Beach Gardens.

The tax inducements, along with other aid such as direct state and local grants, have resulted in 2,246 jobs retained and 2,800 jobs created in the last 10 years, according to the staff report.

Documents describing the pro-

gram’s purpose refer to attracting companies to locate a facility in the county or expand an existing one. Large companies tend to find the process easier to navigate than smaller ones. Individual applications come before the county commission for approval, and typically involve a compliance and verification agreement with the county and a letter of credit or cash bond to secure approval, records show. The program has twice been authorized by voters for 10-year periods, in 2004 and 2014.

A YES vote on the Aug. 20 ballot will extend the program for another decade. A NO vote denies permission to the county to continue offering such incentives. The matter is open to all voters, even those registered without a political party in a voting period largely associated with party primaries.

Artist Beth Nybeck discusses her sculpture with Elise Autwell.

Beth Nybeck interacts with residents at the Capstone.

Marilyn Walsh checks out a model of “Rooted.”

WCF ‘Back To School Teacher Appreciation Luncheon’ A Success

By Shannon Anastasio Town-Crier Staff Report

Vice Mayor John Mc-

and Councilwoman

Community Services Department members Jenifer Brito and Ian Williams. Their participation underscored the community’s commitment to supporting its educators.

Addressing the prevalent issue of many students arriving to school without essential supplies, the Wellington Community Foundation provided each teacher with a box full of new school supplies, meticulously selected for their specific grade levels. This initiative offered much-needed support as

teachers prepare for the upcoming school year.

“All too often, teachers must spend their own money to ensure that students in need have the same access to much-needed school supplies, and this year we decided to help relieve that pressure,” WCF Chair Barry Manning said.

The luncheon fostered an atmosphere of gratitude and camaraderie, where teachers enjoyed a meal, networked with peers and shared experiences, as well as catching up after summer break. The presence of the community leaders highlighted the collective commitment

to education and the importance of creating a supportive environment for both educators and students.

“We chose two of the seven Wellington elementary schools this year as our test to see what the response would be from teachers for this type of event, and we could not believe the overwhelming response from the more than 86 teachers from those schools. We know there is a need, and we love getting the school supplies directly into the hands of the teachers in the classroom. Next year, we hope to expand the event to include more schools — possibly all seven,”

said Maggie Zeller, chair of the foundation’s Children’s Committee.

Along with lunch and a storage container filled with school supplies, each classroom was supplied with three bulk snack items for those days students in need show up empty handed. “It will also help offset teachers spending their own money,” WCF Vice Chair Jim Sackett said.

The foundation put together small “survival kits” for each teacher as well to show appreciation for all they do for students. It included essentials they will need

to make it through the year. The success of this inaugural event sets a promising precedent for future initiatives aimed at supporting educators. The Wellington Community Foundation looks forward to continuing this partnership and expanding its reach in the years to come. For those unable to attend, stay tuned for future opportunities to engage and support the community’s dedicated teachers. For more information about the Wellington Community Foundation, visit www.wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Roxanne Stein, Elena Villanueva Perez, Barry Manning, Herta Suess and Jim Sackett.

WCF board members Barry Manning, Don Gross, Jim Sackett, Terri Kane, Maggie Zeller, Herta Suess, Roxanne Stein and Bob Margolis.

Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Luke Manfredi, Roxanne Stein, Stephanie Funk and Terri Kane.

Jim Sackett, Maggie Zeller, Bob Margolis, Natalie Cummings, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Roxanne Stein, Don Gross, Herta Suess, Terri Kane, Ian Williams, Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Barry Manning and Jenifer Brito.

Jennifer Tomlinson, Terri Kane, Herta Suess and Alyssa Thibodeau.

Merissa Richer, Nicole Galavage, Jim Sackett and Victoria Ondo.

Herta Suess, Jenifer Brito, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Barry Manning, Sara Cabrera, Maggie Zeller, Don Gross and Ian Williams.

Yudermis Maranje and Lisandra Roman-Bromfield.

Roxanne Stein, Anelize Core and Jim Sackett.

WCF board members Jim Sackett and Roxanne Stein with Chick-Fil-A representative Gregory Arthur.

Wellington

Govern

Maria Antuña, along with

with his wife, CBS12 News Anchor Liz Quirantes and Louie the wonder dog!

RE-ELECT

Early Life and Education

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana.

Early Work: I started at my dad’s construction company at age 7, earning $7 a week.

Education: I hold a business degree from Loyola University of the South, where I served as President of the City College Student Government and VP of the Student Union. I also earned an associate degree in business computer programming.

My Professional Background

Early Career: I worked for the U.S. Department of Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Louisiana and Texas, managing configuration and logistics.

Government Work: I transitioned to the Department of Defense, overseeing computer inventory for the U.S. Navy Reserve. I served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 13 years in Special Forces Special Boat Unit 22, earning multiple commendations and awards.

Private Sector: I became a broker with MetLife, achieving various certifications and traveling across the U.S. to enroll large companies in their benefits programs.

Community Involvement

Acreage Landowners Association: As President, I initiated volunteer groups for elderly support and improved community communication.

Local Organizations: I served as VP of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, President of the Royal Palm Beach Rotary, and VP of Legislative Affairs for Palm Coast Health Underwriters and Life Underwriters, representing them in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Special Needs Advocacy: I served as President of Unity for Kids, an inclusionary school for special needs children.

Political Career

Indian Trail Improvement District: I was elected to the Board of Directors in 2020, currently serving as Treasurer. I represent ITID at PBC Leagues of Cities, RPB council meetings, SID Meetings, TCRPC, and the Equestrian Trail Committee.

Vision for the Future

Lower Taxes: I am committed to reducing the tax burden on residents.

Infrastructure Improvements: I will address traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and improve drainage systems.

Recreational Facilities: I aim to upgrade park facilities for both youth and adults, including equestrian activities.

Community Safety: I will focus on safer equestrian trails, work with county to make our roads safer and protecting community boundaries.

Communication and Unity: I advocate for better communication among residents and promoting unity within the district.

My Personal Motto:

“People above politics”

Closing Message:

I’m Keith Jordano, and I believe in the values of God, family, and country. I stand for all residents of the district and strive to foster unity over divisiveness. Your support on August 20th, 2024, will help me continue to serve and improve the Indian Trail Improvement District.

RPB Zoners OK Change For New Building At University Centre

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission granted a site plan modification approval on Tuesday, July 23 for a new office and medical building on Belvedere Road just east of State Road 7.

George Missimer of the architectural firm Cotleur and Hearing spoke on behalf of applicant Belvedere Road LLC regarding plans for the new Building C at University Centre, which will be home to professional and/or medical offices.

Located at 9701 Belvedere Road, the building under discussion is the eastern-most building on the University Centre site. The other buildings there are part of the adjacent South University campus.

“We are not adding any building area,” Missimer explained. “What we are doing is including medical office as an allowable use within the development. It was originally not included as part of the plan.” He noted that the site has enough

parking for the use, and additional amenities will be included, such as a playground area added for a potential user to the facility.

“This building will be a beautiful addition to the village,” Missimer said of the new 30,000-square-foot building under construction.

Other amenities will include an electric vehicle charging station, benches and bike racks, and modified landscaping. The playground area will remove one parking spot and 10 feet of loading space.

Resident Richard Cutler, who lives near the subject property, spoke during the time for public comment. He owns the first house in the Sand Drift Villas community near the gate off Belvedere Road in the Breakers West neighborhood.

“My major concern is what kind of noise level this is going to make, especially with a playground in there,” Culter said. “Is there going to be a noise increase from kids playing all the time? Everybody always thought that was going to be another college building, but it is turning out not to be.”

Missimer said that it will not be a public playground, nor a playground associated with a daycare facility.

“It is a very small playground facility that is an accessory to a user,” he said, explaining that the client is a physical therapy practice for children. “It will not be going all day long, and it will not be a noise generator at all.”

According to a June press release from the commercial real estate firm Katz & Associates, the first floor of the building (13,341 square feet) has been leased to ABA Centers of Florida, an autism testing and therapy center. Slated to open in December 2024, it will be ABA Centers of Florida’s fifth location, along with existing centers in Boca Raton and Jensen Beach, and soon-to-open Orlando and Tampa sites.

Culter also questioned if the electric vehicle charging station will be open the public, concerned that it might bring additional traffic.

Missimer said that it will be

open to the public, but they expect only users on the site to regularly take advantage of it.

The building will operate during standard business hours, and the developer accepted a condition stating that it will not be used as a daycare facility, which would require a special exception use.

The site plan modification was approved unanimously by the commissioners and will now head to the Royal Palm Beach Village Council for final approval.

In other business:

• The commissioners approved a plan to modify the existing building façade at one of the buildings in the Villages Shoppes commercial center a 10469 Southern Blvd.

The building in question is part of Phase 4, which includes several restaurants and retail operations off Southern Blvd. between the Taco Bell and Access Specialty Animal Hospital.

Michael Rem spoke on behalf of owner JBL Development.

“When we hired a contractor to do the previously approved

work, we realized that this building was very similar to the Access building, which is also on our property. The previous approval was a bit of a mismatch,” Rem explained. “We are using the same kit of parts, but we are deploying them in a manner that is more consistent with the Access building, rather than some of the other buildings on site.”

The change was approved unanimously.

• The Mazda car dealership at 9305 Southern Blvd. was granted unanimous approval to construct a new car wash and detail building behind the existing dealership building.

According to Josue Leger, senior planner for the village, the proposal adds the car wash to the existing sales facility on a 33acre parcel in a limited industrial zoning district. The overall site was approved as part of the threedealership development in 2005.

The new building will be 3,225 square feet with no changes to access. The owner noted that the

other two dealerships have car washes, which is a growing trend in the industry as part of car service departments.

• Finally, the board approved a series of changes to the Paint Lux Autobody property at 6846 Seminole Palms Drive. Included were a plat approval, special exception approval and site plan approval. The changes added an additional .235 acres to the overall 1.821acre site.

Paint Lux recently bought half of an available piece of surplus property on Seminole Palms Drive from the Village of Royal Palm Beach. As part of the sale, the village required them to bring the land they purchased into their existing development, Leger said. He explained that the goal is to enlarge the existing Paint Lux facility parking lot. The special exception granted the site approval for automobile and/or watercraft repair/service. Should Paint Lux cease operations, the special exception will expire and doesn’t go with the property.

Developer Provides Updated Plan For Groves RV Park Proposal

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

Two months after pitching a high-end recreational vehicle park, a developer was back before the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council at a quasi-judicial hearing Tuesday, Aug. 6 with updated plans. However, residents who strongly opposed the idea in June were no more favorable toward it in August.

Town Attorney Tanya Earley explained that the code forbids ex parte communications, so this type of meeting is the only way the developer can get direct input from the council. While the council listened to the presentation by developer Gabriel Bove of the Bove Company, they did not provide much input.

The 47-acre RV park is eyed for three combined parcels at the southeast corner of Collecting Canal and C Road. That puts it east of the Groves Town Center project

and north of Southern Blvd. with access from C Road.

Four of the five council members attended, including Councilman Robert Shorr, who had recused himself at the June meeting because he had recently sold property in the area. He has since gotten an opinion from the Commission on Ethics allowing him to participate in the discussions.

Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia did not attend.

Bove said his company has learned a lot since the last meeting and made significant updates to the plan.

“We took the time to come and meet with as many representatives of the town as we could to find out what they like and they dislike,” he said. “We have modified our proposals immensely.”

To better blend into the community, Bove plans to keep the C Road tree canopy and reforest the area, adding an “eco-trail” that would ring the property. Preserva-

tion areas would be dedicated to the town, he added.

“We would like to make this a real amenity for the town to be proud of,” he said.

He also plans to keep the natural feel of the property and use a more rural theme. In that regard, Bove changed the architecture to better fit in with the town. This included metal roofs, porches and railings.

To address the concerns about visibility, they plan to reforest the area along the canal and create a three-foot berm with a hedge around the entire site.

“The visibility would be 100 percent opaque. You would not see the RVs,” Bove said. “We would plant the berm area first while we are constructing the park.”

Lighting levels will be low at 15 feet to provide illumination for the guests, but not to “light up the property like a football field,” he added.

Bove stressed that it will “not be a run-down RV park,” but instead

will cater to more expensive motorhome coaches.

“Our clientele wants to be in this area. We have run a market study that shows tremendous demand,” he said.

He also disputed concerns about harming property values by bringing in case studies showing that RV parks done well tend to raise property values.

Bove also stressed that there will be no permanent addresses for guests at the park, and no mailboxes will be given. Also, background checks will be done on anyone who wants to stay more than 30 days.

Regarding concerns about crime, Bove said that RVs parks tend to have little impact on crime.

At the nearby KOA campground at Lion Country Safari, there were about 20 calls for service over the past year, but most were routine checks or 911 calls, not for crime issues.

Regarding issues of traffic and

New Westlake Fitness Trail Is Now Open

Minto Communities USA, developer and lead builder in the Westlake community, has completed the construction of a 39-acre linear park that is now open to residents and the public.

The Westlake Fitness Trail features a one-mile asphalt path carved around a scenic lake for walkers, joggers and bikers to get some exercise. Those looking for a more ambitious training experience can utilize the circuit of nine stations strategically installed along the way.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Minto, along with Westlake city officials and representatives of the Seminole Improvement District (SID), held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the trail, which Minto built and then turned over to SID to own and operate. Cotleur & Hearing served as the landscape architect.

The Westlake Fitness Trail is meticulously landscaped with clusters of palms and flowering and shade trees. The main entrance is off Green Lane, east of the Ilex Way intersection with a small parking area for bicycles and golf carts. A secondary access point is

located off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, just north of Sycamore Drive. The trail will be open daily from dawn to dusk.

“Our goal from the very beginning was not just to build quality, affordably priced homes at Westlake, but to create an active lifestyle to go with it,” Minto Senior Vice President John Carter said. “It gives us great pleasure to provide this wonderful amenity for residents to engage in healthy activities while immersing themselves in the natural beauty this site affords.”

The fitness stations along the trail are far from typical. They feature obstacle-style equipment such as overhead ladders, vertical cargo nets, slanted walls and rope climbs. These elements are designed to cater to fitness enthusiasts looking to challenge themselves or individuals seeking to add excitement to their daily runs.

“We are so proud and excited to cut the ribbon on our new fitness trail,” Westlake Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said. “This is yet another amenity that will promote the Westlake way of life, health and fitness and bring the community together.”

get first-priority scheduling for its activities, “but if they’re not using it, I don’ see why someone else can’t.”

egress, he noted that access to the site is from Southern via C Road, but C Road does not cross the canal, so there are only a few users of the road.

“There will be no impacts to traffic on the rest of the town,” Bove said, adding that he would dedicate land to extend Tangerine to C Road, if the neighbors and the town want to.

He also said it could be possible to put a light at C Road, which would also benefit Wellington’s Binks Forest Elementary School on the other side of Southern.

Bove expects about 12 guests arriving and departing each day, which they do not expect will create a significant traffic impact, particularly when compared to other commercial uses.

He noted that his plan is a different type of property than from people who are renting out RVs at home sites. His will be significantly more expensive with more amenities.

“We think we are two different types of property offerings,” Bove said. “We will not be taking away from any town residents’ income from leasing space on their property.”

The RV park would be a buffer between intense commercial use to the west and residential use to the east, he said, adding, “We think it is an ideal location with the surrounding land uses.”

Land use, zoning changes and the site plan will be submitted at one time, hopefully on Aug. 26, Bove said. It will be site-specific for an RV resort, with no other possible use.

Aside from the “eco trail,” another added value to the town would be a two-acre impoundment area at a corner of property for the town’s use. They also want to host a farmer’s market open to the public and have a community

garden on the property.

Net income to the town would start at $30,000 the first year and go up to about $180,000 annually.

“While we will cater to equestrians in season, we will also be catering to folks traveling through to see family in South Florida. We are very confident the demand is there,” Bove said.

While the council agreed to a request by Bove to discuss the financials of the plan with the town’s Finance Advisory & Audit Committee, they were not in favor of setting up special meetings that circumvent the standard process.

“You apply, and you would go through the process like anyone else,” Shorr said. “We are not approving any special meetings for you.”

About a dozen members of the public spoke at the meeting, and all were against the project.

Bianca Berktold, who owns property near the site, said she began collecting signatures against the project after the June meeting.

“On my own, I got 90 signatures against this whole thing. Everybody said it was a bad idea,” she said.

Berktold turned in her group’s petitions, which had about 150 signatures against the project.

Aly Daly predicted the project will not have high-end clientele, particularly during equestrian season, with more people per camper than they are expecting.

“Everything you presented today is very aspirational,” she said. Paul Coleman characterized the proposal as “real estate speculation.” He was not impressed by the “eco-trail” idea.

“Just because you put a trail on the property, doesn’t mean you’re going to get approved,” he said. “We stood up here last time and said we did not want this in our town.”

continued from page 1 depth background checks for coaches and volunteers; agreement on the amount of sponsorship dollars ITID will provide and how the money can be spent; the length of the new agreement; an effort to find ways to establish a resident and non-resident fee structure; and, most importantly, agreement on what is meant by AAL having “exclusive” rights to Acreage Community Park fields and facilities.

“I’m torn,” Farrell said. “This is Acreage Community Park, not AAL park.”

ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said that the AAL should

ITID Parks & Recreation Director Kenny Lawrence agreed but added that the exclusivity should include the understanding that no other group can come into the park and start a league of their own.

Supervisor Betty Argue, a longtime AAL supporter, agreed.

“Historically, the district has never supported a competing league to come in,” she said. “I just want to make sure of the distinction that this [Acreage Community Park] is the AAL’s home field.”

And in an unexpected legal twist, Lawrence told the gathering that he had found documentation stating that the AAL is a subcommittee of the Acreage Landowners’ Association.

The Westlake Fitness Trail complements the multi-milliondollar Westlake Adventure Park, which was completed in 2023.

Conceived to be the “new downtown” for central Palm Beach County, Westlake is a lifestylefocused, mixed-use community encompassing 3,800 acres with the capacity for 6,500 homes and 2.2 million square feet of retail, restaurant, office and other commercial development.

Westlake offers townhomes, single-family homes and estate homes starting in the $300s. This summer, Minto opened four new furnished models at its newest townhome neighborhood, the Terraces. For more information on Westlake, call (888) 299-3628 or visit www.westlakefl.com.

On the AAL web site’s history section, it states that a group of local residents “approached the Acreage Landowners’ Association (ALA) and asked for a donation. The ALA advised them to create a committee, which later became the first Acreage Athletic League Executive Board of Directors. The ALA donated $500 toward the Acreage Athletic League… The AAL incorporated in April 1995.” In those incorporation documents, the AAL lists itself as a subcommittee of ALA. Tirado and Grafton said they were unaware of any formal connection to the ALA and believed that if such a connection ever existed, it had been severed long ago. ALA President Bob Morgan, who was not at the meeting, later agreed saying it’s “no big deal.”

However, Lawrence said it might be impossible for the district to enter into a new SPA with the AAL without proof of that severance, or the AAL filing a new set of incorporation papers with the state.

The ITID board and the AAL scheduled another workshop for Wednesday, Aug. 28. Lawrence said this week that he has had no further discussions with the AAL. Tirado did not respond to phone calls or texts seeking comment.

Farrell, who has been critical of the AAL for what she sees as a lack of transparency among other issues, said later that she believed the session went well despite the moments of obvious friction.

“They’ve taken great strides so far,” she said. “They realize there are issues… What I appreciated was their willingness to listen.”

Following the increasing momentum of continuing the motorsports legacy in Palm Beach County, Madelyn Marconi will host a “State of Motorsports in Palm Beach County” community event on Monday, Aug. 12. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Riviera Beach Marina Event Center (190 E. 13th Street, Riviera Beach) and will update the motorsports community on the status of the project proposed by Palm Beach County at 20Mile Bend, following the closure of the Palm Beach International Raceway.

The event will include a panel discussion featuring “Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings” racecar driver Paige Coughlin; NHRA Southeast Division Director Cody Savage; former Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and “Beat the Heat” Director Rey Alonso; and iconic NHRA announcer and radio host Joe Castello. This grassroots event is responding to the county’s call for help developing a new motorsports facility in Palm Beach County. The presentation will highlight the benefits this motorsports facility will have on the county, including positive economic impact, an increase in tourism and diverse job creation. Marconi and the panel speakers will be available for interviews at the Riviera Beach Marina Event Center from 5 to 6 p.m. prior to the event. Contact Marconi at (561) 398-4320

dent absences, with 30 percent of students in some schools missing 15 or more days per school term. Issues there may include not just health anxieties coming out of the pandemic, but families thinking it’s OK to take children along for trips and long weekends in the post-pandemic world of more flexible work scheduling, officials said. The absences can add up and hurt academic performance, they worry.

next year. Stricter state regulations that took effect July 1 require restricted entry points to schools not just during class hours, but also during after-school and weekend activities.

Officials asked parents to help by allowing sufficient time for drop-off and pickup, as schools work to control access at gates and building entrances. Another concern has been stu-

Still, the challenges should not block out what the village is getting right, Committee Member Melissa Raineri said.

“I think everyone needs to hear a lot more of the positive stuff,” she said.

To learn more about why Fortune ranked Wellington as one of the best places for families, visit www.fortune.com/well/ranking/ best-places-families.

(L-R) Minto Senior Vice President John Carter, Seminole Improvement District President Scott Massey, Westlake Councilwoman Charlotte Leonard, Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor, Vice Mayor Greg Langowski, Councilman Julian Martinez and Councilman Gary Werner take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

(Above) An aerial look at one of the nine fitness stations.

(Left) The entrance to the Westlake Fitness Trail.

P.B. SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL STAGES ‘KING LEAR’ AT COMMONS PARK

The Shakespeare by the Palms IV production of King Lear took place Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28 at the Royal Palm Beach Commons Park amphitheater. Considered “one of the greatest tragedies ever performed,” this year’s professional production of King Lear was adapted and directed by Trent Stephens. The cast included Amy Simms as King Lear, Caroline Tarantolo as Regan, Casey McNamara as Albany, Darryl Willis as Gloucester, Julia Kirk as Oswald, Kelly Hussey as Goneril, Kyler O’Brien as Edgar, Lee Ritter as Kent, Matthew Paszkiet as Edmund, Sara Grant as Cordelia/The Fool and Seth Trucks as Cornwall. For more information, visit www.pbshakespeare.org.

DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Kevin Benavides with kitten Bre.

Director Trent Stephens with Ophelia.

Mark McKenzie and Beth Levinson enjoy a snack. Bina Joseph and Sheila Hooda.

Julian Diaz and Giselle Mendez with Luna.

Melynda Melear, Anne and Alan Gerwig, and Jon Winchester.

Sara Grant as Cordelia, Lee Ritter as the Earl of Kent and Amy Simms as King Lear.

Matthew Connor Paszkiet, Kyler O’Brien, Darryl Willis, Sara Grant and Caroline Tarantolo.

Amy Simms as King Lear with Caroline Tarantolo as Regan.

Matthew Connor Paszkiet, Kyler O’Brien, Darryl Willis, Casey McNamara, Kelly Hussey, Sara Grant, Caroline Tarantolo, Seth Trucks, Lee Ritter, Julia Kirk, Keira Martenson and Nat Cona-Calberg with (front) Amy Simms as King Lear.

Ava Kneedler and Danny Rodriguez. Alexandria Thomas and Robert Cerdas. Holly and Dan Wagner

SENIOR CITIZEN HEALTH EXPO AT THE ROYAL PALM BEACH CULTURAL CENTER

The Village of Royal Palm Beach presented a Senior Citizen Health Expo sponsored by Humana on Wednesday, July 31 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. An array of health and wellness vendors were on hand, as well as

and home helpers.

On Thursday, Aug. 1, Palm Beach State College President

Ava L. Parker welcomed Kevin O’Farrell, chancellor for the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career and Adult Education, to the Loxahatchee Groves campus so that he could learn more about the campus’s key workforce programs.

During the visit, O’Farrell toured the new 83,500-square-foot, four story Dental & Medical Services Technology Building under construction.

Joining them on the tour was Executive Dean Kimberly Lancaster; Health and Medical Innovations Director Ed Willey; James Storm, PBSC’s architect and assistant facilities planning manager overseeing the project, and the project team from Kaufman Lynn Construction.

O’Farrell, a Palm Beach County native, got an up-close look at

the building’s cutting-edge laboratories taking shape. He also visited an existing classroom at the Loxahatchee Groves campus, equipped with an Anatomage Table, the highly advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system for anatomy and physiology education.

O’Farrell shared in his excitement for this addition to the campus, as it will provide the central and western communities with a fully equipped dental clinic, a surgical technology suite, and science labs that incorporate cutting-edge equipment and technology for students pursuing careers as dental hygienists, dental assistants, surgical technologists and other healthcare occupations.

The building is set to open in February of next year with classes starting fall 2025.

“I’m incredibly impressed by

the scope of the project and its ambitious use of cutting-edge technology, which will really benefit students,” O’Farrell said.

During the visit, PBSC science professor Dr. Vetaley Stashenko demonstrated how the Anatomage Table enables students to visualize any organ in detail from a CT scan instead of an actual physical cadaver. Students are then able to print out a 3D structure of the organ, offering an unprecedented level of real anatomical accuracy. “It is so important for our students to not only visualize anatomy, but it is the ability to touch it that really brings learning to life,” Stashenko said.

O’Farrell shared in PBSC’s excitement for the new facilities at Loxahatchee Groves. “The fact that students have access to these kinds of innovative resources is what really will make the difference in their education,” he said.

Yasmeily Gonzalez gives a B12 injection to Wanda Dhoray.

Garry Hiebert and Ellen Murphy.

Patrice Schroeder of the 211 Helpline.

Young at Heart’s Ronni Kaplan, Francine Bryant and Sandy Rubin.

Carol Willis-Holden leads a tai chi demo.

Wellington Regional Medical Center

Marketing Director Pam Rada and Chest Pain Coordinator Tammy Levasseur.

Mandy Mejia, Luisa Velasquez and Lana De Le Valle of Water’s Edge.

Jenny Lopez and Barbara Searls.

Alicia Jean Pierre and Pamela Avalos of PR2U.

Denae Woodward of the Capstone at Royal Palm.

Palm Beach State College President Ava Parker and Kevin O’Farrell, chancellor for the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career and Adult Education, in front of the new Dental & Medical Services Technology Building under construction on the Loxahatchee Groves campus.

Gauger Republican Primary For PBC Sheriff

continued from page 3 as well,” Gauger said. “I have been innovative in my approach to solving crime, through making arrests and through prevention of crime by addressing the root of what causes it in the first place.

I brought community policing to this county in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It made a huge impact on not only neighborhoods, but the lives of their residents.”

In his work, he focused on building partnerships with residents, businesses and other government agencies. “The county added sidewalks, streetlights and other improvements. We worked with the Solid Waste Authority and had major neighborhood cleanups,” he recalled. “Code enforcement assisted and helped residents

Forum Candidates

Freeman Bradshaw’s Primary Challenger

continued from page 3 for this position. With my years of experience, I have prepared myself for this position being in law enforcement for this long,” Freeman said. “It is time for a new perspective, some fresh ideas and a new way of doing things.” He pledges to be more fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, which is not something he said that Bradshaw has been in recent years.

“Palm Beach County is in need of a sheriff who is going to be transparent, accountable and accessible to the voters, who ultimately serve as his employers, and I am the agent of change to do that,” Freeman said. Once elected, he said he would need to identify all the changes necessary, and then would put a

become current with community standards without issuing citations. The quality of life improved, as did the value of the homes.”

Gauger is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officer’s Course at the University of Louisville. He holds a master’s degree in social work from Barry University and attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Program. Gauger has also been an adjunct professor and guest lecturer.

“I am a fiscal conservative who has not only handled my personal finances carefully, but also when I worked and had oversight of spending at the PBSO,” Gauger said. “I helped develop programs that held staff accountable and closely monitored their spending. I found where we were overpaying for programs and found alternatives to lessen the impact on our budget.”

Gauger said that he is not just a candidate making promises.

for the last three years, Colantuoni said.

“That is a conflict of interest… It is unethical and shouldn’t be happening,” said Vassalotti, and Rivera agreed. Colantuoni said that he checked with an attorney and was told that there was nothing illegal about it.

plan in place to address agency operations.

“I would do an analysis in each area before I can intelligently determine what I would change,” Freeman said.

He said his focus as sheriff would be to put programs in place to stop people from constantly being rearrested.

“We must focus on recidivism and how we keep Palm Beach County safe,” Freeman said. “We have to address those men and women who find themselves part of a revolving door at the Palm Beach County Jail.”

He plans to work with mentorship programs and training programs and get more employers to work with the sheriff’s office to hold job fairs.

“These people need to be gainfully employed,” he said. “We must change their mindsets and keep families together. The goal is to get them on the right track and make them productive citizens.”

This also makes financial sense, since the county spends more than

“I am a known crime fighter, who finds ways to prevent crime in the first place,” he said. “I believe if we can change the behavior of addicts and alcoholics, they will not continue with the ‘revolving door of justice.’ If an inmate is healthy, he costs approximately $25,000 annually. If they are not healthy, the costs can exceed $100,000. I am the only candidate who has experience with corrections administration… I can, immediately, take office and initiate the changes that are needed to the budget and in designing programs that will place accountability to agency operations.”

Gauger believes that his service under six sheriffs makes him uniquely qualified.

“I learned from each one of them and have served in an administrative position for nearly 30 years,” he said. “I brought innovative programs to the county that reduced crime, recidivism and brought a better quality of life to neighborhoods. Not only

“It might be legal, but I don’t know if it’s really ethical,” said Jordano, adding that it could open the door for violations of Florida’s strict Sunshine Law, which forbids elected officials from discussing government business outside of public meetings. Argue, who did not attend the

$173 million each year to house inmates, Freeman said.

“We have to change the mindset to do things that are productive and save their lives,” he said.

He noted that Bradshaw has had health concerns in recent years, and that is another reason Freeman believes that voters should support his campaign.

“There is a huge concern for Bradshaw and his health,” Freeman said. “If he was to win a sixth term, the trepidation is that the governor could come in and appoint his successor. That is a huge concern for many voters in Palm Beach County.”

He also discussed recent revelations regarding expensive cars and bonuses for senior staff at the PBSO, adding that he would “save money for taxpayers.”

“We need to be more responsible with taxpayer dollars,” Freeman said. “It is time for a change and fresh, new ideas.”

To learn more about Freeman, visit www.alexfreemanforsheriff. com.

did I serve in law enforcement, but also with civic organizations. These include my church, where I serve on the church council, notfor-profit organizations dealing with substance abuse disorders, mental health, early childhood development, the Urban League and the board of JFK Hospital, plus many more.”

Gauger said that he has a record of fiscal responsibility and would implement needed changes.

“As our nation nears $35 trillion in debt, it appalls me a government could be so reckless with spending,” he said. “I will attack the sheriff’s office budget and reduce it immediately. It is well known that irresponsible spending habits have increased the sheriff’s budget to nearly a billion dollars.”

Gauger said that he will bring in an inspector general to monitor the agency, among other changes.

“I will examine the policy of transfers, promotions and advancements. I will ensure that no internal or external force will have

forum, said later that if she and Colantuoni served on the board together, there would be no Sunshine Law issues and no attempts to pressure her to vote a certain way.

“That’s not going to happen,” she said. “That’s not who Lou is, and it’s not who I am. Our relationship outside of ITID is separate.”

Trucker advocate and local businesswoman Natalia Melian Torres is taking on Argue in Seat 4. This is her first run for office.

“I believe my background in business will help me a lot, as I’m not a politician,” Melian said at the forum. “There’s a lot of room for improvement [on the board]. The biggest thing for me is to listen to the residents.”

In House District 94, which includes the Acreage/Loxahatchee area, Loxahatchee Groves, Westlake, parts of Royal Palm Beach, parts of Palm Beach Gardens and all of western Palm Beach County including the Glades, four Republicans and one Democrat are seeking the seat being vacated by State Rep. Rick Roth, a Republican, due to term limits.

Former Palm Beach Gardens

Mayor Rachel Litt is the only Democrat in the race and thus automatically advanced to the November election. She did not attend the forum, nor did Palm Beach Gardens resident Meg Weinberger, who has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

control of who will be promoted related to the pressure of a union or administrator,” he said.

As sheriff, his key focus would be on serving all communities, rebuilding community policing and bringing transparency to the agency.

“I have never been an administrator who sat in his office,” Gauger said. “I toured neighborhoods I was responsible for and held staff accountable. I will attend community meetings throughout my term and not just during election cycles.

I have always had an open door to the community and employees, and this will not change.”

Once a key ally to Bradshaw, Gauger has been sharply critical of his former boss, particularly in the areas of spending and the incumbent’s health.

“Employees are aware he has been an absent sheriff, spending time in North Carolina and being out with major physical challenges,” Gauger said. “He is not forthcoming with his medical issues,

The candidates who attended were nuclear engineer and Palm Beach State College adjunct professor Christian Acosta; Anthony Aguirre, who manages inpatient hospitalist medicine for highrisk organizations; and Gabrielle Fox, a small business owner and self-described “constitutionalist grassroots fighter.”

Roth has endorsed Acosta.

“I’ve been learning from my friend, Representative Roth,” said Acosta, who grew up in the county. “Local government matters. Good leadership matters. The right decisions really help people. This is the best way I can give back.”

Aguirre, a Wellington High School graduate, said he believes in treating the state finances “not as a handout but as a business, so that we can get things done quickly, on time and on budget… We need more business-minded people in government.”

Fox, an Illinois native who has lived in Florida for 20 years, said her emphasis would be on “state and county budgets to make sure longtime residents can continue to live here and not be taxed into oblivion.”

She added that “a lot of our problems are caused by career politicians” and pledged to donate her State House salary to her church and “other pro-family organizations.”

In House District 93, the candidates are incumbent State Rep.

but everyone close to him has seen the difference in his presence at the agency, leaving important decisions to others. In addition, his lack of holding employees accountable has resulted in huge civil liability payouts.”

He also feels that the sheriff’s approach to community policing misses the point. “It displays an ignorance of the two key fundamentals, building partnerships and solving problems together,” Gauger said. “The budget needs to be closely examined. The current sheriff is quite verbose in explaining his reasoning for the burgeoning budget, but what he lacks is transparency in the irresponsible decisions made that influence huge costs to the taxpayers.”

Gauger and his wife Phyllis live in Wellington and recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. They have two adult children who live locally. Learn more about Gauger at www.gaugerforsheriff.com.

Waldron, a Democrat who is completing her first term, and Republican Anne Gerwig, who recently stepped down as Wellington mayor due to term limits.

There is no primary in the race, so it will be decided at the general election in November. However, both candidates took part in the forum.

District 93 includes all of Wellington and western portions of Greenacres and Lake Worth.

Waldron said the three most important issues to voters in this election are homeowners’ and auto insurance, the need for “smart development,” and women’s healthcare — calling Florida’s recently implemented six-week abortion limit “essentially an allout ban.”

“I’m not a fan of culture-war bills,” she said. “We need to focus on more important things.” Gerwig said that “the day-to-day operations [in Tallahassee] seem disconnected to our community.” She agreed that the state’s insurance affordability crisis is the No. 1 issue on the minds of voters and pledged that she would not engage in negative campaigning.

“I never have,” she said. “There’s no need to be anything but kind to someone who puts themselves out to run for office.” The entire forum can be viewed on Baxter’s District 6 page at https://discover.pbcgov.org.

Katherine

My Top 3 Priorities as Your Next Sheriff:

Get the PBSO budget under control to lower your taxes! Over $900M and the Sheriff’s reckless spending is rampant.

Reestablish programs that improve the quality of life in our communities - programs that have all been eliminated by the current Sheriff.

Protect citizens' rights as outlined in the Constitution and ensure department-wide accountability. Law & Order

WELLINGTON GREEN, EDUCATION FOUNDATION HOSTS ‘A TOAST TO

Polo Park Middle School teachers Sheryl Beach, Kathryn Gilbert and Stefanie Ardizzone-Johnson.

Fern Long, Liz Slaman, Christy Haynes, Ashley Starr and Staci Dorish of Emerald Cove Middle School.

Crestwood Middle School’s Susan Tart and Wellington High School’s Virginia Santoni.

Office Depot General Manager Rob Joseph brought plenty of paper for the teachers.

Wellington High School’s Jorge Perdomo and Suzanne Reddoch.

Nicholas Ruggiero and Francina McGuire of Cypress Trails Elementary School.

Emerald Cove’s Byanjeru Gafabusa carries a collection of paper to take back to class.

Avia Barraco and Liz Sands of vendor Starbucks.

Kimberly Eisele won this raffle from Trader Joe’s.

Teachers check in for the event.

Kendall Popper and Kimberly Lopez of vendor Eyes of Wellington.

Kim Madore, Kristi Alvarez, Tiffany Swensson,

Teachers Kimberly Eisele, Christina Franklin, Laura Olender and Colleen Green.

Mall at Wellington Green General Manager Asad Sadiq speaks.

Education Foundation President James Gavrilos, a member of the Coastmen singers, introduces the group and welcomes the teachers.

Office Depot General Manager Rob Joseph, School Board Member Marcia Andrews, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Instructional Superintendent Vivian Green, Education Foundation Board Member Britnye Kurty and Councilwoman Maria Antuña.

Local teachers gather with Wellington Village Council members.

Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Mayor Michael Napoleone and Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri.

THE PALM BEACH JAMAICA INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL HELD

The Palm Beach Jamaica Independence Festival was held Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Wellington Amphitheater to celebrate Jamaica’s independence with a day filled with vibrant music, delicious food and exciting cultural activities. Learn more about the event at www.pbjamminfest.com.

PHOTOS BY BAILEY HASTINGS/TOWN-CRIER

IN WELLINGTON

Lakeside Market At Wellington Town Center Moving To Thursdays At The Wellington Amphitheater

The Village of Wellington recently announced that, beginning this fall, the Lakeside Market at Wellington Town Center will move to Thursday nights at the Wellington Amphitheater, located at 12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The change in location follows a successful series of Summer Lakeside Market “Pop-Up in the Park” events, hosted in combination with the popular Thursday night Food Truck & Music Series at the amphitheater.

Starting with the Lakeside Market’s Opening Day on Thursday, Sept. 5, attendees of the combined

events will get to experience the best of both.

There will be 18 food trucks, live local tribute bands and artists, and more than 40 market vendors to explore every week. Shop handcrafted goods, homemade desserts and pastries, sauces, honey, jewelry, unique gifts and more. Both events will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with live music starting at 6:30 p.m. Along with the move to Thursday nights, the Lakeside Market is extending its season. The 2024-25 market will take place every week from Thursday,

Sept. 5, through Thursday, May 29, 2025, with a few limited exceptions.

For additional information about the Lakeside Market, visit www.wellingtonlakesidemarket. com. Attendees can also find information on both events, along with vendors and food trucks expected to attend, at www.wellingtonfl. gov/events.

For future updates and announcements, follow the Lakeside Market on Facebook and Instagram (@wellingtonlakesidemarket) and the Wellington Parks & Recreation pages (@wellingtonflrec).

School District Of Palm Beach County Achieves An ‘A’ Rating

The School District of Palm Beach received an A rating for the 2023-24 school year, according to an announcement on July 24 by the Florida Department of Education. The district increased its overall ranking among other school districts statewide.

School districts and individual public schools receive letter grades from the Florida Department of Education based on several factors, including student performance on state tests, graduation rates and student performance on advanced coursework.

“Today’s announcement underscores the dedication of Palm Beach County’s families, teachers,

administrators, support staff and community members to educating, affirming and inspiring our students,” Superintendent Michael Burke said. “I’m especially proud of our students who put in the hard work to achieve this coveted ‘A’ rating. With the highest graduation rate among Florida’s largest urban school districts and an ‘A’ rating, Palm Beach County schools remain ‘Your Best Choice’ for students and families in Palm Beach County.”

This school year, 59 schools improved one or more letter grade, and 131 schools earned an “A” or “B” grade, which is the highest total number in the last five years.

Earlier this summer, the Florida Department of Education also released the 2023-24 school year assessment results. School District of Palm Beach County students achieved academic gains in almost all tested subject areas, especially Algebra 1, which saw the largest increase in growth among the seven largest school districts in the state. The district also saw an increase in the percentage of students scoring level 3 or higher in grades 3 to 10 combined for English Language Arts at a higher rate than the state. Learn more about the School District of Palm Beach County at www.palmbeachschools.org.

Attendees get ready for the festival to start.

Amaziyah the great (aka Craig A. Kirkland) is an author, poet and performer who was nominated for the International Reggae and World Music Awards.

Performers on the Wellington Amphitheater stage.

Janae and Patrice Hamilton

celebrate Jamaican culture. Neil and Gashia Specs watch the show. Yvonne Simpson and Winsome Tucker.

Innite Henns and Bernadette Fergus.

Gordon and Adwa Donovan enjoy the festival.

Addison Wendel and Kendall Bierer. Riley Stewart practices her hula hoop skills.

Andres Martinez holds a battering ram with help from SWAT tech Dave Feder.

John and Lauren Fernandez twirl the rope for their sons.

Sherry Mahoney with Hannah, Oliver, Reagan, Lacy and Sean Hennessey.

Saira Najera with SWAT tech Dave Feder.

Christian, Giovanni and Julius Rodriguez play Jenga.

Knox and Lyra Hernandez get their hands on a PBSO vehicle.

Mila and Demi Morejon with Juan Avilla.

PBSO deputies Casey Lussier, Roy Gonzalez, Madison Lamm and Brad Shouse.

Dannielle Menendez, Dr. Mike Graves, Wilma Gonzalez, Jessica Wilhelm and Dr. Amanda Stregnall of Palms West Hospital.

Roseann Voils, Anthony Aguirre, Kelli Schaming and Ramon Voils of sponsor the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation.

Bella Abreu visits with Barbie and Captain America.

Tara Kennedy, Jennifer Grisanty and Dr. Jonathan Murray of Murray Orthodontics. Palm Beach Central High School students Isabella Ryan, Marley Jensen and Lexy Diaz dance.

Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri, Mayor Michael Napoleone, Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Roseann Voils and Vice Mayor John McGovern.

Mayor Michael Napoleone, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Councilwoman Maria Antuña and Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri greet attendees.

KIRK LJONGQUIST

SEAT 2 – INDIAN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Lou Colantuoni, Jr: Lou started with his father’s outboard motor business (made famous during the famous hay days of late 70’s and 80’s) and is the employer of Betty Argue, a boisterous and rowdy pro-incorporation figure who now sits on the board and would be breaking the FL Sunshine Law daily discussing District Business together. Should he be elected, would he pull the strings on her for her vote as her employer? This is illegal and unethical Moreover, there should be a law opposing people from misrepresenting their proincorporation beliefs and past performances.

Keith Jordano (INC): After several failed election attempts, Keith finally made it to the board and is serving his first and last term. He has been a silent yes man on the board with little to no intellectual thought to add to any debate. Keith has no experience that lends itself to any furtherance for the Works of the District and therefore is dead weight. Furthermore, we do not need a board member who will be “hushed” by Betty. Thank you for your service Keith.

THE FIELD OF OPPOSITION

Stian Oksavik: Stian, a newcomer to the community and selfproclaimed “concerned resident” falls short of what is needed to actually manage and run the Works of the District. He has no history of the District’s positions, it’s legislation, its powers, its responsibilities, its revenue streams, nor its expenses. Thank you for your participation but…just no. We need people who will hit the ground running and cannot be convinced by staff that the sky is blue.

The Answer? Vote for KIRK LJONGQUIST! (Let’s get it right this time!)

John Rivera: John’s self-proclaimed qualifications are being a locksmith. Similar to Stian, this is not a qualification but another board member with no experience and a need to teach the history and the business of the District to. We don’t have the time or the staff that has the background to do that. Thank you John…but the key to the district is not a lock to be opened.

Richard Vassalotti II: Thank you Richard for your service as a fireman for PBC. Unfortunately, we cannot have someone serving the district with conflicts of interest with the very entity that is our #1 adversary. The county is working hard to steal our private roads and a vote to protect your job, your retirement, or your pension, is just not going to serve the district. To compare, our county commissioner who is a resident of our community and oversaw Minto’s initial zoning restrictions for road access (1way in and 1-way out), is also trying desperately to assist Minto in gaining additional access to our private roads.

I am the son of a hardworking 25-year veteran of the US Navy and I am a 10-yr US Navy veteran. Dad instilled a work ethic in our family that is fast becoming extinct. As a Florida native, I have been an ITID landowner for over 35 years and have seen many boards come and go. We need solid leadership with strong history and a background in the Works of the District. I am the ONLY CANDIDATE that fills that role. Furthermore, I possess zero greed for Power, Recognition, or Wealth and therefore cannot be classified in the same category as my o pponents and a plethora of past board supervisors. I have embraced and maintained a rural lifestyle since my arrival and have built a successful construction & excavation business for over 34 years now. When something is broken, I fix it…and ITID is in desperate need of fixing…right NOW. VOTE for me and we will implement the fix together…yes together! It must be accomplished with your input and in my role, I will ensure that your voice is heard…and respected. LET’S PROTECT OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LIFESTYLE FREEDOMS TOGETHER!!

1) INCORPORATION and/or ANNEXATION: The current scare tactic is to purport that ITID will be annexed and therefore we should incorporate to protect our anonymity. As recent as a few months ago, the City of Palm Beach Gardens attempted to strong -arm annex 5 zones in northern PBC to gain access to the waterfront affluent tax base. ALL FIVE ZONES VOTED TH E ANNEXATION DOWN WITH OVER 95% OPPOSED AT A MINIMUM. Bottom Line: Annexation takes a vote…so does incorporation. Time and time again, the efforts to inco rporate the ITID have failed. KIRK LJONGQUIST IS NOT FOR INCORPORATION! This is of paramount importance when selecting a candidate.

2) EXPLOADED BUDGET: Our budget has exploded for many reasons, the most prominent of which is lack of experience in our board to lead in construction related projects, which IS the Works of the District. I ALONE fill that role and promise to ensure proper oversight of our designs, bid documents, contract administration, procurement, project execution, and delivery. There will be no more apathetic enforcement of our specifications and contract language. Additionally, we have a CEO, CFO, and a COO…AND a District Mgr…WHY?

3) RUNAWAY ATTORNEY FEES: We have had the same attorney since the 1950’s, performing only clerical work, i.e. meeting minutes, notices, etc. at costs of hundreds of thousand per year. These services can be done with an in -house young attorney at a fraction of the cost.

4) SPECIAL ATTORNEY’S: Currently the board uses outside attorneys to litigate important matters of the district. While this is a necessary evil, given the way that PBC has historically abused our rights and councils and assists developers to do the same, strategie s are not well thought out and our legislative rights bestowed upon us have not been properly used to our benefit.

5) ILLEGAL ROAD ACCESS: This is likely our #1 priority at this moment…to protect our assets, our easements, and our roads. Most people do not understand that each of our landowners own to the centerline of the road. The ITID has an “Easement” only to build, cons truct, and maintain the road system but they do NOT OWN the road. MOREOVER, NEITHER DOES THE COUNTY! Many years ago, a likely illegal interlocal agreement was entered into by the ITID board and PBC whereby several key Easements were transferred to PBC…without any notice to the underlying landowners…YOU! There are several avenues to explore that could possibly get these easements back o r restrict the use for the landowners of ITID ONLY. WE LIVE IN A PRIVATE COMMUNITY! WE MUST PROTECT IT!

6) PARKS & RECREATION: Several years ago, our Community Park was “given” to PBC under the promise that they would purchase an adjacent parcel that would then allow the park to qualify as a “District Park”. Then Commissioner Masilotti reneged on that promise, moved the District Community Park to Friedland Park, and kept our land. Since , we have spent untold millions of dollars improving and maintaining the park that we do not even own. We MUST get fee simple title to our park back and engage appropriate athletic programs to benefit our youth. We also should be researching the possibility of adult leagues to engage our adult community to be fair to everyone.

7) CONSTRUCTION BID PROCESS: Our current bid process, the management of the bid, the management of the construction, etc….IS BROKEN! This system lends itself to many accusations of corruption within, overspending, and possible pay to play tactics. We must STOP any and all illegal procurement tactics and materials migration to preferred employees now. This has been an ongoing struggle at ITID.

8) MECCA FARMS PROPERTY / SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT / PALM BEACH COUNTY: Current plans are drafted to construct a massive water retention area north of Units 5 & 10 (100th Lane North), with 18 – 20-foot-high walls. This is in conflict with the current Corbett project to stabilize the levee to prevent “flooding the district” and it is only half as tall The solution here is to force the county to move this retention north to Unit 19 where it is not a threat to ITID.

Wellington, Royal Palm Beach High Schools Open Fall Football Practice

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The varsity football teams at Wellington High School and Royal Palm Beach High School had similar, perspiration-filled workouts during the first two weeks of fall practice, which started Monday, July 29.

According to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules, players were allowed to wear helmets on the first two days of practice. On the next three days of practice, the players were allowed to wear helmets and shoulder pads.

“During our first week of practice, we worked on conditioning drills, gassers, 100-yard sprints, our alignment and special teams,” said Ross Pryor, who is beginning his second year as the head football coach at WHS. “We begin practice with lots of stretching, light jogging, and calisthenics such as push-ups and jumping jacks. This is a good team-bonding time.”

In Royal Palm Beach, head football coach Chuck Kenyon was pleased with the first week on the field.

“We got a lot of things accomplished in week one. It was a very productive week,” said Kenyon, who is beginning his third year as head coach at RPBHS and his 25th year as a high school football coach. “We looked crisp, and we are steadily getting better. Our conditioning included lots of sprints and fitness drills.” For both teams, there have been mandatory water breaks every 15 minutes during practice. Players are also allowed to take water breaks at any time during the summer heat.

For the second straight year, Wellington will be led by junior quarterback Jonathan Paul. Pryor has great confidence in his signal caller.

“Jonathan can throw and run. He’s a smart player,” Pryor said. “He’s like having a coach on the

field. He leads our warmup sessions.”

Kenyon, meanwhile, will be looking for big production from sophomore offensive lineman Derrick Patterson, senior linebacker Jordan Hood, junior quarterback Max Griner, and sophomore running back Trey Rolle, who ran for 850 yards last season as a freshman.

Wellington, which had a 2-8 record last year, opens its season Friday, Aug. 16 when it hosts Suncoast High School in a pre-season kickoff classic game. The Wolverines’ regular-season opener will be Thursday, Aug. 22 when they host Centennial High School from Port St. Lucie. Both games will kick off at 6:30 p.m. The Wolverines will be competing in the FHSAA’s Class 7A, District 12. According to Pryor, the Wolverines will play this season with new home and away uniforms.

Royal Palm Beach, which had a 3-7 record last season, opens play

on Friday, Aug. 16 when it hosts Olympic Heights High School in a pre-season kickoff classic game at 6:30 p.m. The Wildcats will open their regular season on the road when they travel to Port St. Lucie High School on Friday, Aug. 23 for a 7 p.m. start. The Wildcats will be competing in the FHSAA’s Class 6A, District 12.

While the Wellington High School football team was practicing on its field, the school’s flag football team was practicing nearby as the team was getting ready for the Palm Beach Shootout Flag Football Tournament, presented by Rising Stars Athletics. This tournament will be held Aug. 1011 at Lake Lytal Park in West Palm Beach. More than 30 teams are expected to compete. Every team will be guaranteed to play at least four games during the two-day tournament. Wellington will be led by junior wide receiver/safety Avery Schroeder and senior slot receiver/safety Jordan Fernandez.

Local Wrestlers Compete At National Tourney In North Dakota

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

From July 13-20, five wrestlers from Wellington traveled to Fargo, North Dakota, to compete in the United States Marine Corps/USA Wrestling 16U and Junior National Championships. This event, held at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University, is the world’s largest high school wrestling tournament. All 50 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, were represented.

The five wrestlers were Mac Andrews, 16; Nikolas Gray, 15; Liam Higgins, 17; Mark Bonfante, 17; and James Kosza, 16.

All are students at Wellington High School.

At the meet in North Dakota, there were four separate competitive classifications. There were two age groups: Junior and 16U. There were also two wrestling styles: Freestyle and Greco-Roman, both of which are Olympic styles. The Junior age

group is the older of the age-group classifications.

Of the five Wellington wrestlers, the highest finisher was Andrews, who was a single win away in the Greco-Roman division from earning Greco-Roman All-American status.

Andrews, a rising junior, competed in the 16U age group in both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions in the 165-pound weight class. He was 3-2 in the Freestyle division and 2-2 in the GrecoRoman division. He plans on representing the U.S. at a wrestling tournament in Bahrain this October.

Gray competed at 144 pounds

in the 16U age group. He was 2-2 in the Freestyle division and 0-2 in the Greco-Roman category. Gray will be a sophomore this fall. Higgins competed in the Junior Heavyweight division, which goes as high as 285 pounds. Higgins, who has been wrestling for less than three years, enjoyed the competitive experience in North Dakota. “This was a tough tournament, and there were lots of state champs and high-level wrestlers,” Higgins recalled. “It was a great experience.”

Higgins, who will be a senior this fall, competed in both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman competition categories.

Bonfante, a rising senior, competed in the Junior age bracket at 120 pounds. Bonfante, who started wrestling in his sophomore year, said the tournament was an eyeopening experience.

“Fargo was a great experience with some tough competition, and I was proud that I got some wins,” he said.

Kosza competed in the Junior age group at the 144-pound division. He will be a junior this fall.

“A majority of wrestlers who competed in Fargo didn’t receive a single win, but they all had a great competitive experience,” said Marcus Andrews, the father of Mac Andrews, who attended the tournament in North Dakota. “To be eligible to compete at the event, each wrestler had to be in the top three in their state in their category. To make it to Fargo was quite an achievement for each wrestler in the tournament.”

Liam Higgins (left) competed in the Junior Heavyweight division

WHS sophomore center Brady Sieder and senior defensive tackle Aizek Quintana. PHOTOS BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington’s Jonathan Paul showcases the new football uniforms.

PHOTO BY ROSS PRYOR

WHS flag football team co-captains Avery Schroeder and Jordan Fernandez get ready for the Palm Beach Shootout.

Chris Wimer of RPBHS on the bench press, flanked by Charles Michel, Vontarius McCall and Henroy Morris.

PHOTOS BY MARCUS ANDREWS

Wrestlers Mac Andrews (left) and Nikolas Gray (right) in Fargo.

Mark Bonfante (left) and James Kosza (right) compete.

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Trent Frazier Shares Basketball Knowledge With Area Youngsters

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

For the second year in a row, former Wellington High School basketball great Trent Frazier — who led the Wolverines to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 8A state championship — hosted the one-day Trent Frazier Basketball Camp presented by the Wellington Wolves on Saturday, July 27.

The camp was conducted inside two gymnasiums at Village Park in Wellington and attracted 110 young and energetic boys and girls from age 8 to 14. The camp was free, but participants were required to register in advance.

Prior to the beginning of the camp, Wellington Wolves President Chris Fratalia welcomed the campers and their family members in attendance, as well as

Wellington Village Council members Mayor Michael Napoleone, Vice Mayor John McGovern and Councilwoman Maria Antuña. Napoleone stepped to the microphone to express his appreciation to Frazier for his role at the camp and wished everybody a safe and fun experience.

During the three-hour session, Frazier and his assistant coaches demonstrated and taught fundamental basketball skills, such as dribbling, passing, catching and shooting. Frazier and his assistants also taught the campers how to play defense, and they emphasized the importance of defensive footwork. Frazier also successfully demonstrated how to dribble and create space in order to shoot an uncontested jump shot.

Frazier enjoyed the chance to share his passion and knowledge

about basketball with the young campers.

“I want to inspire the younger generation to play basketball,” said Frazier, 25, who is now playing professional basketball in Russia.

“I simply want to give back to the community which has been good to me. I just want to see kids smile, laugh and have a good time.”

During the camp, Frazier was assisted by Sage Chen-Young, Jagger Ruiz, Linton Brown, John Saint Juste, Alex Dieudonne, Lee Frazier, Jaylen Arnold, Michael Colin, Zay Perez, Jason Mattson, Conrad Quinter, Gus Ponce, Anthony Brown, Saah Gaye and Walter Brinkley Jr.

The campers enjoyed the overall experience and learned a great deal about basketball.

“I learned about getting better at defense by having better footwork,” said Hadley Buffardi, 13, of Wellington.

“I learned about teamwork, how to play better defense, and I improved my shooting skills,” added Solomon Banks, 13, of Wellington.

As the presenting sponsor, the Wellington Wolves enjoyed showing support for Frazier in his efforts to give back to the community.

“The camp was amazing,” Fratalia said. “It sold out in under two hours. It was great to see all of our past alumni come back and give back to the young kids and the Wellington community. The future looks bright, and I am extremely encouraged.”

Frazier Chats About Life Playing Pro Basketball For Zenit In Russia

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

After this year’s second annual Trent Frazier Basketball Camp at Village Park in Wellington, Frazier answered a few questions about his life in basketball. He is currently getting ready for his fourth season as a professional basketball player, all played overseas. Frazier is a 2017 graduate of Wellington High School. He just finished his third year playing professional basketball in Europe, and his second season playing in Russia.

His current team is Zenit, which is based in St. Petersburg. As an NCAA Division I player, Frazier had an impressive career playing in the Big Ten Conference at the

University of Illinois, where he established a school record for the most games started (138) and the most minutes played in a career (4,885).

As a high school player at WHS, Frazier helped the Wolverines win the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 8A state championship in his sophomore year. In 2017, which was Frazier’s senior year, the Wolverines fell to eventual the state champion in the semifinals, despite 32 points from Frazier.

As a youngster, Frazier played travel basketball for the Wellington Wolves.

How did your Russian team, Zenit, do this past season? We finished second in the regular

season, and in third place in the post season.

What position do you play, and how did you do this past season?

I am my team’s starting point guard. I led my team in scoring (15 points a game) and in assists (four per game). I also had about two rebounds a game.

In three years as a pro player in Europe, where have you played? I have played basketball in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Russia.

In which Russian cities have you played games, besides St. Petersburg? I have played in Moscow, Kuban, Kazan and Niznhy.

How do you travel around Russia? We travel in charter planes. Where do you play your home

games in St. Petersburg? We play in the Sibur Arena. I love it there. We can get as many as 7,000 fans for a home game.

What is the biggest difference between playing NCAA Division I basketball and pro basketball? There’s more physicality in the pro game. Also, every player has a higher basketball IQ. Everybody is a good player. What did you learn from WHS coach Matthew Colin that still stays with you? He taught me the importance of playing strong defense.

With an internationally diverse group of teammates and a Spanish head coach in Xavi Pascual, what’s the main language used in practices and games? English.

Outside of basketball, what do you do to stay in shape? I like to run. I will run outside or on a treadmill.

What type of shoes do you wear to play basketball? I wear Kobes from Nike. I have 12 pairs of basketball shoes.

What’s your preferred form of social media? I post to Instagram. Which NBA players did you enjoy watching while growing up? I always enjoyed watching Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry and James Harden.

What are two key dates in your future? I head back to Russia on Aug. 18, and I’m getting married to Jade Vernaci next year on June 14 at the Boca Raton Hotel and Club.

At the end of the clinic, a free lunch courtesy of Chick Fil-A was provided for all the campers. Sponsors of this year’s Trent Frazier Basketball Camp were the

Village of Wellington, the Wellington Wolves, ESPN West Palm, the Council of Dads, K12 Print and Chick Fil-A. Each camper was given a camp T-shirt courtesy of

K12 Print. Bri-Live, aka Brianna Sabbat, a 2015 graduate of WHS and a former player with the Wellington Wolves provided music throughout the event.

Trent Frazier on the court for Zenit in Russia.

(L-R) Mayor Michael Napoleone, Trent Frazier, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Councilwoman Maria Antuña and Wellington Wolves President Chris Fratalia. PHOTO COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON

(Above) Trent Frazier (center front) with basketball camp participants at Village Park in Wellington. (Below left) Frazier on the court coaching young players. (Below right) Frazier with Steven Cornette of sponsor K12 Print.

PHOTOS BY MIKE MAY/TOWN-CRIER

WHS Grad Chandler Marsh Inks Deal With Mets Organization

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

He’s built like an NFL linebacker, but he’s getting ready to make a living as a Major League Baseball pitcher. That describes the career path of standout baseball pitcher Chandler Marsh, a 2021 Wellington High School graduate. Marsh, who just finished his junior year at the University of Georgia, was a star pitcher for the Bulldogs’ baseball team this past spring. He will now take his

baseball talents to the next level as a professional player, having just signed a minor league free-agent contract with the New York Mets organization on July 16. Marsh, a six-foot-five, 240-pound right-handed pitcher, compiled a 7-2 career record at WHS, where he had a 1.81 earned run average (ERA) and recorded 107 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. In college at the University of Georgia, Marsh had a 7-4

win-loss record with a 5.05 ERA in 59 appearances. In his 76.2 innings pitched at the University of Georgia, Marsh had 111 strikeouts. While at Georgia, Marsh was a three-time member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll. Marsh will begin his professional baseball-playing career for the St. Lucie Mets, the single-A affiliate of the New York Mets, which are based in Port Saint Lucie.

Wellington’s Village Park Gyms To Close For Maintenance In August

The gymnasiums located inside Wellington’s Village Park Athletic Complex at 11700 Pierson Road will be undergoing scheduled sanding and refinishing of the gym floor surfaces in August.

Gymnasiums 2 & 3 will be closed Monday, Aug. 12 through Monday, Sept. 2. Gymnasium 1

will remain open through Wednesday, Aug. 28 to accommodate scheduled programming and will then be closed Thursday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sept. 2.

During the gym closures, the building and front desk will remain open for regular hours of operation until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29,

after which the building will close, and remain closed through the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 2.

Regular hours of operation will resume Tuesday, Sept. 3.

For more information about Wellington parks and facilities visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/parks.

Boys Town South Florida Offers Parenting Course For School-Aged Children In WPB

Boys Town South Florida is excited to help parents with school-aged children build their parenting skills with an interactive six-week course that uses easy-tolearn techniques to address issues of communication, discipline, decision-making, relationships, self-control and school success.

Common Sense Parenting (CSP) is not just another parenting program. It’s a research-proven, successful program based on the Boys Town Model. It offers a consistent structure and delivers lasting, positive results. The courses are conducted in a fun and intimate small class setting, led by experienced Common Sense Parenting instructors.

“The proactive skills and techniques taught in this program have a proven track record of helping parents from diverse backgrounds create healthy family relationships

course starting this month in West Palm Beach.

are also two classes (one in English and one in Spanish) beginning in Broward starting Oct. 1 at Stirling Elementary School in Hollywood. To register and learn more, visit

Common Sense Parenting, visit www.cebc4cw.org/program/common-sense-parenting. For more than a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope,

Cardinal Newman Hires Ryan Partridge As Athletic Director

Cardinal Newman High School recently announced the appointment of Ryan Partridge as the school’s new athletic director, effective July 15. Partridge brings an impressive background in school athletics from various institutions at both the high school and collegiate level. He steps into this new role seamlessly after previously serving as assistant athletic director.

“Ryan’s deep commitment to young people and his passion for educating students is very impressive. He will be a wonderful asset to Cardinal Newman in this

coach at programs in different parts of the country. In 2018, he was named MaxPreps and 49ers High School Coach of the Year and, as head coach, led his football team to D1-A State Championship in California.

Partridge looks forward to applying his experience toward furthering the development of the program.

“Director of Athletics is an important role and a great honor. I am committed to the development of our student athletes, spirit, mind and body, and I will continue to drive this department and school

Boys Town South Florida is offering the Common Sense Parenting

Ryan Partridge

Baseball player Chandler Marsh signs his contract with the New York Mets organization.

Palm Beach County Votes

2024 PRIMARY ELECTION

3 EASY WAYS TO VOTE

Mail your Vote-by-Mail ballot using pre-paid postage, or drop it off inside any of our four offices during business hours. You may also drop it off at designated drop off locations across the county starting August 10, 2024.

Voters can sign up for BallotTrax at VotePalmBeach.gov or by scanning this QR code to get alerts via email, text (SMS), and/or voice message with updates about the status of their ballot or if there is an issue so that it can be corrected right away.

Your ballot must be received at the Main Elections Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, August 20, 2024.

EARLY VOTING

Saturday, August 10, 2024, through Sunday, August 18, 2024. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

West County Office Building 2976 State Road #15, 2nd Flr. Belle Glade, FL 33430 (561) 992-1114 See Early Voting locations at

Registered voters in Palm Beach County can vote at any of the 23 Early Voting locations conveniently located county wide. Visit VotePalmBeach.gov for Early Voting locations, directions, wait times, or to make an appointment. You may drop off your Vote-by-Mail ballot inperson at one of our four (4) Elections Offices, at a secure ballot intake station, or at any Early Voting location during Early Voting hours.

ELECTION DAY

Election Day is Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

On Election Day, you must vote at the polling place that is assigned to your precinct. Polling places may change! Visit VotePalmBeach.gov to confirm your polling place before you go vote.

MAIN OFFICE 4301 Cherry Road WPB, FL 33409 (561) 656-6200

NORTH COUNTY BRANCH OFFICE North County Courthouse 3188 P.G.A. Blvd., Rm. #2401 PBG, FL 33410 (561) 624-6555

PBC

Complex

S. Congress Ave, Rm. #103 Delray Beach, FL 33445 (561) 276-1226

WEST COUNTY BRANCH LIBRARY

Pediatric General & Thoracic Surgery in the Palm Beaches

At Palm Beach Children’s Surgical Specialists, we are committed to providing compassionate and experienced pediatric surgical care to children in our community. Using advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques we solve surgical issues in our littlest patients up to teens, helping parents and their little ones navigate treatment options.

Our Pediatric Surgeons specialize in:

• Advanced minimally invasive laparoscopy (MIS)

• Thoracoscopy - Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

• NUSS Surgery for chest wall defects (Nuss Bar)

• Complex neonatal surgery with prenatal counseling and intervention

• Endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals)

• Oncologic surgery for childhood malignancies

To make an appointment call 888-249-9610 or scan the QR code

A Minimally Invasive Option for Lung Biopsies Is Here

Wellington Regional Medical Center has acquired the Ion® Endoluminal System , developed by Intuitive™, creators of the da Vinci® robotic surgical system, which helps detect and address lung nodules in their early stages.

Benefits of the new technology can include:

• Perform complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than with conventional techniques.

• Reduced or avoided complications of more invasive approaches to biopsy, such as collapsed lung or pneumothorax.

• Diagnose and treat lung cancer at earlier stages than previously possible. For more information, contact our clinical navigator at 561-500-5864 (LUNG) or email: wrmclungprogram@uhsinc.com.

Avraham Schlager, MD, FACS Anne Fischer, MD, PhD, FACS

Kids Cancer Foundation Hosts Successful Six-Week Summer Camp

The Kids Cancer Foundation in Royal Palm Beach recently concluded its successful six-week summer day camp, which ran throughout June and July. The camp, offered free of charge to all patients and their siblings, provided a fun and supportive environment, complete with daily lunch and snacks. This year’s camp was made possible by the generous support of numerous local businesses, non-

profits, clubs and individuals. The program featured an impressive lineup of speakers and activities designed to inspire and engage the young participants.

Among the contributors were: the Wellington Art Society, Arts for Smiles, Art & Grace, KB Social Artworking, author Loverly Sheridan of the Buddy Ambassadors program, Inter Miami and a U.S. Youth National Team soccer player, Palm Beach State College

architecture students, a contract administrator at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mary Flack of Wahoo Fishing, the Building Talent Foundation, the Okeeheelee Nature Center, Bricks Busting Boredom, the Audubon Society of the Everglades, the Wellington Gardening Club, the Gem and Mineral Society of the Palm Beaches, TnT Gymnastics, Motive-8 Fitness, Home Depot Masonry Education, Murci Luxury,

LS Photography, Rybovich Safe Harbor, Viking Yachts Service Center and Hulett Environmental Services.

The camp’s diverse range of activities included art workshops, nature exploration, sports clinics and educational sessions, all aimed at providing a positive and enriching experience for the children and their families.

“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support

CUB SCOUTS FROM PACK 125 RIDE THEIR BIKES AT OKEEHEELEE PARK

from our community partners,” said Michelle O’Boyle,

Ensign Madison Herzig, from Loxahatchee, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), is shown here training with a baton in a security reaction force class during the Force Integration phase of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 on July 24. Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.

Campers learn about fishing.

Campers enjoy an art project.

Campers see a cement truck in action.

Cub Scout Pack 125 recently held a bike ride at Okeeheelee Park. It was an exciting milestone as the AOL scouts bravely biked 10 miles, while the Webelos tackled an impressive 5-mile journey. Rising early, this dedicated group hit the trail with enthusiasm, em-

Westlake Cultural Club Awards $10,000 To Seminole Ridge Seniors

Hanley Foundation

Will Host Second Annual Bartle BBQ Hang Aug. 24

The Hanley Foundation, Florida’s largest provider of grant-funded prevention programs to combat addiction, will host the second annual Bartle BBQ Hang, a skateboard and barbecue event, on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach.

The Bartle BBQ Hang was conceived by the Bartle family, their close friends, and SandyJames Fine Food and Productions, in honor of Cory Bartle, a 34-yearold skateboarding enthusiast and rising culinary star, who tragically lost his life from an accidental fentanyl overdose in October 2022.

“We were so moved last year by all of the support and participation from our friends in the skateboarding and culinary communities,” said James Bartle, event chair and co-founder of SandyJames Fine Food and Productions. “This cause is near and dear to our hearts, and we can’t wait to host this again.”

The event committee chaired by James Bartle includes Jessica Busarello, Sandy Coto, Trudy Crowetz and Mary Jacobs. The event will take place on Aug. 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the National Croquet Center, located at 700 Florida Mango Road. Tickets are $50 for adults, $35 for juniors (ages 13-30), and free for children 12 and under. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be purchased at www.hanleyfoundation.org/bbq.

Admission includes a barbecue feast underwritten and catered by

SandyJames, as well as a variety of kids’ and family activities, including a half pipe competition with cash prizes. Other major sponsors include Cleveland Clinic Florida, Seabreeze Building, Leeds Custom Design and the Croquet Foundation of America.

All proceeds will benefit the Hanley Foundation’s Cory Bartle Memorial Fund, which helps provide lifesaving scholarships for individuals with substance use disorders who would not otherwise be able to access quality treatment.

Cory Bartle was a masterful culinary artist by the age of 25 whose work brought him an incredible amount of joy. He was an avid outdoorsman, and he loved skateboarding and the beach. Bartle was working hard on his recovery and wanted to be free of addiction. Unfortunately, an accidental overdose took his life in October 2022. In honor of his life, his family created the Cory Bartle Memorial Fund to support efforts to combat addiction and bring awareness about the addiction crisis.

Donations made to the Cory Bartle Memorial Fund, administered by the Hanley Foundation, will provide lifesaving scholarships for individuals with substance use disorders. The fund will also support work to educate individuals and their families on substance use disorders and the road to recovery for all involved. For more information, visit www.hanleyfoundation.org, call (561) 268-2355 or e-mail info@ hanleyfoundation.org.

The International American Cultural Club (IACC) of Westlake is celebrating its one-year anniversary with notable accomplishments in cultural awareness and community support. Founded by Dr. Pam Manning, a nurse practitioner, the club was established to honor and educate Westlake of its many cultures represented in the community.

Recognizing Westlake’s status as a melting pot of cultures, Manning envisioned the IACC as a beacon of unity and understanding.

“I wanted to create a platform where our community could learn from and celebrate each other’s traditions and histories,” she said.

Beyond cultural education, Manning aimed to support local youth, leading to the creation of the BIRTH Scholarship.

In its first year, the IACC has successfully raised $10,600, which was awarded to 20 Seminole Ridge High School seniors, helping them pursue higher education at various colleges. The club’s fundraising efforts were highlighted by a grand masquerade ball last year, which brought the community together in a night of glamour and purpose.

Building on this success, the IACC is gearing up for its second

annual Scholarship Gala, scheduled for Oct. 11 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. This year’s event promises to be even more spectacular, featuring a fashion show that will showcase Diana Kae’s Flying Dresses, adding an element of high fashion to the evening’s festivities. Manning expressed her excitement for the upcoming gala. “We are thrilled to continue our mission of cultural

while providing cultural awareness. The fashion show will be a unique highlight, and we hope to exceed last year’s fundraising achievements,” she said. Seminole Ridge High school seniors interested in applying for the BIRTH Scholarship can find more information and submit their applications this fall at www. iaccwestlakefl.com.

Bricks Busting Boredom Supports KCF Camp

Bricks Busting Boredom recently delivered 70 pounds of used, “upcycled” Lego bricks to children participating in the Kids Cancer Foundation’s camp on July 8.

Since 2015, Bricks Busting Boredom has donated more than 5,000 pounds of Lego bricks and 2,000 new Lego sets to children’s hospitals, homeless shelters, foster homes and emergency shelters.

“We had a great day with the kids at the Kids Cancer Foundation camp. They enjoyed Lego building, and everyone went home with a gallon bag of Legos,” said Jonathan Clein, co-founder of Bricks Busting Boredom and a Suncoast High School senior.

Bricks Busting Boredom collects both used and new Lego sets. Lego sets do not need to be complete.

Donations can be made in garbage bags, and to make Lego donations as easy as possible, the organization picks up donations.

For additional information, call (954) 682-3816 or visit www. bricksbustingboredom.org.

Jonathan Clein works with KCF campers.

The IACC recently awarded $10,000 to Seminole Ridge High School seniors.

The Oct. 11 IACC gala will feature Diana Kae’s Flying Dresses, adding an element of high fashion to the evening’s festivities.

Jonathan Clein in front of the Kids Cancer Foundation location.

Join Our team Join Our team

We are looking to grow our amazing team of professionals.

Who are we?

Boynton Financial Group, Inc. is a premier financial services practice located in Wellington, Florida. Since 1997, we have committed ourselves to fostering long-term, multi-generational relationships built on loyalty, trust, and confidence. Our highly collaborative team has an unwavering commitment to quality, details, and follow-up. With this attentive and client-centric approach, we provide exceptional service, going above and beyond to exceed our client expectations.

Why are we advertising?

We desire to grow locally, if possible! While industry experience is helpful, we believe the character of a person, their natural curiosity, eagerness to help, organizational skills, flexibility, and willingness to learn is paramount. Accordingly, we will consider someone re-entering the workforce or changing careers.

What roles are we considering? Our team works in-person, in-office.

• Registered Client Service Associate / Paraplanner

• Executive Assistant to Managing Partners

For Information:

Inquiries & resumes to: BFGTeam@RaymondJames.com

Job Description details: www.linkedin.com/company/boyntonfinancialgroup/jobs

We look forward to hearing from you!

Step into a world where greatness knows no bounds and join us in celebrating the people who make our community special! Wellington The Magazine proudly unveiled the Our Wellington Awards in 2022. This award marked the first of its kind, honoring six remarkable individuals who have given of themselves and helped to shape our beloved village into one of the top places to live in the country.

Again, this year, we would like you, our readers, to assist us in choosing those we will pay tribute to this year — people who have selflessly dedicated their time and talents to uplift our community.

With immense pride, Wellington The Magazine will announce this year’s honorees, shining a spotlight on these unique individuals among us, in the September 2024 “Our Wellington” issue.

By nominating a Wellington resident who you think deserves this honor, you join us in celebrating these incredible members of our community, who have turned Wellington into not just a great hometown, but a vibrant tapestry of compassion and unity. Let us highlight their stories and ignite a spark within others, encouraging neighbors to lend a helping hand and make a difference in the lives of those around them.

As we embark on the third year of the Our Wellington Awards, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming 2024 edition, where we anticipate even more nominations and astounding stories of extraordinary individuals.

Wellington The Magazine will publish this special publication where readers will have a chance to get to know these remarkable individuals, discovering the motivations behind their journeys, and learn more about the organizations they champion. Their selfless acts and contributions are sure to inspire us all!

Together, let us continue to build a community that thrives on compassion, generosity and the spirit of making a difference. The goal is to get others involved, embrace a worthy cause and be a catalyst for positive change. Together, we can transform lives and create a brighter future for Wellington.

Please visit www.wellingtonthemagazine.com and look for the OUR WELLINGTON AWARDS tab to nominate your pick today!

Westlake will soon get a new store where residents can buy home, garden, agriculture and pet supplies.

Minto Communities, the developer and primary builder in the lifestyle-centric Westlake master-planned community, sold a four-acre commercial site to a developer who will build a new location for Tractor Supply Co., the country’s largest rural lifestyle retailer.

Tractor Supply sells items like lawnmowers, trailers, tools, farm and ranching equipment, clothing, pet food and livestock feed. Residents will have access to a pet-washing station where they can bathe their furry friends for a nominal fee.

The Westlake Tractor Supply store will be built at 16830 Persimmon Blvd., inside the Westlake Landings business park. The main building will be approximately 24,000 square feet under air, with an adjacent 20,000-square-foot fenced outdoor garden center. A groundbreaking is expected to occur within the next couple of months, and an opening date is estimated sometime after the first of

Avelo Airlines is continuing its growth in the Palm Beaches with the airline’s announcement of the return of nonstop service between Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and Wilmington Airport (ILG), serving the Philadelphia/ Delaware Valley region.

Beginning Nov. 8, Avelo will operate this route to Philadelphia/ Wilmington twice weekly on Fridays and Mondays utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Low, one-way fares from PBI start at $67. Travelers can make reservations at www.aveloair.com.

Philadelphia/Delaware Valley will rejoin Avelo’s current nonstop service to Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN).

“We’re excited to continue growth in the Palm Beaches and bring back our nonstop route to Philadelphia,” Avelo Airlines

next year. The company currently operates two other Tractor Supply stores in Palm Beach County, and more than 2,200 stores in 49 states.

“We are very excited to welcome Tractor Supply to Westlake,” said John Carter Sr., vice president of Minto Communities USA. “With so many new homes being built in our city, I anticipate a big demand for their products and services. Having a sizeable retailer such as Tractor Supply choose to open in Westlake is a testament to the market potential in our growing city.”

With a population nearing 7,000, Westlake is one of the fastest-growing communities in Palm Beach County and all of Florida.

The Tractor Supply announcement comes as the city is undergoing a retail and restaurant building boom. Another local developer is finishing up construction on two outdoor shopping centers that comprise the Shoppes of Westlake. Tenants include Starbucks, KFC, Taco Bell, Habit Burger, 3 Natives, Heartland Dental, Verizon Wireless, Go Green Cleaners and Orangetheory Fitness. Publix, which opened a grocery store in

Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said. “Along with the return of Philadelphia and our successful New Haven route, we love showcasing Avelo’s low fares, travel-friendly convenience and industry-leading reliability to travelers in the Palm Beaches. This nonstop service will also make enjoying West Palm’s scenic beaches, shopping and charming character a fast and seamless journey for Delaware Valley travelers.”

PBI Director of Airports Laura Beebe agreed. “We’re thrilled to welcome back our passengers on the Wilmington-Palm Beach route,” Beebe said. “Avelo Airlines is committed to providing exceptional, affordable travel experiences, and this resumption highlights our dedication to connecting key destinations with the convenience and comfort our travelers expect. We look forward to making every

Westlake a year ago, has started constructing a new retail center on adjacent land, phase two of its approved development plan.

On the residential side, Minto recently opened four furnished model homes at its newest townhome neighborhood, The Terraces. The Terraces features 3- to 4-bedroom homes from the new Courtyard Collection with prices starting in the mid-$300s. All have two-car garages, front-entry-covered lanais and impact-resistant windows. The interior features include dramatic ceiling heights on the first floor, island kitchens with granite countertops, energy-efficient appliances and walk-in closets.

Westlake buyers can also find a stunning selection of single-family and estate homes starting in the mid-$400s. All homeowners can enjoy the extensive amenities found at the $22 million Westlake Adventure Park. The park features a resort-style lagoon pool with a tower slide, splash pad and poolside concessions, along with many other amenities. For more information about Westlake, call (888) 299-3628 or visit www.westlakefl.com.

journey enjoyable and seamless for our customers.”

Wilmington Airport is conveniently located a short drive south of Philadelphia, offering a refreshingly fast, smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. ILG’s adjacency to multiple major highways and railways makes it a convenient and travel-friendly airport for Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, which encompasses portions of four states: southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, southern New Jersey and the northern Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown more than 5.2 million customers on over 40,000 flights. Today, Avelo serves 54 destinations spanning 24 states, Puerto Rico and two international countries, Jamaica and Mexico. Learn more at www.aveloair.com.

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed new member KFC of Westlake. The restaurant opened its doors for business on July 12. The chamber held the official ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 24. Special thanks for supporting the event goes to Westlake Councilman Gary Werner, Councilwoman Charlotte Leonard, City Clerk Zoie Burgess and Chamber Ambassador Erica Henn of Junior Achievement. The chamber offers best wishes for continued success to owner Michael Fulenwider, the KFC management team and its staff.

On Thursday, July 25, the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach

Visiting The Wisconsin State Fair Brings Me Back To My Youth

I am on my way to Wisconsin to visit my 95-year-old mother and — in a happy coincidence — the Wisconsin State Fair. This fair (known as “the best fair in all the land” to Wisconsinites, just as the South Florida Fair is “the best fair in all the land” to South Floridians) has everything Wisconsinites love, and that is precisely what makes regional fairs so special. They know their audience. Just like so many happy memories from my youth, there are things at the fair which, at the time, scared me to death. The rides that go upside-down are one (got over that). The hunting lodge with its many heads (not so much). And, most terrifying of all, Alice in Dairyland (never). Let me explain. Back in the day, Wisconsin was known as “The Dairy State,”

because of the high volume of quality milk and cheese it produced. Other states now challenge the title, but certain childhood memories have cemented themselves, such as my grandpa’s dairy farm and people having to drive to Illinois to get “oleo margarine” because anything but real butter was banned. But looming large — and I do mean

large — over all these recollections is Alice. This 12-foot-tall papier-mâché monstrosity took center stage in the fair’s dairy building, where she loomed threateningly over us small people while our parents chuckled in the back rows, unaware of our terror.

Alice wore a crown, a blue sequined gown and a sash proclaiming her title. She would rise up shakily from a huge golden throne and hover over us jerkily, trying desperately to turn her head and reaching out a tremored hand as we openly flinched. Could she walk? Please say no. Could she talk? Oh, yes.

As if a mechanized weirdo who never blinked wasn’t enough, this abomination’s jaw would move up and down as she vacantly addressed the topmost hairs of

adorable little children in the audience who were trying hard not to be noticed.

“I love the little pink sunhat on that blondie in the front row,” she would croak out, in a voice that was obviously male. The blonde girl would look to each side, eventually figure out that she herself was the victim, shrink down and run frantically out of the crowd toward her proud parents’ legs.

“Did you get that blue balloon outside, Jimmy?” Alice would say to a boy who had inadvertently worn a shirt with his name on the back. Jimmy would freeze in shock, surreptitiously look around for a control booth and, not being able to spot one, pop his own balloon as he walked backward toward the exit whispering, “Show no fear. Show no fear.”

Being a rather nondescript child, I was never singled out, but Alice still comes after me in my dreams, hysterically screaming, “Why did you buy oleo?! Are you trying to kill me?!”

I also want to see the cows, pigs, bunnies and duckies. I want to see crafts made by master artisans who have perfected their crafts indoors due to Wisconsin’s nine months of winter. I want to go upside-down once or twice. And I will pay homage to our dairy queen by buying a few ears of definitely-not-oleo-dipped corn-on-the-cob at the Kiwanis booth. If I summon up my courage, I may

New ‘Deadpool’ Film Is A Hilarious, Foul-Mouthed, Wild Ride

The MCU is finally back! Most of us had sort of given up hope after the films produced by Disney following Avengers: Endgame were not particularly great. But Deadpool & Wolverine is great fun. In a lot of ways, it is a salute to the old Marvel Universe, bringing in X-Man Wolverine and several others who provide some real nostalgia as they appear in cameos. But, then again, this is a Deadpool film, which means there are lots of laughs.

‘I’

On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has given up being Deadpool and is working as a car salesman. He has a group of friends he loves, generally characters from his earlier movies, and we see him at a birthday party they throw for him at the apartment he shares with Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). But he suddenly is transported by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) to Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), who tells him that his timeline is deteriorating as a result of the death of Logan/Wolverine, the “anchor being” whose existence keeps the timeline stabilized. Wilson steals Paradox’s travel device and goes through a whole group of universes, trying to find a variant of Logan he can use. He finds a Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who is a drunk and goes back to the TVA, where he is told this Wolverine is the worst one. Both men are tossed into “The Void.”

The two superheroes fight in The Void and are taken prisoner by Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), the twin sister of Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men. She can manipulate minds and sets our heroes up for destruction. And the fun goes on from there with wild and weird battles, a series of really fun cameos, a mixing of folks from all over the multiverses.

I am not doing much in the way of description since it would give away things that are supposed to be surprises. But there are many strange things happening. And, of course, many laughs. Reynolds delights in poking fun at 20th Century Fox, which made the first two Deadpool movies and then was sold to Disney. And then he goes after Disney and even Marvel. The wisecracks keep coming at you even in the middle of wild action scenes. The fights are really well done, perhaps the best

since the great airport battle in Captain America: Civil War.

The cast is excellent, and that really helps. Of course, Reynolds is in costume for most of it so we don’t get to see his face, but his mouth never stops. And a cranky Wolverine tells him to shut up numerous times, often with claws stuck into our hero. Jackman’s acting, however, is superb. He plays the same nasty crank we’ve seen in so many other movies. He, for most of the movie, fits the perfect antihero archetype: cranky and unfriendly. And that works wonderfully well in contrast to Deadpool’s constant yammering. Corrin is a great villain, beautiful, evil and very scary. Macfadyen is ideal as the ultimate bureaucrat: sniveling, treacherous, idiotic but with a sense that he is always correct. Uggams is funny as the delightfully profane Blind Al. Her mouth is even filthier

than Deadpool’s. And Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Wilson’s great love, is still beautiful and charming. The people doing cameos are great, moving back into their old characters with gusto. I particularly enjoyed a few of the pointed wisecracks. Director Shawn Levy keeps the action moving, which is good since the plot has more holes than the average block of Swiss cheese. But it hardly matters. This is a film where you sit back and enjoy the ride. And, yes, it is rated R for filthy language and occasionally a few long stretches of hilarious obscenity. But there were kids in the theater and none of them seemed to have much trouble with that. Thanks to smart phones, kids learn about our weird world very early. This is a funny, sprawling film. And if you can deal with the swearing, you’ll probably have a great time.