Town-Crier Newspaper February 5, 2010

HER DAIRY ESSAY WAS MOO-VING

Lox Groves Election Cancelled: Rockett, Browning Win By Default

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The filing period for the Loxahatchee Groves election ended Tuesday with Mayor Dave Browning and candidate Jim Rockett winning election automatically when no one filed to run against them.

Until last week, former councilwoman Marge Herzog was expected to run against Rockett. But Herzog’s decision not to run gave Rockett, a nursery manager, a free pass to a three-year council term.

Rockett, who will replace Councilman Dr. Bill Louda in Seat 2, said that despite the lack of an election, there was a lot of work involved for him to seek elected office.

“There was a lot of preparation, a lot of familiarizing myself with positions, things that the community is concerned with,” Rockett said Tuesday, adding that he also spent time reviewing the land use workshops and work the town has accumulated in developing a comprehensive plan and land development regulations.

Rockett said he feels his experience the past year on the Finance

Advisory & Audit Committee has helped him gain insight into the workings of the town.

“The concept is a great concept to have,” he said. “It took a while to get it, but once you have it, you have instant payback. You find things that you can save money on. The review process of requests for services that go out, we get to look at as a committee. I think it’s one of those critical committees that frees up the council, gives them the opportunity to do some other things. It gives them a comfort level when it comes to the finance side.”

Councilman Ron Jarriel supported Rockett and wishes that there had been an election so people could get to know him better. He encouraged residents to come meet Rockett when he takes his seat in March.

“He has already volunteered many hours working on the finance committee trying to save us tax dollars,” Jarriel said. “He’s the type of person that if you have any questions, he’ll go out of his way to answer them or find an answer for them.”

Browning, who will reclaim

Seat 4, said the lack of opposition tells him that people are satisfied with the job the council is doing.

“It indicates everything is going pretty well, that we’re on track,” he said Wednesday.

Browning said issues such as the adoption of a comprehensive plan are close to resolution, despite a challenge from CalleryJudge Grove.

“We are working with CalleryJudge to resolve our differences, and hopefully we can get that finalized real soon,” Browning said. “We are working on our land-use amendments.”

The next step will be to get a complete census so that the town qualifies for the full amount of funds it is due based on population.

“Once we get this stuff established as far as our comp plan and all that, then I think things will calm down,” Browning said. “My vision is to go to one monthly meeting and continue to save money as much as we can and keep the taxes low.”

The election would have cost the town $3,000 to $4,000, according to town staff.

Enriquez: Sem Pratt And Orange Need Intersection Improvements

By Ron Bukley

Town-Crier Staff Report

An elevated rate of cancer in children in The Acreage, especially in females under 19, was confirmed Monday, Feb. 1 by the Palm Beach County Health Department, but no cause was determined.

“We suspected that pediatric brain and central-nervous-system cancers among children were higher than would normally be seen in an area like The Acreage,” Senior Environmental Epidemiologist Sharon Watkins said. “But to be accurate, we needed to be more confident with how much the population increased from 2000 to 2007.”

The cancer rate was shown to be elevated after applying more recent population estimates to a cancer study conducted in August, Health Department spokesman Tim O’Connor said.

The original population calculation used 2000 census figures that showed a population in The Acreage of about 29,000 residents. Researchers said that figure was probably well below the actual population.

The new study utilized three additional independent population sources to calculate growth in the area through 2007 that showed population estimates of 31,908, 38,851 and 39,809. In each case, the population was broken into age groups and by gender, and the findings continued to show elevated levels of brain and central-nervous-system cancers, especially among young females.

“One of our primary concerns was the elevated level of female pediatric brain cancers, and that’s

where we broke it down to a more finite number of definitions and to the time frame between 2005 and 2007, and it showed the three cases in that particular time period,” O’Connor told the Town-Crier on Tuesday. “That’s probably the most significant. The overall pediatrics are also high, but the one that really becomes statistically significant is narrowing it down to that smaller time frame where you would probably see zero [cases], and in this case there are three and all being female.”

O’Connor noted that all the tumors were the same type, although no cause has been determined.

“This is just a statistical way of reviewing it to see if there is something indicated there,” O’Connor said, adding that health officials remain concerned about the small sampling size in the study. “To be able to identify a cause is going to be a little more difficult.”

Acreage resident Jennifer Dunsford, the mother of a seven-year-old boy who had a brain tumor removed when he was five, was among the earliest voices calling for a “cancer cluster” investigation. She said she was surprised that the health department indicated a cause might never be found.

“I was very surprised because we had been working closely with the Palm Beach County Health Department, and we had just finished our interviews with them,” Dunsford said Wednesday. “They had just come and picked up some radon canisters from the house on Monday. They were doing some radon testing in some of the homes

See

Steve Petrone, Former Royal Palm Employee, Launches Mayoral Bid

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Steve Petrone, a 35-year resident of Royal Palm Beach and 10year former village employee, qualified Monday, Feb. 1 to run for mayor.

Petrone, 58, will face Vice Mayor Matty Mattioli, who is also running for mayor. Mayor David Lodwick, who has served at the post for 12 years, announced his retirement late last year. Candidates have until Tuesday, Feb. 9 at noon to qualify for the ballot.

The Indian Trail Improvement District has begun the process of upgrading the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd. Supervisor Carlos Enriquez and District Administrator Tanya Quickel met recently with County Commissioner Jess Santamaria and Andrew Hertel, manager of the streetscape section of the county’s Roadway Production Division, about improvements at the intersection.

“It was a productive meeting,” Enriquez told the Town-Crier. “I showed him what I wanted for that

‘Cancer Cluster’ Confirmed, But Cause Unknown Equestrian Carol Coleman Enters

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington resident Carol Coleman announced this week that she would run for mayor against incumbent Darell Bowen in the March 9 municipal election.

Coleman, an 11-year resident, is an equestrian who serves on Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Committee. She is also known for her work with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Coleman said that her knowledge of the community would benefit the village.

“So many people separate the equestrians from other residents,” she said. “But we are all one community.”

corner at Orange and Seminole Pratt Whitney, and he was pretty much in support of it. The only issue he had was, of course, the money, given the budget crisis the county is having now.”

Enriquez said he would like to slow traffic at the intersection to make it more pedestrian-friendly. He also would like to install brick pavers and landscaping.

While traveling during the holiday season, Enriquez said he was impressed by what other communities he visited had done to reduce speeds on main roads

“I thought that was very nice, and the first thing I thought of was Seminole Pratt Whitney and Or-

Coleman, 60, was born and raised in Pennsylvania and graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia. When she married her husband Harvey, she settled in New Jersey, raised two daughters, and received master’s degrees in speech pathology, audiology and learning disabilities from Montclair State University.

For several years, Coleman worked with students with disabilities and also opened a private practice. She also was a professor at Manhattan College.

Coleman was a competitive equestrian and later a judge and frequently visited Wellington during the equestrian season. Eleven years ago, she decided to make a

ange because of Publix, the Walgreens and the library that’s going in there,” Enriquez said. “It’s kind of like the center of town as far as The Acreage is concerned. I know The Acreage isn’t a town, but that’s the center.”

Enriquez said Urban Design Kilday Studios has completed its plans for the library, and that the intersection work could tie in with the library. “The library site looks beautiful,” he said. “They might pick at it here and there, but I think it looks gorgeous.”

Pedestrian pathways are shown on the plans connecting the library with the Acreage Shopping Cen-

See ENRIQUEZ, page 20

permanent home here and bought a house in the Equestrian Club Estates.

“Even apart from the equestrian areas, Wellington is a beautiful place to live,” she said. “It’s a yearround community with great schools, and it’s a place where people can retire, too. It has a high level of public safety and senior services.”

After many years of watching the village grow and change, she decided to run for mayor in hopes of restoring the parks and recreation program, bringing higher education to Wellington, improving programs for seniors and maintaining a transparent government.

Petrone followed his family to Florida from Providence, R.I. in 1975 after graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an associate’s degree in business.

Steve Petrone By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

“We liked it here,” Petrone said. “We had never heard of this place before. It was a small town. We can never go back to the small town, and we need to manage what we have now, but I think it can be done in a little better fashion.”

Petrone recalled how Royal Palm Beach had a population of a few thousand when his family moved here.

“There’s over 30,000 now,” Petrone said Wednesday. “I’ve been watching the development very closely. I was a newspaper

Restoring the parks and recreation program in Wellington is important to Coleman, who said she is interested in all sports. The programs took a hit from budget cuts under Bowen, she said.

“Wellington has superior parks and recreational programs for its residents,” she said. “We even supply services to other villages such as Royal Palm Beach and Greenacres who use our facilities. But we also have a lot of kids who are not taken care of and many village programs cost money to participate in. I’d like to see some help for those kids.”

reporter. I was involved in knowing what was going on for many years. I worked for The [Palm Beach] Post and then the TownCrier, and then I worked for the village for over 10 years.”

Petrone said his experience as a village employee was among the reasons why he chose to enter the race.

“Being on the inside, I got to see a lot of things that I really didn’t care for,” he said. “There are a lot of things that need to be fixed that most people don’t get the opportunity to see. There’s

See PETRONE, page 20

Coleman said the village must Carol Coleman

PHOTO

DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER AND NANCY SHURTER

Wellington Christian School 2010 homecoming queen Alyssa Murakami and king David Manoharan.Sophomores get into their High School Musical theme.

Judges Michelle Strassel, Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen and Eileen Hamilton. Senior girls dressed as Pink Ladies from Grease .Teacher Michael Leffert served as master of ceremonies.

Wellington Christian School held its Homecoming Week Jan. 25-29. The week concluded with a homecoming parade, a school dance and the crowning of homecoming queen Alyssa Murakami and king David Manoharan during a basketball game against Palm Beach Gardens’ Trinity Christian School.

The freshmen with their Wizard of Oz-themed float.

County Commission To Consider Ban On Intersection Begging

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach County Commission agreed Tuesday, Feb. 2 to pursue a ban on panhandlers at county intersections.

The commission has looked at the issue in the past, but has been unable to find a way to put controls in place without having to ban all fundraising organizations, such as local firefighters who run a popular annual “boot drive.”

Commissioner Priscilla Taylor proposed the ban, saying the panhandlers pose a danger to themselves and are a distraction, if not a threat, to drivers.

“I would like to see us investigate whether we can come up with an ordinance, even if we do have to say to the firefighters, ‘Please find another way to raise your funds,’” Taylor said.

Commission Chairman Burt Aaronson asserted that this would be the 17th consecutive year that the commission has explored the panhandler issue.

“It has so many obstacles with so many people we would have to take off the medians, that every time we went to it, we discussed it for hours and hours and hours and always came back with the same answer — it’s almost an impossibility,” he said. “Nothing’s impossible, but the people we would have to eliminate — from the cheerleaders to the newspapers — our county attorney can tell you how many times we have looked into this.”

County Attorney Denise Nieman concurred that her department has looked into the issue many times.

“The bottom line always is that you have to ban everybody, and the board did not give us direction to bring back an ordinance to ban everybody,” Nieman said. “That’s what we would need to have a legally defensible ordinance.”

Taylor said she understood that, but people fundraising in the streets are a danger.

“The newspaper people, the people selling flowers, the homeless, the cheerleaders — it’s all dangerous,” she said.

Aaronson said such an action would draw a lot of opposition.

“You would have a lot of people coming up here, possibly including the newspapers, which are sold on the medians down in Boca Raton and Delray Beach,” he said.

“You probably may even have the ACLU, I don’t know.”

Aaronson added that the firefighters have said they collect more than $100,000 a year for charity during their intersection fundraiser, but Taylor stood by her assertion.

“I understand fully what you are saying, but I feel the firefighters can stand by Publix or Walgreens and still collect their monies,” Taylor said. “I do feel that it is a danger, and that we as county commissioners owe it to the citizens of Palm Beach County to be sure that they are safe.”

Taylor raised the concern that the county could be liable if a panhandler gets hurt. She was also concerned about the safety of drivers. “They walk up to your car, you don’t know who’s coming up behind you, the cars are speeding through and kids are running out into the road, not to mention the other people who are coming up with little cups and you find out they are not even from this area,” Taylor said. “It has become a franchise of opportunity, which we need to take a look at.”

Commissioner Karen Marcus pointed out that any action taken by the county would only be effective on county roads. She also suggested talking to Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue about changing its fundraising methods.

Commissioner Shelley Vana said she has looked into the issue and there are other locations that have banned fundraising at intersections.

“Quite frankly, coming down from Military Trail, it’s kind of scary because they are on every corner,” she said. “And when you stop at a red light, they approach you.”

Commissioner Jeff Koons said he would support a total ban on intersection fundraising.

“I’d say to the fire guys, ‘With all due respect, if one of you gets whacked by a car, we’re going to be paying those expenses, not anybody else.’ This has gotten worse and worse and worse,” he said. “There are no legal challenges if we ban everybody, and I think most people would understand if you want to raise money, do something else. Get a web site, get clicked. It’s very easy.”

Nieman said her legal staff would update previous research and send it to the commission.

Lox Council Eyes Permit Process For Non-Conforming Town Businesses

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

residential use.

The town is in the process of developing its own land development regulations, and the council has determined that many businesses would not be in compliance once those regulations are in place. The tentative plan had been to grandfather uses to some of the operations as long as they did not disrupt the neighborhood, but several workshop participants said grandfathering might not be the best course of action.

“I think we can all agree that every single business needs to have a business license in Loxahatchee Groves,” Liang said. “I’m not looking for the town to make money on that. I just want to make sure everything is above board.”

Councilman Dennis Lipp cited Wellington’s Edge Feed & Supply, which has licenses to operate a feed store but the land the firm operates on is listed for equestrian use. “That’s somebody who raises horses, whereas he is providing the same services as the Red Barn,” Lipp said, noting that the Red Barn has a land-use designation for a store.

Lipp estimated that most of the commercial operations in the town are not on land with the appropri-

ate designation. In the case of Wellington’s Edge, he said the store is located where such an operation would be desired, and it would be a matter of applying for a change in the land use designation. In other cases, the solution is not so simple. “We can’t be putting a trucking company in some area where the land use is residential,” Lipp said. Liang said he wanted to make it as easy as possible for nonconforming business owners located in appropriate areas to acquire those changes.

Councilman Dr. Bill Louda said he favored finding a way to let businesses continue to operate as long as they do not disrupt the neighborhood. “If they are good neighbors, find a way to make it legal,” he said. Fred Schafer of Paradise Trail said he felt grandfathering might not be the best route. “Grandfathering is going to be difficult,” he said. “Are you going to go back two years? Five years?” Schafer said he moved to Loxahatchee Groves in November and has had noise issues with a trucking operation next door to him. “We were here first,” he said. “Will we be entitled to some grandfathering as well?” Mayor Dave Browning said he does not intend to give blanket grandfathering to all existing uses in the town. “Some of these uses have always been illegal,” Browning said. “The spirit of that is, a guy has a couple of trucks, he parks them at night, he goes out in the morning, that’s different than an industrial transfer station that you have behind your house.”

Schafer said he would prefer to see businesses relocated to appropriate locations such as Southern or Okeechobee boulevards, away from residential areas where a higher noise level is acceptable. Councilman Ron Jarriel said he See PERMITS, page 20

Acreage residents finally got confirmation this week that the fears of a “cancer cluster” are indeed true. For months, the question has been whether the above-average rate of cancer, especially among children, was coincidence or something statistically significant. Unfortunately, knowing that suspicions turned out to be correct is little consolation for the families that have suffered. However, after being told by the Palm Beach County Health Department that yes, there is a higher rate of cancer among children, Acreage residents do not yet have the satisfaction of knowing why, and what can be done to mitigate the situation.

This “cancer cluster” confirmation without pinpointing a cause is the community’s worstcase scenario. It leaves The Acreage in limbo, unable to heal, deal and move on. That is why all levels of authority — local, county, state and federal — must not rest until this mystery is solved.

The initial reports suggesting a possible cluster were based on census figures from 2000, which put the population of The Acreage at about 29,000. However, rough estimates of the current population put that figure from 31,000 to upward of 39,000. Even with the increased population, the incidence rate of childhood cancer remains higher than normal. Not only that, but the types of cancer developing in some Acreage children — brain and central nervous system, affecting mostly young females — have been largely the same.

The numbers are small — just a handful — but they are statistically significant. It’s one

Herzog: Why I Choose Civic Leadership

Why would someone choose to be a civic leader instead of a po-

leader? Let’s just say that civic leaders have fewer con-

on how they perform their civic involvement. They can pick and choose when and how long they will participate in an event or an activity, but a political leader is expected to be present and participate in many community functions for the length of their term. The civic leader has the ability to communicate with anyone at anytime about anything, but a political leader has limitations because of the Florida Sunshine laws that prohibit privately discussing matters that will come up for future voting. This freedom of communication allows the civic leaders to act more swiftly when it comes to getting things done. Civic leaders also get involved because it makes them feel good to give back to the community without having to be concerned about offending those who campaigned for them and supported them. Civic leaders have the ability to work for the good of everyone with fewer restraints.

Other than the election process, a civic leader and a political leader are very similar. They should both be dedicated leaders who are truly working for what is most needed or provides the most pleasure for the most people their action will affect. It comes down to these basic facts that the civic leader elects to serve when asked by others, while the political leader is elected to serve. If the civic leader is elected to serve as an officer of an organization, the term of the commitment is for a shorter period of time than most political positions. The civic leader may choose to serve for many years on a committee because they enjoy giving back to the community. Being a civic leader offers the leader to be more flexible when approached with requests for participation and service. They have to consider where the talents they possess will be the most beneficial for the most people.

Being free of the campaigning and fundraising aspect of an election makes it more fun to be involved in the process. A candidate for a civic office usually does not have to go to candidate-style forum activities because more often than not the election takes place at a meeting where the voters are people who have been actively involved and know the real facts about the candidate first hand. There is no need for a campaign

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach County Commission approved the preliminary reading of an ordinance Thursday, Jan. 28 that would place a oneyear moratorium on the approval of pain-management clinics in order to give the county time to put measures in place to control clinics that are believed to fuel the illegal distribution of pain-control drugs.

“More young people die in Palm Beach County of drug over-

manager or campaign workers going out to the voting public to spread their version of what they want the voters to believe about the person seeking to be elected.

Running for a political office comes down to how good you are with dealing with others twisting the truth so much and so often that they begin to believe their own version of the facts and are able to convince others that what they are saying is true. Choosing civic leadership at this time is the route I will pursue in the Town of Loxahatchee Groves.

Marge Herzog Loxahatchee Groves

Light Pollution

In Loxahatchee

My name is Jennifer Keller and I live on East Grand National in Loxahatchee. I have lived in the area for 16 years and am proud to say so. I do, however, have a major issue with the installation of street lights that is occurring with the much-needed improvements along Seminole Pratt. Not only are the light poles aesthetically ugly and out of character, the fact that they are installing them every 150 feet is “light pollution” as far as I am concerned. With the installation being as such, that means there will be 10 street lights for every block. Being that this is a rural-residential area, I feel strongly that this is way too much light. Along Southern Blvd., which is a state road, there are only lights at main intersections. So why is so much lighting being installed in a residential area, let alone a rural area?

I first noticed the lighting on Jan. 29 coming home late that night. When I first saw the lights from a distance, I thought they were just doing more road work at night. As I got closer, I was shocked to see that it was the new street lights. The area is brighter than a parking lot. The next morning I called the Indian Trail Improvement District, and they told me to call roads and drainage. I finally talked to a young lady in engineering named Ali, whose answer to all my questions was “it’s design standard,” even when I repeatedly stated that this was an agricultural-residential neighborhood and it was an overwhelming amount of light, more than Southern (even in Royal Palm Beach limits), Northlake or Okeechobee Blvd. The lighting is very similar to that on the new Southern Blvd. bridge. Her only response was it is design standard. I also stopped and asked the FPL guys installing the poles who I

doses coming out of these pain medications than die of anything else put together,” Commissioner Jeff Koons said. “Once you start getting these medications from friends and the black market, it’s a devastating thing. It’s the biggest killer of kids in Palm Beach County, more than auto accidents, more than diseases.” Under the ordinance, no applications would be accepted for pain management clinics for a year. The proposed ordinance would require privately owned pain-

could call to complain. The guy I spoke to was very sweet and responded that he agreed and had even commented that the amount of light being installed was way more than necessary, but it was what was requested by roads and drainage.

I do not ever complain. I volunteer on multiple levels. I am a doer, not a complainer. But I feel this obscene amount of light, the costs to install and run them is unnecessary, and I have no clue as to how stop it. I have no problem with lightning being installed at the main intersections, like it is on Southern, but this many lights is going to affect the quality of my life as it is right now. I enjoy sitting on my porch at night, looking at the sky, and I am sure many others do as well. If they continue with the lighting of Seminole Pratt as they are now, that will all end.

Jennifer Keller

Loxahatchee

Wellington Needs Better Representation, Fewer Signs

Religion has seen its ebbs and flows in America, and since George W. Bush was president, we have seen it reach unfortunate heights (but not equally for all faiths). Heights, hmmm… In The Acreage, a 100-foot cross/cell tower has been erected on church property, and I’m not sure it facilitates it being heard in the heavens, but it did bring this quote from one neighbor: “Think it’s a bit of an eyesore. This sucker is huge.”

Our previous president had a religious/political litmus test for firing and hiring state attorneys across our nation. Here in Florida we were greeted with “Choose Life” license plates, and taxpayers money going to religious schools (a violation of our constitution), thanks to another Bush, Gov. Jeb Bush.

Recently in Wellington, a couple of occurrences are worth mentioning. The new synagogue proposed for Lake Worth Road is catching flack, none of which can I remember occurred when a Catholic church was built there recently. Hmm! I also noticed a digital-type sign at one of our churches on a main thoroughfare. Add this to Wellington Regional’s proposed digital signs, and I fear our beautiful village will soon endure these signs on any and all businesses soon.

In my earlier years, I was responsible with others for writing “our codes” and signage, which was quite important in keeping our small village atmosphere. We

thing to know there’s a legitimate health concern affecting Acreage families, but it’s another to know the root of that concern. Without that knowledge, residents are powerless to do anything about the situation. Is the water safe? Is there something in the soil? Right now, no one knows for sure, and what’s worse, no one knows if an answer ever will be found. But that doesn’t mean the testing should cease. If anything, finding the cause of the cluster is more important now than before. If there is a single environmental factor, Acreage residents need to know about it.

A study conducted last year by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection found that the levels of radioactive substances such as radium were elevated in the wells of some Acreage homes, but that the quality of ground water was good. Clearly there needs to be further study into these environmental factors. Otherwise, the uncertainty of the situation could (understandably) result in people moving out of the area. Up until now, there was hope that everyone’s fears might be exaggerated. But now that the “cancer cluster” has been proven, there is a problem to be addressed and solved.

Residents of The Acreage stand at a crossroads. If a cause of the cancer cluster can be determined in a reasonable amount of time, then steps can be taken to deal with the matter so people can know they’re safe in their homes. But if that never happens, the worst-case scenario might come to pass, and The Acreage’s currently booming population figures could go in an entirely different direction.

made Hollywood Video, Checkers and McDonald’s all scale down their signage. But now, with the backing of the chambers of commerce (businesses, not residents), it appears all is changing.

Witness Wellington Regional being rewarded for non-compliance with our village codes, their infamous banner heralding “now hiring” now to be rewarded, perhaps, by digital signage to bombard us perhaps at night as well as day. What a wonderful way to express our pride in our community to all of our visitors at our main entrance! Is the building so hidden that we need to know where it is? Does its existing signs not tell us of its existence? Does anyone not know where it is?

There is a council seat opening up as [Councilwoman] Lizbeth Benacquisto is moving on politically. I, for one, will not vote to fill her seat with another member of our chambers of commerce. I would like to see a resident without commercial interest fill this spot. Wellington is probably 95 percent residents and five percent business. We, the residents, need representation, too. I left a big city, I worked for Wellington for years, as did many others to make this place special to be a nice place to bring up children. Bright lights, neon, digital signage and huge banners are not a good fit. Digital and invasive signage will not help our businesses, but it will allow us to be like all the places we left.

George Unger Wellington

A Plan For

Rebuilding Haiti

Of course we must help Haiti rebuild; but I trust we will not build it the way it was. This is the time to start anew and built a new Haiti, one that is part of an emerging world and not just another third-world country. The way to do it is to use the unemployed people in the USA. They need jobs, and Haiti needs expertise. Send as many qualified people to Haiti as soon as possible. These workers would have to sign up for at least a year or more. Pay them the current wages they would receive in the USA, and have each of them train two or three Haitian apprentices to learn the jobs. This way Haitians could continue the building in the future. What is of equal importance is to build Haiti to a new standard. Throw out everything they have, including that palace, and start anew.

If you repair their port so cruise ships can come someday, and call on the resort industry to build ho-

management clinics that advertise pain-management services or employ a physician who prescribes or dispenses controlled medications be required to register with the Florida Department of Health. The ordinance also distinguishes between pain-management clinics and medical or dental offices.

Commissioner Shelley Vana said she worked on the issue in Tallahassee when she was a state representative. “It is a very delicate issue,” she said. “I think we’re adjusting it in the correct manner.”

Vana serves on the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee, which is working to construct a program that will enact similar ordinances in the county’s municipalities.

“We did bring this to the representatives of all the municipalities and governmental entities,” she said. “We are going to try and get it right. The balance is making sure that those people who are legitimately in pain and the doctors who provide medication are not over-regulated so they are afraid

tels and casinos, you will have a foundation for another port of call for tourists. Their homes, hospitals and other buildings must be built to withstand earthquakes. This tragedy must never be repeated. There is much to do; even their forest has to be replanted. Haiti could be the destination of the future. They have the climate, the ocean and the beaches. A place we would love to come to, and even live in. It can be done! Let’s help them do it.

Morley Alperstein Wellington

Healthcare Plan

Rewards

The

Irresponsible

The president’s greatest weakness is that he does not understand that the American people do not subscribe to his view of government. We do not want the federal government to be the agent of redistribution of earnings and wealth. He does not understand that it is clear to us that his approach to healthcare, for example, is to increase taxes on those who earn at the higher levels of income, and to place fines on those who choose to use their own money to pay for their healthcare, in order to funnel that money into free and reduced-cost insurance for those who want insurance but who do not want to pay for it. That particular form of wealth redistribution is the heart and soul of the crazy quilt legislation that is now up for passage by Congress.

What makes me come to the conclusion that the president does not understand? Here is why he thinks that Scott Brown won his Senate seat from Massachusetts: “The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry, and they’re frustrated. Not just because of what’s happened in the last year or two years, but what’s happened over the last eight years.”

That is a direct quote from an interview with George Stephanop-

oulos the day after Brown was elected. President Obama thinks the voters were motivated by their hatred of the Bush administration. He simply cannot believe that we do not want him to make the federal government the caretaker of everyone at the expense of those who prepare for life, and who work and earn and save in order to support and care for themselves and their families.

Americans are more than willing to make sacrifices in order to help those who cannot provide for themselves through no fault of their own. That needs repeating, through no fault of their own. But we are not interested in providing more benefits, of any kind, to those who simply game the system. Those who refuse to give up their “right” to a 60-inch HDTV and their “right” to eat out rather than shop for food bargains and prepare their own. Those who lied about their income in order to buy a house they knew they could not afford. Those who could buy health insurance but prefer to go to emergency rooms for their healthcare and use the saved money for the “finer” things of life. The current Obama-supported plan does nothing to curb those abuses, but rather reinforces the attitude that the country owes these folks a standard of living to which they would like to become accustomed.

If Congress and the president would look for means to reduce healthcare costs for everyone by fostering competition among providers. If they would make it easier for the 50 states to experiment with better ways to provide healthcare for those who truly cannot afford it. If they would acknowledge that it is the fundamental duty of each citizen to provide for himself or herself to the limit of their ability. If they would recognize that the federal one-size-fits-all approach to personal aid of any kind does not work and is not fair, then they would get support from the large majority of Americans.

Phil Sexton Wellington

to provide medication and relief to people who have significant pain. However, getting it right takes a while. The moratorium will give us time to get it right.”

Vana commended Commissioner Karen Marcus for her work getting the ordinance moving. Marcus said her recommendation came after she asked county staff what could be done to control pain clinics. She said people meeting with county staff have included the doctor of a legitimate pain management clinic. “We’re

hoping that through his efforts, he can help us make sure we don’t over-regulate and allow the legitimate ones to be there,” Marcus said.

Koons suggested that the state information systems be coordinated in the county’s ordinance so “doctor shopping” and pain clinics can be more closely monitored. A motion by Marcus to approve the moratorium was seconded by Vana and carried 7-0. It will return to the commission in final form later this month.

Wellington Exploring The Idea Of Fixing Residential Swales

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington is exploring whether or not to take control of resodding residential swales — a move that village officials believe could save money long-term by eliminating drainage and road problems. Although the idea has yet to be fully studied by village staff, residential swale maintenance could be recommended to the Wellington Village Council as part of the budget process for next fiscal year, which gets underway soon, Village Manager Paul Schofield said this week.

However, that will only happen if further study shows that the changes will be cost-effective. “Wellington doesn’t maintain swales, nor do most cities or water control districts,” he said. “We intend to do a financial feasibility study to see if maintaining the swales will save the village money over the long run.”

Although resodding and other swale maintenance is currently residents’ responsibility, irregular care can cause drainage or road problems that have to be fixed at the expense of the village. “The issue is that maintenance doesn’t always get done, and then

the swale becomes overgrown,” he said. “The real problem is that it puts a lot of water into the roadway when it rains and can cause other problems.” Grass swales clean rainwater before it goes into canals, but nutrients gather in the soil and raise the sod baseline over time, forcing water into roadways or driveways, Deputy Village Manager John Bonde explained. “It’s not working with individuals being responsible for the maintenance,” he said. “When you don’t have good drainage, the cost to repair problems is going to be much higher.”

The measure is among several that fall together with Wellington’s proactive stances toward preventing future problems.

Village staff hopes to determine whether preventive maintenance will be a cheaper alternative to one-time fixes. In this way, Wellington’s focus is similar to maintaining a house or a car, Schofield said. “We want to see if it would be cheaper to do swale maintenance or to just fix the problems when they occur,” he said.

The recent repairs to the roadway on Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd. late last year cost the village approximate-

ly $700,000 to repair the road and install a drainage system, Schofield said.

“There was no drainage at all,” he said. “Had those swales had proper drainage, it wouldn’t have been that expensive. So we wondered if we could save money in the future with preventative maintenance that would keep us from having to do big repairs.”

Simply resurfacing the road would have cost only $150,000, Bonde said. He estimated that the village would need to fix seven to 10 percent of the swales each year at a cost of approximately $500,000 per year. The process

would take between 10 and 15 years, and the new swales would last approximately 10 years. Swale maintenance could be one of many long-term cost-saving initiatives that the village implements as it deals with providing the same level of services with a shrinking budget.

Next year’s budget is expected to be $75 million — a $10 million cut from the current year.

“We must take a look to see if there are other opportunities to save money that we may have overlooked,” Schofield said. “I’ve got to figure out how to cut $10 million out of the budget.”

PHOTOS

Tinu Peña gathers with some of her

RPB Councilman Fred Pinto (left) and J. Amanayea Abraham (right) speak to the audience about Tinu Peña’s campaign.

Peña with

Jessie Wang tests her hula-hooping skills.

Jared Brock tries his hand at making a volcano.

came dressed in their tackiest Hawaiian tourist outfits and tried their skills against the Guinness record-holders for hula-hoop and limbo contests. For more information about library programs, call (561) 790-6070.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Burglars Hit Vehicles

Parked At Wellington’s Tiger Shark Cove Park

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

JAN. 30 — Several vehicles parked in the parking lot at Tiger Shark Cove Park in Wellington were burglarized last Saturday afternoon. According to separate Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reports, the victims called the Wellington substation after returning from the park to find that their vehicles had been broken into. According to one report, sometime between 12:45 and 2:15 p.m., someone smashed out the vehicle’s front passenger-side window and removed the victim’s purse, wallet and briefcase from the seat and floorboard. The stolen items were valued at approximately $50. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. In another report, the victim parked her vehicle in the parking lot at approximately 2 p.m. and returned half an hour later to find the driver’s-side rear window had been broken. Unknown suspects removed her child’s purse from the seat. The stolen items were valued at approximately $75. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

•

• • JAN. 28 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Belvedere Road last Thursday afternoon regarding a shoplifting complaint. According to a PBSO report, a loss prevention officer observed 32-yearold Jose Vazquez select five Nintendo DS games and conceal them in his underwear. Vazquez then passed all points of sale, failing to pay for the items, and was approached by the officer and escorted to the store’s loss prevention office. Vazquez was discovered to be in possession of five games valued at $154.80. According to the report, Vazquez confessed to the deputy that he had no intention of paying for the items and had not brought any means to pay. He was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail and charged with retail theft.

JAN. 29 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to a construction site on Flying Cow Road in the Rustic Ranches community early last Friday morning in response to a burglary. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6 p.m. last Thursday and 4:50 a.m. the following morning, someone attempted to steal a hydraulic water pump by chaining it to a front-end loader and lifting it. Workers found the pump moved a few hundred feet, still chained to the loader. The pump sustained approximately $1,500 in damage. According to the report, the perpetrator left the pump behind after it was damaged. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

JAN. 30 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to the Wellington Community Center last Saturday afternoon regarding an act of vandalism. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 1:30 and 2 p.m., someone smashed out the rear passenger-side window of the victim’s car, which was parked in the parking lot of the community center. No items were taken from the vehicle, and there were no witnesses or suspects at the time of the report.

FEB. 1 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach responded to a home in the Trails community Tuesday regarding a burglary the previous day. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, someone entered the victim’s home and stole a Tag Heuer watch and several items of jewelry. The stolen items were valued at approximately $21,800. The victim said the point of entry was through the bedroom sliding doors. According to the report, the victim did not want the deputy to dust for prints or take DNA evidence. She did not have serial numbers or identifiers for the jewelry. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report.

FEB. 1 — A Wellington man was arrested on drug charges early Monday morning outside the Players Club on South Shore Blvd. following suspicious activity. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 3 a.m. a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was patrolling the area when he observed 22-year-old Jeffrey Jean stumbling down the sidewalk. The deputy stopped to check on him and noticed Jean making several furtive movements toward his pants pocket. Jean agreed to let the deputy search him and was found to have approximately one gram of marijuana in his front right pants pocket. Jean was issued a notice to appear in court and released at the scene. FEB. 2 — An Acreage man was arrested on vehicle theft and drug charges Tuesday night after he stole his mother-in-law’s car from their home on Coconut Blvd. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/ Loxahatchee substation responded to the residence after 33-yearold Jordan Gillikin took his mother-in-law’s BMW without her permission. The victim said she was sleeping at approximately 9 p.m. when she heard her garage door open and went to investigate. She said she observed Gillikin backing out of the driveway and yelled at him to stop, but he drove away. According to the report, while the deputy was completing paperwork outside the home, Gillikin returned to the home and was ar-

BDB Advises Chamber, Communities On How To Attract Business

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

Incentive programs and business-friendly policies are two of several key factors that will draw potential employers to the western communities, Business Development Board President & CEO Kelly Smallridge told members of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Jan. 22.

“We are here to increase wealth; to bring in companies that have products and services outside of Palm Beach County,” she said at an economic development seminar held at Wellington Regional Medical Center.

The seminar is part of the chamber’s economic development initiative, which began in October and aims to attract key industry employers to the area. Members of the chamber and local municipality representatives met to learn how to make the western communities the ideal place for new businesses.

The BDB works to promote Palm Beach County to CEOs of major companies looking to move to the area. Acting as a liaison between municipalities and companies, the BDB helps businesses

find available locations and expedite the move-in process. In her 21 years of experience, Smallridge said that all companies examine their options when it comes to choosing a location, and often have several in mind. It’s up to the cities to sell themselves to the company, which is why a united front is so important.

“It doesn’t matter to us whether they go to Boca, to Jupiter or out to Belle Glade,” she said. “We all benefit here.” Companies don’t see boundary lines when they visit an area, she said, adding that most CEOs wouldn’t want to relocate to an area surrounded by fighting cities.

“Together we have to focus on the infrastructure in this community that creates a live-work-learnplay environment,” she said. CEOs look to move to locations with ample space for their business, affordable housing for their employees, entertainment, and a good school system to educate their children and feed their business in the future, Smallridge said.

“You could have the best quality of life, you could have the best neighborhoods and the best schools, but if you don’t have an

environment that attracts a good workforce, it’s very hard to bring companies to the area,” she said.

“Remember that CEOs are wondering ‘Where can my company be competitive? Where can I attract young and innovative minds?’ And if you can’t attract young and innovative minds, it’s going to be hard for that company to be competitive in your area.”

Although Wellington and Royal Palm Beach are family-oriented areas, Smallridge noted that CityPlace and Clematis Street in West Palm Beach are major selling points for a younger crowd.

Smallridge encouraged local representatives to update their web sites and public information to highlight local attractions and benefits to living in the area. She also suggested they focus on attracting businesses in industries that are flourishing in the area, such as the aerospace and aviation businesses, financial services, communications, healthcare and life sciences, including green technology.

“With wind, the sun and the ocean here in the State of Florida, we are fairly right for attracting this, but a little behind other states that have more advanced green

technology policies,” she said.

Local policies are particularly important to attracting businesses, she said, adding that it was the BDB that encouraged the local communities to put in place an expedited permit process to allow companies to move in quickly.

Lake Park is one of the only cities with an ad valorem tax exemption, which is enticing for companies, Smallridge said. “We’re encouraging cities to create those policies and programs now so that when a deal comes to them, we’re not having to tell a prospect, ‘Oh, wait eight weeks before it goes to two or three meetings,’ it’s already done,” she said.

Additionally, many communities have set up an incentive fund for companies who choose to move to the area. Often these include money, or in some cases communities offer freely available land.

“The City of Boca Raton has a $5 million incentive program right now,” she said. “It’s money set aside out of the reserves for deals coming through the Business Development Board that are creating jobs. They also have 100 acres of city-owned land that I believe they

would be willing to donate for the right client.”

Having these incentives is important to stay competitive within the county. And although Palm Beach County offers incentives to new businesses, each municipality can offer its own funds to draw the businesses to their location. “If the county did not have these incentive packages, we’d like to know that there’s something out here that can fill that gap,” she said. “Other cities have it, it’s

readily available. These cities have been very aggressive in putting together incentive dollars to entice the right company.”

Smallridge encouraged each community to take a look at all the assets it can offer a company, and then decide what industry would be the best fit. Then it’s just a matter of working to promote the community and find the right business.

“There’s a lot of work to do,” she said. “But none of it is insurmountable.”

Town Contractor Updates LGLA On Post-Storm Recovery Plans

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Two representatives of the firm that handles emergency cleanup work for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves assured residents last week that the company is wellprepared to respond to any disaster that might hit the area.

Randi Milner and Tim Mooney, representatives of Pompano Beach-based AshBritt Environmental, spoke to the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association on Thursday, Jan. 28 and said the firm had gained invaluable experience from the cleanup work it did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Milner said the work AshBritt did in Mississippi was the singlelargest debris mission by one agency with 16 jurisdictions covering 8,500 square miles and going 175 miles inland. Milner also noted that AshBritt had to go on private property since many of the homeowners had either fled the area or were staying away until it was safe to return.

“Twenty million cubic yards of debris was collected,” she said, “and that was a 10-month project. We had to manage 52 temporary debris storage sites. Something you don’t see very often in a Katrina-like situation was we went on private property and did debris removal and demolition of people’s homes. Another unique situation was swimming pools. We

SRHS Band BBQ

Fun Day Feb. 20

The

ment, rock wall, bounce houses, bungee run and other activities for

had to clean them out. The water just got stagnant.” Mooney also tried to assure residents that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which came under intense criticism for its failure to respond quickly in providing relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and AshBritt were better equipped now to handle disasters.

“If it makes you feel better,” Mooney said, “FEMA has come a long way. They’ve changed and gotten better, and are a lot easier to work with. You have a representative for this area. It’s great for your emergency management team to know who that person is and how to get involved. A lot of times, you have to fight for what’s right for your community. The more you stay involved and get engaged with your FEMA representative, the better it is for you.

Always know who your representative is, and stay in touch with them and try to meet with them when they are in town.”

AshBritt, which was formed in 1992, has worked on more than 130 disaster recovery projects in 16 states and Puerto Rico, Milner said. The agency offers such services as emergency road clearance, debris removal from rightsof-way and private property, debris site management, debris disposal, hazardous tree and stump removal, household hazardous waste collection and recycling, and emergency response.

all ages. All proceeds go to benefit band operations. For crafter/vendor questions, information about participating in the car show or entertainment, or for general inquiries, call Roland Greenspan at (561) 792-6704 or e-mail bandbbq@aol.com. Seminole Ridge High School is located at 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

Wellington Cares Taking Donations

For Haiti Relief

Wellington Cares Clearinghouse will be taking a carload of donations for Haiti to Food for the Poor in Coconut Creek on Thursday, Feb. 18. The following items are especially needed at this time: hygiene

Besides Katrina, the company has also done cleanup work following Hurricane Dolly and Hurricane Ike, which both hit Texas in 2008.

AshBritt also did cleanup work after Hurricane Wilma hit Florida in 2005 shortly after Katrina smacked the Gulf Coast. The Wilma relief work included cleaning up more than six million cubic yards of debris and water pumping because of all the flooding. The agency also provided emergency generators. “I got on the phone with my contacts, and within four days, we had shower facilities, sleeping quarters and an office space,” Milner said. “I remember being at a conference this year, and a guy came up to me and said thank you for the shower. We have teaming agreements with contractors or vendors all over the United States. We have to get them as local as possible.”

Milner said the firm’s contract with the town could be amended to include other services not in the contract if the community feels those services are needed. Milner stressed that it’s important for the community to make sure that any services it wants implemented are not already offered by the county to avoid duplication of costs.

She recommended that the community make sure everything is in writing so there will be a paper trail for FEMA when the agency asks questions. “If you check with the county first and they can-

items such as soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste; kids’ clothes and shoes; milk: evaporated, powdered, condensed; canned meat and fish; satchels, backpacks or duffel bags; medical equipment/supplies (sealed medicines must be at least six months from expiration); and blankets.

Items can be dropped off at 519 Azure Ave. in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 7905499.

PBC Animal Kindness Award

Nominations

Palm Beach County’s Animal Care & Control Division is seeking outstanding individuals or groups who have shown com-

not provide you with the things that you need, then you can go with us,” Milner said.

Milner told LGLA members that AshBritt prefers to use area subcontractors, but that sometimes is difficult because many subcontractors flee the area in the wake of a disaster.

LGLA President Marge Herzog wanted to know whether local residents could begin cleanup work after a hurricane hit before AshBritt workers begin their operations. Milner said such an effort does not present a problem unless it causes a safety issue, but that it would be best to wait until Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office say it is safe for residents to begin such work.

“At the beginning of a bad situation,” Mooney said, “all help is good as long as it’s safe. People really get injured after the storm because they are out there too soon. There are some very experienced contractors living out here. That’s why it’s so important to have local contractors out here on the job.”

After the presentation from AshBritt, Sharyn Browning, wife of Mayor David Browning, swore in the new LGLA board for 2010: President Marge Herzog, Vice President Harold Sossonsky, atlarge members Nancy Handwerg and Diane Von Grote, and Sergeant-at-Arms Claus Von Grote.

mendable care and devotion to animals, domestic or wild, for the nomination of the 2010 Animal Kindness Award. Those nominated for the award must be Palm Beach County residents whose good deeds to animals have taken place in this county. All nominations will be reviewed, and the most admirable person will be selected. Youth nominations are also accepted and are eligible for the Junior Animal Kindness Award. The honorees will be recognized before the Board of County Commissioners. Nomination forms are available at the shelter (7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach) or at www.pbcgov.com/pubsafety/animal. To get a form mailed to your home, call (561) 233-1222. Forms must be returned by Sunday, March 14.

Randi Milner (left) and Tim Mooney (right) of AshBritt.

Sharyn Browning swears in the new LGLA Board of Directors.

TEMPLE BETH TORAH

BENEFIT WALKATHON

Temple Beth Torah’s youth group hosted a walkathon on Sunday, Jan. 31 to benefit Camp Jenny, a four-day camp for underprivileged children in Atlanta. Walkers sought sponsorships from individuals, families and companies. All of the money raised will go directly to Camp Jenny.

NEWS BRIEFS

Haiti Donation Drive Feb. 6 At Beef O’Brady’s

The Tyler McLellan Foundation has joined forces with the Pierre Garcon Helping Hands Foundation in setting up a local drop-off center for supplies to be shipped to Haiti. On Saturday Feb. 6, the group will be at Beef O’Brady’s at 1179 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach to accept monetary donations, medical supplies and clothing to be sent to the people of Haiti.

“This is a time where we have to all come together to help the people of Haiti, and we want to do our part,” said Kevin McLellan, who is organizing the event with his wife Karin.

The Tyler McLellan Foundation has partnered with Beef O’Brady’s to use its parking lot, as well as Miss Geico Racing, which will donate the trailers to deliver the supplies to the First Baptist Haitian Church in Belle Glade, the Garcon family church.

When the McLellans called Pastor Morales St. Hilaire to let him know what they were planning to do to help, he was very thankful. “We are so grateful. This is just so wonderful that you would do this for the people of Haiti,” he said.

McLellan will have two trailers to fill with supplies and urges everyone to come out to help in any small way. For each donation made by adults, they will receive one free admission band to the Tyler’s Day Celebration Fin Fest

2010 on April 10 at Palm Beach

Central High School. For each donation made by a child, they will receive a free AMF backpack/ cooler while supplies last. For more information about the Tyler McLellan Foundation, visit www.tylermclellanfoundation.org or call (561) 215-3717.

St. Michael Supports Cross International

St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington is actively supporting Cross International, an interdenominational Christian aid organization, which has shipped five 40-foot containers of medicines, food, clean water, charcoal for cooking and tarps to the medical team in Saint-Marc, a coastal city about 50 miles northwest of Portau-Prince, Haiti.

Cross International already had a two-million-meal supply of dehydrated lentil blend nutritional packets that was sent to the Pwoje Espwa orphanage in Les Cayes before the earthquake. From that supply, the organization has offered half a million meals immediately to help feed the refugees flooding into Les Cayes from Port-au-Prince and will provide more as needed.

At the national level, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Disaster Response fund now stands at more than $1.6 million and has already provided two water purification systems to bring clean water to 25,000 people, emergency food and medical supplies to thousands, and blankets

and tents to shelter 10,000 people

who are homeless.

Donations may also be made online at www.crossinternational. org or www.elca.org/disaster.

For more information, call Dr. Alec Pridgeon at (561) 798-5109 or Pastor Marjorie Weiss at (561) 793-4999.

United Storage

Joins Haitian Relief Effort

United Storage in Royal Palm Beach has joined with other local organizations to help provide emergency supplies and necessities to earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The storage facility is currently collecting material donations and encourages all community members to participate.

United Storage has been in contact with several agencies that are accepting donations of emergency supplies, non-perishable food and other necessities, and is arranging to transport these items to Haiti.

“We still encourage anyone with the financial ability to contribute cash to some of the larger charitable organizations collecting to help the Haitian people, but we recognize that in these trying financial times, a monetary donation may not always be possible,” site manager Steve Petrone said. “Therefore, we are encouraging anyone who has emergency supplies to contribute by dropping them off at our location at 8970 Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach, a half-mile east of State Road 7.”

United Storage will be a dropoff and storage point, working with other agencies accepting contributions at their locations, including Royal Palm Covenant Church (660 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.) and Missionary International of Fort Pierce.

United Storage is currently accepting only donations of nonperishable food, first aid, health and personal hygiene supplies, flashlights and batteries. No monetary donations, clothing, items in plastic bags or larger items will be accepted at this time. As more specific needs are identified, United Storage will begin accepting larger and boxed items. Donations will be accepted at the storage facility during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The United Storage office is closed on Sundays.

For more information and updates on what items are being collected, contact Petrone at (561) 753-0666 or unitedstoragerpb @att.net.

New Walking Club In RPB

A new walking club in Royal Palm Beach will meet for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 9 a.m. The club will meet bi-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For the first two weeks, the meeting location will be Wild Orchids Café at Veterans Park. A schedule will then be created providing a list of future locations. Pre-registration is required by calling the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center at (561) 7905149.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

(Above) Suzi Grbinich and Andi Parker. (Below) Walkers gather before the walk.

Selma Bersin and Faye Ford.

St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church volunteers Suzanne and Elizabeth Bates, Madeline Blodgett, Aurora Bailey and Joyce Parker.

Mark O’Connor performs.

and Lou Satterlee.

POLO & EQUESTRIAN

Zacara Wins 13-10 In Featured Ylvisaker Cup Match At Polo Club

Lyndon Lea scored five goals to lead Zacara to a 13-10 victory over Wanderers/Isla Carroll in the featured Ylvisaker Cup match on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

Seven-goaler Jeff Hall scored four goals and Gonzalo del Tour and Toto Collardin each scored twice for Zacara, which improved to 2-0 in the third 20-goal tournament of the season. Zacara won the Joe Barry Memorial Club last month.

“I felt like we were cruisin’,” Hall said. “We just tried to play basic, classic polo. We did, and it paid off for us.”

Kris Kampsen led Wanderers/ Isla Carroll (2-1) with eight goals.

Zacara broke a 3-3 tie after two chukkers by scoring five times in the third chukker for an 8-4 lead. Lea and Hall scored in the fourth chukker to counter a penalty conversion by Kampsen and give Zacara a 10-5 lead.

Lea was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Sugar Erskine and Nacho Figueras each scored one goal for the Wanderers. Erskine’s mare Violet was chosen as the game’s Best Playing Pony. In last Sunday’s other Ylvisaker Cup games, Lucchese improved to 3-0 with a 15-10 victory over Lechuza Caracas (2-1), and the Hawks (3-0) beat Faraway Polo 10-9 in overtime. Faraway Polo fell to 1-2. Featured polo matches are played every Sunday. Tickets for the Nespresso Grande Pavilion range from $40 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to $85 for the fieldside brunch with service beginning at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $15, lawn seating is $15 and box seats are available for $100. The Wellington Zone is open to the public and is free with food and beverages available for purchase. Parking is $5. For more information, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call the box office at (561) 2825334. For team information and field assignments, call the polo hot line at (561) 282-5290.

Minikus Takes Sunday Grand Prix; Women Win ‘Battle Of The Sexes’

Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee and Pavarotti won the $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix, CSI*2 on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Also last weekend, the women defeated the men for the second consecutive year in the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes held Saturday, Jan. 30. That event drew 5,200 spectators to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington.

Those two events were the highlights of the third week of the festival, which also included a full schedule of hunter, jumper and equitation classes. Minikus and Pavarotti sped through a jump-off course to beat Nick Skelton of Great Britain and Carlo 273. Lauren Hough on Highlife Farm’s Prezioso S was third. Minikus and Pavarotti finished in 34.68 seconds. “I don’t really

plan for the jump-off because it is easier for me to feel what is happening than to force something to happen,” Minikus said.

Minikus had been sidelined with a torn adductor muscle in his leg.

“Two weeks ago, I started riding again,” he said. “Pavarotti has had some time off, but it’s more that I’ve been off than my horse has been off. He felt quite good.”

The Budweiser Clydesdales paraded in the arena before the Battle of the Sexes.

In the final phase, Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 soared clearly over all jumps in the Six Bar competition, securing the win for the women.

“It’s always fun when you win, but it’s a fun class either way,” Bloomberg said. “Having this many people show up was amazing, and the atmosphere was great. They did a really good job putting on the class.”

The winning team included captain Katie Prudent, Bloomberg, Debbie Stephens, Margie Engle, Beezie Madden, Laura Chapot, Lauren Hough, Casey Hodges, Cara Raether, Marilyn Meredith and Nicole Simpson.

McLain Ward and Miss Liberty 7 took the top prize in the $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumpers on Wednesday, Jan. 27. They were the fastest in the speed round over second-place finishers Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star and Maggie Jayne on Pony Lane Farm’s Esquilino Bay. Olympic individual gold medalist Eric Lamaze of Canada was in top form on Thursday, Jan. 28 when he qualified all three of his mounts for the jump-off. He earned the top prize in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Three on Ultra Boy, owned by Ashland Stables, by defeating a field of 18 in the jump-off.

“He has a quality of Hickstead and a winning mind of a horse like that,” Lamaze said of Ultra Boy. “He just has to do as much as a horse like that. He has a character of his own; he doesn’t really like to work. I have a good rapport with him, and I feel competitive with him.”

Also last Thursday, Louis Jacobs rode Deeridge Farm’s Kachina to the win in the $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Time First Jumpoff class. They beat a field of 40 other entries with a double clear performance and a jump-off time

of 32.122 seconds. Jeffrey Welles, riding Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z, was second in 32.161 seconds. Angela Covert-Lawrence scored another top-three finish in the division on Utan, owned by Eastwood Group. They were double clear in 32.321 seconds.

Richard Spooner of Agua Dulce, Calif., won the $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40 Speed Challenge on Quirino 3 in 62.311 seconds on Friday, Jan. 29. Chapot, on Chili Pepper, produced a time of 63.408 seconds for second place.

On Saturday, Jacobs won the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. Jacobs and Kachina were the fastest double clear competitors out of 10 in the jump-off. They finished in 41.335 seconds. Leslie Howard and Raimond W were second in 42.193 seconds.

In a tight race for the championship in the Conformation Hunter division, Ken Berkley and Premiere, owned by Gina Day, finished first with 28 points over two days of competition.

Morgan Thomas and First Partners LP’s mount Savant took the reserve championship with 27 points.

Mary Tyree and Peppercorn won Section A of the SmartPak

Equine Low Adult Amateur 2’6” Hunters competition last Friday. The reserve championship went to Little Black Dress, owned and ridden by Joy Harrington-Graue.

Victoria Colvin, 12 of Loxahatchee, won the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Championship aboard Scott Stewart’s Krystall for the second week in a row. Lillie Keenan and Stewart Moran’s Madison earned the reserve championship. Krista Weisman and Be Cool were awarded the championship ribbon in the Adult Amateur 1835 Hunters. Weisman and her mount, owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman, placed first and fifth over fences on Saturday, and second over fences on Sunday. The reserve championship went to Contina, owned and ridden by Danielle Devincentis. Hunter champions on Sunday included Lillie and Lanes End’s Capetown in the Small Junior Hunters 15 & Under, as well as Stacey Arani and Marigot Bay Farm’s Bolero, who claimed the championship in the AmateurOwner Hunters 36 & Over. For full results, visit www. shownet.biz or www.equestrian sport.com.

Todd

(Above) Larry Coyle, Josh and Heidi Johnson with son Cash, Terrie Rier and John Wash with the Budweiser truck. (Below) Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen, Councilman Matt Willhite, Florida CFO Alex Sink and State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo. IMAGES COURTESY LILA PHOTO

Zacara’s Lyndon Lea scored five goals in Sunday’s win against Wanderers/Isla Carroll. PHOTO BY ALEX PACHECO

Binks Forest Elementary School Honors Spelling Bee Participants

The top 28 fourth- and fifthgrade spellers at Binks Forest Elementary School showed off their talents in a spelling bee on Jan. 28. The bee lasted for 10 rounds and had audience members holding their breath until the final word was spelled correctly. The crowd was on their feet when Jack Liufu secured first place by correctly spelling the word affiliation. Emilee Gardner gave Jack some great competition, coming in second place, and Lee-Ann Tanza took an impressive third place.

The last three spellers wowed the audience by battling four rounds, spelling words such as miraculous, monopolize and quarantine Liufu and Gardner will have the

opportunity to compete in the final local spelling bee on Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. The school wishes them the best of luck and would like to congratulate the following participants in this year’s spelling bee: Hannah Holmberg, Jake Anders, Lea Schwartz, Kolhman Fritz, Alexa Knurr, Jonathan Bergmann, Lauryn Auger, Andric Tam, Madison Russo, Sebastian Jaubert, Carley Anderson, Billy Matari, Cheyenne Martin, Georges Lexima, Sarah Ruderman, Drew Moshe, Meghana Pandit, Scott Carlson, Alexandra Faife, Justin Aristorenas, Alison Munden, Jessica Michaels, Natasha Salopek, Allison Terry and Gabbie Benacquisto.

Jack Liufu, Emilee Gardner and Lee-Ann Tanza with their awards.Binks Forest Elementary School spelling bee contestants.

ELBRIDGE GALE ELITE GIRLS CHEER BRONCO TEAM

WCS To Host Spring Open House Feb. 9

Wellington Christian School will hold its annual spring open house sessions on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Area families are invited at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to tour the school’s campus, meet teachers and staff, and learn about the school’s strong academic, athletic and fine arts programs.

Wellington Christian School is celebrating its 30th anniversary during the 2010 school year. The school is excited to bring area families up-to-date on the outstanding programs that have been a part of

the western communities since 1981. The school, which is located at 1000 Wellington Trace in Wellington, serves students in PK-3 through 12th grade, including VPK, and offers a competitive academic program with a Christ-centered, loving community of committed teachers, parents and staff. For more information about Wellington Christian School, visit the school’s web site at www. wellingtonchristian.org or call the main office (561) 793-1017.

Members of Elbridge Gale Elementary School’s Elite cheerleading team helped cheer on the Palm Beach Central High School boys varsity basketball team on Friday, Jan. 15. The girls from Elbridge Gale joined their older counterparts from PBCHS to cheer on the Broncos during their game against Boca Raton. Elbridge Gale’s Elite cheerleaders include students from kindergarten through fifth grade. They returned to cheer on the Broncos during their Friday, Jan. 29 game against Park Vista.

WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOLDS ART RECEPTION AT BARNES & NOBLE

Wellington Elementary School recently held a student art reception at Barnes & Noble in Wellington. Artwork was chosen from every grade level, performances were held on the stage, and faculty and students read books. It was a night all involved will remember.

A special performance to make the evening complete.

RPBHS Wins

Big At Computer Competition

The annual Palm Beach County Computer Programming Competition was held recently at Royal Palm Beach High School.

Various schools from the county participated, including Suncoast High School, Boca Raton High School, John I. Leonard High School and Don Estridge High Tech Middle School. RPBHS captured its second title in four years. Each school is given the programming language of their choice. Questions and problems are compiled into three point categories based on the level of difficulty. Each question correctly programmed to produce an answer is awarded that point value.

Judges from the district and/or local businesses monitor each school’s progress. At the end of the three-hour competition, the team with the greatest point value is that year’s champion.

All high schools and middle schools are invited to send a team of four students to compete.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” computer science and mathematics instructor Rudy Gawron said. “They worked extremely hard just to be able to compete. Winning was unexpected icing on the cake.”

Golden Grove Students Visit Nursing Home

Members of the Teachers of Tomorrow Club at Golden Grove Elementary School recently completed another of its community projects. Each year, all the classes at the school create holiday cards for residents at the Royal Manor nursing home in Royal Palm Beach. The goal of the project is to put a smile on all the residents’ faces. The cards were specially done to represent the diverse population at the facility. Students at the school created more than 200 cards for the residents. The cards were hand-delivered to the residents during the winter break, and the students visited each room. They read them to those who were not able to do so and some received a card or two. Teachers of Tomorrow Club members volunteer their services at Royal Manor on selected Saturdays. They are supervised by club sponsor Dr. Elaine Ealy. This is one way students from Golden Grove give back to the community. As future teachers, club members also learn to be patient, gentle and kind from working with the residents. It is very rewarding, and the students and residents enjoy participating in the

activity each year. For more information, call Ealy at (561) 904-9700.

Crestwood

Selling CD To Benefit Haiti

Crestwood Middle School chorus and hand bell groups, under the direction of Veronica Johnson, co-authored and performed a song titled “Les Ailes D’amour” (“On Wings of Love” in Creole). The song was recorded on Friday, Jan. 22 and is available for sale for $5 at the school and at local businesses. All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross. In addition, Crestwood organized a Haitian relief drive Jan. 25-29. For more info., call Principal Stephanie Nance at (561) 753-5000.

Panther Run

Joins In Haiti

Relief Effort

Panther Run Elementary School families and staff have generously donated to the victims of Haiti’s earthquake. The school has been collecting items from students, parents, teachers, staff and community members to help those in need.

Panther Run PTA members collected approximately 18 large crates of supplies and food

items, which included dry cereals, granola bars, soups, toothpastes, toothbrushes, hygiene supplies, infant formula, blankets, towels and first aid essentials.

The school collected approximately $1,500 that will be given to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Child Photo ID

Event Feb. 6

Binks Forest Elementary School and Ibis Financial Group will hold a SecureChild Photo ID event on Saturday, Feb. 6 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Binks Forest Golf Club.

The single most important tool in helping to find a missing child is a good photograph. Nearly all parents have photographs of their children, but most do not have suitable photographs for release to law enforcement officials and the press in the event their child is missing. The SecureChild photo ID system is a critical tool to protect children.

At the Feb. 6 event, parents will have the opportunity to receive a photograph of their child, in addition to documentation of their child’s fingerprints and other vital statistics.

For more information, call Paul Jenkins of Ibis Financial Group at (561) 602-6133 or e-mail pjenkins @ibisfingroup.com.

LGES CONGRATULATES SPELLING BEE WINNERS

Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School held its annual spelling bee on Jan. 21. Lauren Lindquist came in first place, and Ryan Day came in second place. Both students will represent their school at the district spelling bee in February. The school wishes both of them good luck. Shown above is Principal Rich Myerson with Lindquist and Day.

Kindergartner McKenna Tosner, with her sister Caleigh (third grade), proudly shows her artwork.Third grader Tyler Krotenberg with his mother Julie.

PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Kelly Baez Wins Second Prize At Kravis Art Contest

PACK 120, TROOP 111 CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

The Young Friends of the Kravis Center hosted a reception on Jan. 9 honoring the participants of this year’s Commemorative Art Contest. The theme was “The Magical World of Dance,” and the contest generated 135 submissions from students from Fort Pierce to Belle Glade to Boca Raton.

The first-place winner was a pen-and-watercolor drawing of a ballerina by Kat Carlton, a junior at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Carlton received $300 with an equal amount for her art class, and her drawing will be auctioned during the Kravis Center’s 17th Annual Reach for the Stars “Dancing for the Stars” ballroom dance competition on April 24 that will be hosted by the Young Friends.

The second-place winner was Kelly Baez, a junior at Wellington Christian School, and third place went to Stephanie Kupiec, a senior at Jupiter High School. Baez and her arts classroom received $200, and Kupiec and her class received $100. Honorable mentions went to Kyra Forde in the kindergarten to second grade level, Sophie Beaubien in the third to fifth grade

Radnee Anib Graduates Army Infantry Training

Army Spec. Radnee Anib has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. The training consists of basic infantry training and advanced individual training.

During the nine weeks of basic combat training, Anib received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons employment, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid skills, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experienced use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.

The advanced individual training course is designed to train infantry soldiers to perform reconnaissance operations; employ, fire and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; locate and neu-

level, and Jeannine Scheinberg in the sixth to eighth grade level. All of the young artists received certificates of appreciation, along with an iTunes card with songs from some of Broadway’s biggest hits.

Approximately 200 people attended the reception that was held in the Kravis Center’s Khoury Family Dance Rehearsal Hall, including Young Friends Executive Committee members R. Sherlock Elliott, Bill Stellway, Debra Elmore, Christine DiRocco and Kevin Sloane.

The Young Friends of the Kravis Center is a giving group of young professionals, ranging in age from approximately 25 to 49, committed to supporting arts and culture in Palm Beach County. The Young Friends organize events throughout the year to support education programs enabling the children of the community to be exposed to the arts. There are many benefits to becoming a member of the Young Friends, including discounts to the popular Reach for the Stars “Dancing for the Stars” ballroom dance competition.

For more information, call (561) 651-4429.

tralize land mines and operate target and sight equipment; operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks; construct field-firing aids for infantry weapons; and perform infantry combat exercises and dismounted battle drills, which includes survival procedures in a nuclear, biological or chemical contaminated area. Anib earned distinction as an honor graduate of the course.

Anib is the son of Ernesto and Adelfa Anib of Royal Palm Beach, and a 2004 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in 2004 from Nova Southeastern University in Davie.

Vatchner Joseph Reports For Naval Duty

Vatchner Joseph, son of Marie Joseph of Loxahatchee, recently reported for duty at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville. Joseph is a 2007 graduate of Seminole Ridge High School and joined the Navy in June 2009.

4-H POULTRY BBQ CONTEST WINNERS

On Sunday, Jan. 24, Palm Beach County 4-H youth competed in the Annual 4-H Poultry Barbecue Contest. Held every year at the South Florida Fair, the contest is open to all 4-H youth in the surrounding counties that meet the age division requirements. The age divisions are Intermediates (ages 11 to 13) and Seniors (ages 14 to 18). The contest is sponsored by the Palm Beach County Poultry Fanciers Association and is coordinated by Palm Beach County 4-H. The first-place winners in the Senior division for each county go on to the Florida State 4-H competition. The 2010 Palm Beach County Senior first-place winner was Kevin Conway, and the Intermediate first-place winner was Stevanie LeConte. Pictured above are: (L-R) LeConte (front), Tate Bent (back), Tim Lewis, Joe Guirii, Conway and Zachary Quinn.

KING, KISER WED IN RPB

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin King of Royal Palm Beach are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Brittany Erin King to Anthony Kiser on Saturday, Jan. 30. The ceremony took place at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Royal Palm Beach. Kiser is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Kiser of Rochester, Minn.

Kelly Baez of Wellington with her artwork.

On Monday, Jan. 18, members of Cub Scout Pack 120 joined Boy Scout Troop 111 to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The scouts honored the civil rights leader by performing the flag ceremony to begin the day’s events. More than a dozen scouts participated in the ceremony at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Pictured above are the scouts flanked by leaders Ron Rice (left) and Steve Whalen (right).

Winter Antiques Show Preview Benefits ArtStart

The 28th Annual Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show opened its doors for an invitation-only preview on Thursday, Jan. 14 to benefit ArtStart, a Wellington-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide educational opportunities in the arts.

The party was well attended as guests enjoyed champagne, wine and hors d’oeuvres, along with an early chance to view and purchase antiques, art and jewelry items from the dealers at the show, many of whom traveled internationally to attend. The preview was underwritten by Zita Waters Bell, Liberty Media Group and David Berns CPA.

Among the guests in attendance were Palm Beachers Harris Hollin, honorary chairs Eliane and Donny Strosberg, and Kate McLaughin. A.B. Levy Palm Beach was represented by John Garrett and Senior Director Janice Critchett.

Proceeds from the event, as well as a portion of ticket sales for the three-day show, will help support arts education and outreach programs developed by ArtStart and delivered to students in Palm Beach County. The organization works primarily with students in after-school and summer programs in the low income areas of the county. “We can’t thank Zita Waters Bell and the Winter Antiques Show enough for allowing us to be part of this wonderful event,” ArtStart founder and president Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi said. “The dealers were all so gracious, and it was very nice of them to open the show a day early just for ArtStart and our guests.”

Greeting visitors as they entered the party was a stuffed African leopard, recently acquired by dealer Marco Astrologo of the Vuittonier from Zoo Safari in New Jersey. The animal, which died of

natural causes, was quite a conversation starter. Honorary chairs for the preview were A. Donny and Eliane Strosberg. David and Marilyn Berns served as chairs, and the planning committee in-

TROOP 105 BOY SCOUTS VOLUNTEER AT THE FAIR

cluded Barbara

Ernst,

Parssi and Karen

For more information about ArtStart, call Parssi at (561) 6352037 or visit www.artstart inc.org.

Beamon, Mueller Graduate Marine Corp Training

Marine Corps Reserve PFC

Don Beamon, son of Talakia Atkins Beamon of Wellington, and Pvt. Chris Mueller, a 2006 graduate of Royal Palm Beach High School, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina.

The basic training program is designed to challenge new Ma-

rine recruits both physically and mentally. Beamon, Mueller and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a.m. by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical conditioning program, Beamon spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments, which included learning first aid,

uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drill and operated as a small infantry unit during field training.

Beamon, Mueller and other recruits also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values — honor, courage and com-

mitment — and what the core values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct. They ended the training phase with the Crucible, a 54-hour, team evolution culminating in an emotional ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps emblem, and addressed as “Marines” for the first time in their careers.

Kyle Burton, Chris Mancuso, Joe Ortiz, Chris Mayer, Thomas Whitaker, Bradley Eppenbaugh, Francisco Pettazi, Matthew Sarmiento and Paul Kelly of Boy Scout Troop 105 had the honor of providing a little TLC to three vintage fire trucks at the South Florida Fair recently. The scouts washed and detailed vehicles that are not just older than their parents but older than most of their grandparents. The truck is 86 years old and is 75 feet long. The ladder on the truck is made of wood and is charred from its many years of service. Troop 105 includes scouts from The Acreage and Loxahatchee. Meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. at Osceola Creek Middle School. For more information, visit www. troop105.org or contact Brian Morgan at brianne@bellsouth.net. Shown above are the scouts working on one of the classic vehicles.

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

Brubaker, Patricia

Mary Inglis, Jeannette

Seach.

ArtStart founder Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi (right) with her daughters Emma and Allison.

AHA MEMBERS PRESENT BARREL DEMONSTRATION AT THE SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR

The Acreage Horseman’s Association held a demonstration for spectators at the South Florida Fair on Saturday, Jan. 30. Participants of all ages demonstrated their skills at events such as barrel racing, pole bending and ring toss. The association will hold its first barrel show on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Nicole Hornstein Park in The Acreage. For more info., call (561) 718-2490 or visit www.acreagehorseman.com.

Cancer

Cause Is Unknown

continued from page 1 where there were pediatric cancer cases.”

The announcement confirming the “cancer cluster” caught her off guard.

“We had not heard a word from the department of health,” Dunsford said. “So, to find out that way, was very thrown in our faces at the last minute. We just had

no warning about what they were going to come up with. It has been kind of a whirlwind.” Dunsford said the announcement was bittersweet, because she knew early on that there was a problem, and now the data backs up that belief. “I don’t know where they’re going to go from here,” she said. “It doesn’t sound like they want to do too much in the testing field. I know that they are not going to be able to pinpoint a cause, but I would like to think that there was a way to find out what was going on.”

The health department has finished interviews with families affected by pediatric brain and central-nervous-system cancers and will begin evaluating those results, O’Connor said.

Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Palm Beach County Health Department, said the finding confirms that the interviews have been directed correctly. “These families and their children have endured a great deal, and we will continue to review cases,” said Alonso in an announcement. Watkins recommended having

wells tested at least once a year and putting up carbon monoxide monitors and radon testing, as well as maintaining good nutrition habits.

Indian Trail Improvement District President Michelle Damone said she is concerned that the health department has used the term “cancer cluster” to describe the elevated rate in The Acreage. She also questions whether the elevated cancer rate is in all of The Acreage or just a part of it. A memo to Damone from Watkins said a “cluster” is a statisti-

cally significant elevation of a specific disease in a specific area in a specific time period.

“It does not mean or imply that this elevation is related to one particular cause or that it must be linked to a contaminant,” Watkins wrote. “I think that people automatically assume that any increase in cancer must be linked to an environmental cause, and that is not always true nor can it be proven.” Damone said she would like to do further study to rule out possible causes such as well water or soil.

“When the health department says they are not going to be able to find the cause, then I don’t feel that we should all just give up,” Damone said. “I asked specifically, can’t we do it by the process of elimination so that we also reduce hysteria?”

The Florida Department of Health and the Palm Beach County Health Department will hold a community forum Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Seminole Ridge High School, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee to discuss the findings.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Taylor Bell demonstrates the barrel-weaving pattern.Riley Paxson and Gidget take their turn weaving the barrels.

Summer Soash and Sophie try to barrel pattern led by Candace and Cathy Middleton.

R ecent studies show that women are six times more likely to suffer from runner’s knee and ACL tears than men.

Although runner’s knee is not usually a chronic problem, it can get in the way of an active lifestyle. One of the most common kneecap problems is called PFPS, or Patella Femoral Pain Symptoms, aka - runner’s knee. This syndrome is characterized by a rough or soft spot on the cartilage surface of the knee cap. This damaged spot causes additional pressure on the sensitive area behind the knee cap when the knee is bent, thus causing pain.

“One of the main reasons that makes women more susceptible to PFOS, is they have naturally wide pelvises, which causes the knee cap

Runners Knee...

and thigh to meet at a different angle than in men,” says Dr. Gary Wexler, orthopaedic surgeon with the Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institutes. :The result is extra pressure on women’s knees.” Dr Gary Wesler is a Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in knee and shoulder injuries. Dr. Wexler received his subspecialty training in the arthroscopic treatment of complex knee disorders; such as ACL Reconstruction, Cartilage Repair and Meniscal Repair/Transplantation.

“Symptoms of runner’s knee include pain, a feeling of catching and stiffness,” says Dr. Wexler. “This is a painful situation that may make simple tasks, such as going up and down stairs, difficult. also,

It’s Not Just For Men Anymore!

sitting with your knees bent or squatting for any length of time is very uncomfortable.” Another symptom is a “giving out” or grinding and loud popping sound.

A simple way to reduce the pain from runner’s knee is to change to swimming instead of tennis. Also, check your running shoes to see if they are in top condition to cushion your arches and joints.

If your knees ache and you have sharp pain between your shinbone and kneecap, you may be suffering from tendinitis. Tendinitis occurs when the tendons connecting your knee cap and shinbone become inflamed. This can be caused by overuse or stress. “To ease the pain and swelling of this condition you can try ibuprofen, apply ice, rest and elevate your

knee, and I also believe in - it always best to attempt to avoid injuries before they happen.

In all situations, it is advisable to check with your

2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction Feb. 24-27

ing will be provided on Friday and Saturday evenings when guests gather for the showcase and auction, respectively.

Watching a well-trained Lusitano float through intricate dressage movements reminds one of Pegasus, the horse whose wings protrude from his muscular shoulders. But unlike this mythical winged equine, the Brazilian horses from the 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction need assistance to travel the 4,000 air miles to Florida. Now in its third year, the collection relies on Worldwide Livestock Services (WLS) and Lazcar International, both family-owned businesses, to ensure a safe and problem-free trip.

The 21 horses at Interagro Farms and nine horses at Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga Lusitanos traveled by horse van to the airport where they were transferred to specially made, fully cov-

LIFE LINE SCREENING IN ROYAL PALM

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

ered aluminum jet stalls, three to a pallet, padded on the sides and airy in front and back.

“When the horses travel in groups, we don’t need to give them tranquilizers as, being herd animals, they are more relaxed and feel safer being next to one another,” Interagro Farms Managing Director Cecilia Gonzaga said.

Accompanied by the veterinarian, trainers and grooms, the horses were given hay and water. Do Vouga manager Raul Silva explained that hay is always available to the horses as chewing helps alleviate boredom for the horses during the nine-hour flight. His staff donned jackets as the horses prefer a cold temperature.

Upon arrival at Miami International Airport, the horses were met by a representative from Lazcar International as well as a representative from Worldwide Livestock Services, the animal handling company founded by Tony

Alessandrini and his brother Alexander.

WLS employees, under the supervision of a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian and assisted by the Lusitano Collection staff, transported the horses to the Miami Animal Import Center, located at the airport facility. The horses were stabled in this stateof-the art, self-contained import center while they underwent the Florida government-mandated seven-day quarantine.

“When one considers the time, effort and expense of shipping a horse from Brazil to USA, there is a huge benefit to buying a horse at the auction,” Gonzaga said. “Not only do you skip the hassle of importation fees and quarantine, you get to meet and deal directly with the breeders.”

For more information about the auction, visit www.lusitano collection.com or call (877) 5467393.

Vintages Gala

Guests of a unique, premiere event called Vintages will take a nostalgic trip down memory lane while supporting the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute on Saturday, Feb. 20. The International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington is expected to play host to 350 party-goers decked out in classic or daring vintage attire from across the decades at this black-tie optional affair. Co-chaired by Carmine Priore III and his wife Terri, the evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. Arriving guests will be greeted with the enchanting sounds of classical violin music. During the cocktail reception, men with freshly rolled cigars in hand are sure to congregate around the antique cars on display. In the vintage piano lounge, renowned jazz pianist Copeland Davis will offer special entertainment, and revelers will

Feb. 20 At IPC

sip champagne, relaxing on antique furniture, which will later be auctioned off. While guests enjoy a sumptuous dinner, big screens will showcase silent movie favorites. A live auction will feature such exciting prizes as a puppy from Palm Beach Puppies, a Jimmy Buffett concert package, and private box seats for 20 guests at a Panthers game. After dinner, dancing will commence as the six-piece band Private Affair plays tunes from the 1920s through the present. The Priores and their committee would like to recognize the sponsors: Florida Power & Light Company; Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc.; the International Polo Club Palm Beach; the Rosen Group; Palms West Hospital; Zachry, Marie and Michael Bianchini; Carousel Development & Resto-

ration Inc.; Concord Engineering Inc.; Allstate/Karen and Robert Cavanagh; Karen Hardin; Aaron’s Catering; Delaware North Companies; Dr. and Mrs. Carmine Priore; Mapei Corporation; Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas Inc.; Rapid Rooter Plumbing & Drains; Waste Pro; Diamante Farms; Classic Controls; and the BOMAR Foundation.

The evening will benefit the Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. It is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research. To purchase tickets for $200 each, call Sheryl at the DRI Foundation at (954) 964-4040 or (800) 321-3437. You can also e-mail ssulkin@drif.org or vintagesdri@ gmail.com. For more information, visit www.diabetesresearch.org or www.vintagesdri.org.

Equestrians Unite At Step By Step’s Haiti Benefit In Wellington

Olympic show jumping medallist Margie Engle and Step By Step Foundation founder and CEO Liliane Stransky welcomed a slew of equestrians and supporters on Friday, Jan. 29 to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington for the All In for Charity Poker Tournament to raise funds for Haitian relief. Organized by Development Connect CEO Kathy Andersen, the benefit raised more than $65,000 during the evening, with donations still coming. International Olympians Chris Kappler and Jimmy and Danielle Torano, accompanied by their lovely little girl Natalia, joined Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo and his wife Katherine, Denise and Kayla Patreganani, Dave and Julie Burton, Phillip Dutton, Regina

Petrone Seeking Top RPB Post

continued from page 1 waste, there’s abuse and there’s arrogance. Those are the things I’m standing up against.”

Petrone said he learned on Tuesday that the village manager’s budgeted salary was more than $214,000.

“I knew that his salary is high, but I didn’t know just how high it is until I pulled the public records and found out,” he said “I think that’s just obscene, and I think that it’s a disgrace that the current village council and the members there, including my opponent, have been voting year after year after year to increase this.”

Permits Council

Workshop

continued from page 3 would like business operations to get the approval of neighbors around them in order to be granted a nonconforming use.

Jim Frogner, a former Palm Beach County zoning staff member and now the owner of Frogner Consulting, said Loxahatchee Groves was his area from 1990 to 2002 when he was with the county. “I vested at least 20 different businesses, mostly nurseries,” Frogner said. Looking at a list of several dozen different businesses in Loxahatchee Groves, he said that most of them are illegal.

“The nature of grandfathering or vesting nonconforming uses means that you are legally established,” he said. “None of these are. Trucking and contractors, manufacturing, none of these would be allowed under Palm Beach County code, which I think

Ventura, Felix and Polita Altaras, and Paulo and Jennifer Santana and their daughter Isabella at the fun-filled charity event. Also on hand were Mike Belisle, Iliana Levy, Chris Burnett, Daniela and Franklin Hoet, Stone Bridge Farm’s Katrina Weinig, Sandra Ciolla, Ronnie Mutch Scholarship recipient Haley Webster and her mom Rona, Andrew Bourns, Freddy and Ketty Montenegro, Ruben Valdebuena, Sandra Ciolla, Gustavo Spinelli, Rodolfo Maya, Michelle Navarro and Eric Zimmerman. They all checked out the auction items, art, equestrian jewelry and fine fare being served throughout the evening. The children especially enjoyed the abundance of toys and candy up for auction. Serious players, such as grand prix riders Charlie Jayne, Hardin

Some of the department heads also have salaries that Petrone said are inappropriately high.

Petrone, the site manager for United Storage in Royal Palm Beach, said he felt it was inappropriate when the village advertised itself as the “Business Hub of the Western Communities” during its recent 50th anniversary celebration given the number of vacant commercial properties.

“I don’t recall anyone asking them to be a business hub, and if you look around at our hub, I’m looking down the road where I work and there’s rows of empty offices and store spaces,” Petrone said. “It’s like a ghost town. I think they’re as guilty as the bankers, the investors and developers who have brought this all down on us.”

Petrone noted that he was laid

is terrible for Loxahatchee.”

Frogner said that if a business is not legally established, it cannot be grandfathered in. He suggested that the best direction might be a special permitting process, which the county uses.

Noise, traffic, lights and approval by neighbors are conditions that come into play when granting special permits, Frogner explained, adding that approved uses by the county for Loxahatchee Groves include nurseries, chipping and mulching, and small home-operated business such as pressure cleaning that involve only one truck.

Frogner said the town could place restrictions on the business, such as hours of operation, through a special permit. He added that the taxes and permit fees paid by legitimate businesses will pay for the process.

Red Barn co-owner Beck Hyslop of B Road said his company pays the second-highest amount of taxes in the town.

“There are very few businesses in Loxahatchee Groves that pay

Towell and Michael Morrissey, joined hosts Engle and her husband Steve, and Stransky and her mother Miriam Berman, around the colorful casino tables to try there hands at blackjack, threecard poker and playing roulette.

Other familiar faces from the Winter Equestrian Festival including Olaf Peterson, Melissa Cohn, Tracy Topping, Scott Williamson, Mason Phelps, Romy Tschudi-Roy and daughter Daniela, Brian Bock, Caroline Moran, Heather Crespo, Sydney Masters, Bruce Duchossois and on air TV host Steve Williams were kept busy bidding on the countless auction items and prizes that included everything from House of Travel’s seven-day cruise to vacations at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, to guitars autographed by Paul McCartney,

off a few years ago from his 10year job as manager of the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center for budgetary reasons, although he said he received mostly superior or above-average annual job evaluations. He said he feels his treatment is an example of the way staff is treated in general at the village.

“Somebody has to stop it somewhere,” he said. “Somebody has to stand up and say, ‘Hey, we’re not going to take this anymore.’”

Aside from the mayor’s race, two council seats are up for grabs. Richard Valuntas and Tinu Peña are running for Seat 3, which is being vacated by Mattioli. Councilman David Swift is unopposed as of Wednesday in his reelection bid. The election will be held March 9.

the sort of taxes that we pay,” he said. “There are very few commercial entities that have to jump through the hoops we do as a commercial entity. We have to pay for our trash. We have to pay special phone bills. We have to pay for the fire department to come check our fire extinguishers. We have to go through all these hoops, where other commercial entities don’t have to go through this. I’ve never, ever had a problem with somebody running a business, but what I’m saying is, let’s do it on a level playing field.”

Town Administrator Frank Spence said another workshop will be scheduled before the comprehensive plan and land-development regulations are approved.

“We do need to move forward in view of the moratorium,” Spence said. “This is all tied together, the settlement with Callery-Judge, getting our comp plan approved and the adoption of our land-use regulations, as well as putting together information on what this town is going to allow and what it is not going to allow.”

Ringo Starr and Carlos Santana. “Thanks to everyone’s help at the poker tournament we know it is possible to make a difference,” said Stransky, who is already planning her next mission to Haiti to assist with relief efforts with her daughters Daniela and Samantha. “With the recent devastation, we are focusing on relief and re-building of schools, health facilities and the communities.”

Sponsors for the evening included MGM Mirage, Zimmerman Advertising, HSBC Private Bank, Santana Stables, Gold Coast Feed Supply, Hoet Mission Farms and Stransky Mission Farms. For more information, visit www.stepbystepfoundation.com or contact Kathy Anderson at ka@developmentconnect.com.

Coleman

Wellington Mayoral Run

continued from page 1 focus on bringing higher education to the area. “I believe in education,” she said. “I was always told it’s the one thing they can’t take away from you.”

The community could benefit from continuing education, which would create jobs and bring in an overall financial flow, she said, adding that any form of higher education — from a community college campus to a medical school — would benefit Wellington as a whole.

Coleman feels the community’s senior population has been disappointed by past administrations that promised things but didn’t deliver.

Enriquez Acreage ‘Town Center’

continued from page 1 ter, which includes Publix, to the east. “I think I even saw some hitching posts on there,” he said. Enriquez suggested that the pathways connecting the library to the shopping center might be done in pavers to continue a consistent theme.

Enriquez said he wants to define the area as well as to slow traffic to make it safer for pedestrians. “Right now the speed in that area is 45,” he said. He also would like to add pavers and landscaping to the medians on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road as it is widened.

“My ultimate goal would be to have the county pay to put some type of paving on the road

“No one has ever come through for them,” she said. “The seniors have been promised so many things in the past; I want to make sure they get what they deserve.”

The council has considered turning the Wellington Community Center into a place for seniors, which Coleman supports. “They deserve to have it,” she said. Coleman also said she would strive for greater fairness and transparency in the government, citing the failed negotiations to bring a college campus to the KPark site on State Road 7 as evidence of a problem.

“Taxpayers paid millions for that land, and yet the agreement was that the college would pay $10 a year and no taxes,” she said. “That’s an issue that should have been brought to the public for a referendum.”

that would distinguish that corner as The Acreage,” Enriquez said.

Santamaria told Enriquez and Quickel the best way to go about getting the improvements done would be to tie them in with the library plans.

“We’ll have to go before the county commission and ask for that money directly,” Enriquez said. “[Santamaria] was pretty supportive. He said, ‘You’ve got my vote,’ so it would be a question of getting the other commissioners’ votes.”

Enriquez said he would like to have a theme that would reflect the equestrian lifestyle of The Acreage. “We’ve been throwing around some ideas as far as Indian Trail possibly putting in some benches, something so we can be part of the project as well,” Enriquez said. “It all depends on our limits as far as Florida Statutes, monies that we can spend on these pro-

While she said that the government is practicing transparency in many areas, she’d like to see even more, along with more fairness in its decisions.

“Everyone and every issue needs to be treated equally,” she said. “And they need to be open for everyone to see.”

Two Wellington council seats and the mayor’s post are up for election on March 9. Other candidates who have qualified for the ballot include longtime resident Anne Gerwig, Realtor Wismick St. Jean and former village employee Ernie Zimmerman, who are seeking Seat 2, which is being vacated by term-limited Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Councilman Howard Coates, who is running for election to his appointed seat. Coates remained unopposed as of Wednesday. The ballot qualification deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 9 at noon.

jects, and the feeling of the board itself.”

Enriquez said he is pleased with the improvements underway in The Acreage.

“We’re starting to pick up again, and we’re starting to move a lot of community projects forward — Acreage Community Park, the library, Nicole Hornstein Park. It’s a very exciting time. It’s really good to be part of the board when we’re being productive and we’re moving these projects forward and seeing the fruits of our labor.”

Blotter continued from page 6 rested. The deputy ran Gillikin’s name and discovered he had no license, and a search of the vehicle found glass and metal pipes used to smoke crack cocaine. Gillikin was taken to the county jail and charged with vehicle theft and possession of narcotics equipment.

One of the Lusitano horses available at this year’s auction.

PHOTO BY DAVID CANDIDO

Margie Engle receives a plaque from Liliane Stransky.

The 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction will take place Feb. 24-27 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Forest Hill Blvd. Interested buyers have the opportunity to view

the horses being ridden by their trainers, try out the horses by appointment, examine the horses’ xrays and medical records and ask the veterinarians questions. Entertainment, cocktails and fine din-

Horses in transport from Brazil to Florida. PHOTOS

Life Line Screening offered several screening tests Feb. 2 in the Royal Palm Covenant Church meeting room. Tests included blood glucose and lipid panel as well as ultrasound tests for carotid artery blockage, abdominal aortic aneurysm, osteoporosis, etc. For more info., visit www.lifeline screening.com or call (800) 679-5190. Shown here, Raiza Gajate performs a carotid artery ultra sound on Dana Rogers’ neck.

Dru Nagle Specializes In Teaching Adults To Ride

After living on a house boat in the Florida Keys, Dru Nagle wanted more space for horses. So she moved here and started Aesop Stables, first in Loxahatchee, then off Acme Road. Currently she runs the Riding School at Lancaster Farm in Little Ranches. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 25

WHS Basketball Suffers Tough Loss To Spanish River

Frustrating. Unacceptable. “Disappointing” was the word junior center Rex Kirby used to describe Wellington High School’s 43-39 loss to Spanish River High School in a boys varsity basketball game on Friday, Jan. 29.

Shopping Spree Shopping Spree

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SFS Tax & Accounting Services: Local Focus And National Reach

SFS Tax & Accounting Services is a local firm with national exposure. The firm has clients throughout the state, and principal Jeffrey A. Schneider has prepared returns in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. To better service its clients, SFS Tax & Accounting has offices in Royal Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie. Page 33

Spor ts

Bronco Basketball Boys Fall To Park Vista

The Palm Beach Central High School boys varsity basketball team fell to Park Vista 53-40 on Friday, Jan. 29. The Broncos then traveled to the Benjamin School on Tuesday, Feb. 2, coming away with a narrow 52-48 loss. They finish the regular season at Wellington on Friday, Feb. 5, before starting the district playoffs.

THIS WEEK’S INDEX

Page 39

COLUMNS & FEATURES......................25-26

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT...............28-32

BUSINESS NEWS.................................33-37

SPORTS & RECREATION.....................39-42

COMMUNITY CALENDAR....................44-46

CLASSIFIEDS........................................47-54

Josh Hyber’s Wolverine Watch Column, Page 39

Dru Nagle Specializes In Teaching ‘Chicken’ Adults To Ride

Dru Nagle came to Florida from northeastern Ohio 24 years ago to work as an accountant for Jimmy Buffett. She lived on a house boat in the Keys and kept a horse to ride and enjoy.

“It wasn’t enough for me,” she said. “I needed more time with horses.”

So she moved to the West Palm Beach area and started Aesop Stables, first in Loxahatchee, then off Acme Road. Now, she again has reinvented her business as the Riding School at Lancaster Farm in Little Ranches.

“I was making a whole lot more money working for Jimmy Buffett, but I’m a lot happier being here and doing this,” Nagle said. “I work harder for longer hours, but I love teaching riding, especially to adults.”

Although she used to do more boarding, Nagle said teaching is now the main focus of her business. She owns two horses and three ponies, and uses them in lessons. Some students also ride their own horses.

Nagle specializes in teaching what she terms “chicken” adults about the joys of riding. She points out that many stables are mostly interested in steering their clients toward horse shows, but she doesn’t care about showing.

“I love to bring the adults along,” she said. “People of a certain age, especially people who have limited or no riding experience, fear what can happen if they fall off and get hurt. These are not the indestructible kids who hit and bounce. These are adults who are looking a long way down from on top of an unpredictable animal. They know what can hap-

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

pen, and that fear can be paralyzing. These are ‘chicken’ adults.”

But Nagle finds teaching these unlikely students quite enjoyable.

“I love watching them blossom, seeing their pleasure grow as they gain experience and confidence,” she said. “I have one student who was really taken advantage of by another trainer. She ended up with horses so advanced she couldn’t ride them. She got hurt, and she got scared. Now she has a quiet horse that suits her temperament and riding ability. She just does pleasure riding, and she loves that horse to death.”

Horses do not have to be about competition, Nagle stressed.

“These are people who don’t have to be show-oriented, who may just want to learn how to ride a horse out on a trail and enjoy that companionship, to care for that horse and ride without fear,” she said. “For so many adults, riding or owning their own horse is a lifelong dream.”

Nagle also has younger riders. She describes her lessons, which sometimes mix older and younger riders, as supportive and

encouraging. She offers private lessons, and group lessons of never more than four riders. She promises everyone that they not only will learn the basics of safe, effective riding, but that they’ll also laugh and have a good time. In addition to lessons, Nagle offers some trail rides and brings interested riders to local shows.

Carolyn Long, 57, lives in Little Ranches and rides with Nagle, whom she met in July

2008. Long had always dreamed of owning a horse, and that wish came true seven years ago when she bought McCue, a black and white gelding.

“I was 50, McCue was four,” she said. “I took a few lessons with someone, then I just sort of rode around a little. I met Dru, and she helped me realize my lifelong ambition, to be able to jump. Dru is wonderful. Now we’re

See NAGLE, page 26

Instructor Dru Nagle with rider Carolyn Long on McCue.

Is It Time For Demo Day? Have Sledgehammer, Will Travel!

Here’s an interesting word — demo.

Now, to most women, “demo” means “demonstration,” like when someone shows you how to burp Tupperware or sells you a mop at the fair or ropes you into trying on a new face at the cosmetics counter.

None of these things appeal to me.

However, to most men, “demo” means only one thing — demolition. It could be a demolition derby or blasting a 12-story building to the ground or simply taking a few rooms out of a house.

Whichever way you slice it, this, I like.

Fortunately for me, my husband is a general contractor. Fortunately for him, he knows cheap labor when he sees it. It’s a match made in heaven.

On one of his current projects, Mark needed a few rooms demoed (that’s construction lingo, which, it turns out, I pick up pretty

‘Human

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

quickly), and he naturally turned to me, his willing (salivating, even) partner. I was on the job in a flash.

You know, most mornings I lie in bed thinking of all the reasons I shouldn’t get up, but not on demo day. On demo day, I am dressed and ready to go — gloves on, jeans on, sweatshirt on, my crowbar at the ready.

Once on site, I am pointed in the general

direction of the room to be taken out, and off I go, like one of those mechanical windup toys.

First, I pry all the baseboard and door trim off. Then, I pound along the corners until a piece of the corner bead (protection for the corners) juts out so I can pull that off. Then it’s just me against the drywall and, ultimately, I’m going to win.

In the beginning, I used to play nice. I would take a regular hammer, bash a few holes in the wall and tear off little eightinch pieces of drywall, one at a time. I’d set each piece gently into a bucket and then take the bucket outside and empty it into the trash bin.

After watching me take about 25 trips outside doing this, Mike the Carpenter hollered, “Big pieces!”

I soon learned that drywall is four feet wide

and, therefore, there’s usually a seam about four feet off the floor. By pounding along this crack and then yanking until it came off its screws, I could haul out a four-foot-by-sixfoot piece — if I could carry it.

The first time I accomplished this, I was quite proud of myself and hollered to Mike, “A big piece!” He didn’t care. That’s how you’re supposed to do it. Celebrations are reserved for things like getting a 12-foot-long, eight-inch-thick support beam wedged up into an existing ceiling. That’s artistry.

To date, however, I have removed a kitchen, a floor, two closets and a tiled shower from the house. I’ve learned a lot of things along the way, but the most important thing to remember with demolition is — turn off the power first.

That’s something you don’t want to learn the hard way.

Target’ Is Great Action Fun, If Difficult To Believe

Human Target, the new show on Fox, is like a comic book brought to life, which is not surprising since it began as a graphic novel.

The hero, Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), is a bodyguard ready to handle the most difficult cases, each of which provides a handful of wild and woolly stunts. After all, who doesn’t use a makeshift parachute to get off a crashing train going 200 mph?

The show should not work. How often can we take these events of derring-do, knowing full well that our hero will survive so he can be in the next episode? Yet the show is fun. Years ago, TV was filled with adventure heroes. Now crimes are solved by careful police procedure on Law & Order and newwave science on CSI. And there are so many clones. The sense of adventure and wild stunts has been left to summer movies.

Human Target brings all of that back to the small screen. Think of an American James Bond. And the action comes about as fast as in those movies, although the sex component is less, at least so far.

A major factor that helps the series work is

Nagle Rosenberg Column

continued from page 25 doing little jumps, and I even have gone to some of the local schooling shows. I got a Reserve and Grand Champion in the Adult Walk Trot, which also had one jump in it. I never thought this would happen. It’s my dream come true.”

Long has become so enthused that her husband is thinking about learning to jump with his horse. “Dru has taught me to be consistent in what I do with my horse,” Long said. “Even if I only have 20 minutes after a busy day at work, that can be a very productive 20 minutes. Dru’s very encouraging, always giving me little tips and pointers, even when we’re on a trail ride.”

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

its cast. Valley comes across as a calm, cheerful tough guy. He’s ready for any kind of action. He can fly an airliner or create a parachute from tarps. He even managed to protect a target that was not identified for him. He manages to play a sort of subdued Superman. He always wins, although he does get banged up more than a bit, but he is a kind of vanilla. Not wild and flavorful, but the kind of flavor that is always the No. 1 favorite. In some ways he is like Superman; the calm center of a lot of action. The writers also stress his decency. He gets involved in one case because a man who had been killed had helped save his life years earlier. His friends balance that clean-cut image.

And her proximity is also useful.

“It helps a lot that she lives right across the street from me. I suggested she move in when that property became available,” Long said. “Thanks to her, I’m a pretty decent rider now. I’m starting to do things automatically. Dru has really boosted my confidence in my riding ability. That makes a huge difference. If I believe I can do something, then I probably can. Plus, she’s great to be around, really nice and helpful. A great teacher. She’s made all the difference to McCue and me.”

And that, after all, is the goal.

“I want people to feel safe and secure,” Nagle said. “I really do enjoy teaching. If it wasn’t fun for everyone, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

For more information, call the Riding School at Lancaster Farm at (561) 502-0166.

Chi McBride, playing Winston, Chance’s business partner, is a master of the slow burn and understated comedy. He has been in a lot of series and usually adds to the fun. Here he’s usually the butt of jokes and does very well. But he plays an excellent second banana and provides the straight man for most of the jokes. He also, in at least one episode, gets into the action and handles himself well.

The most impressive character is Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley). He was the most powerful character, Rorschach, in the movie Watchmen last year and, despite being in a supporting role, overshadows his fellow actors in the series. Guerrero, a sort-of criminal (there is a lot of wiggle room in the character), is the spiritual heir of Don Corleone and a friend of Chance. Watching him quietly make an offer to a computer genius who is hiding a “key to everything on the Internet,” explaining how dangerous control of that kind of power would be, brought on a Godfather flashback moment to me. Without raising his voice, Guerrero clearly made an offer the genius could not refuse.

Seconds after he finished, the genius rushed to the computer, suddenly convinced he knew how to get the information. Guerrero is also a bit of a genius, albeit in rough form. When Winston quizzes him on how he can break codes without much difficulty, he simply asks, “Weren’t you a Boy Scout?” and recites his own troop number and his membership in the Order of the Arrow.

However, the series could become repetitious. After all, how many people need to be guarded? The graphic novel approach seldom rose above the question, but the show has already addressed that. In the third episode, Chance infiltrates the Russian Embassy to catch a spy and get the antidote to a brother of a friend. Again, there is a lot of action. And, for a change, it is clear who the good guys and bad guys actually are. Except, of course, for Guerrero.

The series is fun, and best of all it is different from most of what we have on TV. With hours of reality shows showing a lot of people we would prefer to never know, it becomes a treat to spend an hour with fantasy folks we wish we actually knew.

Looks Like Another Favre On The Way

It will take a few years, but if you are a betting person, you can pretty well bet that the National Football League will have another Favre quarterback when Brett finally decides to retire for good. His 17-year-old nephew Dylan has just committed to attending Mississippi State University after breaking all sorts of high school records in Mississippi.

Young Dylan, still a bit short at 5’9” (three inches shorter than Brett) for an acceptable size in an idealized All-American quarterback, set single-season state records for total offense (6,854 yards) and total touchdowns (81) while easily winning “Player of the Year” honors for St. Stanislaus High School in the recently com-

Footloose and...

By Jules W. Rabin

pleted season. Yes, his heroics also helped earn a state championship for the Saints.

And speaking of youngsters on the way up, Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, 22, recently signed with the Cincinnati Reds for a whopping $30 million in a fiveyear deal.

The youthful lefthander has a fabulous fastball clocked at 100 miles per hour. There were a cadre of Major League scouts in the

hunt to get a contract with this newest wonderkind before he hit the jackpot with the Reds.

Chapman, who some scouts think will have control problems in the “bigs,” is expected to immediately join the Reds starting rotation in April.

During Cuba’s National Series, the flame-throwing youngster recorded 379 strikeouts… but there were also 210 walks. Will Chapman be another Randy Johnson, or will he turn into another Ryne Duran type who could throw a baseball through a brick wall but had endless problems getting enough pitches over the plate for strikes? Tune in this upcoming season and we’ll all see for ourselves.

Wellington Art Society Partners With Village Of Wellington

The Wellington Art Society has a new home just in time for its February meeting — and many other activities planned for the weeks ahead.

The group recently entered into a cooperative partnership agreement with the Village of Wellington that will allow it to use village facilities for its meetings and events in return for providing arts-related cultural activities for local residents to enjoy.

As a result of the partnership, a permanent exhibit space for Wellington Art Society members is being established at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Original works will be rotated quarterly in the space as part of the village’s Art in Public Places program. The first of these free public exhibits will debut on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with a small opening reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

That same evening, the Wellington Art Society monthly meeting will also take place — the first to be held at the community center under the new agreement — starting at 6:30 p.m., with a brief business meeting at 7 p.m., followed by a live

demonstration on jewelry making by member-artist Suzanne Redmond.

Growing up in Cocoa Beach, Redmond was influenced and encouraged early on by her mother, also a talented artist. Now living with her own family in Royal Palm Beach, Redmond has been seriously pursuing jewelry making for about six years, studying locally and in Portland, Oregon to hone her craft. She incorporates chain maille, wire work and cold connections into her designs, and particularly loves working with copper and sterling silver. She has shown her jewelry at various art shows and has been published online in the design blog “Objects and Elements.”

As a way of meeting other artists and challenging herself artistically, Redmond is a moderator of an online group called Charmsters, where she has created dozens of jewelry charms that are traded with other artists and art lovers around the world. While the Feb. 10 exhibit reception and Wellington Art Society meeting are both free and open to the public, there is a $5 fee for nonsociety members wishing to participate in the Redmond demo.

The cooperative agreement with

the village comes at a busy time for the organization. In addition to continuing its administration of the village’s Student Art Program, now in its fourth year, the society has also recently announced a 1960s-themed fundraiser “Art-Dance-Rock ’n‘ Roll” coming Saturday, March 6 to the Wellington Community Center. The sock-hop-style event will feature an evening of classic oldies with “Chef” Mike Perry from KOOL 105.5-FM and a silent auction of original “pop art” by Wellington Art Society members.

The Wellington Art Society is open to artists of all mediums and patrons of the arts, providing both local and regional artists the platform to share their work, learn more about their craft and serve the community through their art. A charitable organization, the society’s mission is to educate and encourage originality and productivity among its members and area youth through programs designed to further the advancement of cultural endeavors in the western communities.

For more information about the Wellington Art Society, call President Adrianne Hetherington at (561) 784-7561 or visit www.wellington artsociety.org.

Phantoms Recommend A Night At The Lake Worth Playhouse

The little 57-year-old playhouse will delightfully entertain you!

Since 1953, the Lake Worth Playhouse has been a landmark in theatrical entertainment for Palm Beach County. There is no better place than this cozy 300-seat venue to discover your inner appreciation for the arts, or to introduce your children to the magical world of live theater. If there was a national award for most improved schedule of shows in a community theater, the award goes to the Lake Worth Playhouse!

So far this year we had the privilege to enjoy the Broadway hit musical Swing!, an excellent rendition of the big band era, where the singers, dancers and live orchestra have the audience tapping their toes and singing along. Another good show, The Lads of Liverpool was a musical history tour of the 1960s British Invasion. We not only sang along to the music of the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Herman’s Hermits and others, but we were dancing in the aisles… Oh, what a fun night!

But the good news is there is more to come, including: Agatha Christie’s murder mystery The Mousetrap on March 4-21, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the

Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat on April 15.

There are a host of other one-night shows, a relaxing escape from reality, which includes live comedy shows and workshops ($5 to $20), concert series features such as the Metropolitan Klezmer Yiddish music on Feb. 18, the Latin Jazz Project on March 10 and the Legends of Doo-Wop on March 16.

Finally, you are invited to take your talents to center stage and join this 100-percent volunteer and “professional quality” local performers. This is what theater is all about, and you owe it to yourself, your family and friends to support this wonderful artistic foundation of entertainment.

The playhouse is located at 713 Lake Worth Avenue. For tickets or further information, visit www.lakeworthplayhouse.org or call the box office at (561) 586-6410, and please tell them that Joe and Kathryn, the Phantoms, highly recommended a night at the Lake Worth Playhouse!

P.S.: Ask about their “dinner and show” packages, an unforgettable night out that includes a gourmet dinner at one of five local downtown restaurants and premium seating for only $50!

Joe & Kathryn, the Phantoms, are featured writers for the Town-Crier newspaper and www.yournews.com... Comments and recommendations are welcome at thephantomdiners@aol.com.

Two Exhibits Showing At FAU’s Jupiter Campus

Florida Atlantic University’s John D. MacArthur campus library presents two art exhibits now through Friday, March 12: “Gingerblack Man” and “Consumed.”

“Gingerblack Man” features the work of Atlanta artist Donte K. Hayes. It includes 16 paintings, mostly on roofing paper. Hayes explores black identity in his work through his invented character the Gingerblack Man, which acts as the consciousness of AfricanAmericans. The work speaks on how society shapes identity on the basis of assumptions and accusations. While incorporating pop culture, history, technology and cookie-cutter mentality, the art confronts issues of imagery, stereotypes and the socio-political realities of chasing the American dream.

Mari Richards’ “Consumed” focuses on individual, hand-held moments of assimilation — all those little bits and pieces a person accumulates over time. The artist combines fleshy plastics and polymers (manmade representations of man-made identities) with discarded everyday objects to create her work.

The exhibits are free and open to the public. FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus Library Gallery is located at 5353 Parkside Drive in Jupiter. Hours are 12:30 to 11 p.m. on Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, contact Diane Arrieta at (561) 799-8530 or darrieta@fau.edu, or visit www.library.fau.edu/npb/npb.htm.

Suzanne Redmond

Foreclosure by Donte K. Hayes.

SFS Tax & Accounting Services: Local Focus And National Reach

SFS Tax & Accounting Services is a local firm with national exposure. The firm has clients throughout the state, and principal Jeffrey A. Schneider has prepared returns in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. To better service its clients, SFS Tax & Accounting has offices in Royal Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie.

The firm specializes in the support and servicing of the income tax, payroll and accounting needs of businesses that have revenues from a few thousand to a few million, with one employee to those with more than 100, and all the issues and complexities of running such a business.

Additionally, SFS Tax & Accounting prepares the tax return and counsels on all matters of tax for individuals, sole proprietorships, “S” and “C” corporations, partnerships, limited-liability companies, trusts, estates, notfor-profits and religious organizations, regardless of the type of business.

Schneider has more than 30 years of tax and accounting experience. He is an Enrolled Agent (EA), which is the only designation issued by the Internal Revenue Service and federal government, and only after passing a rigorous exam given by the IRS on all facets of tax-related issues. This license allows Schneider to represent all taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS. To maintain the license, Schneider is required to complete all of his continuing education in taxes and ethics.

Schneider is also a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (www. naea.org), a member of the board of directors of the Florida Society of Enrolled Agents (www.fseaonline.org) and the current president of the Palm Beach chapter of the FSEA. In August, Schneider will attain a new desig-

nation as fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute. Schneider is a certified divorce financial analyst, assisting men and women (and their legal representatives) as they go through the process of divorce, and how any potential decision will affect them financially and tax wise.

Carol Smith and Ali Schneider, staff members of SFS Tax & Accounting, have a combined 15 years of experience in assisting the firm’s clients throughout the year. Both handle various bookkeeping, payroll and sales tax work for the firm.

The firm has recently added college planning to its list of services. Director of Student Services Ali Schneider assists students who plan on attending public or private college. Schneider advises them as they prepare for the PSAT, SAT and ACT exams. During the student’s senior year, she helps them as they go through the application and essay-writing process. Jeffrey Schneider, the director of college planning, guides the parents as they formulate their plan on how to pay for the full “cost of attendance” either through scholarships, grants, loans or from their personal funds.

What are the benefits to the public? Excellent knowledge, reasonable rates and most importantly, the status that Jeffrey Schneider has attained, that of an Enrolled Agent. You may have read recently that all unlicensed tax return preparers will have to register, take an exam and be required to take some continuing education. While this is good news for all consumers, those requirements are not close to what Schneider had to and has to do as an Enrolled Agent.

To schedule an appointment, call the professionals at SFS Tax & Accounting Services at (561) 868-1868 or (772) 337-1040.

Send business 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.

Ali Schneider, Jeff Schneider and Carol Smith of SFS Tax & Accounting Services.

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS RIBBON CUTTINGS

European Day Spa — Wellington European Day Spa has a 20-year history of offering exceptional service. In 2008, Romanian native Corina Zavici took over operations, bringing her unique global perspective on skincare and wellness, and a background as a registered nurse. Services offered include manicures, pedicures, massages and facials. The spa is located at 12783 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite G. For more info., call (561) 790-0505 or visit www.wellingtoneuropeandayspa.com. Shown here are spa staff members with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Shields Technology Inc. — A Wellington-based technology company owned by Wellington resident Timothy Shields, Shields Technology is located at 12230 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 110BB. For more info., call (800) 459-3505 or visit www.shieldstechnology.com. Pictured above is Shields with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Family Rentals — Established in 1997, Family Rentals & Guest Services offers a complete selection of party items for rent, including tables, chairs, table linens, dinnerware, gas barbecues and much more. Merchandise can be delivered anywhere in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Martin counties. Family Rentals is located at 2905 S. Congress Ave., Delray Beach. For more info., call (561) 279-9355 or visit www.familyrentals.com. Shown above is Family Rentals staff with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Law Offices of Malcolm Harrison — Located at 12230 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 110R, the Law Offices of Malcolm E. Harrison, P.A. specialize in working with homeowners who are facing foreclosure. The firm’s professionals are up to speed on the newest government programs that might help homeowners remain in their homes. For more info., call (561) 868-2642 or visit www. flforeclosuredefense.com. Shown here are members of the firm with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Boomer’s Music — Located in the Wellington Plaza at 12789 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite C, Boomer’s Music has been open since August 2003, offering a wide variety of music classes and private lessons. Owner Melody Stuart is a second-generation music store owner who has been teaching music lessons privately for 14 years. The daughter of a jazz pianist, Stuart also teaches guitar at Wellington High School and adult education classes. For more info., call (561) 656-1259 or visit www.boomers music.com. Shown above is Stuart with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Stacie Chalmers Inbound Marketing Solutions — Based in Wellington, Stacie Chalmers Inbound Marketing Solutions offers business owners and marketers advice and hands-on help with web site marketing, search-engine marketing and social media marketing. The company works with clients to create a web presence so their prospects can find them and develop conversion strategies. For more info., call (207) 712-0048 or visit www. staciechalmersinboundmarketing.com. Shown above is Chalmers with Wellington Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

Marciano Family Optometric Donating Eyeglasses To Haiti

The World Sight Day Challenge is a fundraising initiative of Optometry Giving Sight to fund sustainable eyecare services to help the 670 million people around the world who suffer from uncorrected refractive error — simply the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses.

This year, local optometrists doctors Mark and Brandee Marciano are highlighting the need of the millions of people around the world who do not have access to the most basic eyecare

services. In 2008, the staff at Marciano Family Optometric raised hundreds of dollars for Optometry Giving Sight. And last year, their goal was to beat that. The Marcianos donated 100 percent of revenue for every eye exam performed on World Sight Day 2009. Patients were also encouraged to make donations for the entire month of October. Donations totaled almost $1,000.

New this year is a giving tree that was added in the reception area. It was decorat-

ed with festive fall leaves with the names of patients and staff members who have made donations to Optometry Giving Sight. The Marcianos would like to thank all of their patients and staff members for working to make this year’s challenge better than ever.

Now the Marcianos are asking for help to provide much-needed glasses to victims of the earthquake in Haiti who have lost all of their possessions. The Marcianos encourage everyone to drop

off any glasses they no longer need to their office (7750 Okeechobee Blvd., Suite 9) so they can send them to the victims as soon as possible.

For more information about Optometry Giving Sight and the World Sight Day Challenge, visit www. drmarciano.com and click on the link for Optometry Giving Sight. If you would like your donation to go straight to the victims of Haiti, click on the appropriate link. To contact the Marcianos, call (561) 242-1200.

RIBBON CUTTING FOR BANYAN INSURANCE

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Banyan Insurance Group. Located at 8401 Lake Worth Road, Suite 103, in the Crexent Business Center, Banyan Insurance Group is an independent property and casualty insurance agency covering all types of business and personal risks. Owner Robert Posillico is focused on building long-term relationships based on mutual trust and dedicated service. As an agency, Banyan has the capacity to fulfill the needs of any large corporation, as well as the understanding to provide personalized attention to the small business owner or individual. For more information about Banyan Insurance Group, call (561) 740-8771 or visit www.banyanins.com. Pictured here are Posillico and Banyan staff members with Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

P.W. Chamber To Resume Women In Business Series

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host its first Women in Business event of the year on Thursday, March 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dillard’s in the Mall at Wellington Green. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages while Dillard’s provides an in-store fashion presentation featuring their latest spring collections appropriate for Florida businesswoman, as well as glamorous after-five

fashions and fun weekend attire. Dillard’s cosmeticians will give demonstrations and provide makeovers, and guests will receive discount certificates to be used at Dillard’s in the following weeks.

The cost is $25 for chamber members and $40 for non-members. To RSVP, visit www.palmswest.com and click on the Woman in Business icon. For more information, call the chamber office at (561) 790-6200.

Doctors Brandee and Mark Marciano

Palm Beach Central Basketball Boys Fall To Park Vista 53-40

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach Central High School boys varsity basketball team fell to Park Vista 53-40 on Friday, Jan. 29, at home.

The game got off to a ragged start with both teams combining for several turnovers. Baskets by Jake Rioux and Tre Mason, who scored after he intercepted a pass, gave the Cobras (6-12) a 4-0 lead.

Palm Beach Central (4-12) didn’t score until the quarter was more than half over when Max Martial hit two free throws to make it 4-2. On the Cobras’ next possession, Mauricio Neira stole the ball and passed to Gerard O’Connell, who

drove the lane for a basket to tie the game at 4.

Both teams continued to struggle offensively, and a basket by Neira near the end of the quarter gave Park Vista an 11-8 lead.

The second quarter began with back-to-back fouls within a minute of play. Raphael Akingbade made two shots for the Cobras, and Martial made one for the Broncos, making the score 13-9.

The Broncos played solid defensively but continued to struggle on offense and failed to score a basket for several minutes.

Martial finally scored for Palm Beach Central, but Anthony Sidden responded by intercepting a pass to

Christian Robledo and scored to give Park Vista a 19-11 lead. The Cobras went on to score 10 more points in the remaining minutes, while the Broncos scored five, making the score 29-16 going into halftime.

Two minutes into the second half, a fire alarm went off, forcing officials to stop play. The game was interrupted for about 10 minutes and resumed when it was determined to be a false alarm, but the alarm continued sounding throughout the rest of the game.

The Broncos opened the third quarter with quick baskets by Martial and Neira, but two more bas-

See BRONCOS, page 42

WHS Boys Basketball Suffers Tough 43-39 Loss To Spanish River

Frustrating. Unacceptable. “Disappointing” was the word junior center Rex Kirby used to describe Wellington High School’s 43-39 loss to Spanish River High School in a boys varsity basketball game on Friday, Jan. 29.

The score was close from the time Kirby took the opening tipoff to the game’s final seconds. Neither team led by more than 10 points, and neither could find a dominant scoring threat. In the opening quarter, senior guard Bruce Fleming hit a three-pointer to give the Wolverines a 14-10 advantage.

Spanish River scored the first five points of the second quarter, taking the lead. As the Wolverines’ scoring took a drastic halt, Spanish River took full advantage. On each offensive possession, the Sharks leisurely held the ball at the top of the key.

“I remember thinking that we needed to steal the ball and keep them from trying to slow our game down,” Kirby said. “If they

Wolverine

Watch

By Josh Hyber

want to run the clock, then we need to make them earn every minute of it.”

Scott Witkowski scored over five minutes into the quarter to get the Wolverines back on the board. The Sharks’ ball-possession strategy paid off for the rest of the half, and Witkowski’s basket was the Wolverines’ only score of the quarter. Spanish River led 21-16 at halftime.

The Sharks opened the second half with two quick scores. A Kirby free throw and a

Witkowski tip in brought the Wolverines to within six. It was then that Wolverines coach Matt Colin called for press defense. After a defensive stop, Fleming scored on a fast break to make the score 25-21.

The rest of the game went back-and-forth. Kirby scored to make it 25-23. Junior Kendell Johnson took over the scoring load late with two Dwyane Wade-like running jump shots. Sophomore forward Stephen Beneche hit a layup to bring the Wolverines to within one, but the Sharks hit a three-pointer before the quarter ended.

Junior guard John Harvill continued his Friday night fourth-quarter heroics (three threepointers in the fourth quarter against Dwyer High School two Fridays ago). The junior made a fancy drive to the hoop and was fouled. He completed the three-point play by converting the free throw to tie the score at 34.

Spanish River scored the next four points. With Spanish River leading 39-35, Witkowski was called for traveling. Once again, the Sharks played with a “hold the ball” mentality, taking 45 seconds off the clock on their next possession. However, they were unable to score. On Wellington’s next possession, Kirby made two of two free throws to cut the deficit to 39-37.

Wellington quickly fouled the Sharks’ ballhandler. The player hit both of his freethrow attempts to bring the Spanish River lead back to four. A Kirby basket was not enough for the Wolverines in the closing moments.

The Wolverines played against Pahokee High School on Tuesday, Feb. 2, coming away with an easy 65-17 win. They will take on the Palm Beach Central Broncos on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the WHS gymnasium.

Jamal Smith is guarded by Anthony Sidden.

Gerard O’Connell tries to block Anthony Sidden.

Max Martial steps up to the foul line.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Christian Robledo and Julian Owens guard Cobra Tre Mason.

Cats Girls Compete In Stuart

The team girls from Cats Gymnastics of Wellington recently competed at the Harvest Challenge competition in Stuart.

The Level 2 team had a really great day. Carlene Powers scored an incredible 9.7 on beam, which earned her second place. Kinsey Cribbs scored a 9.250 on floor to take fourth place. On vault, Jianna Dimuro scored a 9.550, Stephanie Katz scored a 9.0, Juliana Acosta got a 9.1 and Michela Frozini scored an awesome 9.650 to take second place.

For the Level 3 team, Bianca Sileo scored an amazing 9.5 on bars to win second place. Samantha Baez got a 8.9 for her bar routine, placing third. On vault, Sidney Glaubrecht got a 8.850 and Faith Campagnuolo scored a 8.750. Together, these gymnasts brought home the thirdplace team trophy.

For the Level 4 team, Isabella Padilla scored an awesome 9.5 on vault for first place. Also on vault, Sophia Ringvald scored a 9.0, Alexia Moraes scored

The Cats Gymnastics girls with their coaches.

a 8.8 and Mia Frozini scored a 9.0.

For the Level 5 team, Michela Arboco got a 8.8 for her beam routine to take third place. Rayven Glaubrecht scored an 8.650 for her floor routine, and Angela Chandler scored an 8.6 for her vault, earning her fourth place.

The girls work out hard with instruction from their coaches Margarita Martinez, Felipe Restrepo and Mario Restrepo. Cats Gymnastics offers team competition as well as recreational classes.

For more information, call (561) 795-3393 or visit www. catsgymnastics.com.

Colts 12-U Celebrate Championship Win

The Wellington Colts 12U travel baseball team were victorious at the recent Super Brawl Tournament at Pinewood Park in Boca Raton. The Colts captured their first championship of the season by defeating the Hialeah Warriors 5-3.

To get to the championship, the Colts defeated the West Boca Panthers black team 3-2 in the semifinals. In the championship game, the Hialeah Warriors jumped to

an early 2-0 lead over the Colts. But the Colts showed teamwork and heart, rallying for the win.

The Wellington Colts 12U team will travel to Cooperstown, New York to play in the prestigious Baseball Hall of Fame against teams from all over the nation. Anyone who would like to sponsor the Colts in an effort to help the boys get to Cooperstown should call Coach Jorge Ramos at (561) 346-0128.

Season Ends For Wolverine JV Wrestlers

The Wellington High School junior varsity wrestling team recently concluded its season at the Seminole Ridge High School Invitational Tournament.

Leading the way for the Wolverines were first-place finisher Chris Burk, secondplace finishers Kenny Nelson and Ben Dillian, and thirdplace finishers Josh Peters, Brandon Read and Seth Rasmussen.

The JV wrestlers finished with an 8-1-1 record this season.

Front row: A.J. Gallicchio, Zack Retzler, Ovanny Caminero, Jorge Ramos, Domenic Lemongello, Ryan Lopes and Matthew Sternola; back row: Junior Rodriguez, Will Butzbach, Triston McKenzie, James Vaughn, Cameron Weinberger, Jonathan Rosado and Brandon Bechtel.

Chris Burk

Wellington High School Junior, Adult Karate Students Advance

Broncos

Loss To Park Vista

continued from page 39 kets by Park Vista made it 3320.

After Palm Beach Central cut the lead to four points, the Cobras moved into gear. Additional baskets by Ray Boone, Mason, Sidden and Rivera extended the lead to 10 points.

The Broncos responded

with scoring from Earl Bailey, Martial, Neira and O’Connell to cut the Cobras’ lead to 41-33 at the end of the quarter.

The Cobras opened the fourth quarter with a basket and continued to dominate. Baskets by Evan ClarkeDaniels, Boone, Mason, Sidden, Adalberto Rivera and Rioux sealed the win. Jamal Smith and Martial scored for the Broncos, finishing the game 53-40.

Sidden finished with 14

Students from the Wellington High School karate classes were recently tested and promoted to their ninth kyu (first level) belt ranks.

Many of the students have been with Sensei Keith Moore at the high school since the classes began in April 2009 as part of the adult continuing education program.

In traditional Japanese martial arts, students have a total of nine levels to obtain, before receiving the rank of black belt.

On average, the time frame

points and Rivera added 10 for Park Vista. Martial led the Broncos with 18 points and Neira scored 10.

The Broncos honored senior players Julian Owens, Greg Etienne and Michael Mann.

The Broncos traveled to the Benjamin School on Tuesday, Feb. 2, coming away with a narrow 52-48 loss. They finish the regular season at Wellington on Friday, Feb. 5, before starting the district playoffs.

is anywhere between five to seven years to obtain black belt rank.

The students are now continuing their training at Florida Genbu-Kai Karate’s new facility in Royal Palm Beach (585 105th Avenue N., Suite 18-B).

For more information about karate classes at Wellington High School or at Florida Genbu-Kai Karate, call (561) 804-1002, e-mail Moore at floridagenbukai@ yahoo.com or visit the studio’s web site at www.florida genbukai.com.

(Front row) Dorian Piloto, Rene Dominguez, Declan Bailey, Jason Seetaram, Logan Ruiz, Olivia Raymundo, Stephanie Piloto, Nathan Bell and George Wu; (back row) assistant instructor Maritsa Moore, Natalie Angel, Rodrigo Albayeros, Zachery Wilson, Nicholas Wilson, Caleb Zhou, Luna Macias, Bria Mintzer and Sensei Moore.

(Front row, L-R) Dheeraj Nuthakki, Fawaz Hamdan and Charlene Quainoo; (back row) Jorge Perez, Catherine Mazzella, Deyana Hamdan, assistant instructor Maritsa Moore and Sensei Keith Moore.

Christian Robledo takes the ball down the court.

Julian Owens guards Adalberto Rivera.

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, Feb. 6

• Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach) will host the Everglades Day Festival on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly lineup includes painting in the Everglades, arts and craft workshops, presentations, art shows, ecology exhibits, programs with live animals, canoeing, tours and food vendors. Call (561) 735-6029 for more info.

• Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) will feature a “Beguiling Begonias Workshop” on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (561) 233-1757 or visit www.mounts.org for more info.

• Clean out your child’s room or get great bargains at the third annual Kids’ Garage Sale on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Veterans Park. For more info., call (561) 790-4159.

• The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will feature “Discover Okeeheelee’s Natives” on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. Admission is $3 per person. Call (561) 233-1400 for more info.

• Wellington will host its annual FatherDaughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Village Park gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road). Seating is limited. Tickets cost $50 per resident couple and $62.50 per non-resident couple. For more info., call (561) 791-4005.

• Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will host a Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Harvin Center (1030 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.). Call Amanayea at (561) 791-1618 for more info.

• The South Florida Science Museum (4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach) and Hoffman’s Chocolates will present “Science of Chocolate” on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6 and 7. Museum guests will learn about the chemistry of dark, milk and white chocolate. This fun-filled weekend will include chocolate samples, educational demonstrations and a sampling from the chocolate fountain. Call (561) 832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org for more info.

Sunday, Feb. 7

• The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will hold a nine-mile hike in Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 8 a.m. Meet at the parking lot at the front gate. Bring a snack and plenty of water. Contact Mary at (561) 391-

7942 or Lois at (561) 434-0373 for more info.

• Writer and humorist Marjorie Wolf will be at Temple Beth Zion (129 Sparrow Drive, Royal Palm Beach) on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Wolf will provide entertaining stories with a Yiddish twist. Tickets cost $15. Call (561) 798-8888 for more info.

• Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Praise Gospel Choir will celebrate Black History Month with “Music for a Sunday Afternoon” on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. in the West Palm Beach City Library auditorium (411 Clematis St., West Palm Beach) The concert is free and open to all. Call (561) 868-7701 or visit www.mycitylibrary.org for more info.

Monday, Feb. 8

• Free Cholesterol and Diabetes Screening will be offered on Monday, Feb. 8 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie store at 5042 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. For info., call Cholestcheck at (800) 713-3301.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will offer “Board Games Spectacular” for ages six and up on Monday, Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• The St. Louis Brass Quintet will perform on Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Seminole Ridge High School auditorium. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students with ID. For more info., call Karen Takacs at (561) 779-7909.

• Bob Lappin & the Palm Beach Pops will present “An Evening with Clint Holmes” on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www. palmbeachpops.org for more info.

Tuesday, Feb. 9

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a membership luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Wellington Regional Medical Center (10101 W. Forest Hill Blvd). RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Book Discussion: Lightning Thief” for ages 10 and up on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Percy Jackson, a misunderstood boy with special gifts, is presented with the challenge of finding Zeus’ missing lightning bolt. Copies of the book are available at the children’s information desk. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

See CALENDAR, page 46

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

CALENDAR, continued from page 44

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Meet the Author: Tim Dorsey” for adults on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Meet this best-selling author and get the scoop on Gator A-Go-Go, the justreleased title in the popular “Serge A. Storms” series. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach Community Band will kick off its free concert series with a Valentine’s Day Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). For more info., call (561) 790-5149.

• The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

Wednesday, Feb. 10

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians with Al Pierson in Dreyfoos Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for more info.

• The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Call (561) 7930874 or visit www.indiantrail.com for info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host “Power Tools for Women” on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. Jackie Rule from Palm Beach Community College’s Small Business Development Center will discuss issues relevant to women in business. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Writers’ Critique Workshop for adults on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. led by Florida Writers Association member Mark Adduci. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The National Alliance of Mental Illness will present “Eating Disorders: A Look Beyond Food and Weight Issues” on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Palm Beach County main library (3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach). The speaker will be Dr. Juandalyn Peters of the Renfrew Center. The meeting is free and open to the public. Call (561) 588-3477 or visit www.namipbc.org for more info.

Thursday, Feb. 11

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host a networking mixer on

Thursday, Feb. 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. RSVP to (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will offer a “Valentine Pop-up Card” class for ages 12 to 17 on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Make someone special a popup Valentine’s Day card. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

• A Celebrity Bartending Challenge to benefit the YMCA of the Palm Beaches will take place on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the White Horse Tavern in Wellington. For more info., visit www.polo withpedro.org or e-mail info@polowithpedro. org.

• Sunsport Gardens in Loxahatchee Groves will host its annual Midwinter Naturist Festival Feb. 11-16. For more info., call (561) 793-0423 or visit www.sunsport gardens.com.

Friday, Feb. 12

• Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Flagler Museum (Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach) Feb. 12-14. Enjoy the elegance of historic Whitehall and a special Gilded Age-style tea-for-two in the Café des Beaux Arts with someone special. Tickets are $60 per couple. Call (561) 6552833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us for more info.

• The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) will present “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles” on Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org for info.

Saturday, Feb. 13

• Little Smiles’ 2010 Stars Ball “A Night at the Oscars” will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace. Bland and Erika Eng of Palms West Hospital are the honorary chairs, while Dr. Alberto Marante and Maggie Zeller are co-chairs. Tickets are on sale at www. littlesmiles.org for $175 per person.

• Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will hold its Valentine’s Day Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Admission is $35. For more info., call Lawrence Logan at (561) 7910162, Lascelles Harrisat at (561) 3132488, Percival Wood at (561) 514-1788 or Henworth Ferguson at (561)-784-8804.

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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Legal Notice No. 524

Notice Under Fictitious Name Florida Statute 865.09 Public notice is hereby given that the undersigned desires to engage in business under the fictitious name of:

EMIN ARCADIA

Located at: 12705 25th St. North Loxahatchee, FL 33470

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

SUZANNE S. DAUBER

Publish :Town-Crier Newspapers

Date: 02-05-10

SAT. FEB. 6TH 9 A.M. -1P.M. VETERANS PARK

COME TO THE THIRD ANNUAL KIDS GARAGE SALE

Come Clean out your child’s room or get bargains. For more information, Call RPB Cultural Center at 790-4159

WELLINGTON'S EDGE

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SATURDAY, FEB. 6TH 8 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Something for Everyone! Across from the Mall at Wellington Green.

BUSINESS FOR SALE — Wellington Landmark Rare Opportunity. High volume Deli & Catering $350,000. 561-655-3375

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

Babysitting By Kristi — no more stress in finding affordable sitter. References. CPR Certified - infants to age 12. Palm Beach County area.Call 561-282-8365 or visit http:\\BabysittingByKristi.webs.com

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 SPECIAL-

ISTS — • 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

FIVE ACRE EQUESTRIAN ESTATE$1,400,000 View Virtual tour 10265@Virtualviewhomes.com. BrokersWelcome! Call Seller 561791-4599 or 561-889-5487

Have your horses summer in Vermont! - Gentleman's farm in famous Stowe. 5BR, 7BA house designer barn (chandeliers), 55+ac, countless trails, 3 bridges, waterfalls & Incomparable views. $2,850,000 Caretaker house on 18 Ac w/barn, 180 ft. riding ring, & lunge ring also available. For details call Pall Spera 561.762-8188or Pall.Spera@PallSpera.com

1995 TOYOTA COROLLA DX92K, cold A/C, power windows, power door locks, great on gas, cruise, $2,500 OBO. 201-8805

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) 4943422

MOBILE HOME FOR SALE -3 bedroom, 2 baths, single wide 3 car parking. $8,500 OBO. (561) 2018805

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

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 more info. Call 1-888333-9903

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 561-2488528

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.

LIFE AGENTS www.IRAtrust.us

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606

ADDITIONS, ROOFING, PATIOS & REMODELING - Cell 561-202-7036 561-798-6448 Licensed & Insured. CBC 1250306 CCC1326386

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

GET REAL AUTO INSURANCE — that comes with a Real Agent. Farm Bureau Insurance. Auto • Home • Life, Mark Piven, Agent 561-792-1991 Wellington.

RESUMÉ’S R US — Resumé writing, cover letters, advice/counseling. Mention this ad for special rates. www.Ineedaresumenow.com 561-228-1378

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS — Roof painting. Carpentry. License #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

CLASSIFIEDS 793-7606

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

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

All Subjects: PreK- ADULT $25/ HR.

HOME BUDDIES PROG. SPECIAL PROGRAM 333-1980

CLUBZTUTORING.COM

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