Town-Crier Newspaper February 26, 2010

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By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council voted 4-1 on Thursday, Feb. 18 to build a berm over what would have been a roadway connection from Madrid Street to the State Road 7 extension, but to keep a pedestrian/bike passage open.

The item up for council approval called for authorizing $241,647 for landscaping at the State Road 7 extension. Mayor David Lodwick stressed that despite “misinformation” circulated in a letter sent to some residents, only a small part of the money is for the Madrid Street berm.

“The letter seemed to indicate that $241,000 is just to close the Madrid connection,” Lodwick said, pointing out that the money is earmarked for a mile of landscaping from the berm to 40th Street North, and that the actual money for the Madrid Street berm is just $11,000. “We’re landscap-

ing over a mile of berm. That is where a majority of the funds are going.”

However, Councilwoman Martha Webster — who dissented on the council decision last year not to open the Madrid Street connection — pointed out that the village would be dropping dirt on a connection that taxpayers had spent $114,000 of county money to build.

Village Engineer Ray Liggins disputed that assessment, saying that the village’s berm would come off the county berm onto village property. “It will not be over the top of the county’s pavement,” he said. “The county took the pavement up to village property. This berm will be to the west of that pavement area.”

Webster responded, “So the taxpayer money of $114,000 that was spent for the connection is being wasted because it’s being closed off.”

Webster also raised concerns

about closing off the entire area, including a pedestrian opening, which would have precluded La Mancha residents from accessing the State Road 7 extension, which fronts a natural area, bike and pedestrian path.

“We’re adding an additional cost of $11,000 to undo something that we have already done at taxpayers’ expense,” she said. “I object to dropping the dirt on our dollars to close that berm. The decision may have been made by the council not to open the connection, that’s correct, but not to waste taxpayers’ money to go any further.”

Webster said this move further complicates Royal Palm Beach’s negotiations with the county over the Roebuck Road extension.

“We also have a commitment that we have been working with the county to have Roebuck Road extended,” she said. “We have been working in good faith with See BERM, page 22

Safe Neighborhoods Project Credited With Drop In Crime

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

In the eight months since the Safe Neighborhoods initiative was implemented in Wellington, transitional neighborhoods have begun to transform from crime-ridden to a place for families to live.

“Safe Neighborhoods has added increased value to our community,” Community Programs Director Ivy Fivey told the Wellington Village Council at its Tuesday, Feb. 23 meeting.

Last year, the council invested $1 million in the program to help declining neighborhoods get back on track. The money has funded additional code officers, community advocates and community police officers, Fivey said.

“Our officers are not just patrolling the streets, they’re also volunteering their time,” she said. “They are a very important part of Safe Neighborhoods.”

The program’s mission is to stop crime and improve all of

Wellington’s neighborhoods — not just transitional areas, she stressed.

One of the biggest goals of the office was to involve the community and give residents a way to air concerns without fear. This is accomplished largely through neighborhood advocates.

“Our neighborhood advocates are building a bridge to our residents,” Fivey said. “If they don’t feel comfortable speaking directly with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, they can speak to an advocate who will relay the information.”

From the start, residents were invited into the office. Advocates have held several neighborhood meetings to address residents’ concerns, and crime watch meetings to crack down on local crime.

“The way we began this office in 2009 was through education, by having open houses,” Fivey said. “We want to let our residents know that we are here, and we

Serving Palms West Since 1980

want to help them. They can come to us with information.”

Additionally, the Safe Neighborhoods Office has begun several outreach programs to draw the neighborhoods in, such as youth sports programs, free tutoring, job assistance, movie nights, block parties, neighborhood restoration parties and more, Fivey said.

The programs are funded with money or other items from donations, sponsors, volunteers and village partnerships.

One of the partnerships is with the Citizens Volunteer Organization, which has helped transform the neighborhoods by organizing and participating in beautification events.

Members of village management also have pledged their day off once a month to help disadvantaged residents bring their homes up to code.

The efforts have been a success, with a steady decrease in crime

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

A culmination of two years’ work and a lifelong dream, Scott’s Place will be dedicated Monday, March 1.

“I think we need to do all that we can to make sure that our services accommodate people of all needs,” Mayor Darell Bowen said. “All our parks have different dimensions to them, but we didn’t have anything that was accessible for disabled children.”

The equestrian-themed “boundless” playground is designed for children with and without disabilities. It was made possible by a $250,000 donation from residents Barbara and Del Williamson.

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Beach County Commissioner Jess Santamaria has directed county staff to explore obtaining federal assistance for residents of The Acreage who want to get their homes hooked up to a municipal water system.

Santamaria also called for further testing to root out the cause of a cancer cluster in The Acreage. The comments came at a Tuesday, Feb. 23 meeting where commissioners were getting an update from Palm Beach County Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron.

Bonlarron reported that he has been working with Florida’s congressional delegation and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who has taken an active role in trying to find federal relief for The Acreage. “I feel there are similarities between what’s happening in The Acreage and a hurricane disaster, whether it’s Katrina or Hurricane Andrew,” Santamaria said. “It’s a disaster area, and it’s even worse in that there’s so much uncertainty.”

Only more testing can find the answer, he stressed. “It’s either a statistical aberration or for real,” Santamaria said.

“And in my opinion, just testing

50 wells out of 10,000 or 15,000 wells out there is not enough.”

Santamaria said he has had residents come to his office requesting county water, but under present conditions, it would cost more for residents farther from existing water lines to hook up. The existing water lines were laid in anticipation of the Scripps Research Institute locating at Mecca Farms, but that did not happen. He said residents have complained that people who are closer to the water lines are charged as little as $4,000, while those who are farther away have to pay $17,000 or more. Santamaria said he felt federal and state agencies should help reduce the gap between those who have to pay more for a hookup.

“Everybody should pay, but I don’t feel there should be a discrepancy just because you happen to have a water line in front of your house,” he said. “I hope we can get federal assistance, giving more attention to this unfortunate group of residents in The Acreage, who through no fault of their own are really suffering from this uncertainty.” Commission Chairman Burt Aaronson said he was concerned about the cost of getting Acreage

See WATER, page 22

Manager: Four-Day Schedule Saving More Than Expected

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington’s four-day workweek is shaping up to be business as usual after the program saved more money than the village anticipated during the past four months.

“In many respects, it has gone really well,” Village Manager Paul Schofield said. “Like most things, there were some things we expected and some things we didn’t.”

The program was put into place in October for a six-month trial period, with staff estimating that the village would save $300,000 a year. But the results have been

better than expected. “Through December, we already saw $150,000 in savings,” Schofield said. “Of course the year isn’t over yet, but we’ve already saved half the amount in the first quarter.”

Initially the village closed some parks and recreational services on Friday, but received enough complaints to merit leaving them open. “That was our mistake,” Schofield said. “We reopened them after the first week, and we haven’t received any complaints since.”

Schofield said the community has been largely on-board with the idea. The village has yet to receive

See SCHEDULE, page 22

VINCEREMOS GALA

The Williamsons named the playground in honor of their son Scott, who was born in 1968 and suffered from cerebral palsy. He spent much of his life in a wheelchair and died at age six. The Williamsons wanted to help children with disabilities and their families. After a meeting with Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, the idea for Scott’s Place was born.

“When you have a dream like they did, and you can achieve it with such overwhelming support from others, that’s a wonderful thing,” Benacquisto said. “I really think it has exceeded their expectations.”

And helping them achieve the dream was hardly debatable. “It

would be crazy not to do something so wonderful,” Bowen said. “Especially with all the help we received from the Williamsons.”

The community’s support also was overwhelming. Last month, hundreds of volunteers gathered to help put together the playground equipment and benches. With a few finishing touches, the playground will be ready in March.

Although construction will continue on the nearby amphitheater and municipal complex, Benacquisto said the village has taken precautions to ensure the children’s safety. “We’re going to corridor off the

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Alan and Margaret Bostom were high bidders for this puppy.Terri Tesler and Karen Hardin enjoy the evening.

Tom and Regis Wenham look at auction items.

Cheri Coates and Wellington Councilman Howard Coates. Pianist Copeland Davis with his wife Mary.

Event chairs Terri Priore (left) and Carmine Priore III (right) with DRI President Bob Pearlman, Palms West Hospital CEO Bland Eng and Bobby Ewing of Ewing Optical.

The

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Questions about the budget, senior citizens and the future of KPark were among the issues discussed by candidates running for the Wellington Village Council at a Wellington Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Seat 2 candidates Anne Gerwig, Wismick St. Jean and Ernie Zimmerman, along with Mayor Darell Bowen and his opponent Carol Coleman, answered questions at a forum held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The question-and-answer segment came after the candidates discussed their qualifications and their reasons for seeking election on Tuesday, March 9.

The village’s growing senior population was a primary concern to those attending the luncheon, and all the candidates agreed that more must be done for Wellington’s seniors.

St. Jean said the demographics in the community have changed, and that more accommodations should be made for a growing segment of the population that lives, works and retires in the community.

Gerwig said transportation is one area that needs to be better addressed. Rather than a voucher program for transportation that was brought up by Bowen at a forum last week, she felt other residents could be teamed up with seniors who needed transportation to help them get around. Zimmerman doesn’t think the village does enough for its seniors. “Other villages do more for their seniors,” he said. “We need to do something to help these people.”

Coleman said that the seniors’ needs must be better addressed and the recommendations of the recent seniors task force were being ignored. She also felt that seniors could be matched up with the younger component in the community to help them with their needs. Bowen said the village would continue to work on issues such as transportation, affordable housing and a senior facility. “The new senior center will be the old Wellington Community Center,” Bowen said.

The candidates also were asked how the council would address the budget during difficult economic times.

Coleman said there are many things that need to be cut in the budget, and too many things are being outsourced. Bowen said that the council would look at renegotiating contracts and many other things to save money.

Gerwig agreed that the budget situation is difficult, and that some items had been trimmed from the budget, but things must be evaluated one item at a time.

St. Jean concurred that reviewing items line by line is necessary, but also stressed that he would not raise taxes. “We can have a sizable budget without cutting services,” he said.

Zimmerman focused on his belief that the village must do a better job on collecting fees that are due. He also brought up his opinion that Wellington residents overpay for Palm Beach County FireRescue services. “We pay more to the fire department in terms of taxes than we do to the Village of Wellington,” he noted.

In response to a question about the proper use of the K-Park property on State Road 7, Bowen said that he would like to see some civic use come out of the site, as it is designated for public use, but the details would still have to be worked out by the council. Coleman said the site should not be part of a “giveaway” and added that a referendum should decide how to handle the property.

Zimmerman agreed with Coleman that the previous proposal for the land amounted to a “giveaway,” while St. Jean said that the discussion should be about the “highest and best use” for the site.

Gerwig said she would like to see a state-of-the-art project on the site, but since her firm had done work there, she would have to abstain on the issue if she was elected to the council.

After further questioning, the candidates made their final pitches. Zimmerman said he wanted “his Wellington back,” and that he would do whatever he could for the residents in the community. St. Jean said that he would work tirelessly to keep taxes low and eliminate waste in government.

Gerwig said that too much money has been spent on studies, and she feels the council needs to move forward and not be afraid to make decisions. “We do not have the money to spend on fear,” Gerwig said. “Not making a decision is making a mistake.”

Calling for an “open and transparent government,” Coleman said she would address the foreclosure rate and work with other

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) is hopeful that the cause of the cancer cluster in The Acreage can be found soon.

Nelson, speaking at the Palm Beach Forum Club on Thursday, Feb. 18, said he was sympathetic with the residents’ frustration over how long the search is taking to find a cause for the higher incidence of brain cancer in young women and children in The Acreage. He said he was hopeful the process would be speeded up now that the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are involved.

“The residents are very frustrated because the research has been very slow,” Nelson said. “I hope now that by the activation of the extensive research of the U.S. government, we can get to the bottom of this. The people are rightly concerned. They do not know which way to chart their future.”

Nelson’s remarks also focused on the economy, unemployment and healthcare reform.

Nelson said there is a great deal of frustration in Congress about the legislative process and the partisanship that has stalled work on issues such as healthcare reform and job creation. He cited the recent resignation of Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh as an example of this frustration. “This is a rough time,” Nelson said. “I

Anne Gerwig

Ernie Zimmerman

Wismick St. Jean

Last fall, the Town-Crier supported Wellington’s move to a four-day workweek for village employees as “the type of outside-the-box thinking necessary in these lean times.” The hope was that such a move would save the village about $300,000 a year. The Wellington Village Council correctly refrained from making such a drastic change all at once, choosing instead to see how things worked out on a six-month trial basis before making final decisions. If the first three months of the program are any indication, then village employees could eventually find themselves with Fridays off for good.

According to Village Manager Paul Schofield, the village has saved roughly $150,000 in three months — already half the expected total, but in half the time. Some ways in which the village has been saving money include having less employee overtime, cutting down on the use of village vehicles, and having office computers being turned off for an extra day, which uses less electricity and adds to the life of the computers. This has saved on repair costs for computers and cars, and likely replacement costs down the road. We congratulate village officials for listening to residents’ complaints about parks and recreation facilities (mainly the Village Park gym) being closed on Fridays. When the issue came up, the residents’ concerns were quickly addressed, and the facilities were

ever, what I find most fascinating about this young lady is her caring nature, humility and her commitment to family and community. I am, therefore, asking that you support Tinu Peña in March because we need an innovative and dynamic personality added to the Village of Royal Palm Beach.

Elet Cyris

Royal Palm Beach

Paglia: Choose Bowen And Zimmerman

and make recommendations to the village council regarding such matters.” The final report was presented to the council in December 2006. To assist the task force members in assessing the desires of the village’s senior population, an opinion survey was created and mailed to 9,038 residents 55 years of age or older, and by the cutoff date of June 30, 1,772 or 19 percent of the total surveys mailed had been received. This represented approximately 17 percent of the total population of Wellington at that time, a figure that surprised many. It is estimated that by 2015 to 2020, our senior population will grow 22 to 23 percent, or by 13,000 to 15,000 residents.

Howard Trager, President

Wellington Seniors Club

Support For Tinu Peña

I am a resident of Royal Palm Beach and have witnessed the growth and development over the years. I am very pleased to see Tinu Peña running for Royal Palm Beach Village Council Seat 3. I met Ms. Peña when she first ran for office in 2008 and was impressed with her willingness to serve our community. Since then I have seen how active she has become in the community with her service on the village’s Planning & Zoning Commission and other organizations. I do believe she will make a very good councilwoman and a leader in our community. I have witnessed her talents when she provided her services to CAFCI’s (Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement Inc.) business expo held in 2008, her attention to details, abundance of ideas and hardworking personality assisted in putting on that successful event. She definitely has the makings of a leader that is not just ready to lead, but also willing to follow when necessary. How-

Council A Drop In Crime

continued from page 1 from 33 incidents of robbery, drugs, burglaries or vandalism in May to only seven incidents in the past two months, Fivey said. Some of the success is attributed to crackdowns on Section 8 housing fraud, which removed several criminals from the area.

I urge you all to exercise your constitutional right and vote in our village election on March 9. Our local elections have notoriously been low turnout situations. My wife and I have been residents since 1978 and can never remember since incorporation in 1996 seeing higher than 15 percent turnout of registered voters. Exercise your right. We send our troops to far-away lands to help preserve that freedom for other nations while locally we overlook this opportunity.

I would urge you all to re-elect

Darell Bowen as our mayor and elect Ernie Zimmerman as councilman for Seat 2.

Mayor Bowen has worked hard as a local, longtime businessman and community leader and delivers his business common-sense approach to our village government. He pushed for our longneeded municipal complex where we will soon enjoy one-stop shopping at a new village hall, new community pool, amphitheater and park for handicapped youth; all this without any taxes, using reserve funds, grants and contributions. His other many accomplishments in his two short years are admirable: the Safe Neighborhoods program, he is working to assist the foreclosure problem all municipalities face, as well as keep an open mind for bringing Palm Beach State College here and make them share their facilities with residents. While Carol Coleman is a wonderful person, Mayor Bowen deserves re-election to keep him on the job he has begun for all of us, not just the equestrian community.

Meanwhile, my longtime friend Ernie Zimmerman would bring a grass-roots approach to solving our many problems. Ernie has been a longtime resident, village employee, community activist and Town-Crier writer whose wit and sensible stories bring a lighter side to our heavy burdensome days. I know Mr. Zimmerman, as a father and grandfather, can bring some common sense to our parks and recreation problems, seniors and transportation issues (which I personally admire), local business assistance and would work to even lower our millage rate to help all of us during this economic cli-

Mayor Darell Bowen thanked Fivey and her team for their work. “I’ve always said that people deserve to live in a place where they feel safe,” he said. “I think we’re moving in that direction.”

In 2010, the Safe Neighborhoods office plans to fix lighting problems that have plagued the communities, along with the continuation of many of their programs, Fivey said. They also will continue surveys of residents to find out what is-

mate. I urge you to elect Ernie Zimmerman.

While Ms. Gerwig is a nice lady, she does not possess the breadth of experience we need in an elected official ready to “hit the ground running.” We cannot afford to have to train our councilpersons before they make the important policy decisions which affect all of each and every day. Vote with me for Ernie Zimmerman for Seat 2. Stay well local friends and neighbors as we all continue to build the best place to live in our county.

Al Paglia Wellington

Criticism

Ensures Good Government

For the benefit of all of the residents of Royal Palm Beach who may not be fully aware of what is going in our village government, I would like to respond to the letter published last week written by Mr. Tom Parker.

I would simply like to point out that there is a vast difference between being negative and being critical of a dysfunctional system of government. And I am sure Mr. Parker was being critical as well — as opposed to negative. Criticism challenges and strengthens our democracy.

Over the past few weeks, I have attempted to point out things that I have observed that are patently wrong. Things that are needlessly costing the taxpayers of Royal Palm Beach millions of dollars. To further respond to Mr. Parker’s criticism, I see no benefit to the village to be had by “working within the framework of the village council and departments.”

These are the things that need to be changed.

What would I do if elected? I would work to restructure and correct these ills. Mr. Parker overlooks the fact that I worked within that “framework” for more than 10 years. In that time, I observed waste, abuse, arrogance and mismanagement. We are in this position because of the framework our current and past leaders have created. To pretend that I wanted to go along with the status quo just for the sake of getting elected would be ludicrous. Anyone who knows me is aware that I do not mince words — that I shoot from the hip — and I work to get things done — positive things!

Yes, Royal Palm Beach is long overdue for some good, positive change. If Mr. Parker or anyone else interprets this as being negative, then I wish them well — it’s their right.

Steve Petrone

Royal Palm Beach

Editor’s note: Mr. Petrone is a candidate for mayor of Royal Palm Beach in the March 9 election.

sues need to be fixed. Several council members who had struggled with what to do about the neighborhoods said they felt they had made the right choice.

“I remember when we as a council struggled with whether this was the answer to helping our neighborhoods,” Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto said. “I think you all couldn’t have done a better job of addressing the concerns of those neighborhoods.”

reopened. Not only does this mean that village officials have remained accountable to the residents, but that type of flexibility will ultimately lead to a successful program. Now that three months have passed — and the results are better than expected — we can only hope that this is what we can expect from here on out. Still, despite these good signs, it’s too soon to declare the four-day workweek a definitive success. Although signs point in that direction, it’s best to remain cautiously optimistic. While it may initially look like a wise move made in difficult budget times, it’s something that needs to be continually studied, especially for when times do change. For example, should we end up coming out of the current economic doldrums — which will happen eventually — the building boom may pick up again, which might cause a problem for people who need to use the Planning, Zoning & Building Department. Four days a week might not be enough, and if that’s the case, the village would need to still be flexible, such as in the situation with its parks and rec facilities.

The four-day workweek appears to be an idea worth keeping. But it needs to stand the test of time before any final decisions can be made. There’s no need to hurry into this as long as a trial basis will suffice. If it’s done right, there will be a real reason to say, TGIF!

Valuntas A Fresh Choice For RPB

The people of Royal Palm Beach will have a unique opportunity to decide on whether to “stay the course” or give opportunity to a candidate of broader experience and reject special interest. The choices have never been more clear or more apparent, that to stay the course means opportunity for there to exist a “quid pro quo” between a special interest and village hall.

Art Johnson and the Palm Beach County School Board have sway over the schools our children attend, but such schools exist in our community and impact our services, and as such deserve the attention of our council. Richard Valuntas, a new candidate for our council, appears to have the interest, with his growing family, to address these issues. Mr. Valuntas is an experienced lawyer and is unencumbered; Ms. [Tinu] Peña was supported last time she ran for the seat by Mr. [Vice Mayor Matty] Mattioli, Mr. [Councilman David] Swift and the outgoing mayor. I believe Mr. Valuntas represents a more independent candidate not linked to incumbents, and he may be able to serve the interests of all the people in Royal Palm Beach. I would urge my fellow residents to vote for the skills and interest of Richard Valuntas. The mayoral race is more problematical, if that’s possible. Mr. Mattioli has stated that his boyhood dream was to be a mayor, but one must be able to demonstrate the interest and the ability to represent all the people and not allow anything to give the appearance of expediency over conviction. Many observers have expressed concern over his voting record, which appears to be more of a “rubber stamp” than deep conviction. I cannot support the candidacy of Mr. Mattioli for mayor of Royal Palm Beach as it represents to me a step into the past and would not be a step into the future. Steve Petrone may lack a certain amount of smoothness and political connection, but this may be a plus in this case. I believe his honesty, interest and independence should give him due consideration and a second look. Richard Nielsen

Royal Palm Beach

Impressed By

Anne Gerwig

I was glad I attended the Wellington Seniors Club candidate’s forum last week. It was a great opportunity to hear the candidates for mayor and Wellington Village Council Seat 2, the seat currently held by Lizbeth Benacquisto, who is now running for the State Senate.

I was particularly impressed by

Councilman Matt Willhite agreed, noting that there has been a visible improvement in the areas.

“When people take ownership in their homes and ownership in their neighborhoods, they really become a part of the community,” he said. “And the programs that you’re offering really engage the residents and bring them together. The program you’ve put together and your work in this village will never be forgotten.”

Anne Gerwig, one of the candidates for Seat 2. It is not often that we see someone running for office who truly is a breath of fresh air! Anne did a great job telling us about her history as a longtime Wellington resident, mother, wife and small business owner. She really understands the many issues facing our community. Anne also understood the issues facing the seniors and is a strong supporter of making sure the Wellington Community Center is converted into a user-friendly and accessible senior center, when the village complex is completed. Anne Gerwig’s fresh perspective and positive attitude will be a great addition to the council. I hope you will vote for Anne Gerwig. I know I will. Suzanne Bennett Wellington

Millions Of Dollars;

40 Percent Employment

Editor’s note: The following is the second of three letters by Frank Morelli regarding the economic hardships facing the City of Pahokee. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to projects that have not created one permanent production job in Pahokee. County commissioners spent $10 million on a football stadium in Pahokee. The school produced 12 professional football players at a cost of $800,000 in taxpayer dollars per player. The rest of the inhabitants find themselves inexorably bound up by poverty. Farming and sugar production has given way to the concerns of environmentalists and foreign competition. Five million dollars has been appropriated in stimulus loans to repair Pahokee’s wastewater facility. This expenditure would not have been necessary at this time if the City of Pahokee had a vibrant, privatelyheld production economy.

Pahokee Mayor Wayne Whitaker talked about an airplane parts manufacturer that he hoped would locate in Pahokee. Feckless politicians excogitate while Pahokee descends further into poverty and crime.

Public assistance is more of an

indictment of the current policies

than it is a solution. The county commissioners draft artist renderings of multi-million-dollar promises of employment that may or may not generate even a temporary job. Residents were promised employment on a dam, but that promised employment never materialized in one job because the project was abandoned when Gov. Crist decided to use taxpayer money to buy up the sugar fields. The sad fact is that residents who are unable to find employment are forced to take desperate measures. They invent jobs to avoid paying taxes and filing the myriad forms and reports required by government. By these means, workers can offer services below market level prices, but they do so risking criminal penalties. Because there is little consumer demand, there is not one major supermarket located near the City of Pahokee.

Next: the New Enterprise Production Solution...

Frank Morelli

Wellington

Stop Healthcare Juggernaut

The president and most Democrats in Congress are forging ahead with changing practically everything about healthcare regardless of whether the people want those changes. They appear to be interested only in a political “victory.”

None of the provisions in the plan address lowering the cost of healthcare. Rather, they will simply change the people who pay the costs. In order to lower the costs (without simply nationalizing all doctors and hospitals), those who get healthcare must see their bills and pay them out of pocket. Rebates can be provided for those who truly cannot, through no fault of their own, pay. If voters do not contact their representatives and threaten to vote against them, there will be no stopping the current juggernaut. And once the changes are made, there will be no turning back. The healthcare system will become another IRS: unfathomable and out of control.

Phil Sexton

Wellington

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 them to letters@goTownCrier.com

In other business:

• The council voted unanimously to support a resolution approving the development order extensions for 11 development orders in the area, required by 2009 Florida Senate Bill 360. The bill states that, “any permit issued … that has an expiration date of Sept. 1, 2008 through Jan. 1, 2012 is extended and renewed for two years following its date of expiration. This extension includes any local government-issued development order or

building permit.” In Wellington, the extensions applied to only 11 development orders.

• Capital Improvements Director Rick Greene gave an update on the progress of the Town Center project. Scott’s Place is nearly complete, and the foundations for the amphitheater and municipal complex have been poured. “I’ll have a crane outside next week, and you’ll see the first vertical tilt wall being erected at the municipal center on March 8,” he said.

The

Thief Breaks Bedroom Window In Acreage Home Burglary

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

FEB. 13 — A deputy from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was dispatched Saturday, Feb. 13 to a home on 126th Drive North in response to a residential burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1 and 9 p.m., someone shattered a windowpane in the complainant’s daughter’s bedroom and crawled through the window, while the complainant’s wife was at the other side of the home. The suspect stole jewelry and a Macbook Pro, but did not go through any other room in the house. DNA evidence was taken at the scene from a small drop of blood left on the window and a piece of red material caught on the glass. The stolen items were valued at approximately $3,500.

FEB. 15 — A Delray Beach woman reported her purse stolen from the Mall at Wellington Green last Monday afternoon after she left it unattended. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation responded to the Macy’s department store regarding a theft. At approximately 4:50 p.m., the victim left her purse on a chair in the shoe department and walked away. A witness observed an unknown female knock the purse to the ground and sit in the chair. The suspect then picked up the purse and left. The witness believed the purse belonged to the suspect until the real owner returned and said her purse was missing. The suspect is described as a white female, skinny with long blond hair, approximately 5’7” tall and in her 40s. There was no surveillance footage available.

FEB. 15 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was dispatched last Monday morning to a home on Persimmon Blvd. regarding a stolen vehicle. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 and 6 a.m. the following morning, someone stole the victim’s 2000 Ford E-150 van. The victim said the van was unlocked and taken from his driveway, and that he did not authorize anyone to use or take the van, which also contained his laptop, iPod and tools. The van did not have an alarm or tracking device. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

FEB. 16 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to a home in Country Club Views last Tuesday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 8:30 p.m. last Monday and 6:50 a.m. last Tuesday, someone entered the victim’s Volkswagen Jetta and stole a GPS, iPod and a jar of coins. The stolen items were valued at approximately $356. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report, but the victim said that a neighbor’s surveillance video may have recorded the incident.

FEB. 17 — A Wellington man was arrested on drug charges early last Wednesday morning following a traffic stop in the Sugar Pond Manor community. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation stopped 20-year-old Ryan Green at the intersection of Aster and Meadow avenues. The deputy observed marijuana in plain view

Wellington Candidate Questions: Budget Cuts And Foreclosures

From now until the election, the Town-Crier is asking questions for publication to Wellington Village Council candidates. This week’s two questions: “Recent years have seen budget shortfalls in Wellington, with more shortfalls projected over the next two years. How would you determine where to make cuts, or if not, where do you propose finding additional revenues?” and “How would you address Wellington’s current problems with residential and commercial foreclosures?”

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

DARELL BOWEN

The Budget — The shortfall for the next two years will not be as bad as these past two years; however, it is becoming more and more difficult to find places to cut. We must continue to use good business practices to make the decisions, improve efficiencies in some areas, seek new ways to deliver the same

and

tinue to eliminate unnecessary

I am very much opposed to across-the-board cuts that would have a negative impact on all programs and services. We have proven these past two years that we can do better than that.

It will be difficult to find additional revenues for our operating budget because no one wants their taxes increased; however, we can find other sources for

existing mortgage by permanently reducing the interest rate, a program that has been successful in other states. We must continue to look for these programs and any new ideas that will ease the pain of this temporary situation.

CAROL COLEMAN

village. We will continue to be aggressive in applying for grants and funds from other agencies to help fund our capital projects.

Foreclosures — We know that foreclosures affect the property values of all of our homes. As the economy improves, foreclosures will decline. However, in the meantime, we need to do everything we can to keep those properties maintained and in compliance with our codes. Some things we have done include educational seminars to help those who are facing foreclosure and adopting a nuisance abatement ordinance that allows us to get access to and maintain vacant properties much more quickly than in the past. We had to budget money for this program, but we plan to collect most of it back once the foreclosure is completed. Just this past weekend, we hosted a NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) program for homeowners looking to restructure their

The Budget — The obvious place to start is to save money being spent frivolously. The $200,000 Bowen spent trying to give away K-Park is a prime example and doesn’t demonstrate good business sense. I would identify and eliminate waste by supporting a truly independent open budgetary audit. I would tighten collection of existing business license fees and sales taxes on short-term rentals and reduce the use of outside consultants. I would bring Wellington’s legal work in-house, reducing the $400,000 to $500,000 we currently spend for a part-time attorney. I would evaluate and possibly reduce middle-to-upper management salaries and perks. I would also study an increase in non-resident fees. Residents supplement our infrastructure through taxes, and those who don’t pay Wellington taxes should pay their fair share when using our facilities.

But let me be clear — trying to cut our way out of this recession would gut the things that make Wellington wonderful. We cannot dismantle the attractors that create demand for our housing, keep values high and affect long-term revenues. This is exactly the “rainy day” our $2.3 million rate stabilization fund was intended for. We need to maintain the services that define Wellington without adding to the tax burden of our residents.

Foreclosures — Wellington offers counselors to help negoti-

ate with lenders, but it’s not enough. Sometimes a small amount of cash is needed to get the bank to modify a loan. Jacksonville’s foreclosure intervention program keeps people in their homes with state-funded no-interest microloans. These microloans are a lifeline for homeowners who face a short-term crunch but can afford to pay their mortgages in the long run. Last week, $1.5 billion was released from federal TARP funds to support such programs. Wellington should be getting its fair share of these state and federal dollars.

Wellington should create a vacant property registry to put the village and mortgagees in touch at the beginning of the foreclosure process. Through a similar registry, Collier County’s blight prevention program established working relationships with financial institutions to require proper maintenance of the properties throughout the foreclosure process. To date, more than 600 violations have been remedied through banks, lenders, servicing agencies and attorneys — minimizing the abatement budget and saving the county nearly $1 million.

Good programs are working all over Florida. We need to bring new leadership and new ideas to our foreclosure problem. I have those new ideas, and I’d like to be your mayor.

COUNCIL SEAT 2 CANDIDATES

ANNE GERWIG

The Budget — The budget is the biggest challenge this council will face. Projections are that the budget will decrease from $83 million this year to $75 million

next year. I support line-item budgeting to determine what items might be duplicative or outdated. As a small business owner, I know firsthand that you shouldn’t spend more than you have, and I will be a strong advocate for holding the line on expenses and making sure our tax dollars are not spent frivolously.

The village has been successful in finding grant money for many of its infrastructure projects, and I strongly support continuing to look for alternative sources of funding. The designation of the “medical arts district” should not only provide us with many opportunities for state-of-the-art medical care, it should also increase our tax base by bringing in new and innovative medical companies. I do not support raising taxes on our residents.

Foreclosures — Through the village’s Safe Neighborhoods initiative, Wellington has put in place a program that helps residents find federal assistance in dealing with the foreclosure process. I support this process and any other assistance that may become available. Identifying the properties that are in the early stage of the foreclosure process has been difficult; however, the village now has an ordinance that allows them to access the property and maintain the lawns so the entire neighborhood is not negatively affected. I believe code enforcement officers should continue to be diligent in identifying the properties as they fall into disrepair to keep our community standards high.

I also believe that with the completion of the new municipal complex, Scott’s Place playground and the new amphitheater, right in the heart of Wellington and near where many of the foreclosures are happening, many new fami-

lies will find Wellington an attractive and more affordable place to live.

ERNIE ZIMMERMAN

The Budget — As I noted last week, we can find additional funds by enforcing the occupational license laws that we already have on the books. We have to be more aggressive in our enforcement. A conservative guess is that with proper code enforcement of the occupational license laws, we can generate between $500,000 and $1 million in revenue. Boca Raton has three full-time code officers assigned to enforcing its occupational license laws. Wellington doesn’t have any. The money the code officers would bring into the village would more than cover what the village would have to pay them in salaries.

Another way we can get additional funds in the village is by not giving away the K-Park land to Palm Beach State College. The land is valued (depending on what the land will be used for) anywhere from $7 million to $35 million. The village is currently paying $40,000 a month for this piece of land that is currently covered with weeds. If the village decides not to make a park on this site, then we should sell the land to the highest bidder. The sale of this land (not a giveaway) will bring millions of dollars into the village. Foreclosures — There are at least 1,600 foreclosed homes in Wellington, and at least 1,800 homes in Wellington where the owners are more than six months behind in their bank payments. This is not only Wellington’s problem, this is a national problem. I am sorry to say this problem will get worse before it gets better. This year a lot of five-year adjustablerate mortgages are coming due. A

new problem that foreclosed homes bring into our village is some HOAs are on the verge of going broke because of lack of funding. There is at least one HOA in the village where 50 percent of the homes have stopped paying their HOA dues.

At the present time, the village has a crew that will cut the grass, maintain the pools and board up broken windows at foreclosed homes. The village is trying its best to keep the foreclosed houses looking as good as possible while the homes are in limbo. We must cite the homes for whatever code violations exist and put liens on the property, which we may be able to collect when the banks do finally take over the property.

Once a bank takes over a foreclosed property, the bank will be responsible to maintain the property. Right now some homes are sitting vacant for over two years before a bank takes them over. The federal government must step in and speed up the process of a bank taking over a foreclosed house. It shouldn’t take a bank two years to take possession of a foreclosed house.

WISMICK ST. JEAN

The Budget — In light of the recent budget shortfalls and anticipated cuts, I think that Wellington has to continue to tighten its belt considering the fact that village residents have been holding their end of the bargain. Politicians have been very good in promoting the idea that budget cuts equal service cuts. The truth is if we hold our government accountable, they will find ways to eliminate wasteful spending and create a sustainable government in the long run without raising taxes. We have to make sure we are

See WELLINGTON, page 22

Royal Palm Candidate Questions: Traffic Woes And Foreclosures

From now until the election, the Town-Crier is asking questions for publication to Royal Palm Beach Village Council candidates. This week’s two questions: “Royal Palm Beach has historically battled traffic issues. What would you do to ease these problems, both over the short term and the long term?” and “How would you address Royal Palm Beach’s current problems with residential and commercial foreclosures?”

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

shortly. Foreclosures — Royal Palm Beach has not seen the number of foreclosures other municipalities have seen. However, they are certainly an issue, and we must be vigilant in making sure that foreclosures do not ruin a neighborhood. The village has begun to maintain the front lawns of abandoned homes.

One area where the village needs to be stronger is in identifying foreclosed properties sooner, working with lenders, whenever possible, to make sure that their properties are maintained. I also support the village hosting foreclosure workshops to educate residents on how to avoid the foreclosure process, find alternatives to going into foreclosure, explore loan modification opportunities, etc.

STEVE PETRONE

Traffic — As a long-time resident, I can remember long lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic clogging Royal Palm Beach, Okeecho-

bee and Southern boulevards. Many improvements, including the widening of Southern and Okeechobee boulevards and the State Road 7 extension to The Acreage, have provided some help. This was accomplished largely with help and funding from the state and county. But there is still work to be done. With more than 30,000 acres of land to our west awaiting development, longawaited projects, including the Roebuck Road extension, the Seminole Pratt Whitney Road extension to the Beeline Highway and the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd., need to be completed. We need to turn it up a notch and exert more pressure on top officials — all the way to the governor if necessary — to get these projects completed. Playing politics with state and county planning agencies and the City of West Palm Beach is not the answer. Writing resolutions supporting the projects is not the answer. Providing safe, uncongested roadways for our residents is our mission. Let’s cut through the political red tape and get this done now! And while we are at it, let’s get rid of those ridiculous, ineffective, worthless intersection spy cameras. Foreclosures — A municipality has little control or authority to prevent foreclosures. We can offer distressed homeowners some emotional and moral support and counseling by partnering with non-profit agencies like the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation — as did West Palm Beach. But once a property has been abandoned either by foreclosure or pre-foreclosure, we have a responsibility to the surrounding neighborhoods to prevent blighted areas from cropping up. We do have the power to place liens on the properties to recoup any associated maintenance and repair costs, ultimately forcing the responsible financial institutions to pick up that tab. This would go a

long way to help protect the values of surrounding properties and the quality of life.

COUNCIL SEAT 3

CANDIDATES

TINU PEÑA

Traffic — The traffic issue is of particular interest to me because it ties into the issue of economic development and safe and secure living in Royal Palm Beach. The majority of the traffic problems occur during peak hours from commuters traveling to and from work. This is the time frame where the green light duration for traffic heading east and north in the morning and west and south in the evening on the main thoroughfares should be re-evaluated... this could allow for smooth transition of traffic rather than the stop-andgo feeling that is present today. Lengthening the green light duration with the completion of the widening of Okeechobee Blvd. could serve to provide relief to commuters in the village. Looking at the long-term solution, it’s important to keep two things in mind: first, that the population density in the village will most likely be leveled due to residential development being maxed out,

and second, the State Road 7 reliever road has accomplished what is was built to do... While Roebuck Road is still a hot ticket item, and I will work diligently on this with the council, we should also seek out areas within our community that can ease the traffic problems. For instance, while speaking to a few residents and business owners on their take on traffic issues, the consensus was that the south end of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. and Crestwood Blvd. could be addressed. The question of widening certain parts of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. that would not affect residential areas was suggested, and increasing the speed limit on Crestwood and Okeechobee were also suggested. Nonetheless, traffic issues intertwine with economic development and safety because a business that is not generating patrons will eventually relocate, and where there is a lack of smooth transition from one speed limit to another can increase likelihood of accidents. So while there might be a rational reason behind the current state of these roads, it is something that should be brought to the table.

Foreclosures — As a community, I know that the impact of foreclosures has been felt by all

Tinu Peña

of us, and we have witnessed our property values decline. The problem of foreclosure does have a personal connotation because I have witnessed three of my neighbors lose their homes. While there are various programs out there depicted as assistance programs, care should be taken. So to address this current problem with residential and commercial foreclosure, I will encourage the village to seek out organizations that can provide services to the residents in need of assistance and bring the services to the community. Particularly for commercial, I will allow for signage that will assist in them attracting business. As always, I am more than ready to roll up my sleeves and address these issues in detail, and with your help. I look forward to serving you to do just that as your councilwoman.

RICHARD VALUNTAS

Traffic — One short-term strategy I support to battle traffic issues is to re-examine the potential Madrid Street connection to the State Road 7 extension. I was at the meeting when the council decided to keep Madrid Street closed, and I support their decision based upon the information they had before them. However, I believe that the decision-making

process was flawed because no traffic study was conducted to assess the impact of opening Madrid Street.

County Commissioner Jess

Santamaria’s comments during last Thursday’s council meeting reflected the importance of this issue to Royal Palm Beach and the surrounding communities. A traffic study will permit the council to make a more thorough analysis of this issue. If the study demonstrates that our streets cannot accommodate the traffic generated by opening Madrid Street, or that it would negatively impact the surrounding neighborhood, then it should remain closed. However, if the study shows that opening Madrid Street is feasible and would not negatively impact the surrounding neighborhood, I believe the possibility should be explored further. My long-term plan to ease traffic is to work with our neighboring communities to ensure that Roebuck Road remains in the county’s five-year road plan. I will also help the county do whatever is necessary to guarantee that Roebuck Road is completed. Foreclosures — The foreclosure crisis is one of the most difficult issues confronting Royal

See ROYAL PALM, page 22

Ernie ZimmermanWismick St. Jean Anne Gerwig

Darell BowenCarol Coleman

Richard Valuntas

Matty MattioliSteve Petrone

ELECTION 2010: MAYOR OF ROYAL PALM BEACH

Mattioli Running On A Record Of Achievement For RPB Residents

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Matty Mattioli, the

current vice

mayor

of Royal Palm Beach who has served on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council for 16 years, is one of two candidates seeking to replace longtime Mayor David Lodwick.

Mattioli is being challenged by former village employee Steve Petrone in the Tuesday, March 9 election. He said he is the only candidate with a proven track record of looking out for the residents.

“During my tenure, we lowered the tax rate 15 years in a row,” Mattioli said. “We are the only municipality in Palm Beach County with that distinction. In fact, Royal Palm Beach has the secondlowest tax rate among Palm Beach County’s 38 municipalities.”

He credits the sale of the village water utility to the county as contributing to the village’s financial health. “We froze our water rates for 10 years,” he said. “Every gallon of water the county sells in our coverage area, we will get 10 percent of the gross sales.”

Mattioli recalled becoming in-

terested in politics at the age of 18. When he got married, he built a house in Laflin, Pa. “All the codes were being ignored, and we were getting flooded,” he said. “We formed a taxpayers association, and for two years I went to every council meeting and complained. I guess one night my Irish got boiling and the president of the council said, ‘Let me tell you something, the taxpayers association isn’t running this town.’ I got up and I said, ‘You’re not going to be in that seat forever.’”

Lodwick in 1999, losing in a close race. Mattioli said his experience will keep the village on course during tough economic times. The village’s assessed value has dropped from $2.5 billion at the peak to $2 billion in fiscal year 2010, he said. Yet the village managed to keep the community running without significant layoffs or reductions in services, he noted. “I’ve been there, I’ve done it, and I know what to expect in the year 2011,” he said.

His organization put four candidates on the ballot to run for the council. By going door-to-door explaining what they stood for, all four of his candidates won.

When he moved to Royal Palm Beach, Mattioli started as a volunteer on the village’s code enforcement board, eventually running successfully for a council seat in 1994. He ran for mayor against

Mattioli’s goals are to get the extension of Roebuck Road started, complete the new 160-acre Commons Park on the site of the former Tradition Golf Course and complete the planned road improvements on the north end of Royal Palm Beach Blvd.

This year, the village will have a difficult time balancing the budget due to continued falling revenue. Before raising the tax rate,

Mattioli said he would consider a small number of layoffs. “However, I don’t believe in doing wholesale layoffs to make ourselves profitable,” he said. “If push comes to shove, I think maybe the cuts would come in recreation, parks and public works.”

Mattioli said his experience as a real estate agent can help in resolving the village’s residential and commercial foreclosure crisis. “Financial and real estate experts can tell you how to get out of this mess,” he said. “A lot of people don’t understand it, but if you have a mortgage of $100 or $1,000 and for whatever reason you can’t meet that, instead of going into foreclosure, if you go to your lender and say, ‘I’m having tough times, I cannot pay you this $1,000 a month, what is my interest?’ As you know, banks make money from the interest. They don’t care if you ever pay that debt, as long as they get that 6 or 7 percent interest.”

Another possibility is for the village to help educate people through seminars. “You’d be surprised at how little people know about real estate,” he said.

Another campaign issue is addressing the problems at Royal Palm Beach High School, which has received a low assessment from the state and has had issues with violence on campus. While he supports the village’s efforts to intervene, Mattioli noted that Royal Palm Beach has little control over the school district.

The village recently formed a special committee to address the issues, made up of Councilman David Swift and school officials, including School Board Member Dr. Sandra Richmond, Chief Academic Officer Ann Killets and Principal Guarn Sims. Mattioli said he would like to see more support from the school district.

“Sandra Richmond, I hate to say it, hasn’t done diddly squat for us, and she’s been there for how many years?” Mattioli said. “The whole problem with this is they changed the boundaries, and we weren’t aware of it. We have an educational committee that’s supposed to be on top of this and advise the council on what’s going on in the education system, and we never found out.”

Asked to respond to complaints

that under his tenure the village has “given away” its assets to the county, including its fire department, police department and water utilities, Mattioli said those were good financial decisions that have served the residents well.

“When we merged with the firerescue and the sheriff’s office, those two alone saved us millions,” he said, noting that residents have also benefited from a higher level of public safety services.

The village sold its water utilities to the county in the face of an expansion that would have cost the village $9 million to $12 million, he said. The village manager and his staff worked out a deal with the county to sell the utilities for $78 million, Mattioli said. After debts were paid off, the village netted $60 million, which was invested. “Today it’s worth $68 million,” he said. Some have tried to link Mattioli with Tony Masilotti, the disgraced county commissioner currently serving a prison term on a public corruption charge. Mattioli was one of Masilotti’s allies

See MATTIOLI, page 24

Steve Petrone: Big Changes Needed In The Way RPB Operates

from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an associate’s degree in business administration. He was a reporter for The Palm Beach Evening Times and its successor, The Palm Beach Post. He also worked in real estate and was associate editor of the Town-Crier from 1988-93.

“I’ve always been a little dissatisfied with what I saw,” Petrone said. “I have an opponent who has been there for 15 years, and I don’t see him as a leader. I see him as a follower. I don’t think he can really take the bull by the horns and bring us into the next decade, into the future.”

Petrone, 58, moved to the village in 1975 after he graduated

Petrone said working in newspapers gave him insight into the community and local government. “I always enjoyed it,” he said. “I was always part of the community. I always got involved. I paid attention to what was going on. I watched as it developed and grew.” In 1997, he took a job with the Village of Royal Palm Beach, first as public information officer and was soon named program supervisor of the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. “I was involved with a lot of community programs and activities in that capacity,” Petrone said. “I was working in the framework of the village, so I knew how

things went, and I did the best I could there.”

He considers making the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center a focus of community activities his top accomplishment.

“When they hired me in 1997, there was nothing going on at the cultural center,” he said. “It had been there for three years and the building was pretty much a white elephant. There were three or four private parties the year before. The income for the year from rentals was about $40,000, and there were very few programs. In my first year, I boosted the income $100,000. I got the rentals way up to where you couldn’t find an empty weekend to hold an event, and I created and expanded on some very good programs that brought a lot of people into the cultural center.”

He cites the Young at Heart Club as a program that he said was foundering until he took measures to get more people involved and make the programs more interesting. The Royal Palm Beach Com-

munity Band is another program he cites that has grown with his help.

Petrone has made management salaries the top issue in his campaign.

“I really believe that $215,000 is just way too much to pay a manager of a village of 30,000 people where the median household income with two people working is $69,000,” he said. “Some of the other managers are making equally as obscene salaries, I think.”

Petrone said the village is not responsive to the needs of the people. “I worked with the residents,” he said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of them. I’ve had them come in and complain to me about everything.” Goals he would like to achieve the first two years if elected include cuts in spending on capital projects. “The budget is $55 mil-

lion, and I think there is a lot of room to reduce that budget, thereby the tax rate,” he said.

He feels the Royal Palm Beach Commons Park project at the old Tradition Golf Course is way too expensive. “It should be toned down considerably,” he said.

He cites the café and the amphitheater at Veterans’ Park as examples of poor planning. “They had grandiose plans for what was going to be happening at that café, with a newsstand and chess tables and bocce courts,” he said. “This is the third or fourth café concession. It has never really taken off because there was never really any support from the public for that. Meanwhile, to get 100 people to the amphitheater is a chore.”

This year, the village might be

forced to raise the tax rate in the face of a continued fall in tax revenue. As an alternative to tax increases, Petrone said he would consider management salary cuts first, then cuts in what he considers unnecessary projects and waste in department budgets. Some have suggested that Petrone’s candidacy is based on differences of opinion with the current village administration, but he denies that. “For years, I’ve said to many people that someday I would like to run for mayor,” he said. “It was never any secret.” If elected, Petrone said he would push for major changes in village administration.

“I am advocating restructuring the whole system,” he said. “I don’t care for the way it is run. We have a council/manager form of government. The council is supposed to set policies and direct the manager to carry on the day-today operations of the village. It does not work that way. [Village Manager] David Farber tells the

See PETRONE, page 24

Carol Coleman for Mayor

Bowen promised to bring business sense to Wellington. But what did we get? Service cuts, increased taxes and no new ideas

Wellington has the highest foreclosure rate in the county. Foreclosures and declining values are at the root of Wellington’s budget woes and we should be treating the cause of our problems, not the symptoms. The credit counseling the Village offers is nice but there is so much more we could be doing.

Cities all over the country are helping people stay in their homes through innovative foreclosure prevention policies. Our Village could bring together investors, government and banks to help struggling businesses and save jobs. And new code enforcement policies could improve Wellington’s appearance and save taxpayers big money too.

Carol Coleman will bring change to Wellington.

Matty Mattioli

Steve Petrone

Gerwig: Volunteer Spirit, Compassion Lead Her To Council Run

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Village Council Seat 2 Candidate Anne Gerwig hopes her volunteer work, problem-solving skills and compassionate nature will win over voters in the Tuesday, March 9 election.

“I think that I have a finger on the heartbeat of this community,” Gerwig said. “I think I have a feeling for what makes it work.”

Gerwig, 45, joins Realtor Wismick St. Jean and former village employee Ernie Zimmerman in the race to replace term-limited Lizbeth Benacquisto on the council.

Gerwig’s family moved to Palm Beach County in 1969, when she was five years old. In 1990, she moved to Wellington with her husband, engineer Alan Gerwig. Nine years later they opened Alan Gerwig & Associates, where she works as director of client communications.

“He had a home in Wellington, and I just completely adapted to

the neighborhood,” she said. “I started getting involved with the community. I joined the MOMS Club when I was pregnant.”

From there, Gerwig’s community involvement expanded. When her children were old enough for school, she joined the Parent Teacher Association and the School Advisory Council at Binks Forest Elementary School.

She later worked on the construction of the playground at Tiger Shark Cove Park, where her children were on the design committee. Recently, she joined in the community build effort for the Scott’s Place playground. “Whenever there was a community type thing, I always got involved,” she said. “[Running for council] is just the next logical step for me. My kids are in school, so now I have time to dedicate to my community in a bigger way.”

If Gerwig is elected, her firstterm goals would be to balance the budget and to make decisions with the future of the community in mind, she said.

“We have to be creative with this budget to keep our level of services up without raising taxes,” she said. “I also think I’m going to be able to look at things longterm. Even though there’s not money now, we have to keep our eyes on the horizon.”

The budget, high foreclosure rates and declining neighborhoods are the most important issues to Gerwig.

The budget, which is expected to shrink $10 million this year, is something Gerwig believes will be tough to tackle.

“We’ve already cut out the fat. We’re getting to the muscle now,” she said. “We’re going to have to look at our services and see if we’re duplicating them or if they can be combined. We can see if we can get some community grants for the Safe Neighborhoods initiative because that’s expensive.”

Another option would be to reevaluate recreational programs and see if the village is undercharging.

“I’d like to look at that before I looked at charging everyone blindly [by raising taxes],” she said. “If we have underpriced some of our services, I’d rather raise that so people have control over whether or not they pay more.”

And although the village has tried to help residents avoid foreclosure, Gerwig knows the crisis isn’t over.

“The reason our budget shortfall exists is because of the declining property values,” she said. “We need to get that foreclosure thing under control and get back on our feet.”

More programs like those the village has invested in will be necessary, she said.

“I think the village is doing a lot with Foreclosure 911 and making residents aware of federal programs that can help them,” she

said. “But honestly, it’s a huge problem. If you can solve that one, my hat is completely off to you. Not every situation is going to be solvable, it just isn’t.” One area where progress has been made, she said, is in the declining neighborhoods.

“I’ve actually volunteered with the Safe Neighborhoods initiative,” Gerwig said. “I like the way they’re doing it because they’re getting into the neighborhoods. They’re not just saying, ‘Here we are; call us if you need us.’”

Although past attempts to bring more professional businesses to Wellington have not found great success, Gerwig supports the current attempt.

“I do live, work and play here, and I think it’s a fantastic lifestyle,” she said. “It’s very hard

when the whole economy is struggling to keep professional businesses interested in coming. But I think as we do the boulevarding [Forest Hill Blvd. improvements] and as we do the municipal complex, I think it’s going to attract people to think about that more.”

By highlighting all the western communities, like the Palms West Economic Development Initiative is, Gerwig believes that there is a better chance of bringing business into the area.

“Let’s make people know that space is available and that they can actually do business here,” she said. “Let them know that they can live and work here, or live in Royal Palm and still have a business here. I don’t think the barriers that exist are benefiting anybody.”

As for changes she’d make to the village administration, Gerwig said she has none.

“I don’t know that I would change anything,” she said. “I really like the way they’re managing the village. They’ve been able

St. Jean: Unique Business Skills Would Benefit Village Council

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Village Council

Seat 2 candidate Wismick St. Jean hopes his business experience and civic leadership will lead voters to choose him in the Tuesday, March 9 election.

“I was the only candidate running to apply for this position a year ago,” he said. “I didn’t just apply because there was a vacant seat. I’ve been interested in this position for a long time.”

St. Jean, longtime resident Anne Gerwig and former village employee Ernie Zimmerman are seeking to replace term-limited Lizbeth Benacquisto on the council.

St. Jean, 37, was born in Haiti but moved to Belle Glade when he was 17 and graduated from Glades Central High School in 1993. From there he got his bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Palm Beach Atlantic University and started working for the Department of Children & Families as a public assistance specialist. He has been a Wellington resident for 16 years. When his brother opened a real

estate business, St. Jean earned his license and eventually bought the business from his brother. He later got his mortgage and insurance brokerage licenses, and now provides all three services.

“I’ve always set milestones and goals for myself,” he said. “I know how to manage and how to lead. I know what it’s like to make a check out to an employee and not know how you’ll pay for the lights. I have experience in budgeting.”

And the village’s budget is something St. Jean is prepared to tackle without raising tax rates, he said. In fact, he feels the village was wrong in raising the millage rate last year amid falling property values.

“We should have a budget that doesn’t depend on property values going up or down,” he said. “I’ve always advocated for lower property taxes, but we also have to have the same level of servic-

es. I think we need to look at different avenues to bring in more funds so the government is sustainable.” To make up for the loss in revenue, he plans to look at overtime pay and how it affects retirement benefits. “People work overtime because retirement pay is determined by their last year of work,” he explained. “The village doesn’t budget for it.”

A second way to save money would be to look into the parks and recreation programs, he said.

“We spend $6.5 million on parks and recreation,” he said. “But only 25 percent of residents actually use those parks.”

Aside from the budget, St. Jean said he would focus on safety issues and crime, foreclosure woes and bringing more jobs to the area.

“All three are related,” he said. “It’s a ripple effect. If people have jobs, you have more people working, and they have no time to go breaking windows.”

St. Jean has helped the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office clean up neighborhoods in Lantana, and he thinks that Wellington’s new Safe Neighborhoods initiative is a step in the right direction.

“I think residents need to form neighborhood associations,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a regular [homeowners’ association]. We have to get people from the neighborhoods involved in local government.”

But still he feels that the village made a mistake in neglecting the neighborhoods in the first place.

“They shouldn’t have let these neighborhoods slip,” he said. “The best thing you can do as a government is to be prepared, because when you’re not prepared is when trouble comes, whether you like it or not.”

While St. Jean feels that the village handled the foreclosure crisis well, he doesn’t believe it was fair to raise the millage rate. “I have to applaud them for the Foreclosure 911 project,” he said. “I helped them put it together.”

As a Realtor, St. Jean understands that some people feel that

the real estate industry is largely to blame for the foreclosure crisis. However, he said that is an unfair characterization.

“There’s no one group to blame,” he said. “It was a combination of a lot of interests, and to blame one group is outrageous. The banks, housing industry, buyers and sellers all had a role to play. The real question is how we solve it.”

He admits to having sold subprime mortgages when it was acceptable, and even popular to do so.

“In hindsight, if I knew what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it,” he said. “I was suspicious of them all along.”

As part of the solution to the problem, St. Jean believes that having more jobs in Wellington will help curb crime and help families struggling to pay for their home.

“You have people in Wellington who like it the way it is,” he said. “They don’t believe Wellington should be a place where you can live, work and play. But 8.3 percent of Wellington’s population is unemployed. When people

are unemployed and looking for jobs, they think it’s the government’s job to keep Wellington residents employed.”

St. Jean said he has the skills to be the one helping solve the problems. He said his greatest strength is in his ability to multitask and think about several issues at the same time.

For his weaknesses, St. Jean cites time management and staying on task as things he has been working on, but doesn’t see them being a problem in his council service. “I’m working on myself every day to be better,” he said.

St. Jean said he hopes voters will see him as a representative of their needs.

“I will represent them and be their voice on the council,” he said. “I will be the voice of reason. I’m an independent thinker; I’m not being pushed by anyone to run for council, and I’m not running because there’s an open seat. I’m running simply because I’m concerned with what is going on in Wellington. If they vote for me, they can know that they will have someone who will work on their behalf.”

Zimmerman: Knowledge Of Wellington With A History Of Service

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington Village Council Seat 2 candidate Ernie Zimmerman is focusing on higher education, senior issues and finding more revenue sources as the Tuesday, March 9 election nears.

“I’m not a politician. That’s the bottom line,” he said. “I want to do what’s best for Wellington. I want my Wellington back.”

Zimmerman, 63, is up against longtime resident Anne Gerwig and Realtor Wismick St. Jean in the race to replace term-limited Lizbeth Benacquisto on the council. Zimmerman is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He has an associate’s degree in accounting from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, but his real degree came from SONY — “that’s the Streets Of New York,” he quipped. Zimmerman worked for the New York Police Department for many years until he retired to Wellington. Prior to the village’s incorporation, he worked for First Wellington, the now-defunct master homeowners’ association. He was a senior code officer for the village from its incorporation un-

til he took the employee buyout package last year. He also wrote a long-running column for the Town-Crier “Every job I’ve had as an adult has been to serve my fellow man,” he said. “I’ve always worked government jobs.” A 27-year Wellington resident, Zimmerman has been married to his wife Sharon for 37 years. His children and grandchildren live in the area.

Although he has always loved living in Wellington, he said he is running for a council seat to restore the village to its former beauty. “I loved the beauty of the way it looked,” Zimmerman said. “It looked that way because the codes that were on the books were enforced.”

If elected, he aims to first tackle issues of higher education, senior services and occupational licenses that go unpaid by businesses. While Zimmerman supports higher education coming to the area, he doesn’t want to see the village lose money by giving away land, he said, adding that’s the current council’s biggest weakness —

a reference to Wellington’s failed negotiations to bring a community college campus to State Road 7.

“Being in tough economic times, I don’t think we should give anything away for free,” he said, noting that Palm Beach State College spent $200,000 just to change its signs. “I want the community college to come here; I think we all do. I would just want to see the land sold at a fair price.”

Zimmerman is also concerned for senior citizens, who he feels have been ignored by the village.

“Approximately 20 percent of residents are seniors,” he said. “About three years ago they had a task force for the seniors, and they had about nine items on a final report of what they’d like to see happen, the least of which was to form a seniors committee. Three years since that report was done, not one item has been completed.”

In addition to the committee, the seniors also asked for the village to attract nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and provide better transportation alternatives, he said.

“I have a mother in a nursing home, so I understand the need for

assisted living that people can actually afford,” Zimmerman said. “And we need a shuttle bus that could go around Wellington for the seniors, because many of them might not have their licenses or could be losing them soon. We could set up a system that, for a nominal fee, we could take them from point A to B.”

A third goal is to have the village start collecting unpaid occupational license fees, which Zimmerman thinks could bring in more than $500,000 a year.

“The village is losing a lot of money by not properly enforcing the occupational licensing rules,” he said. “A city like Boca has three full-time code officers assigned to occupational licensing; we don’t have any as far as I know.”

With the economy being slow, there are many home businesses that would be permitted under the village’s codes with an occupational license, Zimmerman said. Without revenue from construction, it could be a way to make up for the lost money.

And with a shrinking budget, Zimmerman knows it will be crucial to find ways to make up for lost revenue while trimming any

excess from the village’s expenses. “I’ve been asking people as I’ve been out there campaigning, ‘Would you rather pay more taxes or would you rather have service cuts?’ and most people would rather have the service cuts,” he said. “Nobody wants to pay more taxes.”

To make up for the shortfall, Zimmerman noted that the village’s last buyout was successful because it was able to replace personnel at a lower salary. He suggested that the village could do another round of buyouts. Although he admits that he is skeptical about the village’s ability to bring more professional businesses into Wellington, he doesn’t object to the attempt.

“I think Wellington was built as a bedroom community,” he said. “I don’t think it was ever intended to have industry here. But I will welcome any industry that wants to come in. I have no objection to

it, but I don’t think it’s realistic.”

With so many foreclosures in the area, Zimmerman said the village is handling maintenance of the properties to the best of its ability.

“We’re doing whatever we can legally do,” he said. “Other than making the banks move a little faster to take over the properties, which is a national problem, there isn’t much more we can do. We’re going to be stuck with this for a long time. I don’t think this is over by a long shot.”

As for the village’s Safe Neighborhoods initiative, Zimmerman said he supports the program but wonders if it can work long-term.

“It sounds like a good idea on paper,” he said. “The problem I see is when you finally have everything working right, because it’s rental areas, people leave and a new group comes in and you have to start all over again. I think

Ernie

Wismick

Anne

RECEPTION FOR WELLINGTON ARTIST

NEWS BRIEFS

Grand Opening

For Shaklee

Distributor

Shaklee distributor Martha Singletary will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. at 4600 130th Ave. North in The Acreage, near the intersection of Orange Grove Blvd. and 130th Ave. North. Join in for a fun gathering to learn more about this growing health and wellness company, which has been in business for more than 50 years. Shaklee offers “green,” eco-friendly products. Complimentary food and beverages will be served. For directions or more information, call (561) 370-4170. For more information about Shaklee, visit www.shaklee.com.

Musical Services

At Temple Beth

Zion March 5

If you enjoy Friday night services listening to a choir and cantor singing stirring, traditional Jewish music, you are in for a rare treat. On the evening of Friday, March 5, Temple Beth Zion will present its own Rabbi (and cantor) Bertram Kieffer performing much of the Friday evening liturgy accompanied by a professional quartet of singers and pianist Gary Lawrence. The service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dressed in his black robe and tall black cantor’s skull cap, Kieffer will lead in worship the way many remember it — with

beauty, artistry and dignity. As always at Temple Beth Zion, religious services and the dessert reception afterward are open to the public. Temple Beth Zion is located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach, at the north end of Veterans Park. For more information, visit the temple’s web site at www.templebethzion.net or call the office at (561) 798-8888.

Auxiliary Unit To Meet March 1

In Lox Groves

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 367 will meet on Monday, March 1 at 11 a.m. at the Palms West Presbyterian Church (13689 Okeechobee Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves). For more info., call Marge Herzog at (561) 791-9875.

Pink Ribbon Gala

Set For March 20

The Breast cancer support group Your Bosom Buddies II will host its fourth annual Pink Ribbon Gala on Saturday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. The 2010 Pink Ribbon Gala is a fundraiser to assist people in Palm Beach County who have breast cancer. The gala will be an evening of elegant dining, dancing and music featuring the Fabulons, a silent auction and more. Tickets cost $100 and are on sale now. For more information, call (561) 422-6034, e-mail Abbe at msabberoad@aol.com or visit www.yourbosombuddiesii.org.

St. David’s Art And Fashion Shows

St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church in Wellington will hold an art show on Saturday, April 10 in the parish hall. There will be a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception to preview the art from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and a live auction from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. A wide variety of art from modern-traditional styles and all price ranges will be provided by Atlantic Art of Boca Raton. Admission is $5 per person.

In other church news, St. David’s Episcopal Church Women will host its annual fashion show and luncheon on Saturday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. The clothing will be provided by Coldwater Creek in the Mall at Wellington Green. There will be lunch, a live piano player and valet parking. Baskets will be raffled off and there will be a 50/ 50 raffle as well. Tickets cost $35 per person. All proceeds from the events will benefit the mission and ministries of St. David’s and its extended outreach programs.

St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church is located at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace in Wellington. For more information about the art show or the fashion show, call Samantha Conroy at (561) 3196111. For additional information about the church, visit www.saint davidsinthepines.org.

Art & Music Festival March

20-21 In RPB

The Royal Palm Art & Music Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21 at the intersection of Southern and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. Call the Palms West Chamber of Commerce at (561) 790-6200 or visit www.royalpalmbeach festival.com for additional information.

Walk For Cystic Fibrosis April 10 At Wellington Landings

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2010 Great Strides Walk will take place on Saturday, April 10 at 8 a.m. at Wellington Landings Middle School. There will be food, entertainment, the Home Depot Kid’s Club and much more.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States.

In CF patients, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. The foundation urges everyone to join the fight against cystic fibrosis. For more information, visit http://greatstrides.cff.org or call (561) 683-9965.

PALMS WEST HOSPITAL CELEBRATES NEWLY RENOVATED OBSTETRICS UNIT

on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida and Fine Art at West Best Gallery Director Ursula Fernandez held a reception for Wellington artist Nancy Fontana Greenfield on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the gallery in West Palm Beach. Greenfield, an award-winning artist, met with friends and other local artists. (Above) Fernandez and Greenfield. (Below) Greenfield with family members.

PHOTOS

nursery, nurses’ stations, the waiting room

more.

Bobby Ewing, Dr. Ron Ackerman, Dr. Steven Pliskow, outgoing Ob/Gyn chief Dr. Marcos Kornstein and CEO Bland Eng.

Nurse Kimberly Bass, Dr. Marcos Kornstein, Dr. Steven Pliskow and Dr. Danielle Esters.Obstetrics nurses on the fourth floor.

‘WILD THINGS ART SHOW’ RAISES MONEY FOR RARE SPECIES CONSERVATORY

PHOTOS

Alan Johnson, Tom Wenham and Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite. Ted and Sharon Weise with Dean Turney.

Joe Maguire, Dave Aronberg and Bob Margolis.

PHOTOS

Tracy Rosof Petersen forms a clay vase. Vern and Adrianne Hetherington with their purchases.

Rare Species Director Paul Reillo and Curator Karen McGovern with artists Gisela Pferdekamper and Jill Elisofon.

Activities Director Dolly Hughes with her volunteers. Best friends Sharon Lincoln and Muriel Kogan. Lucille Tucker and Pat Ollila.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

C.V. Whitney Cup Finals This Weekend At International Polo Club

Valiente and Crab Orchard advanced to the semifinals of the 26goal C.V. Whitney Cup with victories Sunday, Feb. 21 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Valiente defeated Pony Express 11-9 and Crab Orchard downed Las Monjitas 10-0. Valiente played Orchard Hill in the second semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 25. Crab Orchard played defending champion Audi in the first game. Results were not available at press time.

Nacho Astrada, a 9-goal player, led Valiente with nine goals in its victory against Pony Express.

With the score 3-3 after two chukkers, Nacho scored two goals, and his brother Miguel added a goal to give Valiente a 6-4 lead after three chukkers.

Pony Express rallied to tie the game at 9 after five chukkers, but Nacho scored twice in the final chukker to seal the victory for Valiente.

Crab Orchard trailed by four goals in the fourth chukker before

rallying to defeat Las Monjitas.

Charles Jacobs Wins Jumping Derby; Boyd Takes Hunter Crown

Charles Jacobs of Boston and Quidditch II won the $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby on Sunday, Feb. 21 at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Jacobs and Quidditch II completed the 20-obstacle, 25-jump course at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in 138.17 seconds. Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, aboard Little Emir, was second in 139.15 seconds, and Brianne Goutal on Nice de Prissey was third in 139.89 seconds.

“I sliced right at (fence) five,” Jacobs said. “I had really good confidence that she would jump that, so I hit it at an angle. I pointed her at it and she jumped straight up in the air, and we twirled right back around over the ditch (oxer). That was quick. She’s a little horse; she can get around like that. She’s very nimble and quick.”

Liza Boyd won her third AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular when she rode Brunello to a first-place finish on Saturday, Feb. 20. Boyd and Brunello had a score of 182.83, beating Peter Fletcher aboard Vibe, who finished with 179.16. Louise Serio and Castle Rock were third.

Boyd’s victory came just months after the birth of her first

child, Ellen. She also won this event in 1997 and 2008. The sixth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival also included a full schedule of hunter, jumper and equitation classes.

Pablo Barrios of Venezuela posted two victories on Wednesday, Feb. 17 in the Adequan Young Jumper Championship classes in two age divisions. Barrios and Simply The Best finished first in the $1,000 Adequan YJC 5 Year Old Time First Round and also aboard G&C Continus Grannus in the $1,500 Adequan YJC 7/8 Year Old Time First Round Class.

Asta Torokvei of Toronto and Chabadue led the way in the $1,500 Adequan YJC 6 Year Old Time First Round class.

Barrios won again on Thursday when his mount Blanchee Z beat a field of 38 entries in $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Six.

“This is my best winter ever, and I don’t know if it will ever happen again,” Barrios said. “At the moment I feel like I’m riding at the top of my career. I have a solid group of horses, and things are happening the right way. I’m getting sharper in the jump-off because I’m practicing and mak-

ing it to more jump-offs than ever in my life.”

Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J., aboard Valentia, produced a flawless round with a time of 62.593 seconds to capture the $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40m Speed Challenge on Friday, Feb. 19. Fifteen-year-old Ben Asselin of Calgary, Alberta, was second on his mount Magic Man.

Laura Kraut on Tortola won last Saturday’s $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic.

Hunters also competed during the week. In the Regular Working Hunters, Boyd and Brunello captured top prize over Castle Rock and Serio.

Kelley Farmer brought home multiple tricolor ribbons. Her first championship came in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Second City. They won the model class, were fifth in the under saddle, won the stake, and finished with another second and two firsts over fences. The reserve champion was Declaration, ridden by Glen Senk. Farmer and Red Sky at Night were champions in the Green Conformation Hunters, with Stewart and Declaration picking up another reserve championship.

The First Year Green Hunters were split into two section. Blessed, ridden by Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., won the first section. The reserve championship went to Showman, ridden by Sandy Ferrell.

In the second section, Vibe and Pletcher won the championship. They won a class last Wednesday as well as the under saddle and finished second and fourth over fences on Thursday. The reserve champion was Madison, ridden by Patricia Griffith for Chansonette Farm.

In the Second Year Green Hunters, Kid Rock and Serio continued their dominance by picking up another championship ribbon. They were first and third on Wednesday and third under saddle. On Thursday, they finished first and second over fences. The reserve championship went to Travino, ridden by Samantha Schaefer.

In the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters, Laura Sexton rode her horse Zoom to the championship honors.

Jane Gaston of The Plains, Va., won the championship ribbon

with her horse Lumiere in the Amateur-Owner Hunters 36 & Over. The Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over Reserve Championship was awarded to John Ingram and Hush. The Large Junior Hunter 16-17

competed in two sections. Emerging victorious in the first section and claiming the overall high point award for the division was 16-year-old Taylor Ann Adams and Rosalynn. Katie Dinan and Allejandro were the champions of the B section of the Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division.

The championship tricolor in the Small Junior Hunter 1617 was awarded to Kelsey Thatcher aboard Sublime.

The reserve championship was claimed by Samantha Schaefer and Seventh Heaven.

The Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter division was split into two sections, and the Section A championship went to Madison, ridden by 13-yearold Lillie Keenan. Peridot, ridden by 15-year-old Schaefer Raposa of Clinton, N.Y., won the Section B championship.

In the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters, Victoria Colvin won the championship on World Time, owned by Scott Stewart. For full results, visit www. shownet.biz or www.equestrian sport.com.

Liza Boyd aboard Brunello

(Above) Polo player Nicolas Roldan with Ocean Drive magazine cover model Amber Valleta. (Right) The Nespresso Grande Pavilion packed with guests.

Western Pines Honors Students Of The Month

Western Pines Middle School Principal Robert Hatcher is once again proud to present the school’s students of the month.

Sixth grader Caroline Rimel is an excellent student who exhibits an omnipresent smile wherever she goes. She is a kind-hearted young lady who is helpful to her teachers and peers alike. There is an aura of serenity about her far beyond her years.

Seventh grader Johnny Forde is a quiet, unassuming young man; however, he is one who shows high academic achievement and intellectual promise. Though

Johnny tends to appear shy, he demonstrates strength of character and is a leader among his peers. He is a very disciplined and industrious student with a positive outlook and great personality. Finally, eighth grader Juan Lopez is an excellent student who takes on new challenges with perseverance and pride. He has a quiet demeanor, a great sense of humor and a calming way about him. Juan is well liked by his teachers and peers. He is always willing to go that extra mile for all. His teachers are proud of his accomplishments.

#1 Education Place Hosts Benefit Read-Athon

The #1 Education Place Montessori elementary students in Wellington recently held a readathon and raised more than $1,500 in two hours.

The students asked their friends and family members to sponsor their project. Some people gave a donation per page, some per book and some just gave. Each child read for a period of two hours in

their classroom, and they came prepared with sleeping bags, popcorn and a collection of reading material. Education Place joined forces with other Montessori schools to help the Montessori La Casa dei Bambini of Port-auPrince and the neighboring orphanage, which was also destroyed. Education Place has served the

western communities for the past ten years. It offers a small, alternative educational program for students in first grade through 12th grade.

Education Place students serve the local community each year by participating in the Caridad Center Christmas project, the breast cancer run/walk, and they are currently collecting pet

food for the Luv-A-Pet food bank. Education Place is located at 12785 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 8E in the Wellington Plaza.

If you would like to support any of these community projects, or would like information about any of the Education Place programs, call (561) 753-6563 or visit www. 1educationplace.com.

POLO PARK STUDENTS LAUNCH RELIEF DRIVE TO BENEFIT HAITI

The world cultures classes at Polo Park Middle School spearheaded the school’s Haitian relief drive. Students collected nonperishable food items and medical supplies to be sent to Haiti. FedEx volunteered to pick up and deliver the items to a relief drop-off point. Pictured above are Principal William Latson, Assistant Principal Scott Abell and teacher Nora Bernstein with one of her sixth-grade world cultures classes.

Seminole Ridge Inducts 2010 National Honor Society Members

The Seminole Ridge High School National Honor Society chapter inducted its 2010 members in a ceremony Feb. 18.

Sophomores chosen for induction were: Giana Abrams, Cayla Amatulli, Makhena Barthelemy, Robert Botkin, Natoya Brown, Michael Canlas, Herman Castro, Kristen Cousins, Cassie Cutts, Taylor Daly, Danielle Davi, Robyn Exclusa, Alexander FahSang, Julia Frate, Jamie Fusco, Jeremey Gamble, Brittany Godfrey, Taylor Godfrey, Rachel Hand, Lindsey Hanrahan, Cassidy Heitman, Chelsea Jankowski, Jessica Jarrell, Natalie Kass, Melissa LaRosa, Ronit Liberman, Brenna Marshall, Audrey Miller, Justin Moore, Megan O’Connor, Jonathan Pavicic, Morgan Phelps, Katelyn Ramos, Summer Roque, Adib Strick, Amanda Trainor, Angela Turpin and Taylor Wesley.

Inducted juniors included: James Altmann, Marlee Arnold, Kevin Babb, Brian Bartels, Kasey Birch, Mark Bianar, Ashley Duhaime, Victoria Ho, Lauren Hoff, Justin Kelsey, Douglas Kinnee Crowley, Rebecca Lane, Laurenis

Lopez, Meagan O’Neal, Emily Ortiz, Adrienne Pearson, Sarah Philippe, Erica Roskovich, Yerzhan Smagulov and Kevin Valencia.

And finally, the seniors chosen were: Miriam Burow, Alyssa Doon, Shealynd Futterer, Shannon Greeley, Taylor Martin, Brian Masters, Mary Mathews, Amanda Mortimer, Christina Persaud, Alexander Woods and Julian Yepes.

Inducted from the faculty as honorary members this year were science teacher Robert Frick and biotechnology program coordinator Carolyn Sylgh. The SRHS National Honor Society chapter is sponsored by Shawna Ahmad and Stacey Critchlow. • Science Honor Society Inducts — Earlier this month, Seminole Ridge High School’s newest organization, the Science National Honor Society, held its inaugural induction ceremony, with Steve Alten, the best-selling author of Meg, on hand as the keynote speaker. Inducted were: Cameron Adler, Kevin Babb, Brian Bartels, Zackary Bohl, Sa-

rah Bonaccorsi, Brett Bonincontri, Robert Botkin, Tania Chatelain, Jared Cody, Robyn Exclusa, Kirk Fiddis, Marissa Goff, Melanie Hilles, Catherin Maglietta, Duncan Miller, Carlos Monesar, Meghan O’Connor, Adrienne Pearson, Jared Schorr and Jason Waddington. The society is sponsored by science teacher Kevin Lasagna.

• Biotechs Excel at Science Fair — Seven SRHS biotechnology students earned awards for their research projects at the 2010 county science and engineering fair.

Alixandra Garic won first place in the “Biochemistry” category with her project “The Effects of Ghrelin on Metabolic Gene Expression in HepG2 Liver Cells.” She also received the Jane C. Hart Award of Excellence for “Best of Show.” Under the mentorship of Dr. Nicole Rogers in the Department of Metabolism and Aging, Garic conducted her research during her summer internship at Scripps. She plans to attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in the biological sciences.

Laurenis Lopez won first place in the “Medicine and Health” category with her project “Breast Milk versus Formula,” comparing the amount of protein in different milk and formula samples using a Bradford protein assay.

Ashley Duhaime won second place in the “Medicine and Health” category with her project “What Kills and Prevents Plaque the Best?” Duhaime studied the effect of mouthwashes on streptococcus salivarius Keith Crumb and Chris Snowball won first place in the “Teams” category with their project “The Use of Recycled Fish Waste on the Growth of Helianthus Annuus.” They recycled fish water through a hydroponics unit and compared the growth of the koi fish in a fish pond to that of sunflowers grown hydroponically.

A.J. Fandrey placed fourth in the “Environmental Science” category with his project “Effects of Electricity Run Through Soil on the Amount of Nitrogen in the Soil.” His project was funded in part by the Farm Credit Bureau of South Florida.

Garic, Duhaime and Lopez will advance to the state science and engineering fair to be held this April in Orlando.

• FBLA Hosts Speaker — On Feb. 3, members of the SRHS Future Business Leaders of America chapter hosted Edward McEnery from Deepwater Advisors. McEnery discussed aspects of operating in the business world, from acing an interview to securing business deals. He also discussed the value of homes in the area and how current economic conditions affect us all. FBLA, sponsored by Sharon Gintz, educates and prepares students for “life outside of high school.”

• Hawk Artists Honored at Artigras — Two SRHS students were awarded with recognition for their “favorite place” artworks at the annual Artigras festival in Jupiter. Congratulations to sophomore Mary Beth Heitapelto (who earned a third-place ribbon) and freshman Connor McLeod (who earned an honorable mention).

• Debaters Chalk Up Victories — Coached by Mierka Drucker, the Hawk speech and debate team

had an amazing time in Boston at the Harvard National Forensics Invitational tournament. The public forum team of Kayla Molina and David Sleeth broke to tripleoctos, the top 64 out of 400. They received trophies but lost on a 2-1 judges’ decision. The school also congratulates Marlee Arnold, Matthew Oates, Lauren Nunez and Andrew Silverthorne, who placed third in the National Forensic League district in the National Public Policy Forum, a written policy debate based in New York.

• Free SAT Test for Juniors — The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be administered on the SRHS campus during the school day Wednesday, April 14. This special test date is open to juniors only. Any junior registered for the Saturday, March 13 SAT, but who would rather take the April 14 test, should see his guidance counselor. Students are not allowed to take both the March and the April SAT. Registration information is forthcoming for the April 14 test, and all test registration fees will be paid by the school district.

Johnny Forde, Principal Hatcher, Caroline Rimel and Juan Lopez.

SCHOOL NEWS

CRESTWOOD’S FAMILY NIGHT AT BARNES & NOBLE

Crestwood Middle School recently had a fabulous family night at the Wellington Barnes & Noble. The cheerleaders, along with soloists from the band, the hand bells and the chorus all performed during the evening. Student council members read Dr. Seuss books to the small children, and the store was full with students, parents, teachers and staff members.

The King’s Academy To Present ‘Cinderella’

The students and faculty of the King’s Academy vocal arts department will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s smash Broadway and cinematic hit Cinderella beginning April 23.

The timeless enchantment of this magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers and Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring

Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful. It transported a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams come true, as did a second remake in 1997. This enchanted edition is based on the 1997 teleplay, which starred Brandy Norwood as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother.

The King’s Academy Fine Arts Department has a long history of professional theatrical productions that leaves audiences coming back year after year. The TKA production of Cinderella features Kelley McGillicuddy (first prize winner

in the Watch a Rising Star Competition), as Cinderella and Nicholas Savarese as the Prince. Both students have appeared in professional productions at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on April 23, 24, 30 and May 1, and 1:30 p.m. on April 24 and May 1. Tickets cost $15 for center seating and $12 for reserved seating. Reserved tickets can be ordered online at www.tka.net or by calling (561) 686-4244, ext. 353.

The King’s Academy is a nationally recognized private Christian school serving approximate-

ly 1,200 students from preschool through 12th grade and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International and the Florida Association of Christian Schools.

The King’s Academy serves students and their families across Palm Beach County at its main campus at Belvedere Road and Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach and its satellite preschool campuses in Greenacres, Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach. For more information, visit www.tka.net.

NEW HORIZONS HONORS SPELLING BEE WINNERS

New Horizons Elementary School has announced its 2010 Spelling Bee champions. Fifth grader Akai James is the winner and fourth grader Chabella Diaz is the runner-up. Both students will advance to the district spelling bee. Pictured here are Diaz and James with fourth-grade teacher and spelling bee sponsor Cheryl Lay, Principal Betsy Cardozo and Assistant Principal Mickey Simmel.

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

Student council members read to youngsters.

Cheerleaders browse some books.

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Mounts To Present Annual ‘Friend Of The Garden’ Awards March 14

Michael Zimmerman, president of the board of directors of the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, recently announced that the nonprofit organization will host “Enchanted Garden” on Sunday, March 14 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The 12th annual spring benefit and auction will be held at Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach).

In addition to mouth-dropping, eye-popping “horticultural performance art” by DeVine, one major highlight of the event will be the awarding of the organization’s annual Friend of the Garden Awards.

Each recipient will receive a permanent bench in the garden — complete with identifying plaque — where people can sit and admire the natural beauty around them. The 2010 recipients of the

Tyler Biffer

Graduates Army Training Course

Army National Guard Pvt.

Tyler Biffer has graduated from the Basic Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.

The course is designed to train service members to maintain, prepare and load ammunition for firing; operate and perform operator maintenance on prime movers, self-propelled Howit-

annual Friend of the Gardens Awards will be the Esther B. O’Keeffe Foundation, the Junior League of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons.

“All three of this year’s award winners have proven to be true friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, and generous in both their time and support,” Zimmerman said. “The Esther B. O’Keefe Foundation has given Mounts much-needed financial assistance; the Junior League of the Palm Beaches has repeatedly partnered with us, particularly on programs for children; and not only has he been a strong political and community supporter, but Jeff Koons even comes out occasionally to help us pull weeds.”

Last year’s Friends of the Garden award winners were Palm

zers and ammunition vehicles; store, maintain and distribute ammunition to using units as a member of battery or battalion ammunition section; perform crew maintenance and participate in organizational maintenance of weapons and related equipment; and establish and maintain radio and wire communications.

Biffer is the son of Susan Bleda of Wellington and Howard Biffer of Jefferson Valley, N.Y. Biffer is a 2007 graduate of Palm Beach Central High School.

Beach County Cultural Council President and CEO Rena Blades, Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Jorge Pesquera, and the Garden Club of Palm Beach.

Guests at Mounts’ upcoming spring benefit will enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction of beautiful and uncommon plants, garden art, and exciting dining and entertainment packages. Tickets for the event are $75 per person and are available by calling the Mounts Botanical Garden at (561) 233-1757.

The Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden. Mounts displays tropical and subtropical plants from around the world, including plants native to Florida, exotic trees, tropical fruit, herbs, citrus, palms and more.

Holzman Named To Dean’s List

At U. Delaware

The University of Delaware has announced that Wellington resident Lisa Holzman made the 2009 fall semester dean’s list. Holzman is a junior marketing major in the College of Business and Economics.

To be named to the dean’s list, one must be a full-time student with a grade point average of 3.33 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester, with no temporary

As a component of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service, and through its affiliation with the University of Florida, Mounts is the place to connect with extension horticulturists, master gardeners, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program, and professional horticultural advisors. Mounts also offers a variety of horticultural classes and garden-related events and workshops.

Located at 531 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Mounts is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation for entry to the garden is $5 per person. For more information about Mounts Botanical Garden, call (561) 233-1757 or visit www. mounts.org.

grades. For additional information about the University of Delaware, visit www.udel.edu.

Jansen Makes Dean’s List

At West Point

Cadet Alexander Heie Jansen, son of Eugenia Jansen-Nossa, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. To earn this distinction, a cadet must maintain a 3.0 average in all courses. The West Point

curriculum offers 45 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a bachelor’s degree.

West Point was recently named the top college in the country by Forbes magazine.

Jansen graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School in 2006 and will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation at West Point.

West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, is a four-year co-educational federal undergraduate lib-

eral arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. The world’s preeminent leader development institution, it was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering. Its mission remains constant — to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor, country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army. For more information, visit www. westpoint.edu.

PHOTO BY CORBY KAYE/STUDIO PALM BEACH

Friends Of The Garden — Terri Fekete of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches and siblings Arthur and Clare O’Keeffe of the Esther B. O’Keefe Foundation with Sarah Macintyre Goldstein, a board member of the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden.

Arthritis Foundation Committee Planning Fashion Show And Luncheon

Committee members for the Arthritis Foundation’s 13th annual Magic of Caring fashion show and luncheon have been hard at work creating “bunnies” to auction off as fundraisers during this year’s event, scheduled for Saturday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott.

Bunny themes include “Bacchus Bunny,” complete with a toga and a basket of premium wine; “Dine-around Bunny,” dressed in a chef outfit, offering various restaurant gift certificates, and many more. This unique luncheon and fashion show event features models between the ages of three to 18, all of whom have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Tickets cost $75 for adults and $30 for children. The money

raised from the silent auction will send children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to summer camps throughout Florida. The models are all children affected by arthritis who want to help raise funds to enable children like themselves to have the opportunity to attend a summer camp that is designed specifically for children with arthritis. More than 46 million Americans currently battle arthritis, which is one of the nation’s leading causes of disability, affecting nearly five million children and adults in Florida alone each year. Here are some important facts to consider:

• One out of three people has some form of arthritis

• 294,000 U.S. children and

teenagers under age 18 (or one in 250 children) have been diagnosed with arthritis or another rheumatologic condition

• More children have arthritis than juvenile diabetes

• More children have arthritis than cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia combined

Every summer, children with arthritis between the ages of eight and 17 can attend one of three summer camps in Florida. Last summer, the Arthritis Foundation sent 120 kids to camp

Terry Gearing is the chairwoman for this year’s event and has been involved with the Magic of Caring event for a number of years.

Committee members include

Lisa Bondurant, Brenda Burnette, Jessica Cecere, Dolly Champney, Mary Hammond, Briana Hassibi, Nancy Lewis Heins, Deborah Bowmar Jaffe, Resa Listort, Christine Pitts, Susie Rhodes and Sarah Salvador. For more information about the March 13 event, to purchase tickets or to donate items for the auction, call Susie Rhodes at (561) 833-1133.

Magic of Caring — Committee members for the March 13 event include: (front row, L-R) Dolly Champey, Chairwoman Terry Gearing and Resa Listort; (middle row) Deborah Jaffe and Lisa Bondurant; and (back row) Nancy Lewis Heins and Christine Pitts.

ROYAL PALM BEACH CUB SCOUT PACK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SCOUTING

Royal Palm Beach Cub Scout Pack 120 celebrated 100 years of scouting on Friday, Feb. 12 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center Scouts who have completed the requirements to earn a new rank were awarded the patches they have earned. The scouts and their families also put together a delicious pot-luck dinner, complete with homemade desserts, which were judged and awarded prizes. The scouts made their own decorations and centerpieces for the party, all focused on different aspects of scouting.

TEMPLE B’NAI JACOB RAISES MORE THAN $2,000 AT WINE-TASTING FUNDRAISER

Several dozen members and guests of Temple B’nai Jacob of Wellington raised more than $2,000 at a recent wine-tasting fundraiser. The participants tasted samples from four tables representing a range of wines from light-bodied whites to robust reds. The participants enjoyed a variety of hors d’oeuvres and desserts while raising money for the temple. Temple B’nai Jacob thanks the many western communities businesses that supported the event with prize donations. The temple is a dynamic, diverse religious community committed to traditional Judaism as interpreted by the Conservative movement and is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The temple is located in the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 6. For more information, call (561) 793-4347, e-mail info@templebnaijacob.com or visit the temple’s web site at www.templebnaijacob.com. (Left) Hosts Amy and Scott Brander with Renee and Jorge Ferrin. (Right) Raffle winners Elinor Schimmel, Andrea Cohan, Lisa Kurschner, Robyn Buchsbaum, Lauren Leary, Renee Ferrin, Jessica Quastler, Dana Kohan, Ella and Chaim Bender.

Cubmaster Dave Elder give patches to Tiger Cubs’ parents to pin on their scouts’ uniforms.

Royal Palm Zoners Grant More Outdoor Space To Hurricane Grill

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Hurricane Grill in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza will be allowed to expand and make landscaping changes under a recommendation approved Tuesday by the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission.

Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin said the owners plan to use the same style seating, railing and brick pavers in adding 360 square feet of outdoor seating. Some landscaping will be relocated, but a three-foot buffer will remain that will have a hedge.

Marty Minor with Urban Design Kilday Studios said the design includes a new awning, which is consistent with the rest of the Southern Palm Crossing plaza on Southern Blvd.

Commissioner Genevieve Lambiase asked how close the outdoor seating is to the road, and Erwin said that the road shown in

Water Federal Help?

continued from page 1 residents hooked up to county water, adding that Nelson is working hard to get relief.

“The thing is, how many dollars can we get?” Aaronson asked. “What’s the cost? Will the people be willing to pay a certain amount?

It’s a long, complicated process to get some kind of commitment, and I know Sen. Nelson is working on it diligently, so we have to see what happens first when he comes forward and then go from there.”

Aaronson pointed out that a cause for the cancer cluster still has not been determined.

“Even if we tie up all the water lines and there are still cases that come after that, we haven’t gotten to what the cause is, and I think that’s what’s frustrating everybody,” Aaronson said. “The government is working faster now than they did before, but it was many months before they started to work in earnest on it. I think we’re all looking for the same thing — federal help, possibly water connections. I hope we find out that it is the solution. If it’s not, then what do we do?”

Commissioner Shelley Vana

Schedule

Four-Day Workweek

continued from page 1 a complaint about their offices being closed Fridays.

“You can always get a person on the phone,” he said. “If you call on a Friday, you’re more likely to get senior management. If you need to have an inspection done on a Friday, that can be arranged if you call us a day or two before. If residents need someone on a Friday, we will get them there.”

With employees working 10hour days, Schofield knew that his staff would have to adjust.

“We initially thought that our field people would have the biggest adjustment because they’re outside, but they’re adjusting well,” he said. “The bigger transition had been for our office staff.

Royal Palm Valuntas

Answers

continued from page 7

Palm Beach today. According to a recent report from the Florida Supreme Court, the number of foreclosures in Palm Beach County increased yet again last year. This issue is so important that the Florida Supreme Court entered an administrative order requiring the implementation of a mediation

Wellington St. Jean Answers

continued from page 7 not committing ourselves to tens of millions of dollars worth of capital improvement programs without properly accounting for the liability. We have to make sure our village employees are doing the very best they can so that two people are not doing the job of one person. We have to review the unfunded debt so that those costs do not cripple our local government’s ability to provide basic services. We have to evaluate more closely how and to whom our city contracts are awarded.

Foreclosures — We must first seek to understand the root of the problem before we can offer any solution. As a Realtor, mortgage broker, property and casualty license agent, I am in a better position to give you an outline of what

pictures is actually a lightly traveled lane to the back parking area. “It’s not a thoroughfare,” Erwin said. “It’s just a driveway. Typically, there’s not a lot of traffic in that area.” Lambiase said she was concerned that someone using the patio might have a small child who wanders into the road. Erwin said the railing and hedge would prevent that from happening. Commissioner Darrell Lange asked if there were any similar locations in the plaza where that situation could occur, and Erwin said that with Hurricane Grill being an end cap, the situation was uncommon.

“We had an application a while back that got [the shopping center] the 10,000 square feet of outdoor seating for a number of the businesses,” Erwin said. “I don’t anticipate any more outdoor seating expanding like this. There’s not a lot of opportunity because there’s not a lot of end caps.”

Commission Alternate Tinu

said she agreed that there are several questions underlying the situation in The Acreage.

“Number one, we don’t know what’s causing the cluster to be in that particular area, so we in one sense have to urge the government to do as much as they can and as quickly as they can to make the determination, if it is physically possible, what is causing it to occur,” Vana said. “The human side of this is just devastating, and I have tremendous sympathy for the residents out there.”

Vana asked Bonlarron if funding might be available through the federal jobs bill, but Bonlarron said those jobs have been limited to road projects. He said one effort underway through Nelson’s office is for a new federal program that would allow residents of The Acreage to apply for a grant that they match at a certain level. He said Nelson is also seeking help from consumer agencies in Washington.

Aaronson said there seems to be an increasing demand for services from the federal government, bypassing the state.

“We’re looking for help from the state government, and it seems we are getting very little, so it seems we have a gigantic task in front of us,” he said. “We have people with Chinese drywall

They used to work eight hours a day, and even though some worked nine and a half or 10 hours, it wasn’t as hectic. Now their day starts off at 7 a.m., and they work straight through noon for lunch, and when they come back, they still have another five or six hours of work. The pace has picked up for them.” Field workers, meanwhile, are having less driving time, which is keeping village vehicles in better condition.

“They don’t drive any farther in a 10-hour day than they do in an eight-hour day,” Schofield said. “It’s the same project, and it’s one less trip each week.”

Another savings came in the form of village computers, which will last longer because of the downtime.

“It was definitely an unexpected benefit,” Schofield said. “Because they’re shut off every night

program for all newly filed foreclosure cases involving homestead property. As an attorney who represents condominium and homeowners’ associations, I understand how the foreclosure crisis has negatively impacted our community. I would address the foreclosure crisis by supporting an educational outreach program to help property owners avoid the foreclosure process altogether. Such a program will include counseling for at-risk property owners and would stress the need to find alternatives

has happened with the real estate market and how best we can fix it. The real estate boom started very slowly in 2002. Property values were going up, the unemployment rate was very low, and the banks were very generous in lending money. From 2002 through 2006, as the property values continued to rise, so did property taxes and insurance. At some point, the continuous inflating of property values and the rise of property taxes and insurance made homes unaffordable for many people in our community. Foreseeing the influx of foreclosures, in 2007, I participated in several calls to action requesting our local and county government to lower property taxes, and I called on our state legislature for proper regulations of the insurance industry. The state legislature stepped in and put Amendment 1 as a referendum, which passed with an overwhelming majority in favor of lowering

Peña said the plan appears to blend in with the overall design of the shopping center. She made a motion to recommend approval of the request. Commission Alternate Barbara Powell seconded the motion, which passed 4-0.

Reconvening as the Local Planning Agency, commissioners recommended approval of an ordinance that would amend definitions of amusement arcades having at least 10 or more amusement games operated with coins, paper money or tokens, that by application of skill may reward the player with points or tokens that may be exchanged for prizes.

Erwin said the amendment clarifies what is and is not an amusement arcade.

“Recently we’ve had a number of these adult arcades that have the simulated gambling machines where they get small prizes, or that’s the intent,” Erwin said. “We’re amending the definition of amusement arcade.”

The amended ordinance clari-

whose children are sick as well. How much do we ask of the federal government, what are the opportunities, and what do we have a chance of getting?”

Indian Trail Improvement District President Michelle Damone said she appreciated Santamaria’s effort to get federal funding, but was concerned that he had referred to The Acreage as a disaster area. She said Santamaria’s request for federal funding correlates with a letter they wrote to the governor together asking for more state and federal assistance.

“He is asking for financial assistance,” Damone said. “The only thing I disagree with is he has to declare The Acreage a disaster, and until test results come in and the state determines whether there is a contaminant in The Acreage or not, I think that was a little premature, but I understand why he is asking for federal and state assistance.”

Damone noted that the Florida Department of Health studies included one titled “Epidemiologic Mapping of Florida Childhood Cancer Clusters” published in January that shows that much of South Florida is in an area that has heightened pediatric cancer. Therefore, the cancer cluster issue may not be limited to The Acreage, she said.

at 6:30 and off on Fridays and weekends, our tech department thinks we’re going to get another few years out of each computer than previously anticipated.”

The four-day workweek also is saving the village in overtime, and gives staff more time to deal with unexpected issues.

“Things that used to come up at 4 p.m. are just part of our normal day now,” he said. “We have a lot less overtime.”

The program will return to the Wellington Village Council for reapproval in April.

“It has been really interesting to see how it worked,” Schofield said. “But the ultimate judge will be the council as to whether it will be successful.”

Still, Schofield thinks that the program has worked. “It was a great deal of what we expected,” he said. “From a manager’s standpoint, it has been a success.”

to going into foreclosure. The program would also provide information to help distressed property owners modify their existing loans in order to avoid foreclosure. In order to minimize the blight caused by the failure to maintain foreclosed properties, I would also enforce the village’s existing ordinances to ensure that our quality of life is protected. I believe these initiatives will help our residents and members of the business community combat the foreclosure crisis.

property taxes. In 2009, I was the only candidate to go in front of both the county and the village council advocating for lower property taxes.

Even though as a councilman I will not have direct control over your property insurance, you can be sure that as a licensed property and casualty agent, I will use my expertise to influence the state legislature to create more competition, thereby lowering your property insurance. I will continue to advocate for lower property taxes, knowing for a fact this will alleviate foreclosures.

If we lower taxes for our citizens and small businesses, our citizens will have more discretionary income; money will flow into nail salons, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. Those businesses will hire more people, who will become customers at other businesses, thereby providing solutions for both the residential and the commercial foreclosures.

fies that the players may not receive cash or alcoholic beverages, and the merchandise or prize awarded may not exceed 75 cents on any game played. The definition also stipulates that the rules shall not be construed to include the use or possession of video poker games or

other games or machines that can be construed as a gambling device under Florida law. It goes on to stipulate that the use or operation of slot machines or other gambling devices as defined under Florida statutes is strictly prohibited in the village.

Erwin pointed out that the

amendment moves the definition of amusement arcade from the permitted uses section in the general commercial zoning district and reclassifies it as a special exception use. Powell made a motion to recommend approval of the ordinance, which passed 4-0.

Laminitis Auction March 4 At Players Club

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Joan Lunden, the former cohost of ABC’s Good Morning America, and Carson Kressley of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy will host a charity auction at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 4 at the Players Club in Wellington to raise money for laminitis research. Laminitis is a debilitating horse disease that occurs in the hoof. It is extremely painful and is behind only colic as the deadliest condition a horse can have. Lunden’s daughter, Jamie

Berm Pathway Left Open

continued from page 1 them. We, on one hand, are asking to open one road at great expense and on the other hand are closing another road at another expense.”

During public comment, County Commissioner Jess Santamaria asked that the Madrid Street connection be opened. As a longtime Royal Palm Beach resident who lived in La Mancha for more than 25 years, Santamaria said he had seen traffic get heavier on La Mancha Avenue and Ponce de Leon Street with long backups waiting to turn left onto Okeechobee Blvd. from Ponce de Leon. Santamaria said he understands that some La Mancha residents do not want the additional traffic in their neighborhood, but some sort of compromise could be reached, such as allowing the opening only in the morning to let La Mancha residents out.

Playground Dedication March 1

continued from page 1

playground,” she said. “We wanted to be sure the children would have a closed environment for them to have fun and be safe. Our safety record is very strong.” The playground will serve as a place for children of all abilities to come and play. It features

Nelson Forum Club

continued from page 3 nouncement a few days ago that he had enough. He says it’s not fun anymore. Evan and I had talked about this at length. You can see that it makes it much more difficult to bring people together to build consensus in order to govern in a democracy.”

Nelson said legislators need to stop acting “like little boys and girls throwing temper tantrums” when they do not get their way and work toward the good of the people. The essence of governing the United States is that both sides must respect each other and work toward consensus building.

“Perhaps what’s happening in Washington is a reflection of what’s happening in the body politic, and ultimately the history pages tell us that the public will finally become fed up and say a pox on all their houses,” Nelson said. “Throw the bums out, and we want a fresh start. Often that comes when the crisis gets highest. Now, we certainly have had crises before. This is not the largest one. But the sum of all of this is that politics must not be an allor-nothing blood sport, where I’m right and you’re wrong. We have to start listening to each other.”

Nelson said he was disappointed in last year’s bank bailout be-

Blotter continued from page 6 on Green’s lap and placed him under arrest. According to the report, while the deputy searched the vehicle, Green attempted to throw more marijuana under the car. Green was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of narcotic equipment and tampering with evidence.

FEB. 17 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to a home in the Willows community last Wednesday morning regarding a stolen vehicle. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 11 p.m. last Tuesday and 11 a.m. the following morning, someone stole

Krauss, an avid rider and trainer in Wellington, is chairing the event in hopes to raise money to find a cure for the disease.

“So many charities are held for people during the equestrian season, but not many are held for the horses,” she said. “They’re the lifeblood of this community, and it’s important we do something to help them.” Items from local vendors will be auctioned off via silent auction. The highlight of the event will be a live auction that features a chance to ride with one of four

“That would be a fair and reasonable compromise,” Santamaria said. “I hope you really will reconsider your position to close Madrid to traffic out of La Mancha. I have no doubt in my mind that if this council does not reconsider its position, some other council, sooner or later, will exercise proper and fair judgment, offering a reasonable way of getting out of La Mancha through Madrid.” Lodwick said that an exit only had been discussed at the public hearing held last year, but not a sufficient number of residents favored it.

Resident Jan Berduski said she and her husband favor opening Madrid Street, but asked that if a berm is put up, that the pedestrian/bike opening remain. “I believe we should still be able to bike and walk there,” she said.

Councilman David Swift, who lives in La Mancha, said the wishes of the community are clear.

“The La Mancha connection was an option, and we always said we’d take it to the La Mancha residents and ask them,” he said. “We

wheelchair-accessible ramps, extra-wide sidewalks and a variety of equipment designed to stimulate the senses. Benacquisto said that she hopes it will be a place where parents will bring their kids to play.

“I think it will serve as a source of so much pride for everyone, even families without disabilities,” she said. “It shows that we, as a community, care about everyone who lives here and want to make sure we live in a nurturing envi-

cause it did not offer enough accountability. In the final analysis, the Wall Street banks “made out like bandits” while millions are still looking for work. “They did not lose a dime of their reckless investments,” he said. “They walked away with a golden parachute and a severance package… Of course, the taxpayers are angry because they were left holding the bill for the bailout, and today, real financial reform that would protect consumers by putting an end to some of these reckless practices that helped us get into this financial mess is mired in partisan gridlock. Unfortunately, our political system is not rising to meet these challenges.”

Nelson said Congress must move quickly to unblock access to credit so that small businesses could grow and prosper. He also said the stimulus package was intended to help the country in the short term, not as a long-term fix. He added that he would not support proposals to increase taxes on businesses that earn more than $250,000 a year.

“I believe that now is not the time to place the additional burden on small businesses,” Nelson said. “Obviously, we should not be doing that now when folks are trying to get back on their feet. Small businesses are the engines of job creation and innovation in the economy.”

the victim’s 2000 Honda Civic while it was parked in her driveway on Bobwhite Road. The victim said she hadn’t given anyone permission to have the car, she had locked its doors and had the keys in her possession. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

FEB. 21 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested for shoplifting at the Macy’s department store in the Mall of Wellington Green last Sunday. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was dispatched to Macy’s in response to a jewelry theft. Loss prevention officers saw Richard Simmons conceal three gold Juicy Couture jewelry items in his right pocket

hunter or jumper riders in the area, including two Olympians, Krauss said. All the proceeds will go to the Animal Health Foundation, which aims to find a cause and a way to prevent laminitis-founder complex in horses, Krauss said. “I asked a group of laminitis researchers if given the proper resources how far off they would be from a cure,” Krauss said. “They told me that they could have solved it in three years.”

The Players Club is located at 13410 South Shore Blvd.

did that, and we got 2-1 against it.” Councilman Fred Pinto said he did not understand why the Roebuck Road initiative is related to the Madrid closing. “They are mutually exclusive,” Pinto said, pointing out that the City of West Palm Beach did not act in good faith on Roebuck Road when it first agreed to it in an interlocal agreement and is now fighting it. “People are now trying to politicize this issue, and West Palm Beach is trying to renege, and I don’t understand why we’re trying to politicize the relationship between the State Road 7 extension and Roebuck Road. We made a home rule decision. The county does not dictate to us what we should or should not do.” Pinto asked about the option of leaving the bike and pedestrian path open, and Liggins said that is one option.

Pinto made a motion to approve the berm and landscaping, leaving the pedestrian/bike path open. The motion was seconded by Webster and carried 4-1 with Swift opposed.

ronment. I hope they feel proud about our community and that we have people like the Williamsons who care so much about Wellington that they’ve given us this opportunity,”

The March 1 ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. at Scott’s Place, in front of the Wellington Community Center off Forest Hill Blvd. Guests will include the Williamsons, the Wellington Village Council and the volunteers who helped build the playground.

Nelson, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, said he plans to introduce a measure that would exempt small businesses with 50 or fewer employees from any tax increase.

Nelson said the recent announcement by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden that a high speed rail system would be built in Florida and create 23,000 jobs was a victory for the state.

“If we put politics aside and get serious about fixing the problem,” he said, “and we invest wisely in new technologies, it will help tackle this nation’s budget deficit. I think we will be a stronger nation.”

During a question-and-answer period, Nelson said it is unlikely that any healthcare reform package would include a public option, but that the best thing would be to create a national insurance plan for people who do not have health insurance.

“There are 44 million people in this country who do not have health insurance,” he said. “The idea is to get them to have insurance. If they are too poor, there are certain levels of subsidy from the federal government, and those people become participants by getting preventative care. They go to the doctor’s office instead of the emergency room.”

then leave the store without making any attempt to pay for the concealed merchandise. The stolen items were valued at approximately $152. Simmons was arrested and taken to the county jail.

FEB. 21 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded to a home in the Hidden Creek at Binks Forest community last Sunday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 7 p.m. last Saturday and 8 a.m. last Sunday, someone stole the victim’s golf clubs from his rental vehicle. The stolen items were valued at approximately $1,800. DNA evidence was taken at the scene, but there were no witnesses or suspects at the time of the report.

Mattioli Candidate Profile

continued from page 8 when Masilotti was Royal Palm Beach mayor in the 1990s. However, once Masilotti moved up to the county level, Mattioli said their dealings were limited and primarily social in nature.

“He was my insurance man.

That’s how it got started,” Mattioli recalled. “He was on council, and I was on council. We socialized together. I could tell you some stories you’ve never heard before, but that’s beside the point. The way he did business was not my

Zimmerman Candidate Profile

continued from page 9

it’s a good idea though. We have to try something, and I hope that this will work.”

Although he isn’t 100 percent on board with all of the council’s decisions, Zimmerman feels the village is being managed well.

“I think the village is being run very well considering our present economic situation,” he said.

Chamber

Luncheon

continued from page 3 communities and agencies to get things done. Bowen wrapped up the com-

way of doing business.” Opponent Petrone’s campaign themes are that Royal Palm Beach is poorly managed and that Royal Palm Beach does not take care of its employees, but Mattioli characterizes Petrone as a disgruntled former employee. While Petrone argues that administrative salaries are too high, Mattioli does not agree. “My opponent seems to think that we’re spending too much money on executive salaries, we should cut them in half and reduce the taxes by half, yet my opponent in his tenure as our employee, his salary increased 66 percent in 10 years. He had no problem with that,” Mattioli said.

When Zimmerman left the village’s employ, he had to sign a nondisclosure clause as part of the buyout, but he said that it shouldn’t affect his position as a councilman.

“I like living here,” he said. “I don’t badmouth the village. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t live here.”

And while some critics feel that as an ex-employee, he is a oneissue candidate, Zimmerman doesn’t agree. “I’m not a delegate for employees,” he said. “I want to work for the residents of Well-

ments by stating that he felt he had done a good job on the council and hoped he would be reelected to finish the work he had started.

“We have a council that has made a lot of tough decisions,”

Mattioli characterizes his strengths as his experience on the council through good times and bad. “Knowing what to expect and how to correct the problems that have come up before,” he said. His weakness, he said, might be a tendency to skirt contentious issues in the interest of consensus rather than address them head-on.

Mattioli said Royal Palm Beach residents should vote for him because he has lived in the village for 30 years, made many friends and been their loyal public servant for 16 years. “I think they know me, and I know them,” he said. “If they have a problem, they can come to me.”

ington because I’m a resident.”

He also noted that he has experience with budgeting. “When I was with First Wellington, I was in charge of deed restrictions,” he said. “I had to make a budget for my department.”

Zimmerman thinks his personable manner and knowledge of the village will sway voters in his favor.

“This is America, it’s up to the people to decide who’s the best,” he said. “But I’m not leaving Wellington. I’m here to serve my fellow man.”

Bowen said. “I think we made the decisions with honest and fair debate, and we have made them and stuck by them. We need to work together, and we need to move forward. That’s what I promise you all.”

Petrone Candidate Profile

continued from page 8 council what to do and they rubber-stamp everything that he does. That’s what I object to. That’s my motivation.”

During the recent 50th anniversary celebration, the village advertised itself as the business hub of the western communities, which irked Petrone. “I don’t recall anyone in the village asking them to make us the business hub of the western com-

Gerwig Candidate Profile

continued from page 9 to take advantage of the slow economy and pick up some personnel they wouldn’t have been able to hire otherwise. Their planning of the municipal complex has been very long-term, they seem to have a long-term plan for everything, and they haven’t had to borrow money for any of it.”

She also wouldn’t do anything differently on council. “I think they’ve been really effective at working together,” Gerwig said. “I think they are good at building consensus. I think everyone agrees that no one does this job unless they are working for the people.”

While some critics have ex-

munities,” he said. “We were a suburban, quiet, sleepy bedroom community. No one that I know ever wanted that. Sour grapes? My sour grapes are what they’ve done to the village for the past 15 years.”

As to what some have described as a tumultuous relationship with his former supervisor, Parks & Recreation Director Lou Recchio, Petrone said he didn’t always agree with him, but followed directions. “It was a job,” he said. “People are going to agree or disagree. This has nothing to do with sour grapes. This has to do with the fact that

pressed concern about her experience being mostly in education and volunteering, Gerwig said she has the leadership skills necessary for the council.

“I don’t agree that my role has not been a community leader,” she said. “When you head up a project and it’s something you have accomplished, that makes you a community leader.”

Gerwig also addressed concerns about her husband’s firm doing business with the village. Alan Gerwig & Associates has done some engineering work for Wellington and bid on the municipal complex project.

“If we had gotten the municipal complex, I would have chosen not to run for village council,” she said. “If I’m elected, our company will not be able to bid on anything in the village.”

Ultimately, Gerwig feels that her compassion is her greatest

somebody has to stand up and take a position.” Petrone stressed that he stands up for what he feels is right. “I don’t pull any punches,” he said. “When I see something right, I’ll call it right. If it’s wrong, I’ll call it wrong. I will not follow along with established procedures. I will state my position clearly so everyone understands.”

As his top strength, Petrone said he has a positive attitude, the ability to get things done and the knowledge of what has happened in the village for the past 35 years. His weakness? “I went along with them for 10 years,” he said.

strength, but acknowledges that it could lead her to do too much for someone.

She also said she feels that her lack of advanced education could be seen as a weakness by some. “I don’t bring a master’s degree to the table,” she said. “My education has been mostly my life experiences and work.”

Ultimately Gerwig feels that she is the best candidate to replace Benacquisto.

“I have been vested in this community in so many ways,” she said. “But the biggest thing I offer is that I’m a woman, I look at things differently. I think that I understand issues differently than the men do. Voters should vote for me because I’m a problem solver. I don’t know what problems will arise for us as a village, but I don’t like to let things go. I meet problems head on.”

2010 C.V. Whitney Cup

Holly Morrell: Grand Prix Feed Manager On A Mission

Holly Morrell is the store manager at Grand Prix Feed & Supply at 13086 Pierson Road, just a hop, skip and a divot from Wellington’s polo fields. She has been the manager the past five years and also the resident horse nutrition expert. “My goal is to educate people about their horses’ nutritional needs,” Morrell said. Page 29

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Honors ‘Equestrians Of The Year’

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held its eighth annual cocktail party and silent auction on Feb. 11 at Grant Farms in Wellington. This year’s event raised more than $56,000 to support the organization’s mission. Page 30

Shopping Spree Shopping Spree

A TOWN-CRIER PUBLICATION

INSIDE

BUSINESS

Great Food And Friendly Atmosphere

At Ristorante Vino In Royal Palm Beach Ristorante Vino owners Joe and Mariann Billante and Anna Dunlap have strived to create an atmosphere that is warm and inviting while serving exceptional food. They welcome the community with open arms and want them to feel like family upon entering their Italian restaurant in Royal Palm Beach. Page 37

Spor ts

WHS, PBCHS Softball Teams Start Strong

The Palm Beach Central High School girls varsity softball team is off to a strong start with the state tournament as its goal. The Lady Broncos, who were 11-15 last season, are well on their way this year with a 61 record. Meanwhile, their Wellington counterparts are also off to a good start with a 5-1 record, fielding a team led by standout senior Ali Lowe. Page 43

THIS WEEK’S INDEX

COLUMNS & FEATURES......................29-30

SUMMER CAMPS................................32-33

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT...............34-36

BUSINESS NEWS.................................37-41

SPORTS & RECREATION.....................43-46

COMMUNITY CALENDAR....................48-50

CLASSIFIEDS........................................51-57

Holly Morrell: Grand Prix Feed Manager On A Mission

Holly Morrell is the store manager at Grand Prix Feed & Supply at 13086 Pierson Road, just a hop, skip and a divot from Wellington’s polo fields.

Morrell considers herself a Floridian; her family moved here from Connecticut when she was five, and she has always been an animal person. She rode western as a teenager, and then sought out a succession of animalrelated jobs. The most unusual was at Lion Country Safari.

When she was 19, she got a job at the wild animal theme park on the landscape crew, but within a month she was invited to work with the wildlife. Her response? Heck, yeah!

She was with the lions for six months, and then spent the next eight years working with the elephants and the rhinos, and becoming the full-time chimp keeper. She’s proud of the work she did there, including helping to design the bridges to the chimp island. She describes being responsible for the total care and feeding of all 36 chimps as fantastic.

Subsequent jobs included working as the night nurse/vet tech for Palm Beach Equine for three years and working with cats and dogs at other clinics. She rented a house in The Acreage where she kept chickens and a cow and several rescued horses. Eventually, she ended up at Grand Prix Feed, where she has been the manager the past five years and also the resident horse nutrition expert.

“My goal is to educate people about their horses’ nutritional needs,” Morrell said. “Horses can’t talk in terms of telling you what they need. I’ve been lucky to work with a lot

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

of very knowledgeable people, and I want to pass it on. Yes, keeping a horse is expensive, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to do it right. I feel strongly that every animal lover should be able to take good and proper care of his animals. A lot of people think they can’t afford to do this, especially with horses, but they can.”

She acknowledges that South Florida is “about the hardest place in the U.S. or maybe the world” to keep horses. The heat takes a toll on their bodies in terms of sweating (or not sweating, which can be fatal), and the too dry/too wet seasons are tough on their hooves.

“Horses are cold-weather animals,” she said. “The summers down here are brutal. Also, the mucky soil promotes bacterial thrush, not fungal thrush, which is a rotting of the horse’s frog, the cushiony part of a horse’s hoof.”

Morrell points out that this condition and other hoof ailments can be treated relatively inexpensively with a $3 tube of mastitis cream, or a mix of Clorox and water, or diluted Lysol spray. In other words, horse owners don’t always have to buy expensive prepara-

tions. “The two most critically important needs for horses in South Florida are fresh water, cleaned and replaced daily, and a lot of quality hay,” she said. “Making sure a horse has enough good hay in front of him will avoid a lot of problems like colic.”

Morrell cited a study done by the University of Florida that followed 30 horses for seven years. The horses were fed 2 ½ percent of their body weight in forage daily, which included pasture grass, and they never had any intestinal problems.

“That’s 25 pounds of hay per day for a 1,000-pound horse,” she said. “One big mistake people make is thinking grain is more important than hay. It isn’t. You can never feed enough hay, but it costs more than feed. Especially in this economy, people think they can buy a $10 bag of feed and a $15 bale of hay and have it last for a week, substituting more grain for less hay. Horses were meant to eat hay, not corn or sugars like molasses.”

People can easily feed too much grain and cause ulcers or hoof problems, Morrell noted. She advises people to trust their instincts and listen to their horses when figuring out a feed program right for their own horse.

“The horse will give you all the answers,” she said. “It might take you a year to find exactly the right feed, but you’ll know it when you find it.”

Feeding a horse properly is a science, and it does require some experimenting. Calories depend on the horse’s size, breed, behavior and job. Morrell encourages horse owners to

ask a lot of questions from knowledgeable people. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” she said. “Here at Grand Prix, we want people to feel comfortable coming in and asking for advice. My greatest reward is to see people happy because their horses are happy and healthy.”

For more info., call Grand Prix Feed at (561) 792-1253.

Holly Morrell of Grand Prix Feed & Supply

I May Be In The Minority, But I Am Just Not A Bird Lover!

Do you know what the word “indefensible” means? I do. It means no one is going to agree with your argument no matter what, so you may as well give it up.

Fortunately, I have this column where I can dig my hole deeper yet. So here goes:

I hate birds.

There, I’ve said it. Let the mailroom overflow with angry missives from the nature-loving public. I do not understand their adoration.

Right now, at the ungodly hour of 7 in the morning, a bird is tweeting its fool head off outside my window. It was there at 6; it was lurking at 5. If not for that bird, I would be resting comfortably on crisp white sheets, continuing the dream I was having about sitting at a sidewalk café in Paris with Johnny Depp.

Will I ever know what happened in that dream? No, I will not. For all I know, Johnny

Scorcese’s

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

was about to propose. We were about to buy a home together in Jamaica. He was going to ask me to co-star in his next film.

I’ll never know. Instead, I know that a loudmouth bird who lives nearby feels an overwhelming urge to let me know it’s morning. Duly noted. Now shut up.

My father-in-law loved birds so much he kept a BB gun near the back door to keep squirrels out of the bird feeder.

I love squirrels. First of all, a squirrel is

resourceful. It doesn’t need human beings to set food out so it doesn’t starve to death. It finds its own food — acorns, berries and, yes, if the birds are too stupid to guard it, their bird food.

Second of all, squirrels are quiet. They don’t have to announce to the world that it’s morning. They know we know. Squirrels simply wake up and go on about their business. They have respect for all-night truckers and those who work at Waffle House and, well, midnight writers who do their best work when the phone stops ringing.

Third of all, squirrels don’t mess up the windshield of my car. They don’t mess up anything.

But back to birds. Let me clarify that I don’t hate all birds. I like seeing Vs of ducks high in the sky, heading back north. B-bye! B-bye, you squawking ornithobes!

I like seeing pelicans swoop down into the

ocean to try to catch a fish. Better that than the potato chips on the corner of my beach blanket.

And I don’t even have a problem with parrots. Some people love parrots so much they clip their wings and put them in cages in the living room and clean up their doo-doo and pick up the bird seed they’ve scattered across the floor each and every day. My cousin has one of those parrots and it keeps her fit, sweeping up after that bird all the time.

It’s just not for me. Because even though I love squirrels, I wouldn’t profess that love by clipping its paws and keeping it in a cage and letting it throw its food around. Call me crazy.

I just wish that one bird outside my window would call it quits already. It’s really getting on my nerves, and I don’t own a BB gun. Hey, I know. I’m writing this on Washington’s birthday. Where’s my hatchet?

‘Shutter Island’ A Thriller That Makes You Think

The new film Shutter Island certainly fulfills the creepy promise of the endless trailers we have all seen. Director Martin Scorcese, a master of the cinema, has created a film that holds on to its feeling of repression throughout its more than two-hour length.

Let me admit that I really prefer to avoid scary movies. I would much rather laugh or find wonder in love or special effects, and in movies they are often pretty much the same. But this film held my interest throughout.

Scorcese builds a sense of foreboding right from the opening shot as two federal marshals travel in 1954 on a fog-shrouded ferry to get to the most secret of federal hospitals for the criminally insane. While Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) stands watching at the front of the boat, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) vomits into a toilet. He has a great fear of water. The mental institution is horribly creepy, much more a prison than a healthcare institution. And then there is Ward C, where the really dangerous prisoners are held and where outsiders are forbidden. It is clear from the start that no one is willing to cooperate in locating a missing prisoner, one Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), a woman who calmly

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

murdered her three children. The guards are non-cooperative and the doctors are worse. Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) seems suspicious and Dr. Jeremiah Naehring (Max von Sydow) is worse, a German who brings a flood of memories back to Daniels, who as a soldier liberated Dachau.

Scorcese drops many of the blockbuster terms and ideas that always catch our attention, most from Dennis Lehane’s book on which the movie is based. The hurricane that hits the island, cutting off communication, the mention of the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities, the idea of surgery on human brains and drugs for testing all catch our attention like the bells that set off Pavlov’s dogs.

There are many tricks within tricks inside the movie, something that always gives me pause. People not being who they seem, situations not seeming to make sense, are often a way to keep one’s interest. But afterward, the audience feels used. It is Scorcese’s genius that despite the use of several of these tricks, including one plot twist that turns everything on its head, you stay interested and can think about the implications of the story. There is even a twist in the last minute that provides for an interesting philosophical debate as DiCaprio’s character asks whether it is better to live as a monster or die as a good man.

It is not easy to describe the film without giving away key elements, so I will limit my review to saying that by focusing on repression within the institution, Scorcese is also able to focus on the mind’s inner repressions and that when the main twist of the plot comes up, it hits powerfully.

The acting is exceptional in the film, not surprising when DiCaprio, Kingsley, von Sydow and Ruffalo are featured. But there are brilliant turns in smaller roles by Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley and Ted Levine. Michelle Williams, who we see in flashbacks

as Daniel’s dead wife, is both gorgeous and excellent. And all of the parts, even the smallest, are well cast and performed.

As you watch, you begin to wonder about every one of the people on the screen. Daniels’ perceptions constantly change as he investigates the seemingly impossible escape of a dangerous patient, finally coming to an abrupt 180-degree turn in a final confrontation with Dr. Cawley.

As I wrote earlier, I do not generally like this kind of movie. However, I was fascinated throughout and, afterward, kept thinking about the deeper meanings, exactly what Scorcese wanted. Yes, I was manipulated, but I don’t feel cheap. This is a well-made, brilliantly acted production that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

Will it be listed as one of the great films? Probably not. Will the public come? Yes. And does the film deserve your attention? Absolutely. In an era where computer-generated effects blur the difference between reality and fiction, a film about the brain having to work its way through the same maze is always welcome as long as it holds our interest all the way through. And Shutter Island works.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Honors ‘Equestrians Of The Year’

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held its eighth annual cocktail party and silent auction on Feb. 11 at Grant Farms in Wellington. This year’s event raised more than $56,000 to support the organization’s mission.

Event Chair Mary Ann Grant welcomed guests and introduced Honorary Chair Dr. Melissa Singer. Singer spoke about her work as a pediatric hematologist oncologist and how important blood cancer research is. She then introduced honored hero 11-year-old Natalie Davila, who is currently in the maintenance phase of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Equestrian of the Year supporter Anna Tillman presented Natalie with a new bicycle.

Patrons of the event enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, light dinner and a silent auction of more than 70 items. At the close of the auction, Nancy Later and Ariel Matisse were awarded the title 2010 “Equestrian of the Year” for their efforts in raising nearly $8,000. Sandy Gillespie was announced as the runner-up.

The mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. For more information, call Campaign Coordinator Melissa Mulvihill at (888) 4788550 or Event Chair Mary Ann Grant at (561) 301-5817. Linda

Cramer with Tamaro.

Ariel Matisse, Nancy Later, Mary Ann Grant and Sandra Gillespie. PHOTOS

Academy for Child Enrichment — In the heart of Royal Palm Beach, the Academy for Child Enrichment offers free all day VPK. Infants through after-school day and night care, 6:30 a.m. to midnight (Monday through Friday), meals included. Qualified staff. Se habla Espanol. Special rates for all registration. The Academy for Child Enrichment is located at 700 Camellia Drive in Royal Palm Beach. Call (561) 798-3452 or visit www.small worldpbc.com for more info.

Casperey Stables Horse Camp — Casperey Stables is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages seven to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, campers find little time to be bored. The low counselor-child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. Casperey Stables has a weekly swim party and ends each session with a horse show and family BBQ. Call soon — this small, quality program fills quickly! To learn more about the camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call (561) 792-4990 or visit www.caspereystables.com.

Everglades Youth Conservation Camp — Make the Florida Everglades your child’s backyard this summer. The Everglades Youth Conservation Camp (EYCC) is located in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area in western Palm Beach County. The residential summer camp program is for campers eight to 14 years old. The EYCC also offers a junior counselor program. Also, the FAU/Pine Jog Summer Day Camp is the perfect balance of environmental education, arts, culture, sports and outdoor fun. Pine Jog will be offering a full summer program for children who have completed grades K-5. Visit www.pinejog.fau.edu for more information on either program.

Loxahatchee Country Preschool — The Loxahatchee Country Preschool has been here for 20 years and provides a safe environment with small ratios for summer campers, which means children are well supervised. Throughout the summer, the camp program offers arts and crafts, field trips (which the management team attends), swimming lessons in the school’s swimming pool, Spanish lessons, movies, a bounce house, golf, bowling and more in-house activities. A free pizza lunch will be provided on Fridays. It’s a safe environment while providing an excellent educational program! In a letter sent to the school, the Kings Academy wrote, “What preschools are better prepared for Kings? Loxahatchee Country Preschool was mentioned with enthusiasm!” Call (561) 790-1780 for more information.

The Town-Crier

Movement Arts Dance Academy Movement Arts will be holding seven weeks of funfilled summer camp. Weekly themed mini camps for ages three to five will run the weeks of June 14, July 19 and July 26. Students will have fun with arts & crafts and games in addition to learning several styles of dance. Full day camps for ages six to 11 will be held from June 21 through July 16. Classes will include ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and more. A performance will be held at the end of each two-week session. The studio is conveniently located on State Road 7 just south of Okeechobee Blvd. For more information, call (561) 792-9757 or visit www.movementartsdanceacademy.com.

Noah’s Ark — Noah’s Ark is located on Okeechobee Blvd in Loxahatchee Groves. They offer free all-day VPK. Lower rates and special registration for fall. Meals are included. Noah’s Ark offers care for infants and preschool children as well as after-school care. Se habla Espanol. Conveniently located at 14563 Okeechobee Blvd. between Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves elementary schools. Call (561) 753-6624 for more info.

Scuba Works — This summer, your child (ages eight to 16) can spend a week with Scuba Works and earn a PADI Jr. Open Water Certification, a PADI Jr. Advanced Open Water Certification or a PADI Master Seal Team Certification. Student divers will attend classes on SCUBA diving and Reef Check, an underwater environmentalist course, spend time in the pool and dive two days in the ocean! The courses run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The courses are taught by PADI five-star certified instructors and are limited to 12 student divers per session. Student divers will need a mask, fins and snorkel. For more info., call (561) 575-DIVE or visit www.scubaworks.com.

Temple Beth Zion Preschool — Temple Beth Zion is where children of all faiths learn and play together. The preschool offers a fun-filled summer program in a safe, loving environment. The ratios are small and the staff is dedicated and caring. TBZ has a strong academic program with small classes during the school year. Registration is now open for the summer and for fall sessions of preschool and religious school. The school is APPLE accredited and offers free VPK pre-kindergarten with no hidden fees. Temple Beth Zion is located at 129 Sparrow Drive in Royal Palm Beach. Call (561) 798-3737 for more information.

The Camp at St. David’s — The Camp at St. David’s is designed for young children ages three to eight and summer VPK is also available. This year’s theme is “Under the Sea” and each week, campers will investigate creatures that live in God’s oceans. Activities include Bible stories, crafts, water play, music and movie day. Camp runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Sign up for two days or five days, one week or the whole summer. For more info., call (561) 793-1272.

Four Artists Featured In New Exhibit At Lake Worth Gallery

The Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Gallery (605 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth) will host a reception on Friday, March 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. The four-person exhibit will feature the work of exceptional clay vessels, sculptures and colorful painted textiles by artists Jesse Showalter, Doreen Alfaro, Susan Bordas and Marsha Christo. The exhibit will continue through March 17.

Showalter’s creative clay process begins on the wheel. “I have tried many media such as wood and metals, but my true love is working with clay,” he said. “Throwing is like meditation, losing a complete sense of time and finding a quiet place within.”

After years of making excellent functional ware, Showalter has discovered the joy and frustrations of the Raku and Saggar firing process using sawdust, seaweed, coconut shells and even palm fronds as new ways of creating visual interest on elegant vessels.

Alfaro’s desire to make pottery started six years ago as a way to enhance her long career of catering festive occasions by using her handmade plates, cups and bowls. As her passion for pottery evolved, she became more

interested in the sculptural aspect of clay while discovering the Raku process of firing.

“Working with clay brings an undeniable bond to the earth, achieving great pleasure from the technique of alternative firings and connecting a natural and volatile process,” Alfaro said.

Bordas found herself falling in love with clay while traveling in the southwest collecting Native-American clay art. She creates pieces that balance realistic and invented imagery with the structural textures coming from conversations with the clay. While using a variety of clay bodies, the forms flow from organic to whimsical, translating human emotions with an appreciation of transformations in life.

“Objects of art have the power to awaken our inner spirits and rekindle our spiritual being,” Bordas said. “I hope in viewing my work, it speaks to you of the spirituality of the connection between human hands and the earth.”

Christo has evolved as a painter, printmaker and textile artist through a combination of mixed media, which encompasses both pa-

per and cloth. “Like life, my work is similar to the ebb and flow of the tide, as it is forever changing, yet bonds together through process and material,” Christo said.

Influenced by tropical light, the native New Englander has embraced this shift over the past 20 years.

Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Stu-

dio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Gallery openings take place the first and third Friday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call (561) 588-8344 or visit the gallery’s web site at www.clayglass metalstone.com.

Irish Comedy Tour Hits Jupiter’s Atlantic Theater March 6

The Atlantic Theater in Jupiter will feature the Irish Comedy Tour on Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh trio. The “clover” — make that clever — comedians, whose ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle, include Detroit native Derek Richards, Boston-born Mike McCarthy and New Yorker Jim Paquette.

Native Dubliner Keith Aherne, who has performed with many of his home country’s favorite acts including comedian Brendan Grace and the Dublin City Ramblers, will add some authentic

Irish music to the show as a special guest.

Audiences howl at Richards’ tales about his mom’s dog, the holidays and dating a stripper. He has appeared on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius, and the Weather Channel’s Top 10. McCarthy’s no-holds-barred humor has landed him on Comedy Central and Showtime. The “comedy barbarian,” as he calls himself, takes no prisoners when it comes to poking fun at society’s most sensitive topics.

And finally Paquette, who has fine-tuned his comedy chops across the country as a dueling piano performer, opens the show with riotous original songs that

inspire audiences to clap along.

The irreverent trio, which recently released a DVD titled Dublin’ Over , has performed at venues across the country, including the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the Dream Makers Theater at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

For video clips and a complete show schedule, visit the Irish Comedy Tour web site at www.theirish comedytour.com.

The Atlantic Theater is located at 6743 W. Indiantown Road in Jupiter. Tickets cost $25 per person and can be purchased online at the theater’s web site at www.theatlantic theater.com or by calling (561) 5754942.

The Phantoms Recommend The Upcoming Palm Beach Pops Show

Bob Lappin and the finest musicians in South Florida will be in concert for a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Les Misérables in March.

Nobody sets the stage for Broadway like Lappin and the Palm Beach Pops in their renowned tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, which will take place March 2-8. This concert series features Broadway stars soprano Tamra Hayden of Les Misérables and tenor David Burnham, the Helen Hayes Award winner for Best Actor and star of Wicked. Audiences will delight in breathtaking selections from famed Broadway shows Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and other classics

from the Great American Songbook!

On Broadway, Hayden played Cosette in Les Misérables and Texas in Cabaret (Studio 54). Hayden toured nationally in Les Misérables as Cosette (a role she has performed more than 1,800 times), Phantom of the Opera as Christine and Fiddler on the Roof as Hodel opposite Theodore Bikel.

A versatile singer and actress, Hayden has performed a wide variety of roles including Sarah Winchester in the world premiere of The Haunting of Winchester (San Jose Rep), Marta in Company (Denver Center Theater Company), Alice Roosevelt in Eleanor: An American

Love Story (Ford Theater) and Julie Jordan in Carousel (Casa Manana). Hayden has produced two CDs, I Believe in the Fire and A Day at the Fair

On Broadway, Burnham just returned from New York where he played Fiyero in Wicked, having created the role in the original Los Angeles workshop productions. Burnham was a member of the original Broadway cast of the six-time Tony Award-winning musical The Light in the Piazza, performing on both the Tony Awards and the PBS telecast Live From Lincoln Center He was the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for best actor as well as the 2007 Gar-

land Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Fabrizio Nacarelli in the national tour of The Light in the Piazza. Burnham was the voice of the Prince in the Warner Bros. animated feature The King & I and can also be heard as Willy in Disney’s Home on the Range. Recordings include the soundtracks to Ghepetto, The King & I and Home on the Range Burnham released his debut solo CD David Burnham for LML Music.

The schedule for “A Tribute to the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Les Misérables” is as follows: March 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Dreyfoos Hall in West

Palm Beach; March 4, 5 and 8 at 8 p.m. at the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus; and March 7 at 8 p.m. at the Palm Beach State College Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens.

The season concludes with the Palm Beach Pops tribute to the Big Bands & All That Jazz, featuring Lynn Roberts, April 2-8.

Tickets cost $29 to $89. For more information, call (561) 832-7677 or visit the Palm Beach Pops’ web site at www.palmbeachpops.org.

Please tell them Joe and Kathryn, the Phantoms, highly recommended you call! Joe

PHOTO BY JOY LYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Jim Paquette, Mike McCarthy, Derek Richards and Keith Aherne.

A piece by artist Marsha Christo.

Great Food And Friendly Atmosphere At Ristorante Vino In Royal Palm Beach

By Damon Webb Town-Crier Staff Report

Ristorante Vino owners Joe and Mariann Billante and Anna Dunlap have strived to create an atmosphere that is warm, inviting and serves exceptional food. They welcome the community with open arms and want them to feel like family.

Joe Billante has been in the restaurant business for three decades. He has owned and operated many restaurants along the way. The restaurant’s three co-owners have more than three generations of experience. Since coming to the area in 2000, the Billantes have grown fond of the western communities. They felt they could add to the area with a great family Italian restaurant where visitors can relax and enjoy a good meal.

“Our whole family is in the food business,” Joe said. “Mariann’s mother had a diner, my father had a produce market, and I have 30 years in the restaurant business. Anna is in Pittsburgh, where she and her husband own several successful restaurants.”

Ristorante Vino has been open for more than four months now and has acquired a loyal following that continues to grow steadily. The restaurant has been consistent in delivering their recipe for a satisfied customer. Joe noted that besides having great food and atmosphere, as an owner, it’s important to be present on the floor with the customers and connect with them. Customer service is always a priority and a measurable indicator to ensure the experience is something memorable and unique.

“We want to make sure our customers are well taken care of while with us,” Joe said.

Ristorante Vino has several points of difference that aide it in keeping the competitive edge. A complimentary glass of the house wine is given to each adult customer once he or she has been seated. All the ingredients used in preparing the entrées are

fresh and made to order. Many of the entrées offered are unique to Ristorante Vino. In addition, all entrées come with a house salad. “We serve large portions, moderately priced,” Joe said.

The desserts are homemade with a wide selection to choose from, including Italian cheesecake, four-layer cassata, a rum cake made with cannoli cream and candied fruit, plus many more.

As business continues to grow and the season moves forward, Joe said he wants Ristorante Vino to be well known for being a great destination choice year round. But don’t take him solely on his word alone. The Billantes wants people to come and discover for themselves what Ristorante Vino has to offer.

Ristorante Vino is located at 12041 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach behind Walgreens at the intersection of Southern and Crestwood boulevards. For more information, or to make reservations, call (561) 790-3232.

Ristorante Vino has been gaining popularity since opening four months ago.

PHOTOS BY DAMON WEBB/TOWN-CRIER

The dining area at Ristorante Vino.

Wellington Chamber Gets Facebook Page

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has recently launched a Facebook page. The page will allow its “fans” to RSVP for events and link up with fellow chamber members. A link to the chamber’s Facebook page is available on the home page of its web site at www.wellington chamber.com.

The chamber’s Facebook page was developed by Stacie Chalmers of Inbound Marketing Solutions. Chalmers will be hosting her own

blog, titled “Stacie’s Marketing Blog,” on the Wellington Chamber’s web site. She will use the blog to educate chamber members on social media, marketing and networking. In addition, the chamber’s Small Business Committee and Chalmers will host a “Social Media 101” seminar in early March.

For more information about the Wellington Chamber, or to inquire about upcoming events, call the chamber at (561) 792-6525.

New Digital Video Service In Royal Palm

When the Village of Royal Palm Beach’s Family Census Day kicks off on Saturday, March 6 at Veterans Park, among the many local businesses present will be Sunshine Digital Video Services.

The company began offering personal video and editing production services last November. Owner Brad Stockwell, a Royal Palm Beach resident, began making his own DVD home movies from personal video footage and pictures after a trip to his wife’s home country of Trinidad and Tobago in 2003.

“I bought a digital video

camera before the trip and a new computer after the trip,” Stockwell said. “The new computer had video editing software installed, and I decided to try it. I produced a DVD of our trip with the video footage and pictures, and I got quite a few compliments on it. I thought it was a great way to preserve a very special vacation.”

Sunshine Digital Video Services can produce a DVD of your family vacation, birthday party, sporting event, wedding or any special occasion. The company produces a DVD production, which includes digital video

footage, digital and printed pictures, and other memorabilia. In essence, it is a modern home movie, but it also includes titles, text, transitions and background music. It is a complete video production as opposed to video footage simply converted to DVD. The company also produces a DVD photo album of digital or printed pictures if a customer does not have video footage.

The company’s DVD production and DVD photo albums begin with a “director’s meeting” to answer questions, view samples and discuss ideas. Next, in the edit-

ing room, the company will review your video footage and pictures to develop a storyline. Using editing software, a “rough cut” of your video is produced for review. After your critique and edit requests, the “final cut” is produced where the video will be incorporated with a DVD menu. Your personal video will be written onto an image imprinted DVD along with a customized case.

For more information, including sample videos, visit www.sunshinedvs.com, email Stockwell at brad@ sunshinedvs.com or call (561) 459-0924.

HealthSource Patient Appreciation Day

On Saturday, March 6, HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab will host Community/Patient Appreciation Day to honor the clinic’s patients and say “thank you” to the community as a whole.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. and include tours of the facility, educational programs and fes-

tive activities for all ages. It is open to the public. The goal of Community/Patient Appreciation Day is to encourage residents and patients to participate in fun activities that highlight how chiropractic can be beneficial to their overall health and wellness.

HealthSource is a fastgrowing chiropractic franchise, with more than 240

clinics nationwide. Dr. Sandra Hernandez is owner of the Royal Palm Beach clinic, which offers exceptional care to patients who suffer from injuries such as back and neck pain, leg pain, arm pain, carpal tunnel, headaches, shoulder pain and fibromyalgia. The clinic employs a combination approach called “progressive rehab,” which is

being successfully used across America on thousands of patients, and is quickly becoming the treatment of choice by many doctors. To meet Hernandez and her staff, or to see if HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab can help, visit the office at 125 S. State Road 7, Suite 103. For more information, call (561) 792-4016.

A peek at the Wellington Chamber’s Facebook page.

Print-It Plus Honored In International Print Competition

Print-It Plus of Royal Palm Beach has received a 2009 Premier Print Award for outstanding achievement in the production of letterhead. The graphic arts industry’s largest and most prestigious international printing competition, the Premier Print Awards recognizes those responsible for the creation and production of outstanding print communications. Print-It Plus won an Award of Recognition for its entry “Loxahatchee Groves Letterhead.” The company also took first place in the Florida Print Awards. Twelve Print-It Plus entries were recognized at the state level.

Competing against thousands of entries from printing and graphic arts firms around the world, PrintIt Plus was selected from among the top finalists in the competition categories. From the 3,600 international entries, only 196 entries were recognized as top finalists. Print-It Plus has been in business for 22 years and has won the national award twice in the last five years.

The intricate letterhead includes the seal of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, a circular image of a white heron in a water setting surrounded by aquatic plants.

“The entire team at Print-It Plus works on every project as if it were an award-winning piece. It is especially gratifying to be recognized by the Premier Print Awards for the Loxahatchee Groves letterhead,” founder and owner David Leland said. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that produces top-quality, award-winning materials.”

Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America, which hosts the awards, said the competition gets better each year. “Less than five percent of entries received an Award of

Recognition in 2009,” he said.

“The craftsmanship and hard work of Print-It Plus professionals enabled them to produce an award-winning piece in the face of very stiff competition.”

Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with more than 1.2 million employees.

For more information about Print-It Plus, call Leland at (561) 790-0884 or visit www.printitplus.com. For more information about the Premier Print Awards, call Sara Welsh at (412) 259-1705.

John Howe Named President-Elect Of PBC Bar Association

The Law Offices of John M. Howe recently announced founding attorney Howe has been named president-elect of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He has been certified for the 2010-11 year. Howe is the first African-American named to the president-elect post since the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s founding in 1922.

This is a significant milestone in the Palm Beach County legal community’s history. “It was 43 years before the Palm Beach County Bar was integrated in 1964, a full de-

cade after Brown vs. Board of Education,” Howe said. “Since then, only three African-Americans have served on its board. It has taken another 46 years to realize our first African-American president-elect.”

The Palm Beach County Bar Association is a nonprofit voluntary association. Its purpose is to maintain the honor and dignity of the legal profession by promoting improvements in the law and administration of justice.

Howe is the founding attorney of the law firm bearing his name. A na-

tive of West Palm Beach, he obtained his law degree from the University of Florida-Levin College of Law. He did so while concurrently earning an MBA, also from the University of Florida.

Howe is a trial attorney with more than a decade of experience representing clients from all walks of life. He concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, commercial litigation, criminal and immigration law.

A current director at large and past president of the Palm Beach Asso-

ciation of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Howe is an active member of the National Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association, the F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Justice Association.

For more information on the Law Offices of John M. Howe, call Gregory T. DuBose at (561) 746-6077, ext. 21 or visit www.johnhowelaw. com.

David and Kim Leland of Print-It Plus

John M. Howe

Experienced PBCHS Softball Team Sees Age As An Advantage

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach Central High School girls varsity softball team is off to a strong start with the state tournament as its goal.

“They’re really pushing hard this year,” coach Kimberly Sears said Tuesday. “Our goal is always state, but my goal is to get the No. 1, 2 or 3 spot in the districts. In the past, we’ve fallen in the fourth, fifth or sixth spots.”

The Lady Broncos, who were 1115 last season, are well on their way this year. They have a 6-1 record and beat Palm Beach Gardens High School in a tournament this month. Their one loss was against Grandview Preparatory High School.

“It’s a good start, but we still have the rest of the season,” she said. “We’re in a tough district this year with some really big schools.”

In addition to Gardens, Palm Beach Central takes on Royal Palm Beach, Seminole Ridge, Boca Raton, Santaluces, Atlantic and Jupiter.

Much of Palm Beach Central’s success comes from the team’s four returning seniors, Sears said.

Returning are co-captains Jordanne Kessel, a shortstop, and Anne Marie Van Casteren, who plays third base. Senior Ashley Hammond returns to play second base, and Christina Robbs is in center field.

Also returning to the team is sophomore pitcher Nicole Granitto and junior first baseman Lauren Collado.

“Nicole brings a lot to the team,” Sears said. “She’s got a good bat and is a good piece to our puzzle. Lauren caught last year and the year before, but we didn’t really have a first baseman. A couple of kids played it

last year, but she stepped up to the plate and played great.”

New to the team is senior Chelsea Neal, a starting left fielder who played basketball for the school in the past and is “a great addition to the team,” Sears said. Freshman starting pitcher Madison Hir and starting catcher Marina Carmona round out the team.

“You’ve got to have two pitchers,” she said. “You can’t survive with just one. Madison has done really well this year. She’s 4-0, so she’s had a really terrific start and pitched really well for us.”

Something the team has going for it is its camaraderie, Sears said.

“We were able to fit everyone together really well,” she said. “I’ve got a great group of girls, and they all get along really well. They work together and play hard.”

This year the Lady Broncos have excelled defensively, Sears said.

“We have a really seasoned de-

fense,” she said. “We have a really strong infield and outfield. We’re quick, and we’re able to hold teams to a minimum number of runs.”

But she acknowledges that to win, they have to score runs — something that they are still working on.

“You can always, always, always improve on your team’s hitting,” she said. “It’s something you can’t practice too much. We’re focusing on a little bit of everything at practice, but we’re definitely working on fine tuning our hitting skills and the allaround game.”

Paramount to the team’s success is its seasoned leadership, which Sears thinks has helped the team in the long run. “We have five seniors starting,” she said. “You look at it for next year, and it’s kind of scary, but it’s really good for us this year.”

The Lady Broncos hosted Royal Palm Beach on Thursday, Feb. 25, but scores were not available at press time.

Wolverines Softball Team Off To A Strong Start This Season

It starts and ends with senior Ali Lowe. As the leadoff hitter and shortstop of the 2010 girls varsity softball team at Wellington High School, Lowe holds the key to a successful season.

As one of only two seniors on the team, Lowe is being counted on to lead the Wolverines. The shortstop/pitcher is arguably the top female athlete at WHS and has committed to play for Big East power Villanova.

“I just want to play hard and have fun,” she said. “[And] I believe we have a good chance to get past districts.”

Lowe said it was an easy decision to choose Villanova, a private school in a Philadelphia suburb.

“The moment I stepped onto the campus, I fell in love,” she said. “I’m so grateful to become part of such an amazing academic program as well as a great softball team and great community.”

Fellow senior Kelsi Hartman is helping Lowe achieve her district playoff goal. Hart-

Wolverine Watch

By Josh Hyber

man is the only other senior on the team, hits fifth in the lineup and plays first base. “Kelsi is a really good teammate and has a sincere heart,” sophomore infielder Alahna Kessler said. “She truly cares about everyone.”

The rest of the roster is loaded with sophomores and freshmen. Sophomores Michaela Hollis and Mariah Gonzales are two players whose success will help determine how well the Wolverines play. As freshmen, they were the top two pitchers on the team. This season, however, Hollis is playing center field and Gonzales is at third base.

The position changes come as a result of the addition of Corrie Boggess, a freshman pitcher. Boggess has moved ahead of Hollis and Gonzales to be the team’s ace and hits fourth in lineup. “Corrie is very accurate and has the speed to be a number one,” Hollis said.

A pair of Cheathams (no relation), both sophomores, are two players with essential roles. Macey Cheatham, a catcher, has started since her freshman year and guides the pitching staff. “Macey will always cheer me on when I’m struggling. Sometimes she will even make me laugh so I won’t get so nervous,” Hollis said.

Alyssa Cheatham is a quick player who plays left field and provides support behind Lowe at the top of the lineup. Two more sophomores round out the group. Amy Groover is new to the team, and the starting right fielder and Alahna Kessler is a backup infielder.

One newcomer to watch is freshman infielder Addie Poyner. Poyner is the younger sister of Palm Beach Central High School

pitcher Bobby Poyner and has experience playing the game. She starts at second base and hits eighth.

The young team will be led by a new coach. After three years of coaching the softball team, Joe Costa stepped down as the team’s coach.

Stepping in is Mark Boretti, a math teacher at Palm Beach Central. “Coach Boretti is a good motivator for us, much like coach Costa. He puts the best nine players on the field that he feels will win the game,” Lowe said.

With a sub .500 record last season (9-14), the team hopes 2010 will be more successful. With Lowe, Hartman and the abundance of youth, the road ahead looks promising. The district playoffs are scheduled April 19-23, and if Lowe’s goal is achieved, the team could possibly be playing well into late April.

The team is off to a good start and has a 51 record. The Wolverines played home games against Glades Day on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and Forest Hill on Thursday, Feb. 25. The results were not available at press time.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Co-captain Anne Marie Van Casteren throws to second base.

Senior Ashley Hammond throws to first base.

Head Coach Kimberly Sears with senior softball players.

Wellington Wave U-14 Blue Ties For First In Weston Tourney

The Wellington Wave girls U-14 blue soccer team went undefeated in the Weston Tournament over Presidents Day weekend. The girls tied for first place, but did not advance to the final round based on total goals scored throughout the tournament. The Lady Wave tied Weston in total points in their bracket, and even tied in goal differential. Even though the Wave gave up the least amount of scores, they conceded to Weston by one goal on total goals.

In the Wave’s first game, they defeated Boca United 20, with goals by Lindsey Guthrie and Makayla Barrantes. Wave keeper Antoinette Walton earned the shutout in the contest making six saves. The Wave later played Fort Lauderdale Select under the lights to a 1-1 draw. The team gave up an early goal off a breakaway, and the Select took at 1-0 lead. Eight minutes later, the Wave struck back when defender Amanda Nardi launched a shot high into the air that curled into an open net behind the Select defenders.

Forward Christina Barbera backed up the ball with a header as it looped into the net. The Select keeper came off her line to block a shot by Lindsey Guthrie from the right side. The ball took a hard deflection off the keeper’s hands and rolled just outside the 18. Nardi charged after the rolling ball and the keeper could not make the save. That tied the contest at 1-1. Both sides mustered some offense but could not earn the winning score.

The Lady Wave went into the third contest against Weston, both tied for first place. The Wave needed the win to advance to the final round. A tie would send them home. The first half was mostly Wave pressuring Weston’s defense, but neither could find the back of the net. The half ended 0-0. Minutes into the second period, Weston scored off a corner kick when the ball was deflected off a Wave defender toward the net, and finished by a Weston attacker to take the 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, midfielder Lind-

sey Guthrie took a ball straight up the right sideline, beating the Weston midfield. Guthrie got behind the Weston defense, and crossed the ball to forward Alysssa Randell, who punched the ball into the net for the equalizer.

Both teams battled back and forth for the winning goal, with Weston playing a little more defense knowing they could advance with the

draw. The Wave made adjustments, adding another attacker up top. Forward Natalie Kelly nearly sent the Wave into the finals with minutes to play when she intercepted a ball and took a hard shot from about four yards out. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced in front of the net. Wave players swarmed the ball in an attempt to take the winning shot, but the Weston keeper pounced on the ball,

creating a collision in the box. The team was three inches from advancing to the finals, but settled for the 1-1 tie.

Credit goes to the defense for giving up just two goals in the tournament and earning one shutout. The Wave girls have played strong defensively throughout the season, but have struggled at times to find the back of the net. The Wave blue team is now preparing for the Flori-

da Region Cup in March and the Disney Classic in April. Team members are: Tanairi Rivera, Natalie Kelly, Lindsey Guthrie, Antoinette Walton, Alyssa Randell, Molly Cuthbertson, Makayla Barrantes, Christina Barbera, Claudia Petrizzi, Amanda Nardi, Savannah Stawicki, Caitlyn Konopka, Kayla Puzon, Marissa Sunshine, Michelle Hyde and Leah Heysler.

Alyssa Randell battles for control against Boca United.

Natalie Kelly takes a shot with a header on goal.

Dr. Mark Kovacs Honored With Stanley Plagenboef Award

The Professional Tennis Registry presented its annual awards during the 2010 PTR International Tennis Symposium.

The event, which included dozens of on-court and classroom presentations for tennis teachers and coaches, a tennis trade show and the $25,000 Championships was held Feb. 12-18 at PTR headquarters in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Dr. Mark Kovacs of Wellington has been honored with PTR’s Stanley Plagenhoef Award. Named for Dr. Stanley Plagenhoef, the award is presented to someone who has excelled and made significant contributions to sports science. It was last presented in 2004 to Dr. Jack Groppel, so it is indeed a rare treat to recognize a worthy recipient.

As a junior tennis player, Kovacs was ranked by the

ITF as one of the top 100 players in the world. His junior career highlights include a win over Lleyton Hewitt at the 1996 Australian National Championships and a boys doubles pairing with Andy Roddick at the 1998 Junior US Open. In his collegiate career, Kovacs played for Auburn University, winning the NCAA doubles championship as well as All-American honors in 2002. Kovacs

Wycliffe Golfers ‘Play For PINK’

Friday, Jan. 22 marked the kickoff of the annual Wycliffe Golf & Country Club two-day breast cancer awareness fundraiser. More than 250 members participated in tennis and golf events as well as a silent auction and luncheon with all proceeds to benefit the Play for PINK organization.

Breast Cancer Awareness is very important to Wycliffe members; many of those who participated have been directly affected by the disease. The

tennis event held on Jan. 22 had 30 participants and the golf event held on Tuesday, Jan. 26 had more than180 participants all dressed in pink. Besides the 180 women, there were 15 men who volunteered their time for this great cause. After the Jan. 26 golf events, participants were able to bid on a variety of items being shown at a silent auction in the club’s Grande Lounge. Items included tickets for shows/sporting events, jewelry and handbags.

The closing event was a “pink” luncheon in the Grande Dining Room. Members sipped on pink-colored beverages and dined at tables adorned with pink accents and accessories. Laura Lassman, president and founder of Play for PINK, and Stephanie Hamburger, Play for PINK co-director, both attended the luncheon.

At the end of the day, Wycliffe raised close to $36,0000 for the Play for PINK organization.

earned a master’s degree in exercise science at Auburn and a doctorate from the University of Alabama. The primary focus of his work was tennis-specific research. He has published in several prestigious journals including Sports Medicine, the International Journal of Sport Physiological Performance, the British Journal of Sports Medicine , and Strength and Conditioning

Journal. He has also written articles for TennisPro, PTR’s official magazine for tennis teachers and coaches. Kovacs co-authored the book Tennis Training: Enhancing On-Court Performance with Britt Chandler and Dr. Jeff Chandler. In 2009, Kovacs served as the guest editor for the tennisspecific edition of Strength and Conditioning Journal

The Professional Tennis

Registry is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 14,000 members in 122 countries.

It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. The PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.

RPBHS Golf Tourney On May 15

The Royal Palm Beach High School Medical Science Advisory Board will host a benefit golf tournament on Saturday, May 15 at the Binks Forest Golf Club (400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington).

All profits from this event will be directly applied to the ongoing needs of the Royal Palm Beach High

School Medical Science Academy students.

The Royal Palm Beach High School Medical Science Academy offers its students unique courses and opportunities in medical sciences. Students enrolled in the academy follow an extensive four-year college preparatory program designed to provide the uni-

•

• •

versity-bound student with the academics, initiative and skills needed to pursue a pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental or pre-nursing major.

For more information, call Crystal Amado in the Royal Palm Beach High School Medical Science Academy office at (561) 792-8699.

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

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, Feb. 27

• The West Palm Beach Spring Home Show continues at the South Florida Fairgrounds through Sunday, Feb. 28. Admission costs $9 for adults and is free for children under 16. Visit www.acshomeshow. com for more info.

• The program “Snakes Alive” will be held Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). See, touch and test your knowledge of snakes. Call (561) 233-1400 for reservations.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Five Steps to Permanent Weight Loss” for adults on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. with chiropractor Dr. Sabrina Morgen. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• John D. MacArthur Beach State Park (10900 State Road 703, North Palm Beach) will hold a MacArthur Under Moonlight Concert on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 10 are admitted free. For more info., call (561) 624-6952 or visit www.macarthurbeach.org.

• Temple Beth Zion (129 Sparrow Drive, Royal Palm Beach) will host a Megillah Reading on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Come enjoy music by Gary Lawrence, delicious hamentashen and Purim carnival games at this free event. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume. For more info., call Liz at (561) 798-8888.

Sunday, Feb. 28

• The Delray String Quartet will perform at St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church (465 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a pre-concert lecture by Dr. Claudio Jaffé at 3:30 p.m. and recital at 4 p.m. For more info., call (561) 2134138 or e-mail donvrt@aol.com.

Monday, March 1

• The Wellington Garden Club will meet on Monday, March 1 at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). The luncheon and business meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. with the program following at 1 p.m. The featured speaker will be Alan Stopek, a landscape designer/horticulturalist. The public is invited, and a light lunch will be served. Seating is limited. RSVP to (561) 793-6013 or (561) 798-9217.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss” on Monday, March 1 at 3 p.m. for ages four to seven. It’s Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Let’s party with stories, songs and crafts. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

• Free Cholesterol and Diabetes Screenings will be offered from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 1 at the Winn-Dixie Pharmacy at 1135 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. For more info., call Cholestcheck at (800) 713-3301. No appointment is necessary.

• Scott’s Place, a barrier-free playground in Wellington, will have its grand opening on Monday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. Scott’s Place is located near the Wellington Community Center in Wellington’s new Town Center. For more info., call Michelle Garvey at (561) 791-4082.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Book Discussion: Among the Hidden” on Monday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 10 to 17. Luke, an illegal thirdborn child, has lived his entire life in secret. When he meets another “shadow child,” he has a chance to come out of hiding. Books are available at the children’s desk. To preregister, call (561) 790-6070.

Tuesday, March 2

• The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will meet on Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District office (101 West D Road). For more info., call (561) 793-2418.

• The Audubon Society of the Everglades will present a program on the endangered Florida scrub jay on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center (6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). Doors open at 7 p.m. for refreshments. The presentation is free. Call (561) 742-7791 or visit www.audubon everglades.org for more info.

Wednesday, March 3

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Dr. Seuss Ready Reader” on Wednesday, March 3 at 11 a.m. for pre-K through the second grade. The same program will take place at the Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) on Wednesday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. Celebrating the tradition of reading every day, this program combines magic, storytelling and puppetry to spark the imagination of youngsters. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6030 for Royal Palm Beach or (561) 790-6070 for Wellington.

• Western Executives will meet on Wednesday, March 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the 7th Chukker at the International Polo

See CALENDAR, page 50

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

CALENDAR, continued from page 48

Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Ave. South, Wellington). This social mixer is open to all business owners and/or executives. Admission is $10 and includes free appetizers, specially priced drinks, raffle prizes, networking and a business-card exchange. Bring your colleagues or key employees. For more info., call (561) 793-5509 or visit www. westernexecutives.net.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Express Yourself: Book Discussion Series” on Wednesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of Almost Single by Advaita Kala. Sign up and check out the book. For more information, call (561) 790-6070.

Thursday, March 4

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Let’s Make a Scene” on Thursday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m. for adults. Challenge Ethel and Seymour Goldstein with your knowledge of famous plays and movies, demonstrate your reading skills, and listen to great stories with music courtesy of Rhoda Brauer and Roberta Katz. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

• The Royal Palm Beach Village Council will meet on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Village Hall (1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). For more info., call (561) 790-5100.

Friday, March 5

• Pierce Hammock Elementary School will sponsor its fourth annual Western Communities Fair from Friday through Sunday, March 5-7. The school is asking for tax-deductible donations for the silent auction. Money raised from the event will go toward school improvements and classroom supplies. For more info., call the main office at (561) 633-4500.

• The West Palm Beach Antiques Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, March 5-7 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Early-buyers admission (9 a.m. to noon on Friday) is $25 and is valid for the entire weekend. Daily admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $1 discount coupons for adult admission are available on the festival’s web site. Anyone under 16 is admitted free. For more info., call (941) 697-7475 or visit www. wpbaf.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Science Club: Electricity” on Friday, March 5 and 19 at 3 p.m. for ages

8 and up. Is it possible to generate electricity with a lemon, balloon or potato? Come find out! To pre-register, call (561) 7906070.

Saturday, March 6

• The fourth annual Jenna McCann Memorial Golf Tournament and Jenna’s Gala to benefit the Kids Cancer Foundation will take place on Saturday, March 6 at the Binks Forest Golf Club (400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington). The tournament will begin with a 7 a.m. registration and an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Jenna’s Gala will start at 6 p.m. For more info., contact Pliskow at (561) 389-0354 or spmlc@comcast.net or Sandy Erb at (561) 801-3420 or ske@bellsouth. net.

• The Fresh Market (10640 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington) will host a Fresh Flavors Cooking Demonstration on Saturday, March 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. Chef Christine Matotek will lead a free, step-by-step presentation. Guests are invited to drop in any time during the event and learn how to prepare seared lamb with creamy cabbage. For more info., call (561) 753-9861 or visit www.thefreshmarket.com.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will feature “Mad Tea Party” on Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Do you love Alice in Wonderland?

Dress as your favorite character and come for trivia, a costume contest and more. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6030.

• Kultur Festival 2010 will take place Saturday through Thursday, March 6-11 at Florida Atlantic University (777 Glades Road, Boca Raton). The six-day celebration of Jewish music and arts will feature 12 events. For more info., call (800) 564-9539 or visit www.library.fau.edu/news/kultur.htm.

Monday, March 8

• The Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Way) will host a Swing Dance Class on Mondays, March 8 through April 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with teacher Syrus Partian. Come alone or bring a partner. Call (561) 790-5149 to pre-register.

• The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District will meet on Monday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the LGWCD office (101 West D Road). For more info., call (561) 7930884.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. Email: news@gotowncrier.com.

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VOLUNTEER AT AN ANIMAL

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EXCELLENT PRESCHOOL — is offering a wonderful opportunity for a teacher who has a CDA. Salary open! Call Miss Kathy 561-7901780

J.Crew - Store Director - Palm Beach Gardens — Want to love your job? If you're friendly, smart and creative, you might be a perfect fit for J Crew.An icon of style, J Crew is known worldwide for its sophisticated, fun clothing and accessories to live, work, play and even get married in. Please email your resume to: Jennifer.pacella@jcrew.com.

*23 PEOPLE NEEDED TO LOSE 5-100 POUNDS! DR. RECOMMENDED! GUARANTEED! 1-888221-8314 www.hanlean.com

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SERVICE

TECH - Full time,will train. Benefits include paid vacation holidays & sick time. Employee health insurance is available. Clean DL call 683-1333 Monday - Friday 8:004:30

I'LL SHOW YOU - how to get $20 fast start bonuses! Residual income. Details Call 561-639-1958.

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

A/C SALES & SERVICE — New, used, scratch & dent. If you used anyone but Glover’s A/C, you probably paid too much! U10163. 7937388

ARE YOUR TREES READY FOR A HURRICANE? — Florida Arborists has highly trained professionals to provide superior and quality services. 561-568-7500

WELLINGTON BARN BUILDER— Repairs/remodeler.Get an expert that can do it right! EUROPEAN QUALITY AT AN affordable price. 30 years experience, licensed and insured. Homes, condos, bath, kitchens, additions, small stuff. Call 561-723-5837 561-792-2666. ALAN TOBIN CONSTRUCTION, INC.

J.C. TEETS & CO. — Get your general ledger ready for tax season today! Professional. affordable fullservice bookkeeping. Quickbooks Expert. Call 561-632-0635

MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL

BUILDING CLEANINGS SPECIALISTS — • Pressure Cleaning • Office Cleaning • Residential Cleaning • Parking Lot Maintenance • Concrete Coatings. Call for Free Evaluation. 561-714-3608

HOUSECLEANING - Reliable with long term clients. Over 12 years experience. References available. Karen 561-632-2271

HOUSECLEANING - 20 years experience. Excellent local references. Shopping available. 561572-1782

20 YEARS IN THE CLEANING BUSINESS — in Western Communities and surrounding areas. Great references. Call for free estimates.Brenda 561-460-8380

HOMES OR OFFICES - expert cleaning done by competent team We do homes & offices.Call Eddie for estimate 876-2120 Licensed & Insured.

COMPUTER REPAIR — We come to you! After hours and weekends services available. Spyware/ Adware/Virus Removal, Networking, Wireless, Backup Data, Upgrades. Call Anytime. 561-7135276

MOBILE-TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/ Software setup, support &troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net. 561-248-2611

D.J. COMPUTER - Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-3339433 or Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach

ADDITIONS, ROOFING, PATIOS & REMODELING - Cell 561-202-7036 561-798-6448 Licensed & Insured. CBC 1250306 CCC1326386

DADS DOORS & WINDOWS, INC. IMPACT WINDOWS & HURRICANE SHUTTERS — Sliding Glass Doors, Mirrors & Shower Doors. 561-355-8331 U 19958 U20177

CASTLE ROCK, A DRYWALL CO.

— “BUILDING ON EXCELLENCE” Framing /Hanging /Finishing Popcorn and Wallpaper Removal Drywall Repairs & Remodels Custom Built-Ins “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR GREAT PRICES”Licensed & Insured Lic. #SCC131150623 Eric Rouleau 561-307-5202

STAFF PLUS — Looking to fill full and part-time positions in customer service. For info l 1-888-333-9903

GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO

— For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, Leather repairs, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689

THE MASTER HANDYMAN — no job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 years of satisfied customers Tom (954) 4443178

ANMAR CO.— James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528

HOME INSPECTIONS — Mold inpections, air quality testing, US Building Inspectors mention this ad $20.00 Off. 561-784-8811

LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE - Your local Geico office has been saving people money for over 70 years. Contact (561) 616-5944 for a free rate quote.

GET REAL AUTO INSURANCE — that comes with a Real Agent. Farm Bureau Insurance. Auto • Home • Life, Mark Piven, Agent 561-792-1991 Wellington.

Mold & Mildew Inspections — Air Quality Testing, leak detection. US building inspectors, mention this ad for discount. 561-784-8811

RJA PAINTING AND DECORATING, INC. - Interior , Exterior, Faux Finish, Residential,Commercial. License #U17536 Rocky Armento, Jr. 561-793-5455 561-662-7102

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. — Interior/Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. - Insured. 561-3838666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident.

LICENSED PLUMBER - Beat any legitimate estimate. A/C service lowest price. Complete service, new construction, replacement. CFC1426242 CAC058610 Bonded & Insured. 561-601-6458

POOL PLASTERING AND RESURFACING — Lic. U19996. 561722-7690.

ELITE POOL SERVICE — “You dealt with the rest now deal with the best.” All maintenance & repairs, salt chlorinators, heaters, leak detection. 561-791-5073

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING — Established in 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential.Call Butch 561-3096975 BD

GRIME STOPPERS - Pressure cleaning, commercial & residential, houses, driveways, patios, screen enclosures, sidewalks. References available.561-779-1081

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS — Roof painting.Carpentry.Lic. #U13677.967-5580.

HORIZON ROOFING QUALITY WORK & SERVICE — Free estimates, No Deposits. Pay upon completion, residential, commercial, reroofing, repairs, credit cards accepted.561-842-6120 or 561784-8072 Lic.#CCC1328598

ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC0067207

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

SCREEN ETC. — Rescreening and installing all types of enclosures since 1976. 561-319-2838 for free estimate. U-10521

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

INSTALLING TILE IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR 25 YEARS — Free estimates, residential/commercial, bathroom remodeling, floors, walls, backsplashes, custom design GOLDEN TILE INSTALLATION 561-662-9258 Lic.&Insured U21006

BIG BLUE TREE FARM, INC. GO GREEN! — Growers of QualityLandscapeTrees www.BigBlueTree Farm.com. 561793-4370 Bus. 561-202-7679 Cell

ClubZ! In-Home Tutoring

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America’s Largest In-HomeTutoring Co.

PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal & Repair of Paper clean and 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

A CLEAR VIEW — Window Cleaning, Pressure Cleaning, Lawn Maintenance, & Property Maintenance. P.B. County Lic. #14807 Insured. “Let a Firefighter Do It Right” 561252-5648

1997 GREY SEBRING JXI CONVERTIBLE — new a/c, clean & well maintained. Engine & transmission in excellent condition and new top. Feel free to take it to a mechanic & check it out. Mint condition. $3,300 (561) 793-5569 (917) 494-3422

2000 RED FIREBIRD - V6,5 speed manual, glass T-TOP,excellent condition, one owner, asking $5,000. Call Jay at 561-309-6333

MOBILE HOME FOR SALE -3 bedroom, 2 baths, single wide 3 car parking. $8,500 OBO. (561) 2018805

BOCACCIO 150 SCOOTER — 6 months old. Blue & White. Body in excellent condition needs new motor. $500 or best offer. . 561-3151508 (paid $1,600).

CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS CALL 793-3576 TODAY TO PLACE YOUR AD HERE

MOVING SALE MANY PIECES AVAILABLE! - Lights, sofas, chairs, tables, fans, credenzas, W&D, wicker pieces and much more! Best offers. 561-818-3279

EQUIPMENT FOR MANUFACTURING OF "SHOES - BOOTS" (Cowboy Boots) or "SHOE REPAIR SHOP" Two complete sets! Inventory: Sewing Machine, Stitcher, Skiving Machine, Embossing Press, Shoe Stretcher, Shoe Boot Jack's all size, Shoe molds "Last” 200 + Pairs. Lots of Hand tools and supplies! Etc. too many items to list! Call for more info at 561-719-3599

DINING ROOM table with 6 chairs; like new - originally $1,500 modern glass top 54" with off white base, must sell $500 OBO; 561-662-4757

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