Town-Crier Newspaper February 13, 2015 by Wellington The Magazine LLC

ROYAL PALM SELLS WATER PLANT LAND SEE STORY, PAGE 3

EMILY BROOKE STILL IN THE IDOL HUNT SEE STORY, PAGE 7

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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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Volume 36, Number 7 February 13 - February 19, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Vacant Land Near RPBHS Eyed For A Charter High School

INSIDE

Wellington Council OKs First Reading Of Hedge Height Changes

The Wellington Village Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a code amendment that would allow hedge heights of 6 to 10 feet based on the location, also allowing for waivers. Page 3

Family Raising Money To Help Longtime Resident Dave Spall

On Nov. 30, longtime Royal Palm Beach resident Dave Spall, 36, boarded a cruise ship in Miami. Destination: the Caribbean. He never arrived. Instead, he lies in a hospital bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital with family members and friends maintaining a vigil at his bedside and wondering how this could have happened. Page 7 Sponsors Sara and Rick Mershad and rider Darragh Kenny with Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo. Kenny and his teammates rode for the Kids Cancer Foundation, taking third place. PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Crowds Seek Bargains At RPB’s Kids Yard Sale

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Kids Yard Sale on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Veterans Park. The day was a great way to find bargains on clothes for kids and infants, toys, games, books and more. There was a DJ and food for sale. Page 12

Dance Show Travels Through Time At WHS

Fred Astaire Dance Studio of West Palm Beach presented “Travel Through Time” on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Wellington High School. Students and professional dancers put on a showcase with music and ballroom dances from the 1920s through the 1990s. Page 18

OPINION

Put Restoration Of The Everglades Back On The Front Burner

After years of slowed progress, Gov. Rick Scott recently announced his goal to commit $5 billion toward Everglades restoration over the next 20 years. If approved by lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session, the money could bring longdelayed Everglades restoration projects back on track. This is good, but it will take a far more concerted effort to get the job done. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 12 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 8 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 25 BUSINESS......................26 - 27 SPORTS..........................31 - 33 CALENDAR............................ 34 CLASSIFIEDS................ 35 - 38 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Superhero Theme Adds To The Fun At Great Charity Challenge

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report The superheroes who landed last week at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center amazed thousands as they leapt and soared Saturday, Feb. 7 at the sixth annual Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Professional and amateur riders, along with their equine sidekicks, entertained the thousands who came out to watch them and root for their favorite charities in a night full of fun, games, surprises and more. Many riders were dressed as superheroes to match the evening theme. “I want to thank everyone who has participated here,” said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and co-founder of the Great Charity Challenge, before the competition. “The theme this year is superheroes. That represents the superheroes

who are the riders who donate their time, the equestrian families who donate their money, the members of the community and our staff who operate this show and, finally, those amazing individuals who are the directors of these organizations who make unbelievable commitments to their passion. Without them, this community would be a different place.” Charities of every type participated in the event. “It’s overwhelming to see so many great organizations being represented here tonight,” said Anne Caroline Valtin, executive director of the Great Charity Challenge. “We came up with this theme, and we thought it would tie the whole event together, but you guys have gone above and beyond on your own time to make this special.” Thirty-four of the hundreds of charities that put their names in the hat for the Great Charity Chal-

lenge were selected to participate and walked away with a check for at least $15,000 last Saturday evening. Riders Juan Carlos Maurin, Emanuel Andrade and Victoria Karam had the fastest time of the night, riding for Danny and Ron’s Rescue and earning the nonprofit $150,000. The team was sponsored by Hollow Creek Farm and corporate sponsor Gold Coast Feed & Supply. Coming in second place was the team of Sydney Shulman, Cloe Hymowitz and Alexa Effron, riding for Propel. That team, sponsored by Back Country Farm and corporate sponsor Visse Wedell, earned $125,000 for their charity. The Kids Cancer Foundation finished third and won $112,500 on a strong effort by riders Darragh Kenny, Allison Epstein and Andre Mershad, sponsored by Mershad See GCC, page 21

Wellington Council OKs Plans For Little Ranches Culvert

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council approved a contract Tuesday to replace a 24-inch water main coming from a well field in Little Ranches with a new PVC pipe. The action authorized the award of a contract for $167,921.04 to Ferguson Enterprises Inc. for the purchase and delivery of 24-inch PVC pipe and fittings and mechanical restraining devices to build a culvert crossing to cover the pipes, which would run underneath the C-28 Canal. Originally, the contact was on the consent agenda and was not planned for discussion. However, about 30 Little Ranches residents attended the meeting to express concerns about the design of the replacement pipe, which included a 20-foot crossing for public works to access the area, which many felt was a preamble for another access

point to their neighborhood. Little Ranches has only one access point in an out, along Southern Blvd. south of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Residents said having one access point helps maintain the security of the community and prevents excessive traffic that would frighten horses. Village Engineer Bill Riebe said the request was to replace an existing water main within Little Ranches. The design was to get the most efficient, cost-effective solution and still provide the necessary level of service. “The water main project is an approved project in the 2015 capital improvement plan,” Riebe said. “We need to replace this particular pipe. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure for our community.” He said that village staff met with the Little Ranches Property Owners’ Association on Jan. 6 to

discuss several projects that affect them, including the planned culvert crossing in question and the possibility of installing a service drive across it. “All of this was done in an effort to reach out to the neighborhood so they know what we’re trying to accomplish, and what our goals and intentions are,” Riebe said. “As part of the meeting, the POA rejected the service drive, but they approved the culvert crossing provided that there are protections, including [the prevention of] pedestrian access across the canal.” Riebe said that the current plans do not include the service drive, explaining that the drive was removed from the plan, but that the village continues to receive e-mails and other communications expressing concerns about it. He said the pipe needs to be covered to protect it from the sun See CULVERT, page 19

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week authorized appraisals of about 10 acres of village-owned land across Okeechobee Blvd. from Royal Palm Beach High School for what could become a future charter high school. At the Thursday, Feb. 5 meeting, Village Manager Ray Liggins said Flagler Realty had asked to purchase land on Okeechobee Blvd. east of the First Baptist Church. He said that there are two parcels owned by the village, near where the village entrance sign sits. The village would keep 2 acres for the sign, and the potential buyer has offered to pay for the necessary appraisals. “This would authorize me to get the appraisals and bring them back to the council for consideration at a later meeting,” Liggins said, pointing out that the public high school is currently at 102 percent capacity, and about 1,000 students living in the village take advantage of the choice program, although village staff believes that putting a charter high school across the street from the public high school

is inappropriate. Vice Mayor David Swift said that this is just the first step and noted that Flagler Realty will pay for the appraisals. Village Attorney Jennifer Ashton said the Realtor was asking whether the council is interested in selling the property. Mayor Matty Mattioli said he would not want to sell the land for a charter school because it would undercut the progress that Royal Palm Beach High School has been making. Swift, however, disagreed. “I have a different view,” he said. “I talked to elementary and middle school teachers, and they are concerned about the proliferation of private and charter schools.” However, with RPBHS at 102 percent capacity and 1,000 students in the village choosing to attend high schools outside the area, Swift said he thought a charter school is worth looking into. “I don’t think it’s going to have an effect on Royal Palm Beach High School,” Swift said. “It gives parents a choice within the village. [Public school] teachers don’t like See CHARTER, page 19

B&G CLUB HELPS FIGHT HUNGER

The Palm Beach Unites Hunger Project recently handed out 100,000 lentil casserole meals at seven different locations. A total of 2,500 meals went to the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington on Monday, Feb. 9 and were handed out to families as they picked up their kids. Shown here are Leland Gassman, Brooklyn Simpson and Program Coordinator Latisha Paul. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

McKinlay Asks ITID For Support On District 6 Issues

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay gave an update Wednesday to the Indian Trail Board of Supervisors on the progress — or lack of it — on issues that affect The Acreage. McKinlay said she met with representatives from the western communities in a roundtable discussion Tuesday attended by representatives of all the improvement districts and municipalities in District 6. “I think it was the first time that

all these individuals had sat around a table and shared ideas and concerns and found equal areas where they can work,” she said, adding that she and her staff will work on some of ITID’s ideas and report back to the board. McKinlay said she has been working in Tallahassee to improve the status of the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd., which recently had its financing delayed from 2016 to 2020. “I was in Tallahassee last week, and the chairmen of the Senate See ITID, page 19

Three-Way Race Takes Shape For RPB Council Seat

By Lynn Demarest Town-Crier Staff Report As the filing deadline came and went Tuesday at noon, Royal Palm Beach Village Councilman Fred Pinto found himself unopposed for a seventh two-year term, while Vice Mayor David Swift prepared to face two challengers — one a first-time candidate and the other a familiar foe. Pinto brushed off a challenge in March 2013 by garnering twice as many votes as his challenger. Now, two years later, there are no comers at all. “I’m fully appreciative,” Pinto, 64, said of the easy win. “None of us is entitled to anything.” Pinto retains Seat 4. He said his top priority is overseeing the development of the former wastewater treatment plant property, west of H.L. Johnson Elementary

CANDIDATES FORUM Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m., RPB Village Meeting Hall

School in the northwestern part of the village. Council members have accepted a $35 million bid from Lennar to purchase the land, but details of the new residential community remain to be ironed out, he said. Pinto also wants to reduce the property tax rate, a common practice back when the village’s tax base was growing. Pinto said rebounding property values might make it possible to lower the rate, now set at $1.92 for every $1,000 of taxable value. Swift, the Seat 2 incumbent, said he wasn’t sure why he had drawn two challengers. “I’m not sure what the issue

is,” Swift said with a chuckle. “I guess they want to be on the council.” During the same March 2013 election in which Pinto handily prevailed, Swift likewise captured 63 percent of the vote to defeat three-term incumbent Martha Webster, a 68-year-old retiree who wants the seat back. Webster thinks Swift, 70, who has served nearly continuously for more than two decades, has been on the council long enough. “It’s time for David to sit back,” she said. During her five years on the council, Webster represented the village on the executive board of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization. She said she

would work to acquire those roles again, should she win. A year after losing to Swift, Webster finished third in a fourway race for mayor. She also announced, but then dropped, a run for Palm Beach County Commission. Webster said she dropped out because of the candidacy of former Wellington Mayor Kathy Foster, whom Webster described as “one of the finest people I know.” Foster lost the Democratic primary to Melissa McKinlay, who went on the win the seat. Despite her sound defeat by Swift last time, Webster said she expects to do better this time because of endorsements from Mayor Matty Mattioli, Councilman Richard Valuntas and Pinto, along with former Palm Beach County Commissioner Jess Santa-

maria. Most of her endorsements two years ago, she said, came from outside the village, from people she had met at the League of Cities and other organizations. If Webster wins, she will be the only woman on the council. The other Swift challenger is Darrell Lange, a former member of the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission. He entered the race a day before the filing deadline. A 50-year-old father of three boys — ages 11, 13 and 15 — Lange and his wife, Katherine, have lived in Royal Palm Beach for 14 years. He is assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 111 and also has been active in the Youth Baseball Association of Royal Palm Beach, where he has coached 39 teams over a decade. See RPB VOTE, page 19

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NEWS

Wellington Council OKs First Reading Of Hedge Height Changes By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a code amendment that would allow hedge heights of 6 to 10 feet based on the location, also allowing for waivers. Planning & Development Services Director Tim Stillings said the current code allows hedges up to 6 feet in most of the suburban areas and along the major thoroughfares, and up to 8 feet on properties of one acre or more. “The current code provides for a waiver for those heights,” he said, explaining that waivers for greater than 6 feet require approval from the village engineer and the Architectural Review Board, and anything greater than 8 feet goes through the Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board. The rules also provide exceptions for arches and other ornamentation up to 12 feet maximum for up to 25 percent of the length of a section. Waivers are needed for thoroughfares in the Equestrian Preserve Area but are required for any fences along streets that have hedges. Eight waivers have been ap-

proved since 2002 for heights greater than 6 feet, Stillings said, explaining that some existing hedges are deemed nonconforming after a hedge height amendment approved in 2007. The new proposal brought through the Architectural Review Board and slightly modified by the Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board would allow a maximum hedge height for zero-lot-line homes of 6 feet with 8-foot exceptions. One-acre lots or less would be allowed 9 feet with a 10-foot exception, and lots greater than one acre would be allowed 10 feet with a 12-foot exception along thoroughfares, Stillings said. Ornamentation would also be reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent of the length of the hedge section. Vice Mayor John Greene said he agreed with Councilman Matt Willhite’s comments at the agenda review meeting the day before that the major issue is not with hedge height but with hedge maintenance. He added that he was disturbed that the amendments were not sent through the Wellington Tree Board. “I don’t see any reason why we should change our code if they have the option of applying

for a waiver that is available,” Greene said. “The waiver seems to be an easy and workable solution.” Greene also objected to the number of different allowable hedge heights being written into the code. “We’ve got something that works, and there’s a solution,” he said. Willhite said that there is still a disparity of allowable heights within neighborhoods and on different roads. He said that adding the different allowable hedge heights would be a headache for code enforcement. “I think this is ludicrous to try and put more numbers and more burden on our Code Enforcement Department to go out and try to tell people what height their hedge can be, because I can tell you, if you have a 12-foot, beautifully manicured hedge, I’m not worried about it,” he said. “If you have a 6-foot hedge that you’ve let whiteflies take control of and you’ve not done anything to trim it or fertilize it or eradicate whiteflies, I have an issue with it. My issue is strictly about maintenance.” Willhite said the maintenance issues are primarily along thoroughfares, where the hedges are most visible.

Royal Palm Council Inks Sale Of Treatment Plant Land To Lennar By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved the sale of the 154-acre former wastewater treatment plant property to the Lennar Corporation for $35 million on Thursday, Feb. 5. Village Manager Ray Liggins said Lennar was the highest of three qualified bidders. The site is at the north end of Crestwood Blvd., near H.L. Johnson Elementary School and bordering the Saratoga Pines and Madison Green communities. The current zoning, approved in October, provides for generally lower residential density than the surrounding communities. Resident Diane Queller, who lives across the M Canal from the property, has been heavily involved with the site’s future, including opposition to an early plan for commercial development of

the property. She enthusiastically supported this sale, which will be for residential development. “This has been dear to my heart,” Queller said. “It’s like seeing my first child being born. This is going to do nothing but improve the community.” She thanked the council, staff and residents who got involved in the sale for seeing it to a good ending. “It came to be, and you all do listen to the residents,” Queller said. Vice Mayor David Swift credited Liggins with leading the way to the completion of the sale. “I think Ray’s vision for getting this done kept us on the right path,” Swift said, thanking Liggins for keeping the process at the staff level until it came to council approval. “You really did a great job on this one.” Councilman Fred Pinto also praised Liggins for leading the

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project. “This is certainly in the ballpark I had in mind,” Pinto said. “I knew we would be moving into a market for more robust development.” Councilman Jeff Hmara said that village staff had put together a creative approach in preparing for the sale that put the council in a position to make a clear decision. “That was due to a well-executed approach by staff,” Hmara said. Liggins said his staff members had worked with many agencies, including professionals experienced in planning for land sales. “There is nothing that gets done here without a lot of people,” he said. “When we put this out, we got proposals from people who do it. There was a lot more consistency. That’s what made it better for people in the market.” Pinto made a motion to approve the sale, which carried 5-0.

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Rather than put residents through having to apply for a waiver, he favored a uniform allowable height of 10 feet, and applying for a waiver for more than 10 feet, with applicants showing how they intend to maintain it and what type of plant material they intend to use. “I think this is crazy,” Willhite said. “I think it goes beyond what we are trying to govern and control, other than a maintenance issue.” Councilman John McGovern asked how the proposed amendments evolved, and Stillings said the council had discussed hedge heights and asked the Architectural Review Board for input. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said she would support the ordinance the way it is proposed. “As

far as code enforcement, I don’t think it is a problem,” she said. She made a motion to approve the ordinance as written, but later amended it to include only 6-foot and 10-foot heights as a concession to Willhite’s comments. During public comment, Mike Curry, an 18-year resident of Birkdale Drive, said he maintains his hedge but received a form letter from the Code Enforcement Department informing him that his hedge was in violation because it was 6 inches above the allowable height. “I’ve walked down the street and seen hedges devastated by whitefly,” Curry said. He added that the village once maintained the hedges but that they are now a burden on the residents. “I agree with Councilman

Willhite; it’s not the size, it’s about how it’s maintained,” Curry said. Mayor Bob Margolis said the hedge height issue has been going on for many years and was part of a recent planning workshop where council members recommended that the advisory boards provide input. Greene said he thought that going from 6 to 10 feet was too big a change and asked Gerwig if she would amend her motion to allow an 8-foot height village-wide. Gerwig said she was happy with the ordinance the way it was written and had proposed the 6-foot and 10-foot heights as a compromise to Willhite. Margolis called the question, and it carried 4-1 with Greene opposed.

College Official Reviews Plans For Campus With RPB Ed Board By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach State College Director of Facilities John Wasukanis updated Royal Palm Beach Education Advisory Board members on the progress of the college’s new Loxahatchee Groves campus Monday. The campus, under construction on Southern Blvd., will be the college’s fifth major site. “As the college continues to focus its growth in the center portion of the county, we spent the past seven to eight years involved in searching throughout the county for construction sites that would become homes for future facilities where we could center our program offerings in a more convenient setting to the local population,” Wasukanis said. “The Loxahatchee Groves project will take quite a number of years to fully realize. As in all our campuses, it’s usually built one or two buildings at a time.” Construction of the first campus building is slated to start in early April. It will have three computer rooms, 10 classrooms, 16 offices and several student study areas and flexible classrooms. “We will have a mix of interior and exterior gathering spaces and meeting spaces for students to interface and socialize,” Wasukanis said. “There will be a large,

250-foot meeting space that will be available as part of this building, along with food service and a security office.” The programs to be offered at that first building will be typical associate’s degree two-year programs also offered at the other sites. “Eventually, with the construction of the other two buildings that are part of the first phase, we hope to have assigned classrooms and a library, as well as a cafeteria service on site, and start to offer a full gamut of educational-type programs,” he said. The first phase of construction on the 75 acres will be concentrated on the southwest portion of the property, west of a privately owned 22-acre site at the northwest corner of B Road and Southern Blvd. planned for commercial development. “The rest of the 75 acres is rather heavily wooded in native Florida-type landscape that we actually want to try to maintain as part of the landscape design for the entire campus,” Wasukanis said. “Ultimately, the college will probably see the expansion of certain vocational programs, as well as possibly some of the four-year programs.” Construction of the first three buildings will probably take about seven years, he said. “There’s about 180,000 square

feet of buildings proposed in the first phase of development. The funding that has been obtained partially from the state and partially with local funds that the college has put together is only for a 50,000-square-foot building that borders the lake right along Southern, along with the associated parking and the road system that connects to B Road and to the traffic signal back at Southern,” he explained. Wasukanis expects that the development pattern will be similar to the Palm Beach Gardens campus that the college purchased about 40 years ago. “It’s a heavily wooded parcel and a very beautiful and natural area,” he said. “It contains one of the larger stands of Florida flatwoods timber in this particular area of the county. The college has an interest in development of educational opportunities, but we would like to preserve as much of the site in a natural manner as is possible and make sure that the things that we do out there will be done with the most sensitivity for the natural landscaping.” Wasukanis said that PBSC staff is investigating the idea of developing the campus as a “net-zero” site, producing as much energy as it consumes. The site has been approved by See CAMPUS, page 19

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OUR OPINION

Put Restoration Of The Everglades Back On The Front Burner

After years of slowed progress in a down economy, Gov. Rick Scott recently announced his goal to commit $5 billion toward Everglades restoration over the next 20 years. If approved by lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session, the money could bring long-delayed Everglades restoration projects back on track. As part of Scott’s 2015-16 budget, he is earmarking $150 million for Everglades restoration, along with an additional $150 million toward land acquisition focused in part on protecting land for the Florida panther. “We will keep working to make sure we preserve our natural treasures so Florida can continue to be a top destination for families, visitors and businesses,” Scott said as he announced the plan. While this latest push is certainly good news for the Everglades, it is just the latest chapter in a decades-long saga to save the famed “River of Grass,” restoring as much of the historic flow of the Everglades as possible given the current reaches of development. However, this noble effort has long been stymied by competing jurisdictions and interests; pushed forward during the years of plenty and scaled back during lean budget years. And it is certainly not just the State of Florida. The federal government, in particular, has spent decades dragging its heels on

the topic of Everglades restoration, preferring unfunded mandates to necessary appropriations. Meanwhile, the South Florida Water Management District has so far not pursued the options it is holding to buy thousands of acres of farmland that could be used for future Everglades restoration projects. That is, of course, the problem with projects designed to be massive, multi-generational initiatives. It is very hard to keep the progress moving forward when the needs of today continue to intervene. However, the problems with the Everglades ecosystem were not created overnight and will not be fixed overnight. It will take decades of steadfast work to get it done. If you want to learn more about why it all matters, the 16th annual Everglades Day Festival will take place, rain or shine, on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (10216 Lee Road, two miles south of Boynton Beach Blvd. off State Road 7). The festival aims to focus attention on the importance of the Everglades to South Florida’s people, animals and habitats. The event will include a dozen special presentations, live music, animal encounters, food trucks and many activities for kids. Learn more at www.auduboneverglades.org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Shocked By Wellington Council

Even though I read the Town-Crier and watch the local news daily, I was somehow not informed of the major vote to be held at the Wellington Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27. It was just by chance that I happened to be telling a friend who is currently looking to relocate about the Wellington Gardens project. Luckily, I saw their web site mention the meeting (date, time and location). I navigated to the Village of Wellington’s web site and found it confusing and difficult to even read the details. Fortunately, this attempt at holding a quick and quiet meeting spread by word of mouth among those who truly care about the community they live in. As a prior HOA president, I was shocked when I saw more than 350 residents, shoulder to shoulder and elbow to elbow, standing room only, and some even sitting on the floor for the almost fivehour-long meeting. Never have I witnessed so many people from so many different backgrounds, ages, life experiences and residing in several different areas all speak in favor of the same project. I recall hearing a chief of police, student, stay-at-home mom, doctor, engineer, attorney and various other professions speak. Even the former mayor of Wellington spoke (and received a standing ovation when he concluded). How an approximate 750-unit apartment complex was even up for consideration is embarrassing and shameful. I didn’t hear one single person speak in favor of this project other than our own village council. To that note, it was interesting that I sent an e-mail detailing my frustration and disappointment to our council members, and the only person who took the time to respond was Councilwoman Anne Gerwig. What is ironic is Councilwoman Gerwig was technically not allowed to vote on this project due to a potential conflict of interest. I’ll admit that at least Mayor Bob Margolis and Vice Mayor John Greene can clearly agree to disagree with each other and at least remain professional while doing so. Although I have my doubts with Mayor Margolis because at times he spoke in favor of open land and parks, yet was in favor of an approximate 750-unit apartment complex. This seems to be a huge contradiction. The same professionalism and respect could not be said for Councilman Matt Willhite. I was in shock how rude, condescending

and unprofessional he was during the meeting with residents who elected him. It appeared he only wanted to listen to himself speak, and he misspoke about what the developer and several residents said earlier. It was clear Councilman Willhite was talking down to residents. I surely hope Floridians are paying attention come voting time. In summary, this council displayed a clear disregard for what the community wanted. I cannot help but to question personal motivations, by having a meeting they certainly did a good job at not advertising, to cover such a major vote; a vote that truly affects the future of Wellington. While no project was perfect, Wellington Gardens would bring jobs, money and entertainment to Wellington, as well as keep jobs, money and entertainment in Wellington. Residents are tired of driving a half hour north, south and east to what we have a chance at having locally. I urge the residents of Wellington to stay informed and remain involved. It appears we might have very well had this council vote in support of the apartment complex project had it not been for the blatant disgust and disapproval by so many residents at the Jan. 27 meeting. PS: Councilman Willhite, I reside in the Grand Isles community and saw neighbors from Grand Isles and the Isles at the meeting. Shame on you to suggest that only the neighboring communities were vocal at the meeting. Rich Best Wellington

Keith Harris An OIG Supporter

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman was quoted as saying “the strength of a democracy is measured by the citizens’ trust in government.” Honest government is the foundation of our country, our state and our community. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of Palm Beach County’s mission is to provide independent and objective insight, oversight and foresight in promoting efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in government. The OIG accomplishes this through conducting audits, investigations and contract oversight activities. By vote of the citizens, the OIG jurisdiction includes the county government and each of the 38 municipalities. 72 percent of Palm Beach County’s voting population is in favor of the OIG. It is funded not by tax dollars from Palm Beach citizens but by receiving one quarter of one percent from the

contract sum of all municipal and county vendor contracts. On a personal note, I have had interaction with the OIG on a few issues. On all occasions, they have been forthright in promoting right and proper government. Prior to the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council’s vote to approve recent road projects, the OIG told the council that “piggybacking of construction projects is not encouraged.” The council awarded a contract for $72,000, which ended up costing Loxahatchee Groves some $140,000. As a private citizen, a town government participant and a candidate for Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, I support and will continue to support the Palm Beach County Office of the Inspector General in its mission to furnish honest government for all county residents. Keith Harris Loxahatchee Groves

Vote For The Future Of Lox Groves

Loxahatchee Groves residents, this is your time and chance to cast a vote on March 10, to determine what you individually would like to see happen within our town as we continue to grow. Issues to consider: Do you want paved roads or not? Your opinion should count. Vote. If you want them, they should be moved forward on instead of countless surveys with little or no action. If the vote is for paved roads, it should be for all and not just the roads on which members of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District live. The “if it’s free, it’s for me” attitude of many years cannot continue if you are vigilant regarding what happens. If the board can buy a building or approve a college without a vote from the residents, they should be able to decide on roads. Do you want equestrian trails or not (at this point probably at least a 25-year-old effort and ongoing)? Your opinion should count. Vote. Are you happy with the RV/ camper parks springing up all over the Groves, perhaps without permits, septic, water, trash pickup, etc? Your opinion should count. Vote. Loxahatchee Groves voted to become a town on the premise of one residence on five or 10 acres. If this is what you voted for and want, it should be enforced. Temporary residences should not be a way around this restriction. Does it concern you that properties are being used for parking lots for semis even when there is

no residence on the property? Does this then become a commercial enterprise? If you have a concern, vote. Lastly, do you want term limits on your candidates? Good or bad, if the same people have a lock on the board forever, the only things that will or can happen are the things they allow to happen. No council member is going to vote themselves out, so unless someone resigns, your board will never change. We are in a period of rapid and changing landscape and growth, so if what happens to you is important to you, vote! Joyce Batcheler Loxahatchee Groves

Can We Trust Ryan Liang?

Trust is a valuable commodity. When anyone violates the bond of trust, everything this untrustworthy person did or does in the future is questioned. Whenever a politician’s integrity is questioned, they are quick to respond. Their responses are examined and the electorate makes their decision. In the 2012 election for the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council, the voters re-elected Ryan Liang without questioning his integrity. Why is Liang’s integrity in question in 2015? During the 2012 campaign, Liang was asked about his alleged conflict of interest with the Callery-Judge comp plan challenge. During the 2012 election cycle, the Town-Crier published an article about Liang which included this paragraph: “During the resolution of the Callery-Judge challenge to the comp plan, there were some allegations that Liang had a conflict of interest regarding his family’s relationship with Callery-Judge. Liang said he approached the Commission on Ethics, which found no conflict. ’I asked them if there was a conflict, and they told me that there was not a conflict,’ he said.” Which Commission on Ethics did Liang seek an opinion on his Callery-Judge conflict of interest? The Palm Beach County Commission of Ethics has no record of opining on any inquiry from Liang; the Florida Commission on Ethics has no record Liang’s request. This begs the question, what Commission on Ethics gave Liang a pass? Can Liang be trusted for another term? Fact: As a sitting council member during the Callery-Judge challenge, Liang attended the council’s shade session, an outof-the-Sunshine meeting where the town’s legal options were discussed and plans formulated. Fact: The Liang family owns 120 acres of land within Callery-Judge’s

boundary. Fact: Laura Zung, along with Liang’s mother, are partners in Dancing Crane Farms LLC. Fact: Dancing Crane Farms LLC owns 45+ acres of land within the northern border of the town and a stone’s throw from Callery-Judge. Fact: Laura Zung is married to Nat Roberts, one of the owners of Callery-Judge and the principal challenger to the town’s comp plan. Does anyone else see a conflict of interest? Let’s fast-forward to December 2013. Liang filed a Form 8B, Memorandum of Voting Conflict, when the council had votes on Minto. The reason stated on the form was “inured to my special gain or loss of my relative.” The relative? Liang’s mother. What has changed? Liang’s circumstances from 2012 still exist. If there was no conflict of interest during Callery-Judge, why did Liang recuse himself during the “No on Minto” resolution votes? Voters of Loxahatchee Groves, stop kowtowing to the Liangs! Dennis Lipp Loxahatchee Groves

Wellington: Stop Dumping On Rustic Ranches

Once again the Village of Wellington’s leaders have chosen to consider Rustic Ranches as their dumping ground. This time it’s for their tons of manure, which is generated in the village, not Rustic Ranches. First of all, I would like to know why the Village of Wellington has chosen this to be their problem, instead of the problem of the property owners in their horse community, which generates the monumental amount of manure. I cannot stress the impact on our roads with hundreds of trucks daily. That question stands alone, not to mention the road maintenance costs. Additionally, how could any site be considered that has a mostly residential status when there are other sites available, i.e., 20-Mile

Bend. If Village Manager Paul Schofield and Special Projects Manager Mike O’Dell are so anxious to have a manure transfer station in a neighborhood, let them use their own. As president, I said this at our last Pine Tree Water Control District meeting: In what world would I ever allow the Acme Improvement District to use Pine Tree as their dumping ground? More questions: where’s the money going? Someone is lobbying for this. What’s next? Chris Wallace Wellington

Louda Supports Jarriel & Liang

This letter is an expression of my support for the re-election of Loxahatchee Groves councilmen Ron Jarriel and Ryan Liang. Both councilmen have participated in the town and water control district’s efforts to get complete new and legally binding surveys of roadway/canal easements. These surveys are required before any further work can proceed on equestrian trails/greenways. When I served on the Roadway, Equestrian Trails and Greenway Advisory Committee (RETGAC) with Mrs. Nina Corning as the chair, we worked out a full trail system with interconnections to the south into Wellington and the north to the Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area and on to the Dupuis preserve. Further, we presented a proposed phasing schedule to have that implemented. All this takes time and money. Regarding money — we also investigated grant proposals, but without valid surveys we could not proceed. Only when the land surveys get completed can grant proposals be submitted. Both Liang and Jarriel realize this and supported us back then and will do so in the future! Prior to the upcoming election, make sure that you have facts and not heated rhetoric. Dr. Bill Louda Loxahatchee Groves

SEND IN YOUR LETTERS

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

NEWS

Lox Groves Water Control District Reviews Progress With Projects By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Administrator Steve Yohe reported Monday, Feb. 9 that his staff has completed an 11.8-mile canal dredging and clearing project funded largely by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The grant was in response to a request to help in the recovery from Tropical Storm Isaac. LGWCD Supervisor John Ryan complimented Yohe on the completion of the project, explaining that it had saved the district a lot of money by purchasing a long-reach backhoe to do the project, rather than contracting it out. “Even though we don’t have a Tropical Storm Isaac that often, it did allow a contract with USDA,”

Ryan said. “I think this was a worthwhile project.” Yohe said the canals had been put back to their proper design configuration. He also reported that the district’s legal staff is in its second appeal to get $75,000 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted but has not sent. “Second attempts can take as long as a year,” Yohe said. Ryan said that the district has done the work, which had been approved by FEMA. “FEMA specifically approved the work, they funded the initial disbursement,” Ryan said, until they learned that the USDA had granted money to the district. “They felt it was double funding.” Supervisor Don Widing, who works at a fire department in

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Broward County, said one appeal of his had gone on for three years. Ryan said part of the confusion was that the district communicates with the USDA office in Tallahassee. “We have a gerrymandered congressional district,” Ryan said, referring to Congressman Alcee Hastings’ 20th Congressional District. “I’m not sure he’s aware of these issues up here.” Yohe also reported that the district presented the Town of Loxahatchee Groves with a proposed interlocal agreement on Feb. 2 for maintenance of roads and berms. He expects approval at the council’s meeting on Feb. 17, and it should come back for LGWCD approval on March 9. He said he gave the draft to Town Manager Bill Underwood last week, who had not had time BARRY S. MANNING Publisher JODY GORRAN Associate Publisher

to review it completely. “It is quite lengthy,” Yohe said. Ryan said reaching an agreement has been difficult due to statutory limitations of the district. “It’s not an easy agreement in the sense that it is implementing a local bill that was passed, and it is not just an absolutely natural combination of abilities because you’re dealing with district easements and, as per the local bill, a perpetual use permit given to the town that authorizes the construction and maintenance of the trails, and then combines our canal maintenance roads with that agreement and tries to really suit the objectives of both entities,” Ryan said. Supervisor Frank Schiola asked legal staff if the district will still be able to access the canal maintenance roads, which are planned JOSHUA I. MANNING Executive Editor

DAWN RIVERA General Manager

RON BUKLEY Managing Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF/ Chris Felker • Denise Fleischman • Julie Unger

for adaptation as horse trails. LGWCD Attorney Mary Viator said one of the issues was drafting an agreement that would not have the district compromising its primary responsibility. “Everyone needs to understand that the district’s primary responsibility is drainage, and we have to have access,” Viator said. “That is communicated in the agreement, that the trails will be part of the ongoing maintenance, to make sure that there is a provision for access.” Widing noted that a provision of the agreement states that use of the easement by the town for equestrian trails is subordinate to the uses of the district. Viator added that most of the details had been worked through with Town Attorney Michael

Cirullo, who was reviewing the agreement with the town manager. Yohe noted that the maintenance maps, once they are recorded, will be part of the agreement. The maintenance map survey contract was awarded to Erdman Anthony in January. Viator said that some of the delays have been due to getting the maintenance maps finished. Widing said that he wanted the public to understand the reason for the delays. LGWCD Chairman Dave DeMarois said the district and the town were working together so they can open equestrian trails, but it has to be done in a specific way. In other business, the board granted Yohe a 3.7 percent raise during his annual performance review.

POSTAL STATEMENT The Town-Crier (USPS #021547) is published weekly by Newspaper Publishers Inc., 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414-7458. Periodicals Postage Paid at West Palm Beach, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Town-Crier, c/o Newspaper Publishers Inc., 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414-7458.

CONTRIBUTORS/ Jules Rabin • Ellen Rosenberg • Leonard Wechsler • Deborah Welky ART & PRODUCTION MANAGER/ Stephanie Rodriguez ADVERTISING/ Betty Buglio • Evie Edwards • Wanda Glockson STAFF/ Jacqueline Corrado • Shanta Daibee • Carol Lieberman • Geri O’Neil

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NEWS

WELLINGTON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB TEAMS UP WITH THE HUNGER PROJECT

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach Day Academy, the Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and Feeding Children Everywhere partnered for the Palm Beach Unites Hunger Project, handing out 100,000 lentil casserole meals at seven different locations. A total of 2,500 meals went to the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington on Monday, Feb. 9 and were handed out to families as they picked up their kids. Each pouch of lentil casserole will feed three people. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Brooklyn Simpson with Layla, Tommy, Breanah and Kristin Santos.

Leland Gassman, Elliana Hernandez, Alexander Diaz and Valentino Rangel.

Jewel Lewis, Brooklyn Simpson and Boys & Girls Club Program Coordinator Latisha Paul.

Cassidy Rosa, Brooklyn Simpson and Nelson Rosa.

N’Khaya and Wakisha Mawali got two pouches from Leland Gassman.

Brooklyn Simpson and Savanna Hall.

ORANGE SUNSHINE BAND BRINGS GROOVY MUSIC TO RPB COMMONS PARK

Royal Palm Beach hosted a free concert by the Orange Sunshine Band at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Sunday, Feb. 8. The band played a variety of 1960s music while guests danced and sang along. There were also food trucks and a few vendors on site.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Aiden Sosa, 4, likes to dance.

towncrier - 2015bw.pdf 1 1/13/2015 12:53:11 PM

Cheryl Williams and Annmarie Spohnholtz enjoy the music.

Eleni Ceresna with Precious.

The Orange Sunshine Band plays 1960s music.

Page 6

February 13 - February 19, 2015

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CRIME NEWS

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By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report FEB. 10 — A deputy from the Wellington substation of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Tuesday morning regarding a business burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone walked into a saddle tent display, climbed over a storage unit, broke two shelves and stole three Antares saddles, together valued at $15,000. The stolen saddles were entered into the teletype registry. ••• FEB. 2 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to a home on Sandpiper Avenue last Monday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6 p.m. on Jan 30 and noon on Jan. 31, someone entered the victim’s unlocked Nissan Frontier and removed a Porter-Cable chipping hammer, a 32G Apple iPad Mini and a set of keys from under the passenger front seat. Fingerprint evidence was collected from the vehicle. FEB. 2 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to the Little Caesars restaurant on Okeechobee Blvd. last Monday afternoon regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 4 and 4:15 p.m., as the manager was getting ready to leave for the day, she set her purse down on the front counter. According to the report, a woman entered the restaurant and removed the purse. The incident was caught on video. FEB. 3 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was contacted by a resident of Tangerine Blvd. last Tuesday regarding a case of fraud. According to a PBSO report, the victim received a notification that someone had attempted to open a Capital One account and a Sprint account in the victim’s name over the past two months. The victim did not know how his information had been compromised. FEB. 3 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on 33rd Road North last Tuesday afternoon. According to a PBSO report, three suspects distracted the victim and removed the victim’s safe, which contained cash, coins and jewelry valued at approximately $25,000. FEB. 5 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to a hotel on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. last Thursday morning regarding a stolen vehicle. According to a PBSO report, two individuals stole the victim’s 2006 Ford F550 truck, which contained an air compressor, welder and other tools. According to the report, the vehicle, with a tracking device, was later recovered in Okeechobee County. FEB. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to a home on Shoma Drive last Friday morning regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report,

sometime between 7 p.m. last Thursday and 8 a.m. last Friday, someone entered the victim’s 2010 Chevrolet Impala and removed a pair of Paxon shoes and ProTaper dirt bike, valued at $170, from the vehicle. The vehicle showed no signs of forced entry. FEB. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on 62nd Lane North in The Acreage last Friday morning regarding a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 9 p.m. last Thursday and 11 a.m. last Friday, someone entered the victim’s residence and removed half a bottle of Grey Goose liquor, two Heineken beer bottles and tore the victim’s patio screen door. The alcohol was valued at approximately $35. Fingerprint and DNA evidence were collected at the scene. FEB. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to the Walmart store on Belvedere Road last Friday afternoon regarding a shoplifting incident. According to a PBSO report, at 1 p.m. last Friday, a loss prevention officer noticed a man acting suspiciously in the home goods section of the store. According to the report, the man, later determined to be Anthony Riley, selected $85.38 worth of merchandise, placed it in his cart, and exited the store without paying for the items. According to the report, Riley was found with a crack cocaine pipe on his person and was also arrested for the possession of drug paraphernalia. FEB. 6 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Royal Palm Beach substation was called to the Target store on Okeechobee Blvd. last Friday afternoon regarding a shoplifting incident. According to a PBSO report, an unknown male was observed taking items, including clothing and toys, and exiting the store before leaving the parking lot in a silver Honda Accord with a sunroof. FEB. 9 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Wellington substation was called to a home in the Sailboat Point community Monday morning regarding a case of vandalism. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday, someone slashed one of the Firestone tires, valued at $150, on the victim’s 2007 Chevy Express. FEB. 9 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Wellington substation was called to a home in the Aero Club on Monday evening regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Monday, someone entered the victim’s unlocked 2015 Porsche Cayenne S and removed two paychecks, as well as $7 from the center console. FEB. 10 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Wellington substation was called to the Rustic Ranches neighborhood Tuesday afternoon regarding a sign theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1:30 and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, one of the five marker signs at the end of Skipiks Way noting that the road came to an end was stolen.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Joseph Murphy is a white male, 5’11” tall and weighing 180 lbs., with blond hair, blue eyes and multiple tattoos. His date of birth is 06/07/82. Murphy is wanted for violating the terms of parole for felony charges for domestic battery on a person 65 years of age or older. His last known address was Nantucket Court in Wellington. He is wanted as of 02/05/15. • Trevor Nolan is a white male, 5’11” tall and weighing 170 lbs., with brown hair, blue eyes and multiple tattoos. His date of birth is 06/30/90. Nolan is wanted on felony charges for the sale of cocaine. His last known addresses were Wellington Drive in Wellington and Pilgrim Road in West Palm Beach. He is wanted as of 02/05/15. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. For more info., call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crime stopperspbc.com.

Joseph Murphy

Trevor Nolan

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

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Page 7

NEWS

Family Raising Money To Help Longtime Resident Dave Spall

By Deborah Welky Town-Crier Staff Report On Nov. 30, longtime Royal Palm Beach resident Dave Spall, 36, boarded a cruise ship in Miami with his aunt, his uncle and his fiancé. Destination: the Caribbean. He never arrived. Instead, he lies in a hospital bed at Jackson Memorial Hospital with family members and friends maintaining a vigil at his bedside and wondering how this could have happened. According to his mother, Karen, it happened due to a series of unfortunate mistakes. “They were just a few hours out of port when they decided to visit the buffet,” she said. “Dave took a piece of meat and put it on his plate and remarked to his aunt, ‘This looks really good.’ He

started toward his seat, and she went back to help her husband. About four minutes later, she returned to their table and found a lot of activity. Evidently, Dave had put down his tray, gone limp and fallen backward.” Unsure what was happening, the aunt asked if he was choking but was told that Spall was not — he was having a heart attack. Cruise ship staff told her they had it under control, but no one checked Spall’s airway where, indeed, a piece of meat was lodged. “We’re not sure if he put a piece of meat in his mouth as he was walking back or not,” Spall’s mother said. “But who assumes a 36-year-old man is having a heart attack? ‘Check the mouth’ — everyone who has ever taken CPR knows that.”

Liz Codis, Vincent Riggle and Carol Dettling ran last weekend’s yard sale, which raised more than $2,000 for Dave Spall.

Spall wasn’t breathing, yet valuable time was lost searching for a wheelchair and getting him to the onboard infirmary. By the time the meat was discovered, he had already lost vital oxygen to his brain. The damage was further compounded as minutes ticked by due to miscommunication regarding getting him airlifted off the ship to a hospital. Spall suffered severe brain damage but is finally breathing on his own. His parents were awarded legal guardianship of their adult son last week, and the push is on to bring Spall home to Palm Beach County, where he can get the help he needs at a longterm care facility. Spall grew up in Royal Palm Beach, was a sponsor of a Royal Palm Beach Youth Athletic As-

sociation team and had purchased a home in The Acreage. Usually, he was the first one to help anyone in need, Karen said. Now, the community he loves has rallied around him. A successful yard sale got things off to a good start. Furniture, home décor, water skis, designer fabrics, lighting fixtures, clothing and more were donated and sold last weekend, earning more than $2,000. More events are being planned. “I used to tell him, ‘Dave, you do too much,’ and he said, ‘Mom, I take after you.’ I just spent 30 hours with him the other day,” Karen said. “His eyes are open, but he is unconscious. Nonetheless, he was able to raise his left hand. He definitely hears you — there’s no doubt about that. He is

Linda Renna found a bag full of bargains with some help from Carol Dettling.

responding. I take his head and say, ‘Focus. Focus,’ and you can see him coming down and trying to focus and relax, but you have no control. That’s why we’re trying so hard to get him out of there and into therapy. It’s a long, slow process, but we’re family. We’ll be there.” On Wednesday, Feb. 11, Dave Spall turned 37. He celebrated in the Miami hospital, his 11th week there. “We’d like to bring him closer to us,” Karen said. “But, as it is, we don’t leave him by himself. One of us is there 24 hours a day.” To help, look for announcements of upcoming fundraisers, such as a planned softball tournament, or donate directly to the David Spall Donation Fund, set up at Wells Fargo Bank.

Dave Spall

Gwen Van Sickle looks over holiday items. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Emily Brooke Still In The Action As Elimination Rounds Conclude

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Hollywood Week: It marks one of the segues into making it through the elimination rounds to the top 24 of the talent-packed American Idol. Airing over two weeks, the first episode had singers perform for the judges in lines of 10, before the second episode where singers worked in groups. On Wednesday night, during episode three of Hollywood Week, contestants, including Wellington’s own Emily Brooke, performed solos one last time before the nerve-wracking episode airing Thursday, Feb. 12: “Hollywood Week #4: Top 48.” Final solo performances take place before the judges announce the top 48 contestants. Next week, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, the top 48 perform once more in a special showcase before the second showcase round, Feb. 19, where the top 24 are announced. Hollywood Week was a stress-

Wellington Film Festival Planned

The Wellington Film Festival is coming up. The three-day event will take place at the Cinema 8 Movies at Wellington from Tuesday, Feb. 24 through Thursday, Feb. 26 from 7 to 10 p.m. each evening. Each day will feature a film from the new “2053 Trilogy,” a filmmaking seminar and student films. Founder Jean-Michel Millien wanted to put together a familyfriendly festival that highlights Wellington and the surrounding areas, which the “2053 Trilogy” does. All three films, Two Girls, a Dragon and a Fisherman, More Girls, a Dragon and a Fisherman and Viejo were all shot in and around Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and The Acreage. They are family friendly and star 14-year-

ful whirlwind for the 16-year-old budding star, who found that not only is she learning a great deal, but she is forming lifelong friendships. One of the most amazing things, she said, was meeting all of the different contestants from all over the country. “I met a new friend during Hollywood Week,” she said, explaining that their friendship has grown quickly. Beyond the competition, some of those friendships she is making have allowed Brooke the opportunity to be around people with the same goals in mind. “There are so many other people who are there doing the same thing that you are, so it’s like you all relate to each other,” she said. “It’s really cool.” As far as making it this far into the competition, that is something the Wellington High School student does not take for granted. “Knowing I made it through that whole part was absolutely

crazy, because there were so many people,” she said. Entering into Hollywood Week, and the subsequent episodes, Brooke would remind herself, “I’m safe today. What’s tomorrow going to hold?” To be in that situation was an awesome experience, she said. “It was actually really surprising, to be honest,” Brooke said about making it past the group part of Hollywood Week, especially since she was feeling ill. “It was difficult to make sure to stay motivated, stay hydrated, and make sure you do everything you need to do to get through that week.” The group performances came as a delightful surprise to Brooke. They performed “A Little Help from My Friends” by the Beatles. “My group was amazing. They were all so nice and so fun. It was just the best group I could ask for. I’m just glad I was able to have them,” she said. “The performance… we definitely didn’t

have all of our stuff together that we needed to have together. We all know that. It’s just funny because we all laugh at it like, ‘Whoa, we actually got through that.’” Even being sick, Brooke made it through, which was a welcome surprise, only solidifying how apparent her talent and promise is. Brooke has also received a great deal of help and advice from the judges. “I am always just wanting to improve any way I can with my music and my stage performance,” she said. “Getting that experience, being able to talk to them and ask them what I need to work on — it has been very helpful. Since then, I’ve gotten so much more confident. I’m just getting better and better from their advice.” One criticism Brooke recalls from the judges is that Jennifer Lopez didn’t always feel the emotions when she was singing, so Brooke has been working hard to change that and make her perfor-

mances more emotional. “That’s definitely something I’ve had to work really hard on,” she said. The hard work that goes into the competition, and pursuing a professional singing career, has been softened with the support of her family. Having her mother with her has been an amazing experience. “It was really good, especially since I wasn’t feeling very well,” Brooke said, explaining that her mom was always there to help her feel better. “It’s just really awesome that my parents are so supportive, and it was great having my mom there to have my back.” You’ll have to watch Wednesday’s episode online or on demand, but be sure to tune in Thursday to see how Brooke does and catch her showcasing her talent. For more information about this season of American Idol, visit www.americanidol.com. To learn more about Brooke, visit www. emilybrookemusic.com.

Emily Brooke during her American Idol audition.

NEWS BRIEFS old Aeja Pinto, who has to experience growing pains and affairs of the heart, yet the films also have enough action to keep male audience members interested as well. It is free to submit a film for consideration to the Wellington Film Festival. For more information, or to learn about sponsorships, visit www.wellingtonfilmfestival.com or call (561) 255-7625.

Art Society Offering Scholarships

The Wellington Art Society is currently accepting applications for its one-time $500 to $1,000 college art scholarships for graduating seniors who live in and attend high school in Palm Beach County. The scholarship is available to students planning a college major

in visual arts. Applications can be obtained from school art teachers or from the Wellington Art Society by contacting Suzanne Redmond at sredmond75@comcast.net. Requirements for the scholarship are as follows: students must reside in and attend high school in Palm Beach County; students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in visual arts and an overall GPA of 2.0; and three art classes in high school must have been completed. An artist’s statement and career goal must be submitted, along with 7 to 10 photographs for viewing, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member and the student’s transcript. The application package for the scholarship is due March 25 and should be sent to the Wellington Art Society, P.O. Box 212943, Royal Palm Beach, FL 334212943.

The Wellington Art Society Scholarship, established in 2001, has provided 30 talented young artists with money for their artrelated expenses, such as art/ photographic supplies and books or tuition for visual art classes. Proceeds from the organization’s annual art exhibitions and sales, such as ArtFest on the Green and Whole Foods Market art shows, support the scholarship fund. For more information about the scholarship program, e-mail Suzanne Redmond at sredmond75@ comcast.net.

Wellington Chamber ‘Shop Talk’ Feb. 26

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will hold its “Shop Talk” event on Thursday, Feb. 26

at the Wanderers Club from 6 to 8 p.m. The topic will be “To Friend or Not To Friend?” Expert panelists Christina Rowe and Heidi Richards Mooney will discuss the pros and cons of social media in the workplace. For more information, and to RSVP, visit www. wellingtonchamber.com.

Transportation Services Job Fair Set For Feb. 18

Bus drivers wanted! The School District of Palm Beach County’s Transportation Services Department will hold a job fair on Wednesday, Feb. 18 to hire drivers to transport approximately 58,000 students each day to Palm Beach County schools. The job fair is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Trans-

portation Facility, 3376 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach. Applicants must meet the following requirements: • Be a safe, licensed driver for five years. • Have an excellent driving record. • Pass the Florida Department of Transportation physical examination. • Pass the bus driver training course. • Communicate effectively in English. • Enjoy working with students. The school district offers excellent benefits, competitive pay and health insurance. The district also offers free Commercial Driving License (CDL) training for those who qualify. To learn more about the Transportation Services job fair, call (561) 242-6515.

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NEWS BRIEFS Ag Reserve Roundtable Set For Feb. 17

The public is invited to attend a roundtable meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17 to discuss issues affecting Palm Beach County’s Agricultural Reserve Area. The discussion will be held at the Clayton E. Hutcheson Agricultural Center, located at 559 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No preregistration is required. The Agricultural Reserve covers an area of approximately 22,000 acres west of Florida’s Turnpike in southern Palm Beach County. It was established in the 1980s to preserve unique wetlands and farmlands by limiting uses to agriculture, conservation, lowdensity residential development, and limited non-residential uses. The Feb. 17 discussion is a follow-up to a roundtable held in March 2014 in response to requests by farmers and property owners seeking to expand the development options currently available in the Agricultural Reserve. Representatives previously

selected by each interest group will participate at the table, but all interested members of the public are invited to attend and interact as audience members. For more info., visit www.pbcgov.com/pzb/planning/ag_reserve/ag_reserve.htm.

Gang Resistance Training Session

Wellington’s Community Services Department has partnered with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club to host a Gang Resistance Education and Training Informational Session for Wellington parents. The session will take place Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club, located at 1080 Wellington Trace. To RSVP, call (561) 791-4764.

Robotics Team To Host Open House Feb. 14

The Children of the Swamp (179) Robotics Team of Palm

Beach County, a member of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), will be hosting the open house and scrimmage at 7071 Garden Road in Riviera Beach on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participating high schools include Inlet Grove, Suncoast, Seminole Ridge, Lake Worth, FAU, the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, the G-Star School of the Arts and the 4-H Clubs of America. Food and drinks, a bake sale and a 50/50 raffle will be available, and funds will be used to cover team costs at various events throughout the year. For more information about the event and/or how to get involved with the team, e-mail lls4656@aol. com or visit www.179swampthing. org. For more information about FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org.

14125 North Road in Loxahatchee Groves. There will be six days of fun, growth and community. This year’s new age festival will feature workshops on health, personal growth, bodywork, ecology, relationships, the arts and naturist rights. There will also be sports, drum circles, musical performances, dances, spiritual ceremonies and activities for children. Sunsport Gardens, South Florida’s premier family naturist resort, offers a heated swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis, volleyball, petanque, nature trail, children’s playground, camping, free wireless Internet access and a fullservice restaurant. Approximately 350 people are expected to attend the festival. For more information, call Sunsport Gardens at (561) 793-0423 or visit www.sunsportgardens.com.

Naturist Festival At Sunsport Gardens

Rummage Sale At St. David’s

Sunsport Gardens is holding its 27th annual Midwinter Naturist Festival from Thursday, Feb. 12 through Tuesday, Feb. 17 at

St. David’s in the Pines Episcopal Church in Wellington will host a bazaar/rummage sale on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22 from 8

a.m. to noon. Items offered include knitted/crocheted articles, gently used adult and children’s clothing, toys/games, household items (linens, glassware, china, books, etc), costume jewelry, chili/cornbread, baked goods and more. There will be a special bag sale on Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m., for all items, excluding jewelry. For more information, contact Nancy Schroeder at (561) 792-0244 or schroeder. nancy@gmail.com.

Dark Sky Festival Feb. 21 At Okeeheelee

The Palm Beach County departments of Environmental Resources Management and Parks & Recreation will “celebrate the night and turn down the lights” by hosting the third annual Dark Sky Festival at the Okeeheelee Nature Center on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The purpose of the Dark Sky Festival is to expose citizens to the marvels of astronomy and the importance of protecting dark skies, not just for astronomy

purposes, but also for the effects on human health, and the value that darkness provides to area wildlife. This festival will include stargazing with local astronomers, exhibits, vendors, nature walks, a children’s activity area, food trucks, a campfire and more. Additional support for this event is provided by the International Dark Sky Association-South Florida. The Okeeheelee Nature Center is located in Okeeheelee Park at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., one mile west of Jog Road. For more information, e-mail Jacey Biery at jbiery@pbcgov.org or visit www. pbcgov.com/erm/darkskyfest.

RPB Rotary Club Changes Meeting Place

The Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club has changed the location of its weekly meetings. The meetings, at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings, will now be held at the Oak Bistro & Wine Bar, located in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping center at 11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 201, near Stein Mart.

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Page 9

The Perfect Match Polo and Brunch

Experience the energy of world-class polo and brunch at the International Polo Club. Delicious food, champagne, celebrity sightings, music, fashion and, of course, polo. Every Sunday at 3 p.m. through April 19 The Pavilion opens at 2 p.m.

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Page 11

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NEWS

CROWDS SHOP FOR BARGAINS AT ROYAL PALM’S ANNUAL KIDS YARD SALE

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Vivian Konrad looks over some dolls shown by Patricia Forde and Rhonda Ferrin Davis to benefit the Vivian A. Ferrin Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Sandy Webb can’t decide which dress to buy granddaughter McKenna Eakin.

Boy Scouts from Troop 111 and parents sell coupon cards to raise money for summer camp.

Winsom Martin, Dr. Elaine Ealy, Millie Hampton and Junette Powell at the CAFCI booth.

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“Florida is like no other place on Earth, and working together with the Wellington Radio Club, we can further communicate and share our fish and wildlife resources locally, nationally and globally, so they survive and thrive for current and future generations,” said Judie Gibson, director of development for the FWFF. Club members will man their station from 1 p.m. Saturday through 1 p.m. Sunday, and the public is invited to observe their operation during daylight hours. For more information on the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, visit www.wildlifeflorida. org. To learn more about amateur radio, visit the Wellington Radio Club web site at www.qsl.net/ k4wrc.

• Enrichment Classes include Computer Animation, Computer Coding, Robotics, Engineering, 2D/3D, Design, Gaming, Mechanics, Botany

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colleagues worldwide. The station they will operate has already been assigned a special FCC call-sign: “W4P… Whiskey Four Panther.” The weekend of Feb. 21 and 22, for 24 hours straight, club members will inform as many of the two million hams and shortwave listeners as possible of the role the FWC plays in protecting Florida’s native, endangered species. “This year, we are excited to call the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida a supporting sponsor for the event,” said Wellington Radio Club President Larry Lazar, a longtime FWC volunteer. The FWFF provides assistance, funding and promotional support to contribute to the health and well-being of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources.

• Algebra 1 Honors and Geometry 1 Honors offered for High School credit

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The sighting of a Florida Panther last occurred about 30 years ago in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. All that time without a single sighting symbolizes the environmental changes that have occurred in South Florida in recent decades. For years, Wellington Radio Club members have volunteered with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at Corbett and its Everglades Youth Conservation Center. Members will help promote the theme of preservation and conservation by setting up and operating a “special event” shortwave station later this month at the Everglades Youth Conservation Center. The radio amateurs hope to raise consciousness by contacting their

Saturday, March 7, 2015 1:00 - 3:00 (Informational Session at 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.)

Alex Palmowski helps Landin Halle make a square knot.

Radio Club To Commemorate Last Panther Sighting In The Corbett Area

The Women of the Western Communities met Feb. 6 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington for a delicious dinner and fellowship. At the meeting, the group donated pajamas and slippers to YWCA Harmony House residents. To attend a meeting, contact Mair Armand at (561) 635-0011 or mair@ wwc-fl.com.

Jeanetta Bair knits a hat.

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CLUB SUPPORTS HARMONY HOUSE

Lily Lanier buys a necklace from Donna Mine.

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Western Academy does not discriminate in admissions on the basis of race, color, national origin or disability.

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Lionshare Dressage Loans Delorean MF To Para-Equestrian Margaret McIntosh

When Caroline Roffman received an e-mail from Margaret McIntosh inquiring about borrowing a horse for the USEF High Performance Southeast Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium, Roffman immediately wanted to help. Accomplished para-equestrian McIntosh asked for just two things: a horse with a good mind and a great walk. Roffman, an international grand prix rider and head trainer at Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, called her working student Sierra Keasler to suggest that McIntosh borrow Keasler’s Delorean MF, the 6-year-old son of Don Principe known around the barn as “Baby Horse.” McIntosh is a talented rider who enjoyed a successful eventing career with the help of Bruce Davidson, which led to her competing in the CCI*** and CCI**** at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event in 1997 and 1998 before a life-changing accident. While riding, McIntosh fell over a cross country fence and broke her neck in 1999. Although she was initially paralyzed from the chest down, McIntosh was able to regain her mobility and get back in the saddle as a para-equestrian. She has risen

back through the equestrian ranks, earning the title of 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian dressage reserve champion. Unable to bring her own horse to Wellington for the symposium, McIntosh looked to Roffman for the perfect ride. For Keasler, the decision to lend her horse to McIntosh was an easy one. “After hearing her story, there was no way I could say no,” she explained. “At the symposium, Baby Horse made me proud. He took his job very seriously and worked so hard for Margaret.” McIntosh competes in para-equestrian dressage at Grade 1(a), a classification in which riders walk their dressage tests. Although she just barely missed the mark for the 2012 London Olympics Selection Trials and she was unable to compete in the 2014 Alltech World Equestrian Games due to a classification discrepancy, McIntosh continues to push forward in her competitive career. Her sights are set on qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. For more information about Lionshare Dressage, visit www. lionsharedressage.com, e-mail lionsharedressage@gmail.com or call (617) 633-1003.

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MARISSA PRIORE HONORED AT ROTARY STUDENT OF QUARTER

The Wellington Rotary Club presented Marissa Priore its Student of the Quarter Award for combined scholastic achievement and community involvement and service at its dinner on Thursday, Jan. 30. Shown here is Priore with (L-R) Rotary Club President Tom Neumann, Schools Liason Tim Chance, former Wellington Councilman and grandfather Carmine Priore II, and parents Terri and Carmine Priore III.

WINGATES WELCOME NEW GRANDSON Sierra Keasler stands with Margaret McIntosh on Delorean MFat the USEF High Performance Southeast Para Equestrian Dressage Symposium. PHOTO COURTESY AL GUDEN

Dreyfoos Student Morgaan Jessel Chosen For U.S. Senate Youth Program

Morgaan Jessel, a communications student at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, will be one of two students from Florida to serve as a delegate to the 53rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program set for March 7-14 in Washington, D.C. Jessel, a senior from Wellington, is president of her senior class,

president of the Dreyfoos Speech & Debate Team and a member of U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch’s Congressional Youth Cabinet. She volunteers at the Palm Beach County Youth Court and has served as a Girls State delegate and Girls Nation senator. Each year, the competitive merit-based program brings 104 of

the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C. for a week-long study of the federal government to help instill within the student delegates a more profound knowledge of the American political process.

Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are provided by the Hearst Foundations. In addition to the program week, the Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.

Loxahatchee Author Releases Children’s Book

Local author Tracie Gold has announced the nationwide release of her new adventure-filled children’s book, The Adventures of Bonnie the Bunny: With Freddy the Fox. In The Adventures of Bonnie the Bunny, Bonnie awakens to a beautiful spring morning and starts

the day by hopping to explore new adventures and places. All of a sudden, Bonnie finds herself in very a scary situation. With nowhere to turn, she trusts her heart and takes a chance on something most people or animals would run from. Fear has never stopped her

before, so tag along to see what will happen next — what she finds and what choices she will have to make. In Bonnie’s colorful world, young readers will never know who they could meet along the way. Published by Tate Publishing

and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www. tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting www.barnesandnoble. com or www.amazon.com. Gold is married to husband Mark and has two daughters, Amanda and Alyssa.

Pamela and Lawrence Wingate, Wellington residents for 34 years, are proud to announce the birth of their second grandchild, Beau Lawrence Cortese, who was born on Nov. 1, 2014 at 9 pounds, 3 ounces to Ashley and Tony Cortese of Tallahassee. Ashley Cortese, a former Wellington resident and student at the King’s Academy, and her husband Tony welcome Beau, their second child, as a younger sibling for Reid Anthony Cortese.

Feb. 17 Fundraisers For Ashley Ritter Fundraisers are being held for Ashley Ritter, a 17-year-old Palm Beach Central High School student, to help raise money for a Diabetes Alert Dog. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, fundraisers for Ritter will be held at the Chick-fil-A locations at the Mall at Wellington Green, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Southern Blvd.

and State Road 7, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fundraisers will help Ashley and her family in their goal of acquiring a dog that will help her monitor her blood sugar levels while at college. For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/ashleysdiabetesdog.

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

CRESTWOOD WELL REPRESENTED AT THE KOMEN WALK

Crestwood Middle School was well represented at the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk. Shown here are Bev Wessel, Theresa Baker, Blanche Martin, Amanda Leonard, Assistant Principal Terri Livingston, Principal Stephanie Nance, Cason Bateman, Amanda Jolly, Gigi Frank, Desiree Bisignano and Tim Nance, assistant principal at JFK Middle School.

LANDINGS STUDENTS SHOW OFF MATH SKILLS AT COUNTY TOURNEY

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SCHOOL NEWS

Career Day At Emerald Cove A Success The seventh graders at Emerald Cove Middle School recently took part in the school’s annual career day event. The students were greeted by Shullman Orthodontics, which supplied bags for the students to gather information and giveaways from other career professionals. Approximately 400 students rotated through 15 booths in small groups and were able to ask the professionals questions about their careers and interact with them to get a better understanding of what is involved in choosing and studying for these different career paths. Career professionals included Shullman Orthodontics, Adriana Zabala Voice Academy, Standing

Ovation Performing Arts, Vantage Point Dance Studio, the FPL Electric Vehicle Program, the West Palm Beach Police Department, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Lunsford Orthodontics, Village Music, Critter Control of Florida, Wellington Regional Medical Center, Chick-Fil-A, the Village of Wellington and Wellington Mayor Bob Margolis. Event planners from Emerald Cove’s PTSA, Manda Galin and Sarah Hansen, reported that this type of event gives the students realistic pictures of exactly what they need to do to plan for certain careers, understand salaries that the fields offer and set realistic educational goals.

(Above) Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue presents to students. (Right) PTSA Event Organizers Manda Galin and Sarah Hansen

Oxbridge Adds Polo, Equestrian Programs

There’s a new player in Palm Beach County’s equestrian scene. The Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach has partnered with Boynton Beach-based Wall Street Farm to launch an all-inclusive equestrian program. “The Oxbridge Academy was founded on the principle of providing students with unmatched, positive, life-changing opportunities,” said Craig Sponsky, Oxbridge Academy’s athletic director.

“We had so many students express a desire to participate in either equestrian and/or polo that we felt it was important to provide them with the chance to explore their interest.” The after-school club will offer lessons for all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced. Once riders have mastered basic horsemanship, they will be able to choose one of three offered disciplines: polo, hunter/jumper

or dressage. Students are required to receive instruction in caring for the horses as part of the program. Equestrian Program Director Catherine Craig spent several months searching for the best facility to meet the program’s needs. “The key to managing a program this large with students at many levels of experience is to have quality instructors and a stable full of well-trained school horses,” she said. “We are very pleased that all

three disciplines of riding can be met in one location at Wall Street Farm and the neighboring Palm City Polo.” More than 25 students have already signed up for the club. Oxbridge plans to form two competitive teams next year: a polo team and an Interscholastic Equestrian Association team. Both teams will compete locally. For more info., visit www.oapb. org or call (561) 972-9600.

Sem Ridge Freshman Parent Night Set For Feb. 17

Fourteen students from Wellington Landings Middle School competed in the PBCCTM Middle School Math Tournament on Feb 3. Competition included more than 200 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades throughout Palm Beach County public, charter and private schools. Questions were in three rounds including Non-Calculator Computation, Math Puzzles and Extended Calculations. This was the 53rd annual PBCCTM Middle School Math Tournament. Shown here from Wellington Landings are: (front row) Abbie Hynes, Katrina Kidd, Nicholas Kapsos, Jackson Haynes, and Rhea Bhatia; (middle row) Jonah Smith, Laura Camargo, Philip Parel, Cole Ellis, Tristan Funicelli and Logan Castellanos; and (back row) sponsor Mr. Cecil Phibbs, Adain Finicelli, Sienna DeFazio and Jonathan Hung. Placing first in the county in seventh grade was Jonathan Hung.

The Seminole Ridge High School guidance department invites parents of ninth-grade students to “Freshman Parent Night” on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Dr. Lynne K. McGee Auditorium. Presentation topics will include graduation requirements for the Class of 2018, the course selection process for 2015-16 and how to interpret the student credit summary report. On Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18 and 19, counselors will meet individually with each Hawk freshman to review course credits earned and finalize course selections for sophomore year. For additional information, call the guidance office at (561) 422-2610. Winter Guard Takes Indoor Silver — The Seminole Ridge winter color guard took second place among 11 groups in their first competition of the indoor season, held Jan. 31 at Jupiter High School under the auspices of the South

Florida Winter Guard Association. Hawks Tapped at College Recruitment Tour — Each year, the School District of Palm Beach County hosts a recruitment fair for historically black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions. This year’s fair was held Jan. 13-14 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, and recruiters extended on-the-spot offers of admission to more than 30 SRHS students. “This event provides for many students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue postsecondary education,” guidance counselor Dr. Melissa Renda said. Ridge Wrestlers Individual Champs — Congratulations to Colton Crumrine, Antoine Frantz and Greg Henry, who earned individual championships in their weight class at the countywide junior varsity wrestling tournament Jan. 31. French Honor Society Inducts Members — The SRHS chapter of

the Société Honoraire de Français inducted next-year members in an evening ceremony Feb. 10. Congratulations to Emily Bennett, Rhiannon Boffa, Paige Brevell, Page Burow, Christopher Cassara, Laurel Cornely, Abigail Desaulniers, Matthew Eximond, Ethon Ives, Michelle Lopez, Jessica Lorenzo, Maycee Martin, Jarod Miller, Kaitlyn Rizza, Amalia Solages, Chunxia Tian and Georgia Williams. Congratulations also to this year’s honorary “amis Francophiles,” teachers nominated by the FHS members: Andrea Caceres-Santamaria, Mierka Drucker and Carolyn Slygh. Cheerleaders Join Steppers at the Fair — Led by varsity team captain and this year’s Miss South Florida Fair Anisa Kornegay, the Seminole Ridge basketball cheerleaders, along with the SRHS step team, joined the Feb. 1 wrap-up parade. “It has been an exciting time having one of our cheerleaders win such an amazing

contest,” cheer coach Sue Smith said, adding that Kornegay will also compete in the Miss Florida Pageant this June. National Signing Day — Three Hawk football players signed full scholarships Feb. 4 as part of National Signing Day. Congratulations to Kerrith Whyte and Jalen Young, who will play for Florida Atlantic University, and to Kyle Grieser, who will play for the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. Santoro Chosen as Scholarship Winner — Senior Anthony Santoro has been chosen as the second-place winner of the 2015 Pat Oliphant Memorial Student Technology Service Scholarship. Santoro, a student in the SRHS information technology academy and a frequent provider of tech support to classrooms, will be recognized at the district’s annual tech conference Feb. 16 and receive a $2,500 scholarship award at a school board meeting in May.

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SCHOOL NEWS

WLMS Students Take Part In All-State Chorus The prestigious All-State Treble Chorus convened in Tampa last month. Only four students from Wellington Landings Middle School made it through the auditions that took place last year at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. WLMS students attending the 2015 All-State Treble Chorus were: Alexia “Lexi” Dubocq, Veronica Rojas, Mickela Pitter and Alexandra Lopez. Directing the chorus this year

was Dr. Andrea Ramsey. The final concert took place at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa. The students were praised for their thorough preparation. WLMS choir director Alayna Morton had been working with them for months to prepare for the event.

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GOLDEN GROVE CELEBRATES 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL

(Right) Alex Lopez, Mickela Pitter, choir director Alayna Morton, Lexi Dubocq and Veronica Rojas.

PBCHS Interact To Present Cody’s Angels Dodging Cancer Tournament On March 6 The Palm Beach Central High School Interact Club will be hosting the Cody’s Angels Dodging Cancer Tournament on Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. The event raises money and awareness for Ewing’s sarcoma, in honor of former student Cody Meiers. Meiers died of this rare cancer in 2012. The club is honored to have recording artist Alexander Star as the event’s special guest, performing at halftime. Star works with the Dream Sponsor Program to provide education for children around the world. Interact has been part of

the Dream Sponsor Program for four years, supporting Elizabeth, a Kenya school girl, with books, uniforms and school supplies. The Dodging Cancer Tournament has 16 teams, made up of clubs, students and teachers. More than 500 people are expected to watch the action. Donations to Cody’s Angels or Dream Sponsors can be made by sending a check to Palm Beach Central Interact, 8499 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL 33411. Event tickets are $5 and available at the school. For more info.,

contact Rosemary Antonacci, Interact faculty advisor, at (561) 433-7980 or rosemary.antonacci@ palmbeachschools.org. PBC Project Graduation Meeting — Palm Beach Central will be holding a Project Graduation 2015 planning meeting Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center. All parents and community members are invited to attend to help plan this special event for graduating seniors. Donations are needed. Sponsorships are available, and if provided before March 1, will be included on the T-shirt

and in the yearbook and graduation program. For more info., e-mail pbcprojectgrad2015@ gmail.com. Whole Foods Luau Block Party to Benefit Project Grad — Gather your friends and go to Whole Foods Market in Wellington on Tuesday, March 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for a luau block party to benefit Project Graduation 2015. Wear a Hawaiian shirt if you dare. Stroll through the store sampling wine, beer and food. Tickets are $10 and available at the school or the night of the event.

NEW HORIZONS PTA’S ‘PJS FOR PATIENTS’ AT WALK-ATHON A SUCCESS RENAISSANCE CHARTER

The New Horizons Elementary School PTA recently sponsored its ninth annual walk-at-thon. Students enjoyed raising money for the PTA in a healthy way. Each student received a medal provided by business sponsor Sugar Machinery Engineering. Other business sponsors including Applebee’s, AAA and Smoothie King. Pictured here are fourth-grade students with their teachers Robin Mau and Allyson Gacharna.

On Jan. 30, students and staff at the Renaissance Charter School at Palms West participated in a project called “PJs for Patients.” Everyone who donated $1 got to wear pajamas to remind them of the children at Palms West Hospital who need their support. The school raised $500, which will be used to make care packages for the pediatric patients. The care packages will include items such as stuffed animals, socks, stickers and coloring books.

Golden Grove Elementary School celebrated the 100th Day of School on Friday, Jan. 30 with a wide range of activities. Teachers use this day as a great way to celebrate various mathematical concepts using the number 100. From the very first day of school, many K-2 classes begin keeping track of the number of days they’ve been in school in anticipation of the 100th day. Some of the events of that day included bringing in a collection of 100 items, putting together 100-piece puzzles, making patterns or necklaces using 100 beads or Fruit Loops, and filling in a hundreds chart. Students even got the opportunity to divide a cake into 100 pieces, (of course eat it, too) that was graciously donated by the Publix supermarket at Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards. Shown here, students hold up 100-day posters.

CRESTWOOD SCIENCE FAIR AWARD WINNERS

Crestwood Middle School recently honored its science fair winners. (Front row): Brionna Longest, Alexis Cobrera, Sydnie Ghettie, Amanda Ng, Natalie Santana and Jessenia Hernandez; (back row) science teacher Beverly Wessell, Zachary Reid, Anthony Bonang, Braeden Hocenic, science teacher Anthony Allen, Russell Coyne, Tristan Capozzi, Tomas Carter, Dustin Karp and Bruce LaRoche.

Page 16

February 13 - February 19, 2015

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FEATURES

A Great Holiday Pairing: Valentine’s Day And My Birthday This month, Friday the 13th is sandwiched right between my birthday (well, OK, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, too) and Valentine’s Day. Therefore, I see absolutely nothing that could go wrong on this dreaded of all Fridays. Of course, you could have bad luck on Friday the 13th, if you tried. If you decided to pamper yourself with a red roses, good luck finding any. And if you do find them, be prepared to pay a premium. If you finally got up the courage to talk to that cute person at the jewelry counter, forget it — they’re kind of busy right now. If, as a joke, you are going to surprise your significant other by offering them a ring presentation box filled with Skittles, this is

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER not the time to do that. Nor is it a good time to wear a tuxedo, unless you’re prepared to follow through. Bad time to buy chocolates... Bad time to see a movie... Bad time to try to get a seat in a restaurant. All those things are wonderful, fun things but, unless you’ve

got a Feb. 14 deadline, those are things that are best postponed. Personally, I love it that my birthday is right there in the mix. People see red and think of me (in a good way, not the usual way). They’re out buying valentines for their loved ones and they slide over to the birthday section and get me a card, too. Because of this, I get an awful lot of cards on my birthday. I expect that people born near Christmas do, too. I also get a lot of chocolates on my birthday. I feel bad that people have to stand in long lines just to buy me chocolates, but I know how to make up for that — by promptly offering them a chocolate! The week of my birthday, my house

is filled with red and pink and hearts and chocolates and cupcakes (well, I made those) and wine. One needs wine to make a decent cupcake. Not as an ingredient, but in order to see the process all the way through to the sprinkles on top. I feel bad for people born on the 13th of the month, like my dad. Every seven years or so, his birthday falls on a Friday and, even if he doesn’t believe in the bad luck thing, others do. They’ll be moping around, looking over their shoulders, avoiding broken mirrors and black cats and my dad. Since they’re just waiting for some horrible thing to befall them, something awful is bound to happen. The antidote is simple — get red and

pink streamers, hearts, chocolates, a jug of wine and start baking those cupcakes! Even if it’s April 13, nothing bad is going to happen to you in a rose-colored environment like that. The worst that could happen is someone comes over and mistakes your birthday for Valentine’s Day. They say, “What do you think this is? Valentine’s Day?” And then you get to say, “No, it’s my birthday.” And if you want, you can add, “…and I was feeling a little down because this year it fell on Friday the 13th.” The other person will say something nice like, “Well, happy birthday!” or “I didn’t know that was today!” or “Hey! Let me take you out to dinner!” Red and pink and chocolates... magical.

‘Jupiter Ascending’ Has Great Special Effects, But A Poor Plot

The new film Jupiter Ascending is a gorgeous mess. The special effects are stunning, as is star Mila Kunis. Unfortunately, it looks like the writers were from a junior high school writing class. There were fancy space stations, Air Jordans that could really fly and all sorts of space aliens. And just about all of them seemed to be getting in the way of any logical story rather than providing a structure. This movie is so corny and messed up that it actually is fun at times. Jupiter Jones (Kunis) is an alien (from Russia, not space) working in her uncle’s home-cleaning business while hating her life. One of her cousins persuades her to sell her eggs to a fertility clinic as a way of raising money. She wants $4,000 for a telescope because her father had been an astronomer before he was murdered by gangsters. The cousin plans to take most of the money, swearing he plans a good

‘I’ On CULTURE By Leonard Wechsler investment (which turns out to be a super large television with lots of games). She has a gene scan, and that is the key to the start of what little plot there is. Her genes exactly match those of a dead queen of the galaxy, and as soon as that is discovered, she becomes the target of a group of aliens (who all look basically human) to kidnap her for various reasons. By their standards, she owns Earth because she is the reincarnation of their mother. A whole group of bounty hunters are sent

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out, but the key one, Caine (Channing Tatum) is part human and part wolf. He saves her from one group of hunters and brings her to the home of a former colleague, Stinger (Sean Bean). After a few battles, Stinger betrays them and Jupiter is presented to Titus (Douglas Booth), who plans to marry her so he gets title to Earth from his brother. His sister Kalique (Tuppence Middleton) demonstrates that by using “human essence,” aliens like her stay young forever. Titus throws Caine out into space without a spacesuit, but he survives (another bit of pure fantasy… he would be dead in a couple of seconds in reality). Caine returns to rescue her, but she is then captured by the oldest brother, Belem (Eddie Redmayne), who kidnaps her family to get her to make a deal to turn over Earth. It turns out he plans to “harvest” all of us in the very near future. And, of course, Jupiter is rescued

by Caine. She returns to life with her crazy family, but she still can play with her rescuer. Kunis looks lovely even while scrubbing toilets and manages not only to say the dumbest lines without cracking up but is able to bring some real feeling to the part. Tatum has dog’s ears and weird facial hair, which ruin his good looks. He does the part, but there’s not much there. Bean is actually pretty good as the friend who occasionally betrays them and comes through in the end. There has been a lot of criticism of Redmayne, who just gave one of the great performances in film in The Theory of Everything, but the part was written so badly and he is onscreen so seldom it barely makes a difference. The actors playing Jupiter’s Russian family were delightful, providing a counterpoint to the main plot that was far better than the main story.

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A One Stop Garden Shop Inc ..................................................Raina Adams A Vacation of a Lifetime ..........................................................Marcia Berwick Alan S. Zangen P. A..................................................................Alan S. Zangen AllState Insurance - Tom Neumann Agency ...........................Tom Neumann Anderson House Auctioneers and Real Estate .......................Andrew Burr Aubin Robinson & Associates, PA ...........................................Aubin Robinson Babbsco Auto Collision ...........................................................Paul Spencer Bank of America......................................................................Susan Wallerstein Barron & Kogan, CPAs, P.A. ....................................................Hope Barron Barry’s Jewelry Spa .................................................................Natalie Stolbach Bell Business Forms ................................................................Ken Bell Bruce L. Elkind, DDS, PA..........................................................Bruce L. Elkind, DDS Cardinal Security, Inc. .............................................................Denise Smith CEO Financial Services ............................................................Carol O’Neil Cerrito Electric ........................................................................Tom Cerrito College Planning Masters .......................................................David Eisenson Community Outreach Systems ..............................................Martha Webster Computer Resolutions ............................................................Dennis Barnish Creative Marketing Products ..................................................Kameel Gaffoor Dale W. Grimm & Co., P.A. ......................................................Dale Grimm Darell Bowen Realty ...............................................................Harriet Offerman Don and Maureen Gross - Keller Williams ............................Maureen Gross Eric M Gordon Consulting ......................................................Eric Gordon Evergreen Insurance Agency...................................................Maggie Zeller Family Care Nurses Registry ...................................................Carmen Johnson, RN Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill .............................................Tom Sheppard Floridian Community Bank .....................................................Joanne Dee Florida League of Neighborhood Associations, Inc................Joe Boyle Global Carpet and Upholstery ................................................James Jeanbaptiste Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group ......................................Rob Khurana

Hilda M. Porro, P.A..................................................................Hilda Porro Hill Audio Visual......................................................................Tom Hill Hi-Tech Plumbing & Air ...........................................................Jathynia Garcia Horizon Pool & Patio, Inc. .......................................................Chuck Grove Hulett Environmental Services ...............................................Gary Scher India Grill + Bar .......................................................................Mahendra Patel International Polo Club Palm Beach .......................................John Wash J Campbell Decorative Concrete Resurfacing, Inc. .................Michael Shinkevich JJJ Automotive Inc. .................................................................John Lawsom John Carroll - Advocare Independent Distributor ..................John Carroll Jordano Group Inc. .................................................................Keith Jordano KPA Promotions Inc ................................................................William Brasman Law Offices Of John P. Marinelli, LLC ......................................John Marinelli Lebrun Insurance Agency, Inc .................................................Philippe Lebrun Lion Country Safari .................................................................Jennifer Berthiaume Mario The Baker .....................................................................Kevin Puebla National Planning Corporation ...............................................Stas Politis NRI Institute of Health Sciences .............................................M. Daniel Splain Oak Bistro and Wine Bar ........................................................Brian Jacobsen Ocean’s Electric of South Florida, LLC.....................................Fred Farnes Office Depot 2115 ...................................................................Jonathon Rice Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. .........................................................Eric Willer Palm Beach Aquatics Inc .........................................................John Natale PBC School District Choice and Career Options .....................Tara Kobel Palm Beach Habilitation Center .............................................Gary Strother Palms West Monthly...............................................................Robert Harris Palms West Hospital ...............................................................Madeline Nava Paul and Jann Seal - Exit Premier Realty ................................Jann Seal Phelps Media Group International .........................................Julie Tannehill PHR Solutions..........................................................................Laurel Bennet

There were some good parts to the film. As mentioned above, the Russian family was good for laughs. The most fun in the picture was when Jupiter had to deal with the galactic bureaucracy. They make the Department of Motor Vehicles and Internal Revenue Service seem sane and valuable. It seems corruption in government is the one absolute that remains throughout space and time. But, despite the fact there are some entertaining moments, most of the film is a repeat of a hundred similar movies or a chance to show off 3D effects that really have no bearing on the story. The plot moves along quickly, but that probably is a result of having so little of it in the first place. Wait until Jupiter Ascending comes to television and watch it on HBO or one of the other stations. Putting down good money would really be a waste.

Bistro Wine Bar

PNC Bank, NA - Wealth Management ....................................Lidy Mata Primerica .................................................................................Mark Bozicevic Print It Plus..............................................................................David Leland Professional Family Eyecare ...................................................Jolene Reiter Quad S Solutions .....................................................................Selena Smith Richard W. Schwartz, C.P.A. ....................................................Richard Schwartz Richard’s Lawn Service ...........................................................Richard Velten Royal Inn Hotel........................................................................Chris Santamaria Royal Palm Covenant Church..................................................Rev. Michael Rose Royal Palm Pharmacy .............................................................Rayhan Ahmed RPB Technologies, LLC.............................................................Ron Tomchin SB Atlantic Communications ..................................................Lynne Keane Sea Breeze Air System, Inc. .....................................................Nancy Cook Sharp Shopper Magazine........................................................Barbara Chaiken SunTrust Bank - Boca Raton....................................................Claudia Camacho SunTrust Bank - Jupiter Abacoa ..............................................Mario Camacho The Legend Group...................................................................Lynn Balch The Town-Crier Newspaper ....................................................Barry Manning The White Elephant ................................................................Lori Markevich The World Entertainment and Information Network ...........Peter Wein Total Shredding .......................................................................Monica Lewis Tree’s Wings & Ribs.................................................................Erin Townsend US Building Inspectors, Inc. ....................................................Patti Neri VMB Solutions ........................................................................Vicky Major-Bell Well Life Group .......................................................................Bob Still Your Computer Guy, Inc. .........................................................Dave Okeefe

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POLO & EQUESTRIAN

Exciting Overtime Game Lifts Enigma Over P.B. Illustrated At IPC

By Alex Webbe Last Sunday’s 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup match between Enigma (Jerome Wirth, Jeff Hall, Matias MacDonough and Carlucho Arellano) and Palm Beach Illustrated (Tommy Collingwood, Jared Zenni, Facundo Obregon and Michel Dorignac) was one of the most exciting games of the season thus far at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Lead changes, momentum shifts, missed penalty shots, lost opportunities to win the game in regulation time, horse races, bumps and ride-offs galore were all mixed into a match that saw Enigma’s MacDonough take the ball down the field in the final seconds of the sudden-death overtime period to score the winning goal in a 14-13 game. Obregon scored the first goal

Enigma’s Carlucho Arellano stretches for the ball.

PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO

of the game less than two minutes into play for the early 1-0 Palm Beach Illustrated lead. Hall countered with a goal from the field to tie it up at 1-1 in a low-scoring opening chukker. Hall and MacDonough teamed up for consecutive goals in the second with Hall being on the scoring end of a pair of passes from the Argentine 7-goaler for a 3-1 lead. A 30-yard penalty conversion by Obregon cut into the Enigma lead to make it 3-2. Palm Beach Illustrated team captain Zenni tied the game at 3-3 with the final goal of the period. The Enigma offense opened up in the third with the team being the recipient of a goal on a Penalty 1 against Palm Beach Illustrated. Hall added two goals, and Enigma team captain Wirth added a goal, for a 7-3 advantage. Obregon scored the final goal of the first half on a 60-yard penalty shot that left Enigma in the lead, 7-4. The pace slowed a bit in the fourth chukker with the two teams trading goals. Hall opened the chukker with a well-executed neck-shot from over 80 yards for a goal, making it 8-4. Dorignac

answered back with a goal to cut the lead back to three goals, 8-5. Obregon scored with 1:51 left in the chukker to bring Palm Beach Illustrated to within two goals of the lead, 8-6. A Palm Beach Illustrated foul sent Arellano to the penalty line, where he converted a 40-yard penalty shot with 35 seconds left in the chukker, putting the three-goal Enigma lead back in place, 9-6. A reinvigorated Palm Beach Illustrated team took control of the game as they returned to the field in the fifth. Dorignac started the period going with a goal from the field less than two minutes into the chukker, followed by a 60-yard penalty goal just 40 seconds later, making it 9-8. Zenni tied it at 9-9 midway through the period on a goal from the field. Consecutive penalty goals from Obregon were capped by Dorignac’s second goal of the period. Palm Beach Illustrated rode into the chukker with a three goal deficit and ended it with a three goal lead, 12-9. Obregon made it 13-9 with his eighth goal of the match, but that was when Enigma came alive. Three penalty goals from Arella-

The victorious Enigma team of Carlucho Arellano, Matias MacDonough, Jeff Hall and team captain Jerome Wirth. no and a goal from the field from MacDonough leveled the score at 13-13, forcing the sudden-death overtime. After a brief intermission that allowed the players to bring in fresh mounts, play resumed in an overtime chukker. Both teams had opportunities to win the game with shots going

PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO

wide and a penalty shot missed. With time running out and Obregon in hot pursuit, MacDonough raced more than 100 yards down the field to score the winning goal for Enigma with just 42 seconds on the clock. “It was a crazy game,” Hall said. “One minute we were up by three See POLO, page 19

Brianne Goutal Wins $127,000 Ariat Grand Prix CSI 3* At WEF Week five of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Ariat International, concluded on Sunday, Feb. 8 with a win for Brianne Goutal and Ballade van het Indihof in the $127,000 Ariat Grand Prix CSI 3*. After topping last Friday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5, Goutal and the 14-year-old Bel-

gian Warmblood mare continued their winning form into the week’s finale event, held on the beautiful grass jumping field at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Stadium. Olympic course designer Robert Ellis of Great Britain set the international courses at PBIEC for week five and concluded with

Brianne Goutal and Ballade van het Indihof celebrate with Equestrian Sport Productions President Michael Stone.

PHOTO BY SPORTFOT

a great track for 45 competitors on the field on Sunday. Seven entries were clear over the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and two went double clear in the tiebreaker. Goutal and Ballade van het Indihof, owned by Remarkable Farms LP, were the fastest double clear in 47.10 seconds. Heather Caristo-Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo’s Evening Star finished second in 50.78 seconds. Harrie Smolders and Copernicus Stables LLC’s Don VHP Z had the fastest round of the jump-off in 46.77 seconds, but a rail at the final fence put the pair in third place. “I am thrilled,” Goutal said of her victory, crediting her mount. “This week she has been amazing, but in general she pretty much only jumps good rounds. I was very disappointed not to have her for the last two years due to a couple of injuries, and now that she is back, it is really just a pleasure every time you go in the ring. She is very strong, but she takes you right down to the

big jumps. She is ultra careful, so you are never worried. She is just something else.” Goutal had to catch the clear round of Caristo-Williams and Evening Star, but knew her horse could beat their time. “Honestly, my horse is so fast,” Goutal said. “She wastes no time across the ground. She jumps very high, but somehow it is efficient at the same time. You never feel like you have really opened up. I just keep a high rhythm, a high canter and kind of let her go. She is so careful that you can kind of guide her and snake through a little bit.” Caristo-Williams explained that her horse had some time off last year and is just coming back to this level of competition, and she was thrilled with his performance. “I was really happy with my jump-off in general,” she said. “It has been a little while since I have been able to be in a jumpoff with these guys, so I just wanted to do what was right for my horse. There was that pillar placed before the combination. I went inside that in the class on

Friday and we had a little trouble and had the last jump down in the WEF [Challenge Cup], so I knew that I was not going to make that mistake twice. I wanted to do what was best for my horse and I know it was a slower option, but at that point going against everyone else here, I was just really happy to be efficient and go for a clear round.” However, Caristo-Williams enjoyed the class. “I love the jump-offs and I am just so happy to be able to go in there,” she said. Smolders had the time in hand with Don VHP Z, but took extra risk in his jump-off course with the knowledge that Goutal and Georgina Bloomberg were still to follow. The risk did not pay off when he had the final fence down, but Smolders was happy with his horse. He began riding Don VHP Z last year and has already developed a great partnership. “My horse, I think, is naturally a slower mover than Brianne’s and Georgina’s horses, so that is why I had to take a bit more risk to put on the pressure. I think we were a bit unlucky today because I think

Don is in really good shape and he deserved to go clean,” he said. “I think I am starting to know him better, and our results are getting there now. He is a great horse.” The last time Smolders competed in Wellington was in 2012, and he has seen great growth in the level of competition in the last few years. “I think the competition is very strong here,” he said. “There are many good horses here. It is good sport. It is not easy. It is not easy to win anywhere, but it is definitely difficult here. There are many good riders and many good horses.” Goutal proved a great combination with Ballade van het Indihof last week, and with her success, was presented with the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider award, presented by Martha Jolicouer in memory of Dale Lawler. She also accepted the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style award to conclude week five. For more information, and a full schedule of events, visit www. equestriansport.com.

Page 18

February 13 - February 19, 2015

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NEWS

FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIO TRAVELS THROUGH TIME AT WELLINGTON SHOW

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Instructors Clifton Sepulveda and Mar Martinez, Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner Doreen Scheinpflug and instructor Tanya Payne with the 1983 DeLorean from Back to the Future.

Mar Martinez and Bob DeMarco dance the rumba.

Sandra and Lou Silbermann wait for the show to begin.

1983 DeLorean car owner James Carroll.

Karen O’Leary and Andreas Luetzner dance the waltz.

Fred Astaire students Paul and Suzy Hayes.

Amanda Pusey and Clifton Sepulveda dance the tango.

SKINCARE EXPERT DR. AUDREY KUNIN VISITS ULTA STORE IN WELLINGTON

Skincare expert, board-certified dermatologist and DERMAdoctor founder Dr. Audrey Kunin came to the Ulta store in Wellington on Saturday, Feb. 7 as part of her national tour for her Kakadu C products. For more information, visit www.dermadoctor.com.

PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Dr. Audrey Kunin with account executive Cody Sadler and account coordinator Vanessa Copeland.

Dr. Audrey Kunin assesses and prepares Jennifer Aviles’ skin.

DERMAdoctor market specialist Pam Manzi and account executive Cody Sadler with Laurie Rollins.

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Page 19

NEWS

Trip to Kennedy Space Center Links STEM Education To Real Life The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex became a hands-on science lab for about 150 top math, science and engineering students from Palm Beach Central High School who took a customized tour last Friday, which included meeting NASA astronaut Bob Springer and participating in simulations and an engineering challenge. Springer, a combat pilot who flew two shuttle missions after his selection to the astronaut program, called space flight “the world’s greatest teamwork exercise.” “That shuttle is fitted on top of 5,000 pounds of explosives. When I experienced my first flight, once we got into space, I took my helmet off and floated over to the window, and that’s when it hit me how incredible it was… 8.5 seconds earlier I had been sitting on the launch pad,” he recalled. The field trip was designed to engage students taking the most challenging STEM classes and

Charter

RPB OKs Appraisal

continued from page 1 charter schools, but I think this is a proposal that we should pursue.” Patrick Koenig of Flagler Realty said the developer, Renaissance Charter School, which operates under Charter Schools USA, is A rated and has 65 schools operating now, including an elementary/ middle school in Royal Palm Beach. Dale Faircloth, pastor of the neighboring First Baptist Church, said he had talked with Koenig about the use of the property and

ITID

McKinlay Visits

continued from page 1 transportation and appropriations committees and the secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation met with myself and [Palm Beach County Legislative Affairs Director] Todd Bonlarron, and they gave us an update on State Road 7,” she said. “They’re feeling fairly optimistic that the Federal Highway Administration will sign off on the project. I heard today that they are expecting a

Culvert

Little Ranches Residents Concerned

continued from page 1 and vandalism, adding that a steel pipe running over the canal would create rust in the water that would foul the membranes of the village’s reverse osmosis water treatment plant. “It’s that critical a piece of structure, so we’d like to bury it because our water treatment plant can’t take a lot of iron,” Riebe said, adding that the water supply will actually be through several mains that must be separated a certain distance, making the width of the crossing necessary. “The minimum width we need across the top is 22 feet. That’s what’s required to protect the pipe. We’re not proposing to put in this huge thing because we want to. We designed and engineered it so we

RPB Vote

Three-Way Race

continued from page 1 He sat on the Planning & Zoning Commission from 2007 to 2013. Born in Palm Beach County, Lange supervises construction project managers for the county government. He said he decided to run after talking with neighbors who urged him to file so voters would have a new choice. “I want to give the residents an alternative to a rematch,” he said. Lange said he was not encouraged to throw his hat in the ring by any of the village’s known political players. “I’m totally a grassroots guy,” he said. Lange said he has been disappointed that Swift has not done a better job of letting residents know what’s going on. “I thought he would be a little more transparent,” he said, “but I haven’t really seen that.” In particular, Lange said, the village should do a better job telling residents about land-use changes. The village does mail announcements about proposed zoning changes to residents within 300 feet of the property involved, but Lange noted that it does not post signs on the property itself, a customary practice of many other government bodies.

perhaps spark their desires for a future in the space program. “Even though the space shuttle program has ended, we’re still selecting astronauts for future programs,” Springer said. “In the future, we hope to put humans on Mars in the next decade or two, and some of you could be involved — you who would dare mighty things.” The trip for top students in Wellington’s public high schools is underwritten by the Jacobs family of Wellington, whose company, Delaware North, operates the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA. On Friday, Feb. 13, students from Wellington High School will take the trip. This marks the third year that the Jacobs family has sent top students from Wellington to experience the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, bringing the total to nearly 1,000. “Meeting the astronaut made it more personal,” Palm Beach Cen-

tral senior Haley Stark said. “You can see all the documentaries you want, but this made it real.” Not only did they learn about the space program’s future, but also about its past through a tour of the Astronaut Hall of Fame and a visit to the Space Shuttle Atlantis. “Seeing the real shuttle, that was amazing,” junior Chantal Lacouture said. Jonathan Cheatham, a senior who was repeating the trip this year, was so inspired by the experience that he applied and was accepted into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “I was fascinated with what goes into every part of the space program,” Cheatham said. “It’s actually interesting how they find different ways of solving problems. This trip teaches you about the space program and technology advancement.” The Kennedy Space Center is one of the few destinations in the world where the adventure of visit-

ing is also an immersive education experience. The field trip, designed with input from the Wellington educators, is one of several programs offered at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Others include Overnight Adventures and Camp Kennedy Space. “Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs’ generosity to these students will expose them to an incredible opportunity to learn more about space. A trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life for students by touring Kennedy Space Center, hearing from space experts, experiencing real flown spacecraft and engaging in interactive simulators and exhibits,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “This program shows the influence a visit to Kennedy Space Center can have on students preparing for their college majors and career choices.”

sharing facilities such as parking. “We would still have plenty of room to build a 1,000-seat auditorium,” Faircloth said. “For our church family, we’re saying we’re in support.” Resident David Nichols said the school would not be built for several years and asked that the council not reject the idea outright. Several other residents said they would like to have an alternative to the public high school. Monica Nichols said she loves raising her children in the village and does not want to send them to a school outside the village. Kathy Southwart pointed out that Wellington students have three

high school choices, while Royal Palm Beach has only one. Councilman Jeff Hmara, liaison to the Education Advisory Board, said he would need more information in order to make a decision. “I understand the interest in adding to the mix of schools to give a greater choice,” Hmara said. “I would like to do all I can to see that all our schools are high-performing. It is fair to say that Royal Palm Beach High School has made improvements. This is a difficult issue and something all of us take seriously. I only have a slight amount of pause; I want to know what this school is.” Hmara suggested that the operator be invited to make a presen-

tation, and that staff also get the school district involved. Councilman Fred Pinto agreed. “I understand and appreciate that there is a concern,” Pinto said. “Parents want the best alternatives. We need to step back and make sure we understand all the moving parts. The high school is over capacity, and students are going somewhere else.” Pinto said he would like to get the Education Advisory Board involved in the process, possibly to hear a presentation from the charter school operator, adding that he is concerned about parents not having a high level of confidence in the high school, although he believes Principal Jesus Armas

has made tremendous headway. “We‘re not educators up here,” he said. “I would like to see the [Education Advisory Board] work through the question. We should not make a definitive decision tonight.” Councilman Richard Valuntas said he was interested in hearing more about the charter school, although he felt biased toward public schools because he went through them. He said one of his sons attends Western Academy, which recently started a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math program, which is in line with his interests, although his other children will attend Crestwood Middle School.

“I have no idea what a charter high school would offer,” he said. “I prefer Royal Palm Beach High School because that’s what I did. We have a significant piece of land tied to a public purpose. I can’t think of a better public purpose than giving parents a choice. This is a piece of property that the village is not going to have much of a use for.” Swift said he would prefer to move ahead with the appraisals and get more input from the operator during the process. Pinto made a motion to move ahead with the appraisals and refer the charter school question to the Education Advisory Board, which carried 5-0.

response by next Friday.” McKinlay said she plans to meet in Washington, D.C. with a member of the House Appropriations Committee to talk about the extension. “I already had a meeting in Tallahassee this week on State Road 7, so I’ll just follow up with them up there, so I’m feeling a little bit better on where we’re sitting on that project than I was a few weeks ago,” she said. Funding of $4 million to finish the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area levee was not included in the South Florida Water Management District’s budget request

to the state, McKinlay noted. “I spent a majority of my meetings last week in Tallahassee really pushing for the continued funding to finish the Corbett levee project,” McKinlay said. “As you know, they gave us $4 million two years ago to do the first 2.7 miles of that project. The South Florida Water Management District has not included the $4 million to do the remaining 2.7 miles of that levee in their budget request this year, and they kind of left that on the shoulders of us to fight for that funding. I know a number of you will be participating in Palm Beach County Days, so I hope that

you will join me in some of the meetings with leadership to push the funding for that project.” McKinlay said she had mentioned the project to legislators, including State Rep. Richard Corcoran (R-District 37), who heads the Appropriations Committee and Joint Legislative Budget Commission. “We just need to keep following up with that and let them know that that 2.7 miles is actually what protects human beings, so I appreciate your help on that,” she said. Supervisor Michelle Damone made a motion that a letter be sent to the SFWMD and officials in

Tallahassee asking that the Corbett funding be included in the budget. McKinlay also recommended sending a copy to the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation. Damone’s motion carried unanimously. McKinlay said she has also asked Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Michael Gauger to increase the number of deputies patrolling The Acreage. “I believe firmly that at some point, regardless of outcomes in the court system, that we are going to be looking at a lot of construction in the area,” she said. “I don’t think that we need to wait

until those homes are built and occupied before you start talking to the PBSO on finding those patrols, because construction sites are a prime target for folks who might come in and steal their construction equipment.” She also congratulated students at Seminole Ridge High School on their Weight of Words anti-bullying program. “There are four high schools in the county that have participated in that. Two of those are in my district, Glades Central and Seminole Ridge,” McKinlay said. “You should be very proud of your students.”

can fit the things that are required across this land bridge within that section.” The cost for the crossing is about $34,000, and the additional cost for a service drive, if it were installed, would be about $8,300, he said. “Vehicular access is going to be prevented by a guardrail along the road, so the way we have it designed, it won’t be a service drive,” Riebe said. “In addition to that, we’re going to install chain-link fences that extend across the canal to prevent pedestrian access.” He added that if the service drive were included, access would be solely for water plant personnel to access the well field. “Right now, for water plant personnel to access the well field, they have to go all the way up to Southern Blvd. to Little Ranches, all the way back south and then back east to access the well field,” Riebe said. “It would eliminate drive time and provide better service.” During public comment, Little Ranches resident Jim Mantrozos

said he had not heard about the proposed crossing until the day before the meeting and did not see the need for it to be that large. “I don’t see the reason to put that massive land bridge over the canal,” Mantrozos said. “I think we’re being misled. We do not want this. This is an equestrian community.” He also questioned concerns over security. “We’re worried about a 24-inch pipe?” he asked. Jeremy Spencer, a 34-year Little Ranches resident, said he had seen Wellington grow up around him and wanted to preserve his community. “We like our neighborhood the way it is,” Spencer said. “There are two people in Little Ranches who have water. It benefits Wellington. This bridge will degrade our neighborhood.” Tatiana Yaques, a volunteer attorney for Little Ranches and a two-year resident there, pointed out that the community existed before Wellington did, and the residents have fought off previous attempts to install a bridge. “This has happened before,” Yaques

compromising the integrity of the neighborhood,” he said. Councilman Matt Willhite said the crossing was not an attempt to change the lifestyle of Little Ranches residents, but questioned why the top had to be 22 feet wide. He asked if the proposed crossing was the least expensive option to offer security and not have people drive across it. Riebe said they had explored several options, including a horizontal cut, which was cost-prohibitive. He also pointed out that if they cut below the canal and have a failure, getting to it would take days. “It’s a manmade thing; it’s going to fail,” he said. “The solution we’ve come up with is the most maintainable and least

expensive, and I think we could mitigate concerns.” Mayor Bob Margolis said he was concerned about comments that the community did not have input and suggested a town hall meeting to air concerns. “What I heard is neighbors did not hear about this,” Margolis said. Riebe reiterated that they had conducted meetings with the POA and received multiple e-mails. “We eliminated the surface drive because people did not want it,” he said. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said she thought the guardrail remaining intact would prevent vehicular access and made a motion to approve the contract, which carried 5-0.

PBSC Plans

“I would like to reach out to the residents a little more,” he said. “You’d be surprised at how many people are surprised at what the village does. They don’t realize until that bulldozer is there, sometimes.” Swift said he was open to the idea of posting zoning signs on the affected property but that no one had suggested it. Lange said he has mentioned the idea to building department officials and also suggested it while he was on the zoning board. Lange — whose behavior on the zoning board was described as “pretty caustic” by Webster — was one of the zoning board members Webster tried to remove in 2012 while she was the board’s council liaison. Her attempts to appoint new members to the board ultimately prompted the other council members to remove her from the liaison position and replace her with Pinto. Webster said she believes it is customary for council liaisons to choose board members, even if it means ejecting members who have volunteered for years. Swift said the volunteers should be treated with more respect and that, toward that end, the village is working to train existing zoning board members and has given the board access to a lawyer. Lange vowed to eschew conflict if elected. “I’m not here to butt

heads with anyone,” he said. Swift, a retired environmental scientist for the South Florida Water Management District, said that if residents like the way the village is being run, they should re-elect him. His priorities for the coming term, should he win, include finding a way to establish an adult congregate living facility at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. Several companies over the past 20 years have offered to establish an ACLF, Swift said, but each project, after being approved by the council, has morphed into standard apartments. He also will continue his support for the completion of State Road 7 north to Northlake Blvd. Swift is a member of the Western Communities Council, which is the lead agency lobbying for the SR 7 extension. Swift has lived in the village since 1978. He has been married for 45 years to his wife Nixie, and has two children and four grandchildren. Election Day is Tuesday, March 10. All registered voters living in the village may participate. The Town-Crier will host a televised candidates forum on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. The community is invited to attend. Written questions will be solicited from audience members.

said. “They can come in overnight and pave it.” Dr. Kristy Lund said she owns the piece of property that every vehicle goes by in the community. “We have break-ins in trucks all the time,” Lund said. “We want one road in and one road out.” Little Ranches resident Tom Kelly said that he is one of the residents who has fought bridges over the years, which resulted in an overlay for the community. “We have had excellent relations with previous council members,” Kelly said. “I thought this was resolved many years ago. Our position is clear. We should not have to reiterate it.” Village Manager Paul Schofield said one of the first things he did with the village was to create an overlay to protect the unique character of Little Ranches, which is still under that protection. Schofield reiterated Riebe’s comments that the culvert crossing is to protect the water main, which is required under provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. “There was no intention by staff to provide access through there,” he said. “We could cut it way under the canal, but that would be expensive.” Vice Mayor John Greene agreed that they need to bury the pipe and assure that the Little Ranches residents are protected. “Let’s find a way to get this done without

connecting to both B Road and Southern Blvd., looping around the commercial site with buffering from the commercial area and pervious parking to minimize stormwater runoff. “The designers came up with a design that will make it convenient to get on and off the property… without having to destroy any more of the native vegetation that exists on the site than is necessary for the purpose of construction,” Wasukanis said. Palm Tran is planning a parkand-ride program for residents in the western and coastal portions of the county, he added.

Polo

Ylvisaker Cup Action

continued from page 17 goals, and the next minute we were behind by three goals.” Hall led the Enigma attack with five goals on the day, earning himself MVP honors for his efforts. Arellano scored all four of his goals on penalty shots. MacDonough added three goals, including the game winner, and Wirth scored once for the win. The team also received one goal on a Penalty 1. Obregon led all scoring with eight goals (five on penalty shots). Dorignac was credited with three goals, and Zenni added two goals in the loss. Audi 12, FlexJet 8 — Earlier in the day, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Lucas Lalor, Nic Roldan and Fred Mannix) built up a 6-3 halftime lead that helped carry them past Flex Jet (Melissa Ganzi, Cody Ellis, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Gonzalito Pieres) 12-8.

NASA astronaut Bob Springer speaks to Palm Beach Central High School students during their visit last week.

Campus

continued from page 3 the Town of Loxahatchee Groves for a maximum of 650,000 square feet. “I would think that’s a rather ambitious plan,” Wasukanis said. “It will probably top out at 450,000 or 500,000 square feet, although it has development rights that would allow it to be built to a higher level.” Most of the college’s campuses have a perimeter road encircling them, but this one’s main access road will be on the inner portion, Orchard Hill 12, CT Energia 8 — Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Lucas Criado, Facundo Pieres and Remy Muller) recorded their second Ylvisaker Cup win in as many outings last Sunday morning by beating CT Energia (Alessandro Bazzoni, Kris Kampsen, Joao Ganon and Nick Manifold) 12-8. Casablanca 12, Gateway Merchant 10 — Ylvisaker Cup action continued on Monday afternoon with Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Guille Aguero, Mark Tomlinson and Juan Bollini) scoring a 12-10 win over Gateway Merchant (Nico Escobar, Marianito Obregon, Matias Magrini and Mariano Gracida). The win boosted Casablanca’s record to 2-0 while the loss was the second in as many outings for Gateway Merchant. Villa Del Lago 17, Tonkawa 13 — On Tuesday afternoon, Villa Del Lago (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Polito Pieres and Julian de Lusarreta) won a high-scoring affair in which their star 9-goaler, Polito Pieres, scored 12 times in lifting his team over Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Gonzalo Deltour, Ina-

Palm Beach Illustrated 5-goaler Tommy Collingwood winds up for a backhander. PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO

ki Laprida and Jeff Blake), 17-13. Villa Del Lago improved to 2-1 while Tonkawa suffered their third loss in Ylvisaker Cup play. The high-goal polo season continues at IPC this weekend with more Ylvisaker Cup action. Learn more at www.international poloclub.com.

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

Page 21

NEWS

GCC

Helping Dozens Of Charities

continued from page 1 Stables and corporate sponsor La Victoria Farm. Every participating charity received something, based on a sliding scale. The Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation received $100,000; Communities in Schools won $80,000; the National Wheelchair Sports Fund won $75,000; the Arc of the Glades won $65,000; Urban Youth Impact received $60,000 and took second place in the costume contest, winning an additional $5,000; Paws for Liberty won $50,000; Seagull Services won $40,000; Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches won $30,000; Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County won $26,000 and took third in the costume contest, winning an additional $2,500; the Wycliffe Charities Foundation won $25,500; the Blue Sky Foundation won $25,000; the Wellington PTA/ PTO/PTSA won $24,500; the Oasis Compassion Agency won $24,000; Leadership Palm Beach County won $23,500; CROS Ministries received $23,000; Alzheimer’s Community Care took home $22,500; the Equestrian Aid Foundation won $22,000 and took first place in the costume contest, winning an additional $7,500; Restoration Bridge won $21,500; Horses Healing Hearts won $21,000; First Care Family Resources won $20,500; the American Association of Caregiving Youth won $20,000; Helping Hands Assistance Programs took home $19,500; Family Promise of South Palm Beach County won $19,000; the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation won $18,500; Breaking the Chains took home $18,000; the Faulk Center for Counseling won $17,500; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Palm Beach County won $17,000; Families First of Palm Beach won $16,500; Gratitude House won $16,000; Jeff Industries won $15,500; and Villages of Hope took home $15,000. Many grants were also given out throughout the event, helping to make even more dreams come true. “The grants give us the opportunity to reach out to even more charities within the county, so we’re helping even more people,”

Valtin said. “Each year, we try to include as many grants as we can, from a fundraising standpoint, just to make sure that we impact as many lives as possible.” Grants went out to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, YWCA Palm Beach and Jack the Bike Man for $10,000 each; Clinics Can Help got $8,000; Friends of Foster Children got $6,000; Palm Beach Dramaworks and Animal Rescue of South Florida took home $5,000 each; YMCA of South Palm Beach County got $4,000; and the Children’s Healing Institute got $2,000. Sports grants went to the Wellington Colts Travel Baseball for $5,000, the Western Community Football League for $4,000 and Wellington Wolves Basketball for $3,000. “We were thrilled. I think that, honestly, the superhero theme brought the whole event together and truly made a difference,” Valtin said. “You could feel it in the atmosphere, and the community got involved… It was very rewarding watching the crowd truly follow the event and being as into it as they were. It was a fantastic time for everyone.” On several different levels, she said, it exceeded expectations. More people turned out than ever before, and the charities were able to meet their sponsors and riders at a pre-party before the event, which was an important element. “We’re just extremely, extremely blessed to be surrounded by such philanthropic people,” she said. “Whether its families or businesses, they truly believe in giving back to the community. Everyone is happy, and they’re happy to help. It’s just a fantastic event.” By reaching out to riders and sharing the stories on social media and the news, philanthropic awareness is raised, which helps the entire community, Valtin explained, going far beyond the original expectations for the Great Charity Challenge. “Whether it’s the charities, the sponsors, the riders — everyone played their role as a superhero that night, and it’s all for the betterment of the community,” Valtin said. Meanwhile, all charities should be marking their calendars for the 2016 Great Charity Challenge. The opportunity to drop a card in the hat takes place from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. For more information, visit www.greatcharity challenge.com or www.facebook. com/greatcharitychallenge.

(Above) The top three teams — Danny and Ron’s Rescue, Propel and the Kids Cancer Foundation — celebrate their victories. (Top left) Mark Bellissimo, County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, Wellington Councilman John McGovern and School Board Member Erica Whitfield. (Left) Emily Kinch, Ian Miller and Stevie Murphy rode for Urban Youth Impact. PHOTOS BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Representatives of the Elizabeth Faulk Foundation with superheroes Chris Edwanouski, John Porter and Tegan Treacy.

The Bellissimo family celebrates a successful evening.

Propel’s Nhu Nguyen and Denis Esciman with their superheroes.

Mark and Paige Bellissimo with Kinleigh and Piper Apfel.

“We love being part of The Wanderers Club family.”

Shelby Eaton Photos

– Scott and Teri Harris, with their children.

Dues-Only Membership – No Initiation Fee Required Full Golf Memberships Available* Traditional golf with no tee times, tennis, and fitness • Casual dining at The Duke’s Bar, Veranda, and poolside Fine dining at Stables Restaurant • A junior Olympic-size pool, kiddie pool, and play area • Year-round social calendar and child-friendly programs The Wanderers Club is Wellington’s family-friendly, private country club. For membership information, call Anna Grzebien at 561.795.3501, ext. 225. membership@wanderersclubwellington.com • wanderersclubwellington.com 1900 Aero Club Drive • Wellington, FL 33414 *Waiting list for Social Memberships. Dues-Only Membership may be recalled once the Club Membership reaches its full complement, beginning with the last in, unless the then established membership deposit is paid. All memberships are prorated as of initiation date.

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

The Town-Crier

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PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Join Us for an Exciting Weekend of Equestrian Sport and Family Fun at Three of Our Spectacular Venues!

Friday, February 13, 2015

(at The Stadium International Arena) $85,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix CSI 3* Gates Open at 6 PM Free General Admission and Parking

at the Winter Equestrian Festival January 10 - March 28, 2015

Saturday, February 14, 2015 (at The Main Grounds PBIEC) USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular Gates Open at 6:00 PM Free General Admission. $20/car Parking.

Sunday, February 15, 2015 (at The Stadium Derby Field)

8:00 AM – $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix presented by EnTrust Capital Followed by the $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Classic 2:00 PM – $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby Free General Admission and Parking

Main Grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington, FL 33414 561.793.5867 | www.pbiec.com

EquestrianSportProdTCRD2_13.indd 1

The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, FL 33414 561.793.5867

2/4/15 8:02 PM

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George Morris Clinic A Fascinating Experience

The ninth annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session was recently conducted at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A handful of extremely lucky young riders had a week filled with information from one of the best in the industry. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 25

Business

Fun Time At TWBA January Mixer At Tree’s Wings & Ribs In Royal Palm Beach

The Western Business Alliance hosted its first social of 2015 on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Tree’s Wings & Ribs in Royal Palm Beach. Guests were greeted at the door by the association’s board members. They also were invited to dine from an array of finger foods while quenching their thirst from the full bar. Tree’s Wings & Ribs surprised everyone with unlimited food at the buffet and an open bar. Page 27

Sports WHS Tops Jupiter To Take District Basketball Title

The Wellington High School boys varsity basketball team played in the District 9-8A championship game on Friday, Feb. 6 against Jupiter High School and defeated the Warriors 66-42. The game was played at Palm Beach Central High School. Page 31

THIS WEEK’S INDEX TAILS FROM THE TRAILS............................. 25 BUSINESS NEWS....................................26-27 SPORTS & RECREATION.........................31-33 COMMUNITY CALENDAR............................. 34 CLASSIFIEDS......................................... 35-38

Page 23

Wellington Softball Squad Shuts Down RPBHS

On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Wellington High School varsity softball team hosted rival Royal Palm Beach High School in a non-district match-up and shut out the Wildcats 8-0 to remain unbeaten at 2-0 on the season. Royal Palm Beach fell to 1-1 on the season. Page 31

A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

February 13 - February 19, 2015

Shopping Spree

Page 24

February 13 - February 19, 2015

The Town-Crier

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welcome to tHe winter equestrian festival held at the Main Grounds at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center January 7 - March 29, 2015 Join Us Every Wednesday through Sunday to Experience Equestrian Sport at Its Best! Shopping Around the Show Grounds

Watch The Equestrian Action Visit WEF during the day from Wednesday through Sunday, take in the exciting scene of several thousand horses and riders competing in 12 arenas. Stroll the grounds at your leisure, grab a bite to eat and shop till you drop at our unique boutiques, art galleries, jewelers, high-end fashion and so much more.

You are invited to shop in a variety of locations throughout the PBIEC, including the Vendor Village, Hunter Hill, and The Bridge Deck, the outdoor courtyard oasis filled with exquisite shops and boutiques offering fashion, jewelry, home design, fine art, photography, horseware and more. Visit a new Vendor area each week! Hunt LTD

BJ’s Hunt Room

INTERNaTIoNaL SHoppES

C Jones Silver Housewares

Ariat Ashfield Collection

La Mundial Custom Boots

Cytowave

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

HUNTER HILL

Grab a Bite to Eat A variety of Food Vendors are located throughout the property, including: Coliano’s Pizza

Equisafe Fencing

Tito’s Tacos: Margaritas, Tacos, Burritos, Chips, Salsa Tiki Hut: Grilled Chicken, Variety Burgers, Grilled Fish, Salads Oli’s Fashion Cuisine: in the Vendor Village

Fabulous Finds Just FUR Fun – Goodies for Dogs Nature’s Well – Skincare

Take a Lunch & Tour

Olive and Bette’s

See the world-renowned equestrian competition, vendors, stables and various venues that Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has to offer, followed by a catered lunch with your group. Your tour will allow you to explore twelve of the competition rings, the stabling area where horses prepare for competition, and a stroll through Vendor Village. The tour will be both exciting and informative, and there is a good chance you will see some Olympic riders gearing up for competition! Equestrian Lunch & Tours are available by appointment Wednesday through Sunday during the WEF season. Main Grounds at PBIEC 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, Wellington, FL 33414 561.793.JUMP (5867)

DP Innova – Fine Columbian Jewelry

Elizabeth Locke Jewels Engel & Volkers Realtor Equiline Equestrian Fashion Eyes Of Wellington Forré Fine Art Gallery

Pinnell Custom Leather Inc.

Ghurka Fine Leather Goods

Pony Pals – Toys for Kids

Hermès

Grenning Art Gallery

Karina Brez jewelry

Lugano Diamonds Michelle Farmer – Resort Wear Nellie George – Children’s Fashion Zadeh Of NY – Men’s Jewelry BRIDGE DECKS B+ B Positive Jewelery BIBA of NY Boutique Kingsland Equestrian WEF Official Boutique

Present this coupon to receive

$5.00 OFF the WEF Boutique $5.00 value. valid FOr One persOn. minimum purchase OF $20.00.

FOr use FeB. 13-15, FeB. 18-19, 2015

WWW.PBIEC.COM EquestrianSportProd_PWTW2_13_15.indd 1

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FEATURES

February 13 - February 19, 2015

Page 25

George Morris Clinic At PBIEC A Fascinating Experience The ninth annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the United States Hunter Jumper Association, was conducted at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3. The prestigious clinic was created by George Morris, John and Beezie Madden and Connie Sawyer. Its main aim is to elevate riding and horsemanship through education. Each day covered a different topic. The group of 12 was split, half riding at a time while the others watched and filled in as jump crew. Twelve young riders participated in the five-day clinic: Wilton Porter, NAJYRC2014 USHJA North American Young Rider Individual Show Jumping Champion; Lucas Porter, NAJYRC- 2014 USHJA North American Junior Individual Show Jumping Champion; Geoffrey Hesslink, 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East Champion; Sydney Hutchins, 2014 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-West Champion; Carly Williams, 2014 USHJA Emerging Athlete Program presented by Dover Saddlery winner; Cody Wooten, 2014 USHJA Emerging Athlete Program presented by Dover Saddlery finalist; and six wild-card selections: Bowers Cone, Mitch Endicott, JenGet updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/Horse TalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails By Ellen Rosenberg nifer Gates, Sophie Simpson, Spencer Smith and Hannah Von Heidegger. These extremely lucky young riders had a week filled with information from one of the best in the industry. The current chef d’equipe for the United States Equestrian Federation show jumping team, Morris has ridden in many Olympics and coached other riders on to equally prestigious honors. Morris is a member of the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee and president of the U.S. Show Jumping Hall of Fame. While there was no fee to participate, the riders were responsible for all of their expenses for the week. Some used their own horses, while others found horses through their trainers and borrowed them for the week. “I enjoy this week very much each year,” Morris said. “When I teach young riders, I don’t always have students and horses of such a high class. These are all on an elite level.” As ever, the sessions took place in Ring 9 at the far end of the show grounds. Covered seats were set up for the 200 or so auditors

Famed trainer George Morris works with riders at the recent clinic. along two sides of the ring. Morris did not allow any talking in the stands, and called out even people who whispered to companions. “I’ve been coming to his clinics since the early 1970s,” said one auditor. “George has the same enthusiasm, the same passion and drive for knowledge. He has always been very consistent, teaching the classical principles of

riding. His terminology doesn’t change at all. He’s got great instincts.” The day I sat in, the second group was mounted and jumping. “Your position is very important,” Morris told them. “It affects function. You don’t ride a certain way because it’s pretty, but because See ROSENBERG, page 33

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BUSINESS NEWS

Flexible Tutoring Arrangements Offered At Open Minds Academy Open Minds Academy, a tutoring service for students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, is now serving equestrians and permanent residents in the Wellington area. Open Minds Academy, located at 12773 W. Forest Hill Blvd., focuses seasonal programming for equestrians, a summer-bridge program to help prepare kids for the next grade level, diagnostic tutoring, test preparation, online distance learning programs, homework help, computer coding instruction, psycho-educational evaluations, and COGMED, a memory training program that provides solutions for attention problems caused by poor working memory.

“Having a deep knowledge of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the commitment it entails, we realize the need to have a program and services that cater to the youngest competitors,” said Tyler Shernoff, co-founder and director of business for Open Minds Academy. “With the growth of WEF, more families than ever are showing, and we are here to provide excellent services for those in Wellington here on a full-time, seasonal or tutoring basis.” The school provides flexible scheduling and comprehensive tutor-teacher communication for its seasonal equestrian program. Students work cooperatively in a small group setting, and tutorials

mirror the student’s traditional school program. “We saw the need to create a space that catered to the younger children showing at WEF, giving them the opportunity to meet other children with similar lifestyles and interests,” said Sara Frost, co-founder and director of academics. Founded on the philosophy that all children have the ability to learn but that it’s how they are taught that matters most, Open Minds Academy individualizes and customizes every service offered to target the specific needs of each student. To learn more about Open Minds Academy, visit www.openmindsacademy.org or call Shernoff at (561) 948-2040.

Fun Plus Potential Pets At Parrot Party

The Rainforest Clinic for Birds & Exotics will host its Rainforest Parrot Party on Sunday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3319 E Road in Loxahatchee Groves. Family-oriented fun in the event’s second year will include vendor booths with a wide variety of parrot and pet supplies, educational talks by avian and animal experts, a variety of food trucks, live music,

cane pole fishing and a bounce house for kids. Anyone looking for a pet will find potential companions among parrots from the Rainforest Adoption Garden and puppies from A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue and Destiny for Dogs. The educational series features veterinarian Dr. Susan Clubb speaking about “Plants for Parrots: Nature’s Natural Enrichment,” Mad-

eleine Franco on “Fat and Magical Bird Toys in a Lean Economy,” Barbara Heidenreich on “Parrot Behavior Q&A Over Skype,” and Mark McCarthy of McCarthy’s Wildlife on “Live Exotic Animal Presentation.” Admission is free for kids under 12 and $5 for those 13 or older. Parking is free. Call Terry Timberlake at (561) 635-0676 for more info.

‘Palm Beach Illustrated’ Sponsoring Polo Team

Palm Beach Illustrated announced recently that it will sponsor a high-goal polo team for the International Polo Club Palm Beach’s 2015 season in Wellington. The Palm Beach Illustrated polo team made its debut during the 2015 Ylvisaker Cup on Feb. 5, when play began in competition with FlexJet. The team’s lineup included Jared Zenni, Tommy Collingwood, Facundo Obregon and Michael Dorignac. Zenni, Collingwood and Obregon played for Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2014 team, while Dorignac rounds out the roster for 2015. In addition to the Ylvisaker Cup, the Palm Beach Illustrated team is entered into the Iglehart Cup tournament. A field of 13 teams is

expected to compete in the 20-goal season at IPC. “We’re excited to continue our commitment to the sport by sponsoring a team for the second consecutive year,” Group Publisher Terry Duffy said. “With our company’s annual publication of the International Polo Club Palm Beach magazine and all things polo, this is a natural brand extension.” All four members of the Palm Beach Illustrated polo team have significant tournament experience. In the 2014 season, the team had a 3-0 record during the qualifying rounds of the Ylvisaker Cup, and then secured a 2-0 record in the Iglehart Cup, which propelled the team into the finals.

New Partner At Greenstein Greenstein & Associates is pleased to announce that Richard “Rick” Davis has become a partner in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. Davis has been a lawyer with G&A since its inception in 2013 and has been instrumental in the firm’s growth and success. Since joining G&A, Davis has been an associate in the financial services division. He regularly con-

sults on design and implementation of processes and procedures for corporate legal departments. Davis graduated magna cum laude from the Washburn University School of Law and was managing editor of the Washburn Law Journal. He is a member of two Palm Beach County Bar Association committees. The firm’s offices are at 12300 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington.

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BUSINESS NEWS

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Fun Time At TWBA January Mixer At Tree’s Wings In RPB The Western Business Alliance hosted its first social of 2015 on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Tree’s Wings & Ribs in Royal Palm Beach. Guests were greeted at the door by

the association’s board members and were given a flashlight keychain. They also were invited to dine from an array of finger foods while quenching their thirst from the full

Vicky Bell and Maureen Gross.

Andrew Burr and Donald Gross

Fred Gordon and Eric Gordon.

bar. Tree’s Wings & Ribs surprised everyone with unlimited food at the buffet and an open bar. “We are very excited about what the alliance is doing for business in the western part of the county,” said Erin Townsend, general manager of Tree’s. “Running a business can be difficult, and supporting each other is important.” Guests heard about member savings offered exclusively at Tree’s for alliance members, including 15 percent off all orders and a rib and wing dinner during their birthday month, as well as a round of drinks on the house for each guest. Ericka Augutis, business development manager for Office Depot, told the group about benefits and said that alliance members receive up to 80 percent off the price of many products at Office Depot. “I really enjoy coming to the alliance’s events,” said Andrew Burr of Anderson House Auctioneers & Real Estate. “Not only am I forming great friendships, but you never know what’s going to happen. Last event, everyone got two tickets to a polo match; tonight, it’s all you can eat and an open bar.” The evening wrapped up with Fred Gordon winning the 50/50 raffle, while Lynn Balch won the wine basket.

Krystal DeGeorge, Erin Townsend and Andy Maynard of Tree’s Wings. The alliance’s next event is a a unique group that meets the needs social at Oak Bistro & Wine Bar of local businesses and the comin Royal Palm Beach on Thursday, munity, building business-to-busiFeb. 19. ness and business-to-consumer Social tickets can be purchased relationships. Its members conduct online at www.thewesternbusines- business in the western communisalliance.com, costing $10 for mem- ties of central Palm Beach County: bers and $15 for non-members. The Belle Glade, Loxahatchee Groves, fee includes appetizers and a drink. Pahokee, Royal Palm Beach, South The Western Business Alliance is Bay, The Acreage and Wellington.

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

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WHS Defeats Jupiter To Take District Basketball Title

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington High School boys varsity basketball team played in the District 9-8A championship game on Friday, Feb. 6 against Jupiter High School and defeated the Warriors 66-42. The game was played at Palm Beach Central High School. The No. 4 (top-seeded) Wolverines sputtered early in the first quarter as Jupiter held onto a one-

Wellington’s Lester Gates goes up for a dunk against Jupiter.

point lead. The second-seeded Warriors carried their lead nearly to the second quarter, but Wellington had other plans. The Wolverines managed to tie it up 8-8 with three minutes left in the period. By the end of the quarter, Wellington sat on a seven-point lead, which was never again in jeopardy. Wellington (24-3) brought a balanced attack on offense combined with a stingy defensive play to keep Jupiter from finding a rhythm most of the night. “I think we had a lot to learn, chemistry-wise. We kept stressing about being unselfish,” Wellington coach Matt Colin said of his team’s progression throughout the season. The proof was in the performance, as five players put up nine points or more on the night. The win also

Sage Chen-Young of Wellington tries to get by a Jupiter defender.

marks the second consecutive district title for the Wolverines under Colin. Wellington held a 10-point lead at the intermission, 35-25. The Wolverines capitalized with great success under the boards, with Aaron Kwiatek securing 10 rebounds. That success also fueled 23 fourth-period points that put the game out of reach for the Warriors and gave the Wolverines the 66-42 victory for the district title. “I thought we could do a better job boxing out, and I thought we did that and created a bit of separation,”

Colin said. “We were more physical boxing out and got the rebounds.” Alex Dieudonne had 15 points for Wellington. Ethan Bureau put up 12, and Trent Frazier added 11 points for the Wolverines. Frazier also collected four steals and had eight assists. The win also gave Wellington home court advantage as they hosted Spanish River High School on Thursday night in the regional quarterfinals. Results were not available at press time. (Right) Ethan Bureau of Wellington takes the ball up the court.

The Wellington High School basketball team and its cheerleaders celebrate the victory over Jupiter, which gave the team its second-consecutive District 9-8A championship. PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Softball Squad Shuts Down RPBHS, 8-0

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Wellington High School varsity softball team hosted rival Royal Palm Beach High School in a non-district matchup and shut out the Wildcats 8-0

RPB third baseman Megann Linardos tries to make a play on Wellington’s Marissa Atkinson.

to remain unbeaten at 2-0 on the season. Royal Palm Beach fell to 1-1 on the season after a season-opening win against William T. Dwyer High School. The first inning went scoreless, but by the start of the third inning,

the Wolverines drove in two runs to take the lead. In the bottom of the third, Mary Rodriguez hit a rocket out to left field that cleared the fence for a home run, increasing the Wellington advantage to 3-0. The home run sparked a Welling-

Royal Palm Beach’s Jaime Tino pitches to a Wellington batter.

ton offensive frenzy, as the team managed to get the bases loaded with just one out, but Royal Palm Beach’s defense stepped up to shut

down any chances of Wellington adding to its tally. Royal Palm Beach continued to See SOFTBALL, page 33

Avery Binnix of Wellington attempts to lay down a bunt. PHOTOS BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

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SPORTS & RECREATION

PBCHS WEIGHTLIFTER SHINES IN KISSIMMEE

St. Clare Cheerleaders Take First Place

The St. Clare Catholic School cheerleaders once again won first place in the Catholic School Athletic League varsity cheerleading competition against seven other diocesan schools. More than 100 girls competed for the trophy and title at Cardinal Newman High School on Jan. 24. This is the fifth consecutive year that St. Clare has won the competition. The winning cheerleading team included: Sydney Peters, Nicole Silvester, Eliza Herbst, Allison Nelson, Malia Kanahele, Megan Simpson, Samantha Vacca, Piper Fendrich, Nicole Burgess, Alyssa Malave,

Ciara Faircloth, Abby Walsh, Mia Chmilarski, Michaela Chmilarski and Gabby Murray. The team is coached by Angi Bickel and Staci Peters. Cardinal Newman senior Lauren Hagan, a St. Clare graduate, has also been an instrumental leader and coach with the cheerleading squad. She is now a cheerleader at Cardinal Newman. “We are thrilled that our cheerleaders took home first place again this year,” St. Clare Catholic School Principal Amy Lopez said. “Our athletes and coaches put in the time, effort and energy to succeed, and all of us at St. Clare are very proud of them.”

The St. Clare Catholic School cheerleaders with their firstplace trophy at Cardinal Newman High School.

Tristan Gasset Selected Among The Best USSSA Players

Palm Beach Central High School junior Brooke Llano placed eighth of 35 competitors at the state weightlifting championship earlier this month in Kissimmee. Llano was only 10 pounds from the state record in the Clean and Jerk competition. She is pictured here with coach Tino Ierulli.

Tristan Gasset of Wellington was chosen out of thousands of USSSA youth baseball players across the country to be included in the United States Specialty Sports Association book entitled “The Best Players in USSSA.” The book just came out this month recognizing the deserving athletes’ achievements. The USSSA is an official member of the USA Baseball, the national governing body for the sport of baseball in America. The outstanding players saluted have played in the Major Division in

the USSSA baseball and in Division A. The youth chosen, including Gasset, have played on the most competitive teams and are considered to be the best youth baseball players in the United States. The organization congratulates Gasset for his achievements. Gasset is 12 years old and also plays on the Wellington Landings Middle School baseball team, the Wellington Recreation Little League, the Wellington Little League All Stars and the Wellington International All Stars.

Tristan Gasset

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Rosenberg

George Morris Clinic

continued from page 25 it works. I’ve ridden forever and tried every position. You have to stretch your spine, carry your hands, keep a straight line from your elbow

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SPORTS & RECREATION to the horse’s mouth, wrists straight, thumbs up.” The riders trotted and cantered around, listening to corrections, riding on the flat and over fences, completing a series of exercises while Morris watched and commented, stressing impulsion and rhythm. “Patience, softness, repetition.

Softball

Wellington Over RPBHS

continued from page 31 challenge Wellington defensively into the fifth inning and put together some success at the plate, but could not convert the hits into runs, as the Wolverine defense responded swiftly. Bailey Cain had hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning for the Wolverines after an earlier score to extend Wellington’s lead to 6-0 going into the sixth inning. Wellington catcher Toni Pancione deflated the Wildcats with another two-run double in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for Royal Palm Beach, pushing the Wolverine lead to 8-0. The Wildcats threatened twice to

Wellington’s Genovieve Mangini slides into third base.

PHOTO BY GENE NARDI/TOWN-CRIER

put runs on the board, but a stingy Wellington defense denied the comeback. Pancione and Cain both were credited with a double and two RBIs.

Give a little, take a little on the reins,” he said. “Your hands should always be intermittent, taking and giving to balance the horse. Eventually you get so good that you think it and the horse does it.” They worked on flying changes, staying straight on canter departures, and trotting over fences, which Morris described as very good for both horse and rider. “This keeps you and your horse from getting too quick. Don’t neglect trotting fences.” Then there were higher fences, at the canter and gallop. The riders all shortened their stirrups. “Forward. Always go forward, think forward into the halt,” Morris reminded them. “Keep the pace forward, and hold your position up off his back in a half seat riding to a fence. Make it easier for the horse to gallop.” Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He called one rider over, had him dismount, then hopped up into the saddle to do some jumping. Yes, some of it was to demonstrate, but part of it was just George Morris being George Morris. He might be 76 years old, but he had to ride. And we were thrilled to watch. To watch video of the sessions courtesy of the USEF Network, visit www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2015GMHTS.

February 13 - February 19, 2015

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George Morris jumps aboard a horse during one of the sessions.

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

Saturday, Feb. 14 • The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show runs Friday through Tuesday, Feb. 13-17 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center (650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Visit www. palmbeachshow.com for more info. • The Audubon Society of the Everglades will host the 18th annual Great Back Yard Bird Count from Friday through Monday, Feb. 13-16. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes or as long as they wish on one or more days of the event, then report their sightings online at www. birdcount.org. Visit www.auduboneverglades.org for more info. • The 16th annual Everglades Day Festival will be held at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (State Road 7, south of Boynton Beach Blvd.) rain or shine Saturday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival focuses attention on the importance of America’s Everglades to South Florida’s people, animals and habitats. It also provides education, entertainment and direct experiences. Call Susan Snyder at (561) 627-7829 or Serena Rinker at (561) 735-6029 for more info. • The Wellington Green Market will take place Saturday, Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wellington Municipal Complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 283-5856 for more info. • Rabbi Gary Zola will address the congregation of Temple Beth Tikvah (4550 Jog Road, Greenacres) on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. Zola is one of the pre-eminent scholars in American Jewish studies. There is no charge, and refreshments will be served. Call (561) 967-3600 for more info. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Gruffalo’s Child Tall Stories for families and children age 4 and up Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. • The Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach) will present a Valentine’s Day Ladybug Release Party on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children will enjoy eco-friendly ladybug crafts, face painting and ladybug releases. Visit www.palmbeachzoo.org for more info. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Crafts for Kids for ages 3 to 8 on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. Make a special Valentine’s Day craft. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Palm Beach Zoo (1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach) will host its I Love the Zoo Family Overnight on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Discover the zoo after hours and meet creatures of the night during a special Valentine’s evening. Guests must bring a sleeping bag, air mattress, cot or sleeping pad. Activities are geared for children ages 6 and up, and a parent or adult guardian must attend. To register, or for more info., visit www. palmbeachzoo.org. • The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host a free concert on Satur-

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

day, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the Doo Wop Mob. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Camille A. Brown & Dancers on Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Tony Bennett on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. Sunday, Feb. 15 • The Royal Palm Beach Green Market & Bazaar will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. For more info., visit www.rpbgreenmarket. com or call (561) 792-9260. • The Acreage Green Market will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Acreage Community Park (6701 140th Ave. North). For more info., visit www.acreagegreenmarket.com or call (561) 723-3898. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present “A Celebration of Marvin Hamlisch” on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. • The International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington) will continue the 2015 polo season on Sunday, Feb. 15 with the 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup. For more info., visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687. • The Masterworks Chorus will present “A Slice of Broadway” on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. at the DeSantis Family Chapel on the Palm Beach Atlantic University campus (300 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at www.masterworkspb. org or by calling (561) 845-9696. Tickets will be $25 at the door. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present the Danish National Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. Monday, Feb. 16 • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will feature Ballet Superstar Marcelo Gomes interviewed by Steven Caras at a Kravis Center Cultural Society Lunch & Learn event on Monday, Feb. 16 at 11:30 a.m. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will feature Pianist Michael Brown on Monday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. For more info., call (561) 8327469 or visit www.kravis.org. Tuesday, Feb. 17 • The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will host Science for Seniors: Dragonflies for ages 50 and older on Tuesday, Feb. 17

at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $5 per person. Master naturalist Sydelle Dombrowsky will share her expertise on this unique group of insects. Call (561) 233-1400 to RSVP. • The Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce will host an Economic Forum Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Binks Forest Country Golf Club (400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington) featuring Brad Swanson, vice president of strategic and corporate partnerships for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.cpbchamber.com for more info. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Presidents’ Day Birthday Bash for ages 4 to 8 on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. Celebrate U.S. presidents with exciting stories and a fun craft. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info. • The annual election and meeting of the Western Communities Football League board of directors will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Village Park Gym, Room 1B, in Wellington. Any active member of the WCFL is welcome to attend. E-mail wcflad@yahoo.com for more info. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Books into Art for ages 11 to 17 on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to make amazing pieces of art with recycled books. Materials will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. Wednesday, Feb. 18 • The Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County (909 Fern St., West Palm Beach) will host “Signs of Eating Disorders in Youth” on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at noon with Dr. Joann Hendelman. Call (561) 832-3755 for more info. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Acreage Explorers’ Club: Botswana for ages 6 to 12 on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. with interactive activities that explore the people, places, history, music and more of Botswana. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Eating Disorders Through the Lifespan” for adults Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. with Sharon Glynn of the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. She will discuss the issues of eating disorders in women, men and children. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • A Quarter Auction to raise funds for the Okeeheelee Baseball Team will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Call Julie Bryant at (561) 797-1501 for more info. • The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will hold a screening of Lady Sings the Blues on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. as part of the 10th annual African-American Film Festival. For more info., call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org. Thursday, Feb. 19 • The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will host Story Time for ages 2 to 5 on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. Introduce little ones to Mother Nature through stories. Class activities

The Town-Crier may include live animals, games, nature walks and/or crafts specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Call (561) 233-1400 to RSVP. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Happy Chinese New Year!” for ages 7 to 11 on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. Ring in the Chinese New Year by making festive paper lanterns. Materials will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will host food trucks and a free concert on Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Food trucks will be on hand starting at 5 p.m., and the Classic Rock Therapy band will play at 6:30 p.m. Call (561) 753-2484 for more info. • The Western Business Alliance will host a social event Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Oak Bistro & Wine Bar in Royal Palm Beach. For more info., visit www.thewesternbusinessalliance.com. • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host X-Treme Trivia for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. Join a team to prove what you know about television trivia. Get it wrong? Receive a silly penalty. Call (561) 7906070 for more info. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Acting Up for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Come hungry for drama, laughs and pizza as you work on basic acting skills. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • Palm Beach Central High School will hold a Project Graduation 2015 planning meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the media center. For more information, e-mail pbcprojectgrad2015@gmail.com. Friday, Feb. 20 • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Positively Africa for all ages Friday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. Experience the music and culture of Africa with Julius and Julia Sanna. Children will enjoy playing African instruments and learning simple Swahili songs. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host “Say Ni Hao to Chinese New Year!” for ages 3 to 8 on Friday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. Celebrate the Year of the Goat with silly stories and a funny goat craft. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Wellington Art Society will host a reception at Whole Foods Market in Wellington for artist Emmanuel Gonzalez on Friday, Feb. 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org. • Horses Healing Hearts will host White White West, an evening of dancing, food, drinks, silent auction and live entertainment, on Friday, Feb. 20 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Ave. South, Wellington). Dress white with a dash of western. Tickets are $125 in advance and $150 at the door. Visit www.hhhannualbenefit.com for more info. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414 or e-mail news@gotowncrier.com.

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LAWN SERVICE YELLOWHAMMER LAWN SERVICE — High Quality, affordable yard maintenance serving the Loxahatchee area. NO CONTRACTS!. Locally Owned & Operated. 561-320-1118

NEW FLOORING BUY IT HERE FLOORING — Kitchen and Bath. Now available. Complete one stop shopping. Stop on By! Pike Road - Between Southern and Belvedere. West Palm Beach - Open 7 Days!!! 561-333-2300

PAINTING J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit our website at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Int./Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606

new and existing customers. Assist the Sales Managers in

CWP & CCE

SALESPERSON #1 JD Dealership needs a salesperson to sell new and used CWP agricultural and turf

SECURITY

matching 401K, email dpadron@evergladesfarmequipment.com

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

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

TIRES/AUTO REPAIRS TIRES/AUTO REPAIRS— Located behind Al Packer West off Southern Blvd. Tires for autos, trucks and commercial vehicles. 561-790-7228. 587 105 Ave. N. Unit 28, Royal Palm Beach.

equipment to new and existing customers. Excellent benefits,

Hotel Front Desk Clerk Job Opening Person with good verbal/written communication skills and the motivation to provide good customer service. Flexible schedule needed (mainly night shift, weekends and holidays) Experience preferred, but we will train the right motivated person. Royal Palm/ Wellington/Acreage residents will save on gas and travel time. Send resume via e-mail to info@royalinnhotel.com or fax to 561-795-1502

TREE SERVICE

BOOKKEEPER NEEDED — part-time, experienced in QuickBooks, flexible hours. Please fax resume to 561-791-0952

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

DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! — Great pay! Consistent Freight, Great Miles on this Regional Account. Werner Enterprises: 1-855-517-2488

WALLPAPERING

H E L P WA N T E D PA R T- T I M E W I N DOW CLEANER — for 1 and 2 story homes call 561-313-7098.

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

FOR SALE - BUENA VISTA COMMUNITY BUENA VITA LAKE FRONT 2 BEDROOM PLUS DEN, 2 BATH — Professionally landscaped, peaceful, long lake views. Just listed $399,900. For further access to open house. Call Jackie DeSantis 561-436-9844

FOR RENT - GREENACRES

ROOFING REPAIRS RE-ROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC-0067207

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

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EMPLOYMENT

intelligent, energetic person to

CLEANING - HOME/OFFICE

February 13 - February 19, 2015

DRIVERS WANTED WELLINGTON TOWN CAR — Full-Time, Part-Time Experienced. Retirees Welcome. 561-333-0181

ROOMMATE TO SHARE — 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment - Purdy & Jog Road. $550 per month. Looking for under 35 years old. 954-296-3748

TENNESSEE LAND FOR SALE TENNESSEE LAND — 12 Acres for sale in Equestrian neighborhood with 3 miles of riding trails. Call Dixon Te a m K e l l e r W i l l i a m s 4 2 3 - 8 8 3 - 0 6 5 6

AUTOMOBILES FOR SALE 2000 DODGE RAM DIESEL — extended warranty, 2005 5th wheel, 30ft. Cardinal with 2 slide outs, asking $30,500, for both or best offer call 561-793-5994.

INVITES YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR SHORT FILM FREE!

26th screening at Cinema 8, Wellingtonfilmfestival.com. 561-255-7625

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE Legal Notice No. 587 Notice Under Fictitious Name Florida Statute 865.09 Public notice is hereby given that the undersigned desires to engage in business under the fictitious name of:

Ahimar Services Located at:

1209 12th Fairway Wellington, FL 333411

County of Palm Beach, Florida and intends to register said name with the Division of Corporations State of Florida,forthwith

Jason Hall Publish :Town-Crier Newspapers Date: 2-13-15

Page 36 February 13 - February 19, 2015

www.gotowncrier.com

The Town-Crier

HERE’S MY CARD

561-308-4774 www.deborahrassocounseling.com

Lic & Insured CFC057392, CAC1817688

SEPTIC & DRAINFIELD SPECIALISTS

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February 13 - February 19, 2015 Page 37

H E R E ’ S M Y CA R D

PLACE YOUR AD HERE CALL 561-793-7606

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S

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The Town-Crier

WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

New Location! New Showroom!

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE!

561-333-2306 TOLL FREE: 855-808-8555

WE DO NOT SELL CHEAP FLOORING CHEAPER

WE SELL THE BEST FOR LESS! 766 Pike Road • West Palm Beach, FL 33411 (Between Southern Blvd. & Belvedere)

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

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February 13 - February 19, 2015

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SIX great schools educating students in Palm Beach!

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