Town-Crier Newspaper November 29, 2024

AN AMAZING EVENING WITH ABBA

Rebuilt, Larger Publix Store Now Open In The Courtyard Shops On Thursday, Nov. 21, Publix celebrated the grand opening of the company’s completely rebuilt, larger store in the Courtyard Shops at Wellington. Shoppers lined the sidewalks awaiting the store’s opening and were given free Publix merchandise. Wellington Village Council members, Publix associates and Store Manager Joe Seguine participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the store opened. Page 7

Chambers Host Farm City Lunch At The South Florida Fairgrounds

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, in collaboration with the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, hosted the annual Farm City Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The luncheon highlighted the important economic contribution of the agricultural industry in Palm Beach County. Page 16

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce hosted “Mamma

A Night in Kalokairi” at the Wellington National Golf Club. The sold-out dinner event featured the tribute band ABBA Nova performing songs from the hit musical Mamma Mia! Dancers from Starpoint DanceSport also performed throughout the show. Guests enjoyed drinks, dinner and a night of dancing. Shown above, in a surprise, chamber members came out to perform a choregraphed dance to one of the songs. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18

Confusion Leaves Acreage Athletic League, ITID Without A Youth Sports Agreement

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

The service provider agreement between the Indian Trail Improvement District and the Acreage Athletic League expired on Friday, Nov. 15, and whether it will be renewed is an open question, ITID Supervisor Patricia Farrell said this week.

“I don’t know,” Farrell said. “I think changes need to be made within the [AAL] or through another organization or by the district. Right now, [the AAL] seems like a pretty dysfunctional group… They want to blame everyone else, but they need to look within.”

At the Wednesday, Nov. 13 meeting of the ITID Board of Supervisors, AAL President Wendy

Tirado confirmed that she had verbally resigned at a Tuesday, Nov. 5 executive committee meeting and seemed to indicate that Board Member Geoff Grafton is in charge. The league’s web site lists Grafton as treasurer and continues to list Tirado as president. No vice president is listed. Tirado could not be reached for comment, but she told the supervisors that she wants “a smooth transition for the athletic board,” and thus she plans to remain involved with the executive board. However, her role moving forward was not made clear.

AAL’s longtime Director of Marketing Daniel Duncan said this week that Tirado remains in charge and will continue to be so until at least the summer when new board

elections are held. “She’s not going to walk away until someone is in place,” Duncan said. Tirado joined the AAL’s executive board in 2016 and was named acting president in November 2022. In July 2023, she was elected to a full four-year term. Amid the confusion, a Dec. 18 workshop meeting between the ITID and AAL boards has been postponed until at least January. No new date has been set.

ITID Supervisor Betty Argue, a longtime supporter of the AAL, made a motion that the league’s service provider agreement (SPA) be extended until Feb. 19, but it died for lack of a second. She then requested that a discussion item regarding the AAL be added

Lisa El-Ramey Will Join Lox Council; Five File For Seat 4

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

With two incumbents not seeking re-election, there will be two new faces on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council in March.

One of those faces will be that of former Councilwoman Lisa El-Ramey, who was unopposed for Seat 2 when filing closed on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Five candidates filed paperwork to run for Seat 4. They are Paul T. Coleman II, Steven Hoffman, former Councilman Todd McLendon, Paulo Santana and Brian William Zdunowski. The election will be held on Tuesday, March 11.

The incumbents, Councilwoman Laura Danowski and Councilman Robert Shorr, both chose not to seek re-election. Danowski was elected to Seat 2 in 2019 and is wrapping up her second three-year term.

“It was never on my agenda to

run again,” she said, noting that before her six years on the council, she also served several years on the board of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District before it became a dependent district.

Danowski added that she has a new business venture to focus on, as well as upcoming travel plans.

Shorr also opted not to run for re-election in Seat 4. He explained that it didn’t make sense to run when the community recently passed a referendum instituting a two-term limit on council members.

Even though the term limit did not yet legally apply to him, Shorr felt leaving after two terms keeps with the spirit of the referendum, which passed in 2020.

“I encouraged people to run for my seat. That’s probably why there’s so many,” he said. SEAT 2

El-Ramey was the only person

to file for Seat 2 and will replace Danowski on the dais in March.

She previously won a special election to a council seat in 2019, defeating now-Mayor Anita Kane.

She served two years on the dais, including a year as mayor, before being unseated by former Councilwoman Marianne Miles in 2021.

An equestrian, El-Ramey owns Oak Hammock Farm on B Road.

She was surprised that so many candidates filed for Seat 2 while she did not draw opposition.

“I have always allied with the pro-rural preservation mentality,” El-Ramey said. “I was painted in my 2021 campaign as anti-paving, but it was more ‘let’s not do it in a shoddy way,’ and I think I have been proven right.”

In this way, El-Ramey believes that she falls more in line with the current majority on the council.

Once she joins the council,

See LOX ELECTION, page 7

Wellington Seeks To Clean Up Rules Prior To Possible Mall Proposal

By Charles Elmore

Staff Report

22 dwelling units per acre could be allowed in certain circumstances. It is up to the Wellington Village Council to decide on the rule tweaks, probably in two readings in December and January, and ultimately to vote on any development plan that materializes. The proposed rules don’t force the council to approve or reject any particular density level, though

they do set some basic starting points for discussion. “I’m just trying to picture it in my head, because 22 dwelling units per acre is a lot in and of itself,” PZA Board Member Tatiana Yaques said.

Another measure approved unanimously by the board funnels conditions of approval for the mall area into a central master plan, instead of spread out over multiple development agreements. If conversations at a council workshop earlier this year are any guide, a redevelopment proposal could be coming for the central mall area. Housing has been approved in perimeter areas over time, but not at the core mall.

Yaques asked about the 22 dwellings per acre.

“What would that look like on a parcel?” she asked. That could mean multi-story

See ZONING, page 14

Grove Marketplace Losing Winn-Dixie, But Gaining An Aldi

By Louis Hillary Park

Town-Crier Staff Report

Come January, there’ll be no “Beef People” in Westlake.

Aldi, the German-based international grocery giant, completed its purchase of the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain earlier this year.

More than 400 stores across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi were involved, with Aldi saying some of the stores would be converted to reflect the smaller, no-frills ethos of the parent company.

On Nov. 19, Aldi announced that the Winn-Dixie located at 5060 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in the Grove Marketplace shopping center will be among the stores converted to an Aldi. The transition is expected to take several months.

Winn-Dixie reopened in the Grove Marketplace in 2022 after being closed for a decade, anchoring a new resurgence for the aging plaza.

“It’s market conditions,” Westlake City Manager Kenneth Cassel said about Aldi’s decision. “Businesses change.” Cassel noted that the Aldi will be smaller than the Winn-Dixie supermarket and liquor store, which currently occupy some 52,000 square feet.

“There will room for a retail bay on either side,” he said, adding that he expects Aldi to have a site plan ready for approval at the Westlake City Council’s Dec. 10 regular meeting.

“I think Aldi will be a great addition to the area,” Mayor JohnPaul See NEW ALDI, page 14

Barky Pines Animal Rescue Marks 10th Anniversary

By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report

Ten years ago, Elizabeth and Steve Accomando left their successful Broward County auto business and moved to Palm Beach County to pursue their dream of opening a full-time animal rescue. They must be doing something right, since Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. The local nonprofit was honored at the Tuesday, Nov. 5 meeting of the Palm Beach County Commission, when Commissioner Marci Woodward presented a proclamation honoring Barky Pines for its service to the community. Barky Pines, located in the western Loxahatchee neighborhood of Santa Rosa Groves, has become

an integral part of the local animal rescue community, partnering with Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control and dozens of local rescue groups. The facility has saved thousands of animals and currently boasts a population of three pigs, four goats, 40 chickens, 60 ducks, five geese, seven peacocks, four turkeys, 72 dogs and nine farm/ barn cats. These animals were abandoned, thrown away, lost, sick, hungry, abused, mistreated and/or left for dead.

“You can feel their love for animals the minute you drive up. They take in animals that need help and nurse them back to health,” said Jamieson Joseph of Royal Palm Beach, who has taken advantage of both adoption and spay/ neuter services there.

Jacqueline Batcha is equally passionate about Barky Pines.

“These wonderful people brought me the love of my life, and I will forever be grateful,” she said, describing how Barky Pines rescued Toots, a French Bulldog, from horrible conditions.

Barky Pines founder Elizabeth Accomando likes to refer to her “village of volunteers.” Micki Newman is a typical volunteer.

“This is a fantastic rescue,” she said. “I’ve used their clinic for my own animals and started to volunteer here four years ago.”

She noted that commercial veterinarians can be expensive, and many people can’t afford preventive care like dental cleaning.

“Another reason I really like

BARKY PINES, page 4

Mia!

TOM WENHAM STREET NAMING CEREMONY

The Village of Wellington held a dedication ceremony Monday, Nov. 18 to add the name “Thomas M. Wenham Memorial Boulevard” to Birkdale Drive. The ceremony recalled the lifelong dedication of Tom Wenham, an inaugural member of the Wellington Village Council, Wellington’s first elected mayor, founder of the Wellington Community Foundation and one of the founders of American Legion Post 390. Shown here, Wellington Village Council members join Regis Wenham to look at the new street sign.

Steve Accomando with 600-pound pig Charlotte at Barky Pines. PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington’s Holiday Boat Parade Lights Up The Water Dec. 7

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Thousands are expected to flock to the Town Center Promenade in Wellington starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 in anticipation of the eighth annual Holiday Boat Parade on Lake Wellington.

“We’ll start staging at the north end of the lake, and then we head out at 6:15 p.m. to start the parade, and we come by the Wellington Community Center by 6:30 p.m.,” Parade Organizer Jack Brownson said. “We had 49 boats last year.” This year, they’re hoping for more than 50 participating boats, which would more than double the number of participants the event originally began with. It has grown over the years, bringing joy and delight with thousands of floating Christmas lights.

“We’re very excited about the growth of the parade,” Brownson said. “It’s a very big event on our lake, and it’s becoming a pretty big event for the community.”

Last year, it was estimated that more than 2,000 people came out to watch the boat parade.

“The best part about it is really the camaraderie of the boaters and the competition,” Brownson said. “People love to decorate their boats, so there’s a lot of competition in the decorating. Everybody really enjoys seeing each other’s boats and what they’re doing.”

Sometimes the decorations change, while other years, they stay the same. Brownson puts more than 200 feet of lights on his boat.

South Florida Marine continues its support of the event, sponsoring the parade

and providing plaques for the winners of the top three best decorated boats. They’ll also have a pontoon out for demonstrations.

“It’s a slate plaque with their picture on it and what position they came in,” Brownson said. “It’s a really nice-looking plaque that’s better than a trophy because you can put it on a shelf, and it’s like a picture.”

Judging the boats will be local TV celebrities Jim Sackett and Roxanne Stein, members of the Wellington Village Council and Assistant Community Events Director Michelle Garvey. Gary Swedenborg and Jeff Master are also parade organizers and are looking forward to lighting up the lake.

— Jack Brownson

Attendees on shore can also visit with a variety of vendors from Wellington’s weekly Lakeside Market in the green space adjacent to the promenade. There will be free parking, food trucks, vendors and more.

For more information, or to participate, contact Brownson at jbrownson@ comcast.net. To learn more about the Lake Wellington Boat Club, visit www. lakewellingtonboatclub.com.

“We enjoy doing this for the residents on the lake,” Swedenborg said. “Many people have parties the night of the parade. It has turned into a community event since the word has spread.”

Community Mourns Fallen PBSO Officers At Candlelight Vigil

Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara addresses the vigil.

Agent Enrique Perez, Agent Marcus Sigler, Deputy Karly Miller, Deputy John Matthews, Agent David Maccarone and Agent Lemny Sanchez. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

RPB Council Gets Update On Palm Tran Plans In The Community

By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council met Thursday, Nov. 22 with a busy agenda of more than 20 items, including a presentation by new Palm Tran Executive Director Ivan Maldonado and Director of Transit Planning Yash Nagal. Maldonado introduced himself to the council in his new role as Palm Tran executive director. He took over the position in July, replacing the late Clinton Forbes, who passed away suddenly last year at age 55.

Maldonado comes to the county as a seasoned public transportation expert. Joining him for the presentation was Nagal, who provided the council with an overview of Palm Tran operations with a focus on the new BusLink program.

In September, Palm Tran suspended service on Route 52, which served many people living or working in the Royal Palm Beach area. Large buses operating on the route drew little ridership, making the route one of the most inefficient in the system, with buses regularly riding empty or under capacity. Thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, to fill the transit needs of riders affected by route cancellations, Palm Tran has

replaced the route with an innovative on-demand program called BusLink.

BusLink is a partnership between Palm Tran and Uber, as well as select local taxi companies. The program works very similar to Uber. County residents in need of public transportation in the area formerly served by Route 52 can now register on the Palm Tran web site, where they will be invited to download an app similar to Uber. The rider selects pick up and drop off points within a designated Route 52 service area boundary. Like Uber, the rider can decide between a private or a rideshare level of service. No matter the cost of the ride, the program only subsidizes riders up to $8 per ride. The program is in its infancy and is considered a pilot project. Not all riders are happy. Royal Palm Beach resident L.A. Rankin is one of the riders affected by the change. “This new program is well-intentioned, but it’s putting people out of work. I don’t drive and specifically chose a residence near Route 52. Now, the $8 rebate doesn’t begin to cover costs, and the working poor can’t afford to take 10 Uber rides a week,” Rankin said.

Palm Tran’s Maldonado responded, “BusLink is intended for customers to use Uber and/ or taxi vouchers to connect to the local fixed route system. The BusLink program offers a solution to the first- and last-mile connectivity issue that is often present in low-populated suburban communities. We recommend that customers use the voucher to travel to a fixed-route stop, not for the entire trip.”

There were 1,098 BusLink vouchers used for drop-offs and pick-ups within the Royal Palm Beach BusLink zone in October 2024. Palm Tran estimates that there are more than 150 BusLink users in Royal Palm Beach.

The realignment of Route 52 into other routes and the BusLink zone contributed to an increase in ridership on other local routes, officials noted.

“With the implementation of BusLink, we’ve improved Route 40 by increasing the frequency of the route to 30 minutes and adding new service on State Road 7 and Okeechobee,” Maldonado said. “This has resulted in 1,038 added monthly boardings. Route 40 connects Royal Palm Beach to downtown West Palm Beach and Belle Glade. This route is a great commuter option for customers.”

Mayor Jeff Hmara said the pilot program shows promise.

“We’ll be closely watching the pilot program to ensure it works well for our community and provides the access and reliability our residents deserve,” he said.

“This is all about giving people better transportation options and improving mobility in Royal Palm Beach.”

In other business:

• Facing no competition in the upcoming municipal elections, Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commissioner Adam Miller was scheduled to be sworn into the council’s Group 1 seat in March. Councilman Richard Valuntas made a motion to appoint Miller temporarily to the vacant Group 3 seat, which was approved unanimously. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Selena Samios was appointed vice mayor. The council has not had a designated vice mayor since Hmara, the previous vice mayor, became mayor.

• H.L. Johnson Elementary School Principal Crystal Amado Kucharski came to the podium to formally thank the council for approving a special event permit allowing the school to hold its winter concert at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m.

• The council also unanimously approved an expansion of the Aldi Distribution Warehouse property at 1171 North State Road

7. This includes a proposed warehouse/storage expansion of 67,347 square feet and a new parking lot of 182 spaces. This differs from the original plan from 2012, which would have allowed 151,172 square feet of additional space but no parking lot. The developer decided that additional staff parking is necessary and trimmed the warehouse space to create it. The new building includes a public art requirement. The council, however, was concerned about a landscape waiver request tied to the parking lot that would eliminate the required five-foot-wide perpendicular divider strips. The council and the developer agreed to reformat the parking lot slightly to eliminate the need for the variance.

Wellington Unveils New Bike Map Complete With Safety Tips

By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington offers a beckoning variety of places to ride bicycles, a new village brochure highlights, but it also leans into detailed safety information following studies showing that nearly one in 10 fatal or incapacitating traffic incidents in the community involve bikes.

“With this new resource, we’re empowering our community to enjoy all the benefits of cycling while staying informed about safety and local biking laws,” Village Manager Jim Barnes said. The brochure, announced Nov. 22, includes a map showing miles of designated bike lanes, shareduse pathways, off-trail paths and even bicycle fix-it stations.

The safety information reviews bicycle laws, a helmet fitting guide and other matters. Some laws are generally well-known, if not observed with universal fidelity, such as don’t carry more passengers than there are seats on the bicycle. That generally means one person apart from the odd bicycle built for two.

Other regulations might escape attention on occasion.

“A bicyclist may not wear a headset, headphone or other listening device, other than a hearing aid, when riding,” the brochure notes.

There’s a reason for that.

“Wearing a headset blocks out important audio clues needed to detect the presence of other traffic,” it continues. On sidewalks, bicyclists have the same rights and duties as pedestrians. Still, there are some obligations not always honored in actual practice.

“A bicyclist riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing,” the brochure notes.

That can be a bell or voiced warning, for example.

One set of protocols for bicyclists is not likely to come up in just any community, because Wellington features a wide range of equestrian trails that may host cyclists as well.

The village brochure lists rec-

ommended practices for bicyclists approaching a horse in front or behind. Here is one example of advice about approaching from behind: “Speak to the rider and horse in a friendly, relaxed tone. Remove your helmet if it conceals part of your face. The horse will be more likely to recognize you as a human.”

The rules of the road are not always just about courtesy but can involve serious safety issues as well.

Pedestrians and bicycles were involved in 21 of Wellington’s 132 collisions resulting in death or incapacitating injury in the 10 years ending in 2022, according to an analysis by consultants working for the village. That’s about one in six.

Bicycles alone were part of almost one in 10 of such incidents, research for the village’s Vision Zero project found. The project’s goal is to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries as close as possible to zero by 2030.

Still, the warm weather and subtropical setting generate lasting

appeal, and there have never been more choices available to those who want to get on two wheels and pedal in Wellington. These range from bike lanes on busy thoroughfares such as Forest Hill Blvd. or Wellington Trace, to paths in suburban neighborhoods, to sometimes unpaved trails in conservation and recreation areas.

“I think the interest in the sport is growing,” said Ivan Gonzales, salesman at Cycle Fit Bicycles in Wellington. “With all these options, it’s very attractive.”

Expanding choices include e-bikes, which provide a little electric power to supplement pedaling, and gravel bikes, with wider tires to handle the more rugged and outdoorsy paths, he said.

Wellington’s new brochure can be downloaded at the village web site, or residents can pick up a copy at several locations. These include Village Hall (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Village Park (11700 Pierson Road), the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Barky Pines

Celebrating Anniversary

continued from page 1 Barky Pines is that they pay more attention to local animals, while some other rescues bring dogs in from other states,” Newman added.

Mario, a giant tortoise, is the one exception to local preference.

“Years ago, a Manhattan landlord checked out a newly empty apartment and was horrified to find Mario chained to a radiator. You can still see where they drilled through his shell,” Steve Accomando explained.

Mario is now living out his days in peace, with the run of the farm.

However, Mario is acting a little differently this week, perhaps depressed that his best friend on the farm, a rescue horse, passed away very recently.

Abe Vigoda and Foo, very friendly goats, are more typical Barky Pines farm residents. Elizabeth related the story of how Foo was loose and making mayhem by charging cars and causing accidents on Military Trail. Atlantis police corralled him, and he has been happy at Barky Pines ever since. Abe Vigoda was abandoned at Animal Care & Control before arriving at the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is also home to a 600-pound pig named Charlotte.

“We spoil Charlotte,” Steve said.

“She is such a clean animal. We create a bathing pool in her pen

several times a day. They are such intelligent animals.”

Barky Pines refuses to kill even unadoptable dogs. “They might try to bite us a little bit from time to time, but some of our puppies have been through real hell, so we try to give them the best lives we can,” Elizabeth said, adding that most of the animals are adoptable.

Besides recognition from the county, the sanctuary was the winner in the 2024 Palm Beach County Community’s Choice Awards in the categories of veterinary clinic and pet kennel/boarding/day care.

Animal rescue is a team sport, and Barky Pines is extremely well regarded by its partners, particularly because it operates a low-cost veterinary clinic, providing and subsidizing spay and neuter ser-

TOWN-CRIERTHE

vices, improving animal health and helping with population control.

Laura Rister operates a new local rescue. “I am so grateful to the good people at Barky Pines,” she said. “Our new group is involved in rescuing big animals, and we would not be able to do so if Barky Pines didn’t operate such a wonderful and low-cost clinic.”

Rebecca Landerman, a local hospital dietician, has a passion for rescuing huskies.

“The people at Barky Pines are lifesavers. We recently rescued a red husky, Yirah, who then tested positive for heartworm. Treatment for heartworm, which is deadly to dogs, would normally cost thousands of dollars. We couldn’t afford it. The Barky Pines clinic came through for us and saved Yirah’s life,” Landerman said.

Local registered nurse Smiley Brammer also adores Barky Pines.

“I’ve known some members of the staff for 40 years. These are good people. They have the hearts of lions to be able to overcome the horrific conditions they find these animals in. They overcome the trauma and jump right in to do everything in their power to save the life, stabilize the patient, and then find them a loving forever home,” Brammer said.

The past decade has certainly brought many changes, especially for Elizabeth, who is now also involved in local government, elected two years ago to a seat on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

She said she has no regrets regarding dedicating her time to creating Barky Pines.

“While it has been far from easy, it has been an incredible first 10 years of saving lives,” Elizabeth said. “If we each do all that we can, what an amazing difference we can make in the lives of local animals.”

Download the new bike map, or pick one up from village facilities. Club (1080 Wellington Trace) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 8 substation (14000 Greenbriar Blvd.).

To download the village’s bicycle map and brochure, visit www. wellingtonfl.gov/2271/16492/ Bicycles-Pedestrians.

Elizabeth pointed to a couple of hundred hungry mouths and added, “Our mission is not inexpensive. We operate 24/7, and it’s all done using donations, grassroots fund-raising and our own money.”

She asks two things of the community: adopt and donate. In addition to money, consider donating time, farm materials and pet/farm food.

To learn more about Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, visit www.barkypinesanimalrescue. com.

Palm Tran Executive Director Ivan Maldonado addresses the Royal Palm Beach Village Council. PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

(L-R) Noel Chessman holding Cotton, Geoff Sluggett, Office Manager Kate Hansen holding Violet, founders Steve and Elizabeth Accomando, County Commissioner Marci Woodward, Animal Care & Control Director Jan Steele, Secretary Mary Montanaro, Elizabeth Harfmann of the Community Services Department, Alyssa Freeman (holding Scout), Elaine Tobita and Public Safety Department Director Stephanie Sejnoha with Jeff Fisher and Ella Freeman (front). PHOTO COURTESY PALM BEACH COUNTY

Elizabeth Accomando with giant tortoise Mario (above) and threelegged senior Chihuahua Thelma (below). PHOTOS BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

The Village of Wellington held a dedication ceremony Monday, Nov. 18 to add the name “Thomas M. Wenham Memorial Boulevard” to Birkdale Drive. The ceremony, held at the corner of Birkdale and Royal Fern drives, recalled the lifelong dedication of Tom Wenham, an inaugural member of the Wellington Village Council, Wellington’s first elected mayor, founder of the Wellington Community Foundation and one of the founders of American Legion Post 390. Speakers honored Wenham, a veteran who served in the Korean War, for his life of service. He died in 2022 at the age of 90. The ceremony was attended by Wenham’s widow, Regis Wenham.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Palm Beach County and the Village of Wellington recently announced the 40th annual Wellington Holiday Parade, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center.

The parade will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, starting at 1:30 p.m. This year’s theme of “Rockin’ in the Holidays” will be on display as participants ride on floats, decorated vehicles and walk the route of the parade up Forest Hill Blvd. for thousands of spectators to enjoy. This year’s honorary grand marshal is Dennis Witkowski, who was the chamber’s Parade Committee chair for 35 years and was

instrumental is creating the parade. The Holiday Park located at the Wellington Amphitheater grounds will open at 11 a.m. It will include entertainment from local schools, photos with Santa prior to the parade, arts and crafts and business vendor booths, activities for children, and other family friendly fun. Forest Hill Blvd. will be closed beginning at 1 p.m. In addition, one lane on the east side of Forest Hill Blvd. between Town Center Drive and Wellington Trace will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. Ken Adams Way and Chancellor Drive will have limited entry and exit. Additionally, one travel lane on Wellington Trace from Big Blue Trace to Forest Hill Blvd. will be closed.

The chamber thanks event partners the Village of Wellington, Wellington Regional Medical Center, Florida Blue, Tropical Shipping, E-Care, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Print It Plus, Bolay, Two Men and a Truck, the Wellington National Golf Club, Priority Towing, Starbucks, the City of Greenacres, Minto Communities, the Royal Inn, the South Florida Fair, the

Tom Wenham’s widow Regis Wenham joins the Wellington Village Council to help unveil the new street name.

Wellington Village Council members join Regis Wenham to look at the new street sign.

Vice Mayor John McGovern, Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri, Mayor Michael Napoleone, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Councilwoman Maria Antuña and Village Manager Jim Barnes.

Ernie Zimmerman, Lawrence Williams Sr., Krissy Robbs and William Bartels of American Legion Post 390 were there to honor Tom Wenham, one of the post’s founders.

Mickey Smith pays tribute to his friend Tom Wenham.

Frank and Herta Suess with Regis Wenham.

Dr. Gordon Johnson, Jim Sackett and Barry Manning of the Wellington Community Foundation, which Tom Wenham founded and led until his passing.

Birkdale Drive will now also be known as “Thomas M. Wenham Memorial Boulevard.”

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of

PUBLIX OPENS COMPLETELY REBUILT, LARGER STORE IN COURTYARD SHOPS

On Thursday, Nov. 21, Publix celebrated the grand opening of the company’s completely rebuilt, larger store in the Courtyard Shops at Wellington. Shoppers lined the sidewalks awaiting the store’s opening and were given free Publix merchandise. Wellington Village Council members, Publix associates and Store Manager Joe Seguine participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the store opened to the public. The new store features many new amenities for customers to enjoy, including an expanded hot bar area, a popcorn area, upstairs and outdoor seating, and Publix Pours, featuring coffee products, wine, beer and kombucha on tap, açaí bowls and smoothies.

HUNT/TOWN-CRIER AND COURTESY PUBLIX

Lox Election Five Seeking Seat 4

continued from page 1

El-Ramey intends to focus on the town’s difficult financial issues.

“Any free money the town previously collected, that money has pretty much all gone away,” she said. “I do believe that, culturally, Americans like instant gratification, but we do need long-term planning for projects.”

She wants to see the council and the town “be more organized and cohesive to show a clear vision of what we want as a community.”

“I think there has been some progress through some state appropriations and grant money,” El-Ramey said, suggesting that the town needs to cast a wider net for available funds.

Since her last time on the council, the town has moved from a contract staffing model to an inhouse employee model. That is something that still needs ongoing review, she said.

“I think that there have been efforts made, but I’m not sure we are where we need to land yet,” El-Ramey said. Traffic, road safety and drainage are other topics that need to keep the town’s focus, she added.

“Working with the surrounding municipalities will be critical to how our community functions in the long run,” El-Ramey said. SEAT 4 Coleman ran against Shorr for Seat 4 in 2022, losing by just a handful of votes. He has lived in Loxahatchee Groves for nearly his entire life, moving to the community in 1976 as a child with his family.

“I think it is very important for the citizens to have a voice on the council, and I hope to be that voice to ensure that the charter we were founded on, and the way of life that is the reason we all chose to reside here, is maintained and protected for years to come,” Coleman said. Among the key things he wants to focus on as a council mem-

ber include, “fiscally responsible spending, a hard look at our ULDC, drainage, roads, and reinstatement of the Roadways, Equestrian, Trails and Greenways Committee (RETGAC) to start.”

Hoffman is a quail farmer. He is running for the council because he does not like what he sees when he attends town meetings.

“There’s a right time and place for everything, and that time is now,” he said. “I went to my first meeting a few years ago, invited by my neighbor, former Mayor Lisa El-Ramey. The meeting was a joke, and a lot of meetings have been since then.”

Hoffman described them as “a cross between the Jerry Springer Show and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Failed District 31 State Senate Candidate Charged In Drug Case

By Louis Hilary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Former Florida Senate candidate Aaron Hawkins of Stuart was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 19 and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. The substances were identified as marijuana and psilocybin, a mind-altering drug.

The arrest came just two weeks after Hawkins, a Democrat, lost to Republican incumbent State Sen. Gayle Harrell in the race for the District 31 seat.

The district encompasses Martin County, parts of southern St. Lucie County and most of northern and

Wellington’s Holiday Toy Drive Accepting Donations

Wellington’s annual Hometown Holiday Toy Drive is underway in partnership with Wellington’s community partners.

western Palm Beach County, all the way to Lake Okeechobee. Locally, that area includes Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Westlake, Arden and western Palm Beach Gardens.

Hawkins was booked into the Martin County Jail on Nov. 19 on a $14,000 bond, according to court records. Hawkins, 26, could not be reached for comment.

Deb Groendal, who was listed on Hawkins’ now defunct web site as his campaign manager, said Tuesday, “I don’t know anything.”

Asked if she expected Hawkins to be exonerated, Groendal, a St. Lucie County resident, replied, “I’m not going to comment. I’ll

call you if I have any positive news.”

The alleged incidents of illegal sales occurred Dec. 28, 2023, and Jan. 29, 2024, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said that the timing of the arrest had nothing to do with the election. Instead, Snyder said, it was to protect the identity of a confidential informant and other investigations with which the “C.I.” was involved.

On Hawkins’ web site, the candidate was described as a “Stuart native, FSU [Florida State University] alum, entrepreneur, data professional and public servant.”

Harrell easily defeated Hawkins, 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent.

NEWS BRIEFS

Espressivo Concert At St. Michael

“Loxahatchee Groves is a microcosm of Washington, D.C.,” he said. “I’m driving a wedge straight between the Democrats and the Republicans, which I call down here the Hatfields and McCoys.” He wants the council and the community to only focus on Loxahatchee Groves first.

“No wasting the residents’ time with commercial development and adding more rules, laws and regulations than we currently have,” Hoffman said. “The last meeting, there were 257 pages of reading that were on the agenda. We have to clean up our own backyard first before we can entertain anything from the outside.”

Hoffman noted that he has four children under the age of 15.

“This is, hands-down, the best place I’ve ever lived in my life, and I want to keep it as rural equestrian agricultural as long as possible. Loxahatchee Groves is God’s country,” Hoffman said.

He is a member of the Community Emergency Response Team, the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association and Palms West Presbyterian Church.

McLendon was elected to the council in 2016 and served one three-year term before being unseated by Danowski.

“Since I was on the council, our budget has skyrocketed out of control,” he said. “A lot of money was spent on roads, and no drainage was put in, and some of these roads are failing. Literally millions of dollars were spent, and it is coming apart.”

McLendon filed to run in last year’s election but later dropped out of the race. He said he did so to support Anita Kane, who was also running for the seat and is now serving as mayor.

“She has done a fantastic job

since she has been on the council,” McLendon said.

With his experience, along with his 18 years of being active in the community, McLendon believes that he can hit the ground running once elected.

His focus would be on “trying to get our infrastructure back under the control.”

That would include more of a focus on drainage issues.

“Major drainage issues have been ignored,” McLendon said. “We need to get back to the basic things and try to get that straightened out.” Santana has owned equestrian property in Loxahatchee Groves since 2013. Through most of that time, he operated Santana Stables.

“Today, I work with recycling of yard waste, horse manure and hurricane debris, including nitrogen sequestration, mostly out of Belle Glade,” Santana said, adding that his company does stall cleaning at local horse farms, including many in Loxahatchee Groves.

He feels that many areas have lost the necessary natural areas that horses need, and he aims to help protect that in Loxahatchee Groves.

“Loxahatchee Groves is becoming a powerhouse, very strong among agricultural, equestrian and landscaping professionals,” Santana said. “We have probably the last green environment to be preserved. We must optimize the synergy between these industries to work perfectly together.”

His goal on the council will be

to “keep it green” and “preserve it for future generations.”

“There have been a few conflicts between the agricultural/ equestrian interests and developers,” said Santana, who wants to “protect the community instead of overdevelopment.”

Zdunowski was born and raised in West Lawn, Pennsylvania. He moved to Florida after graduating from college with a degree in network engineering.

“My wife, Ashley, and I bought our home in Loxahatchee Groves in December of 2013,” he said. “As an equestrian family, we love the rural environment while having close amenities.”

Zdunowski works as a senior product line manager for a software company specializing in medical software mostly for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I ran this year because with Robert Shorr vacating his seat, I wanted to ensure his replacement upheld the rural values of our community,” he said. “As a council member, I will concentrate on the aforementioned rural values, as well as lowering taxes, keeping our existing AR5 zoning and reducing our town budget while increasing efficiency.”

Zdunowski added that as a representative of the people of Loxahatchee Groves, council members “should be beholden to the will of the people and not their own personal interests. I would vow to follow this, having an open door to all.”

Art Society To Feature Chris Kling On Dec. 10

The Wellington Art Society will host artist Chris Kling as the featured speaker for the group’s December meeting.

The village asks residents to help ensure that no child goes without a gift this holiday season. Toy donations will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 6. Residents interested in donating may drop off new, unwrapped toys at Village Hall (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Village Park (11700 Pierson Road), the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), the Wellington Tennis Center (3100 Lyons Road) and the Lakeside Market on Thursday nights at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Partnership opportunities are still available. If you are interested in partnering with the village on the toy drive, contact Jenifer Brito at (561) 753-2476 for more information.

Espressivo is directed by Dr. John Weatherspoon. It consists of approximately 32 singers, most of whom are music teachers or music therapists in Palm Beach County. Learn more about activities at St. Michael Lutheran Church at www.stmichaelelc.com.

Amber’s Animal Outreach

The Espressivo Singers will perform on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael Lutheran Church, located at 1925 Birkdale Drive in Wellington. Admission is $15 ($8 for students). The group will be singing some beautiful Christmas music, from early Renaissance through modern classical gems. They will also be singing “Silent Night,” with Christina Colletti Campanaro on flute and Katie Long Kovalsky on clarinet.

Christmas Event

Amber’s Animal Outreach will celebrate its sixth annual Christmas Fundraiser Adoption Event on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Community Animal Hospital (11462 Okeechobee Blvd., Royal Palm Beach) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will include a visit from Santa Claus, who will be available for photos with families and pets. There will also be an ugly sweater pet contest, vendors,

raffles, dogs up for adoption and more. A $5 donation includes a printed photo and contest entry. Learn more about Amber’s Animal Outreach at www.aaodog.org.

Holiday Events At St. David’s

St. David’s in the Pines Episcopal Church in Wellington will host several holiday events in December open to the community.

On Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4 p.m., St. David’s will host a Christmas Concert with the Palm Beach Pipes, the Silverbirds Steel Band, the St. David’s Choir and more. A reception will follow.

On Saturday, Dec. 21, the church will host a Live Nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. at the corner of Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Blvd. To learn more about activities at St. David’s in the Pines, visit www. saintdavidsinthepines.org.

Kling will give an artist’s talk and painting demonstration. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center, located at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The evening will also include a meetand-greet, member spotlight and fabulous raffle. For more information, contact presidentofwas@ gmail.com.

The 2021 recipient of the MartinArts Visual Artist of the Year award, Kling is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the American Impressionist Society, the Oil Painters of America, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, the Martin Artisans Guild and Plein Air Palm Beach. She has work showing in several galleries in Florida.

Kling is represented by Palm City Art and Frame, Doris Clement Interiors of Stuart, Palm Beach Art, Antique & Design Showroom in Lake Worth, and Sea Spirits and Lost Gallery in St.

PHOTOS BY MARGARET

Wellington officials join Publix representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the store.

A giant shopping cart is parked outside of the newly reopened store in the Courtyard Shops.

Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone welcomes the completely rebuilt store to the community.

Customer service associates Ezekiel Previlon and Alejandro Noriega were greeting customers as they arrived.

Customers can now enjoy their favorite drinks at Publix Pours and Publix Café, which includes coffee, wine, beer, smoothies and more.

Customers make their way into the store after the ribbon cutting.

The store features a larger produce section and a Hot Bar area serving pizza, pasta, sushi,

The new store features an upstairs dining area and outside seating.

Paul T. Coleman II Steven Hoffman Todd McLendon Paulo Santana Brian William Zdunowski

ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FEAST HELD AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IN WELLINGTON

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club held its annual Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday, Nov. 21. The club and its volunteers served a full dinner to the club children with support from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Each family also received a Publix gift card. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Artist Kianga Jinaki Visits The Wellington Art Society

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Wellington Art Society hosted a workshop by recognized textile/ collage/mixed media artist Kianga Jinaki. Each person at the meeting created an original fabric collage, learning techniques and the story of the artist’s journey as a professional artist. A meet-and-greet and raffle added to the fun and festivities. Members also took a special moment to honor longtime member Faye Ford for her dedication and service to the organization. She is moving out of state to be with her family. Wellington Art Society board members presented her with an appreciation award on behalf of the entire membership. To learn more about the Wellington Art Society, visit www. wellingtonartsociety.org.

Kianga

VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH PUBLIC NOTICE

The Village of Royal Palm Beach currently has a vacant Seat on the Education Advisory Board. The Education Advisory Board meets on the second Monday of the month eight months out of the year, with one special meeting in April of each year for scholarship interviews. All meetings are held in the Village Council Chambers. Board Members shall meet the following qualifications at the time of their appointment and throughout the course of their service: they must be a Village resident; have a background in education and experience in the field of education; be a member of a parent teacher organization, parent teacher association, school advisory council or other similar organization associated with or sponsored by the school district or a public or charter school located within the Village; or be a parent/legal guardian of a child currently enrolled in a Village public or charter school. Those ineligible to serve on the Board are: employees of the Palm Beach County School District; employees of an organization funded by the School District (e.g. charter school employee); or employees of a charter management organization or charter education management organization. If you would like to volunteer your service and expertise on this local government Board, visit the Village’s website at www.royalpalmbeachfl.gov and go to COMMISSION/BOARD APPLICATION to submit. Return the completed application to the Village Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2025 for Council consideration at its January 16, 2025 meeting. If further information is desired, please call the Village Clerk at (561) 790-5102.

By:Diane

DiSanto, MMC, Village Clerk

HCA Palms West Hospital volunteers Jason Kimbrell, Jenn Diogo, Julie Trieste, Jay Eversole, Frank Cerabona, Sean Majewski, Rachel Wilson, Jamil Wilcox, Natasha Rubio and Ashley Rose.

B&G Club board members LaTricia Jenkins, Marcella Montesinos, Julie Kime, Rob D’Angelo, Kevin Crosby, Jason Kimbrell, Sonali Mendiratta and Charles Orozco.

Deputy Harold Harper with Wellington High School Black Leadership Achievement Student Team (BLAST) members Phildensy Jean, Brianna LeDoux, Kelvin Smith, Justin Moore, Jalia Dunson and Angela Ais.

Marcella Montesinos and LaTricia Jenkins with Jenna, Merecedes, Alaiyah and Valentina.

Club kids Selena and Skyla.

Club children Maci, Tairyhn, Agariyha, Camille and Vi’Toria.

Friends Andrew, Krishawn, Marco, Joshua, Preston and Ja’Corey.

Angelia Sieli, Lyndora Shannon and Khalio Mack.

John Kime helps serve food to club children.

The Wellington Community Foundation held a road cleanup event on Saturday, Nov. 16. Shown here are WCF board members Barry Manning, Dr. Gordon Johnson, Terri Kane, Jim Sackett, Joanna Boynton, Don Gross and Ben Boynton doing their part to help keep Wellington clean.

Artist

Jinaki with a quilt creation. Faye Ford is presented with her appreciation award. PHOTOS BY LOIS SPATZ

FRIENDLY COMPETITION AT FAMILY CHURCH WEST’S 2024 CHILI COOK

and

Friends,

Cook

Cindi and Jay Ervine.

Second-place winner Tamra Dominy with her daughter Amanda.

Family Church West pastors Joel McDonald and Keenan Casteel.

John and Ray Burow.

Austin Wilkinson, Richard Snider and Jacob Shively.

Briana Valmy, Irlande Cole, Kasimir Cole and Ezra Cole.

Nicky Frisby, Vanessa and Michael Hugo and Larry Mayer.

Amanda Bradshaw presents her entry.

Keaton Spaulding and Sean Ordonez.

First-place winner Austin and Amanda Wilkinson with daughters Kimora, Mia and Amara.

Audrey Casteel and Hannah McDonald.

Page Burow, Madysun Causier, Janine Roa and Betsy Roa.

Trent Jackman with his mother Amanda Jackman.

The Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “Kick Off to the Equestrian and Polo Season Luncheon” at Wellington National Golf Club on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The event was sponsored by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center. Attendees

Vaneli Martinov, Dawn Quaranta and Megan Morley.

Sunny Hawkins, Daryl Lyon, Sandy Erb, Sonali Mendiratta and Adam Haas.

Anne Caroline Valtin talks about the Great Charity Challenge. Wellington International’s Vaneli Martinov plays a trivia game with the audience.

Christina Cernik and Cathy Sobke. Antonio “Tony”

Lenyce

upcoming polo season.

The different age group winners gather for a photo.

Literacy AmeriCorps volunteers Leah Richards, Michael Nigrelli and Kim Huapaya with a Dolly Parton standee.

Amy Roberts with Kari Lambrou, Livia Lambrou and Derek Lambrou.

Nick, Christen, Nicholas and Luke Thompson with a Dolly Parton standee. Luna and Michael Lampert.

The Run for Reading 5K gets underway.

Helen Irish was the third person to finish race.

Anthony Morris was the first to finish the race.

Uriel Monjaras was the second to finish the race.

New Aldi Coming To The Grove Marketplace

continued from page 1

O’Connor said this week. “With the space being divided, I’m particularly curious to see who they plan to lease or sell the remaining space to… It will be interesting to see how that evolves and what it will bring to the community.”

And while O’Connor said he welcomes Aldi to the community, he also said he believes there is room for a more upscale super-

ITID Service Provider Agreement

continued from page 1 to the agenda for the board’s Dec. 18 meeting.

Much of the wrangling between the ITID and AAL boards has been over requested information about the AAL’s inner workings and mandated changes to the AAL’s incorporation documents dating back months.

“We’ve been asking for the documentation for quite some time,” ITID President Elizabeth Accomando confirmed this week.

AAL officials claim that all the necessary paperwork has been filed with the state. ITID Parks & Recreation Director Kenny Lawrence said that as of Monday, Nov. 25, the district does not have all of the necessary documents that would allow it to move forward with possibly signing a new SPA with the AAL.

Farrell has not been shy about saying that concerns over how the AAL is run was a major motivator in her 2022 decision to seek election to the ITID board, which oversees roads, drainage and parks in the area.

“One of the reasons we’re talking about this now is because for months, the AAL hasn’t done one thing we’ve asked them to do,” Farrell said.

Duncan said that is untrue.

“The AAL does a phenomenal job documenting everything,” he said, adding that some of requests from ITID officials have been made only for the purpose of “making us look incompetent.”

Duncan pointed out that the

market, such as Whole Foods. A Publix already is located in Westlake at 16841 Persimmon Blvd., directly across the street from the Grove Marketplace. Since the 1920s, Winn-Dixie’s forerunner has used the slogan “The Beef People,” but that will be no more, as Aldi stories do not have a meat counter. They also do not offer a pharmacy, bakery, deli or liquor store. The company emphasizes keeping prices low through smaller stores, plain décor, fewer name brands and more house brands. Usually there are surprise “Aldi Finds” items that are not commonly available in other supermarkets.

league has provided athletic opportunities for youngsters in The Acreage and nearby communities for 30 years. Today, the AAL serves more than 1,000 young athletes in seven sports — baseball, basketball, co-ed flag football, girls flag football, soccer, softball and tackle football.

“We’re here for the children,” Ducan said. “A lot of them have problems at school or at home, and this is their escape. Unfortunately, what’s going on now is destroying friendships among parents, which destroys friendships among the kids.”

Meanwhile, with or without an agreement, the AAL has begun registering players for the spring 2025 baseball season, according to its web site. The season is scheduled to get underway in February. In other business:

• The ITID supervisors learned that Acreage Community Park North will be closed through Dec. 31 for maintenance.

“Acreage Community Park’s South Expansion and Citrus Grove Park multipurpose fields have been lined and numbered,” Lawrence said. “Field spaces for teams practicing for Flags for the Cure have been assigned [there]. Any areas that have not been assigned/ occupied are open to the public.”

Lawrence added that engineering is complete for the artificial turf football field planned for Acreage Community Park and permitting was expected to start this week.

• The supervisors voted 4-1 to require up to $2 million of sexual misconduct/molestation insurance for contractors, organizations and vendors doing business with ITID and coming in contact with minors. However, there will be a waiver procedure in place for

Locally grown fruits and vegetables are stocked daily, according to the Aldi web site, but shoppers must bag their own groceries in leftover boxes or in bags they bring themselves. Customers pay 25 cents for the use of a cart, but that is returned when the cart is returned.

Aldi’s purchase of Winn-Dixie came as a package deal with the Harveys Supermarket chain, both of which were owned by Southeastern Grocers. Three other Winn-Dixies in South Florida are being converted to Aldi — one each in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura.

An Aldi already is located in

groups and individuals who may not fall into either category, Andy Jimenez, vice president for Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors, told supervisors.

“There’s no cookie-cutter approach,” said Jimenez, calling the decision “a great move” to align the district with the standards of the insurance industry at no cost to ITID.

However, Argue said she believes the requirements are excessive.

“I’m concerned that we may be pricing people out of being able to do business with the district,” she said.

In the end, outgoing Supervisor Keith Jordano, a longtime insurance agency owner, was the only vote against the increased requirement. Jordano’s replacement on the board, Richard Vassalotti II, will take his seat at the Dec. 18 meeting.

• Grants Coordinator Scarlet Cantley made a presentation about grants awarded to the district. She noted that since 2021, some $3.3 million in grants have been awarded to the district; $1.1 million in grant projects have been recently completed; and $1.4 million are pending.

Argue asked that grant funds be sought for the renovation of the press box at Acreage Community Park North.

“It’s used by all of AAL for the coaches, for players and meetings,” she said. “It has been shut down for over a year. We need to fix that.”

• Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Darla Sauers reported that there were no significant problems at the annual Halloween block party on Citrus Grove Blvd. “From a law enforcement standpoint, it went very well,” she said.

Loxahatchee Groves at the northeast corner of the intersection of Southern Blvd. and B Road. There is also one on State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach, in front of an industrial complex that houses Aldi’s regional distribution warehouse.

The physical downsizing of some Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores to Aldi, which includes the elimination of some departments, has many current employees concerned.

“Aldi is committed to doing its best to minimize the impact and provide support and opportunities

The Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches will present “Coming Home” on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth and on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens.

The Symphonic Band will

Zoning Future Of The Mall

continued from page 1 apartment buildings and could apply to a project that also includes commercial properties, open space or other amenities, staff members said.

“One of the things that we’re looking at obviously is the mall, where if there is an opportunity for redevelopment of that specific site, it’s probably going to be costly to acquire it,” PZA Board Chair John Bowers said. “So, you’ve got to have enough density to really warrant the amount of expense that’s going to go into it.”

Bowers expressed concern that even if such a project ultimately attracts village approval at the mall, perhaps on the rationale it’s on land already paved over and not currently in productive use, it opens the door to sites elsewhere that might be deemed “mixed use” and manage to pack in a lot of housing density.

The rules discussions come after a decades-long history of the mall’s blockbuster arrival and subsequent economic challenges. In 1996, the mall project received approval for development of the 466-acre site southwest of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7. At various times, Palm Beach County and Wellington served as

to associates at converting stores, including the option to remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store,” the company said. “Associates at these locations have the opportunity to be the first to apply to newly converted Aldi stores.”

Aldi is a family-owned business split between Aldi Nord (North) and Aldi Sud (South). Combined Aldi owns more than 13,000 locations under various names across Europe, China, Australia and the United States, including Trader Joe’s, which it acquired in 1979. William Davis founded

Winn-Dixie’s precursor in Miami in 1925. By 1931, the company was known as Table Supply, and it had 33 stores across Florida. In 1939, Davis’ sons, who were by then running the business, purchased the Winn & Lovette chain of 78 stores. When they acquired the Dixie Home Stores’ 116 locations in 1955, the chain became Winn-Dixie. In 2012, Winn-Dixie became a subsidiary of Bi-Lo Holdings, ending 67 years of Davis family ownership. Bi-Lo Holdings was later renamed Southeastern Grocers.

grandly paint a broad palette of holiday and winter moments to bring out the best for the season. As part of a program of holiday favorites and clever variations on popular themes, the band will present Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5 Finale” along with a delightful new arrangement of “Beauty and the Beast” highlights. Additional selections include “An Irving Berlin Christmas,” “Rhapsody for Hanukkah,” “Jingle Them Bells,” “Holiday for Trumpets” and “Three Wise Guys.” Tickets are $25 by phone at (561) 832-3115 or online at www. symphonicband.org.

approving authorities, with plenty of amendments getting an OK over the years.

The trouble, as village staff came to see it, was that conditions of such approvals became unhelpfully enshrined in an overabundance of zoning, master plan and “development of regional impact” agreements. That would later be viewed as unnecessarily duplicative, and even resulting in inconsistencies when, say, the master plan was amended but the other agreements were not.

“If conditions are duplicated in all three documents, you are forced to process unnecessary amendments each time, which is why this is no longer common practice,” a village staff report explained.

So, the idea became to delete conditions in some documents as a “clean-up” amendment for the Wellington Green project. This would clear the way for the master plan to serve as the controlling document, officials said.

“So, this request is essentially the way this is done, regardless of whether it may have been done differently in the past?” PZA Board Member Elizabeth Mariaca asked.

“Correct,” said Damian Newell, a senior planner with the village. Meanwhile, amendments the board approved to Wellington’s comprehensive plan carry somewhat wider implications for clarifying how dense housing can get in projects from K-Park south of

the mall to land the village recently annexed north of Southern Blvd. Still, it was the mall that loomed large in this discussion.

In an April workshop with the council, mall operators at the Spinoso Real Estate Group aired ideas for what to do with vacant space once occupied by Nordstrom, along with plenty of empty parking spaces associated with it. The discussion touched on residences for up to 1,000 people, hotels and community green space.

A basic component of the pitch was that malls have to evolve to survive. That can mean bringing in office space in some places around the country, though in this instance, the attention was on apartments, hotel rooms, pickleball courts, holiday tree spaces or other things, said Carmen Spinoso, chair of the Spinoso Real Estate Group.

At the workshop, Mayor Michael Napoleone asked what would happen if Wellington said no thanks, we’re already getting enough dense housing in other projects in the pipeline.

“If it’s just like, ‘Hey, we’re going to do these other projects, and we’re not going to let the mall do anything,’ I think that would be a very negative impact on the mall,” Spinoso said. “It would be looked at as old and outmoded and nothing happening. We have all this attention go somewhere else, and the biggest taxpayer in the market is further impaired.”

For additional information call Chris Warren, 561-350-7247 Royal Palm Beach Rotary Meets Tuesdays - 7:30 a.m. Hilary’s

For additional information call Chris Durham 561-971-9679

CHAMBERS HOST FARM CITY LUNCH AT

THE SOUTH FLORIDA

Garments of rare beauty and artistry. Silk, hand-painted, intricately hand-embroidered garments that reflect the expansive Japanese aesthetic, cultural history, and social customs.

Please contact me for more information or to purchase.

Kathy Alderman, Farmer of the Year Jim Alderman Sr., Jimmy Alderman Jr. and Cori String.

South University’s Rebekah Lewis, Mallorie Williams, Tiffany Terry, Dr. Jeffrey Bishop, Nicky Bullock, Roszel Fletcher, Bryana Edwin and Bridget Glass.

ITID President Elizabeth Accomando, ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson, Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Anita Kane, Councilwoman-Elect Lisa El-Ramey and Vice Mayor Marge Herzog.

Emma Trotto, Jessica Clasby and Mo Staples of the Florida Sugar Cane League.

Adriane Hill, Paige Poole, Teresa Agricola, Annis Manning, Lorie Stinson, Paul Allen and Bob Jarriel of the South Florida Fair.

Ann Hartman and Cecilia Marin (seated) with Daniel Gonzalez, Lauren Soriano, Isabella Lopez, Marina Barto and Kelli Marin (standing) of Palm Beach County 4H.

Jayden Ramos, Crystal Alcala and Reilly Baltazar (seated) with Wildes Redish, Madison Baez, Carson Sweet, Sydney Poole, Savannah Dunn and Dallas Alvarez (standing) of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Glades Day School.

Brandi Schoenfeld and Avery Harrison of the Everglades Research and Education Center.

U.S. Sugar’s Judy Sanchez is honored for her service to the chamber by CEO Mary Lou Bedford and Chair Ilan Kaufer.

Central Palm Beach County Chamber CEO Mary Lou Bedford with Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Marino.

Althea Ceasor of Bank of America Private Bank with Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara.

Wellington Village Council members Tanya Siskind, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Amanda Silvestri, Mayor Michael Napoleone and Maria Antuña.

Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Jan Rodusky, Mayor Jeff Hmara, Valerie Neilson, Sergio Piedra, Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker and County Commissioner Marci Woodward.

Vanessa Lennon, Melissa Emerson, Myrian Fils-Aime, Jared Smith, Ana Rosacker, Jennifer Zeplin and Dr. Keith Foster of Baptist Health/Bethesda Hospital.

Keith Wedgworth accepts the Farm City Week proclamation from Palm Beach County commissioners Marci Woodward, Sara Baxter and Maria Marino.

Wellington Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Walter Imperatore, J.P. Varvarigos and Mickey Smith.

HCA Palms West Hospital’s Nisha Mills, Julie Trieste, Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind and CEO Jason Kimbrell.

Alight in the Garden

Blue Canvas

Obi Springs Gold

The Villages

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AT LOXAHATCHEE GROVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The entire student body at Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School took part in a special Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 8. In attendance were a number of veterans and military personnel from the school family, joined by school district and town officials, as well as the Seminole Ridge High School color guard.

Wellington Bay Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony To Honor Residents’ Service

Luxury retirement community

Wellington Bay celebrated Veterans Day by unveiling its new Wall of Honor in a moving ceremony dedicated to those who have bravely served our nation.

The event took place on Monday, Nov. 11 in the Wellington Bay lobby. The Wall of Honor commemorates the 21 Wellington Bay residents in Independent Living and eight residents at Lisbet Memory Care who served in the United States military.

In addition to the wall reveal, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presented the colors. The ceremony was followed by a patriotic sing-along led by resident Shelly Block in the Liberty Center.

Resident and master gardener

Bobbi Ziegler cut the ribbon at the

community’s butterfly garden, a project she has been working on for several years in honor of the troops.

“I designed the garden and picked up all the plants from a local nursery,” she said. “We planted host plants where butterflies lay eggs and nectar plants as a food source for them.”

Ziegler hopes the garden will stand as a testament to all those who contributed their service to the nation.

“Wellington Bay is proud to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding our nation,” Campus Director Jay Mikosch said. “Today’s event is our way of expressing deep gratitude to the brave men and women who call Wellington Bay

and Lisbet Memory Care home.”

Founders of the local nonprofit organization Honor Portraits Inc., Flora and Howard Zolin, were also in attendance as part of the festivities. A collective of local photographers and volunteers whose mission is to take free portraits of veterans as a way of

thanking them for their service, the Zolins began Honor Portraits in 2016, and to date, they have photographed more than 750 veterans. As their nonprofit grows, they plan to expand their service to include local law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders.

The school’s handbell ensemble plays “Taps.”

Veterans in attendance stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.

There were a number of presentations by the students.

The Seminole Ridge High School color guard.

School Board Member Marcia Andrews speaks at the event.

Students wear special hats during the ceremony.

Students wave flags during the ceremony.

Principal Richard Myerson addresses the gathering.

The special guest veterans each took the time to introduce themselves.

Veterans in attendance were mostly relatives of students.

A ribbon cutting opened the new butterfly garden at Wellington Bay. Wellington Bay unveiled its new Wall of Honor on Veterans Day.

ABBA Nova performed energetic ABBA hits from the 1970s.

Gary Schloss, Bridget Schloss, Matthew Drouin and Lynne Gramza.

Starpoint DanceSport dancers perform while ABBA Nova sings.

Chamber members come out for a surprise dance performance during the show.

Starpoint DanceSport dancers perform during the show.

Sponsor Stuart Hack sports his best 1970s look for the show.

Melody Domb, Holly Hanlon, Jennifer LaFrance and Sherron Permashwar.

Dancers from Starpoint were a key part of the unique show.

Neeraj and Sonali Mendiratta. Greg and Melisa Sandler.

The ABBA Nova tribute band performs for the crowd.

Dr. Nevine Carp and Michael Masrieh.

Nathan Bistis, Jhaleh Imani, Maureen Brennan and Dr. Carole Holland. Kelly O’Neil, Sunny Hawkins, Sherron Permashwar and Sonali Mendiratta.

Wellington Celebrates Installation Of Six New Pickleball Courts At Greenbriar Park

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

The national interest in the sport of pickleball is once again impacting Wellington in a positive and significant way.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, the Village of Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department conducted a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wellington’s Greenbriar Park in order to officially announce public access to six new pickleball courts. The event featured a morning filled with

activities, food and refreshments, pickleball demonstrations and introductory clinics. The clinics focused on court safety, etiquette, basic rules, strokes and techniques. According to the village, approximately 50 people were in attendance, including the entire Wellington Village Council — Mayor Michael Napoleone, Vice Mayor John McGovern, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Councilwoman Maria Antuña and Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri. They were

joined by USA Pickleball Florida Southeast District Ambassador Raul Travieso.

The opening of those six pickleball courts will add to the national total of 13,969 pickleball courts, according to the Association of Pickleball Players. In a nutshell, pickleball is a paddle sport that combines the elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis/ping pong into a lively, competitive game for people of all ages and athletic abilities. Nationwide, there are 13.6 mil-

lion pickleball players, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

The new courts at Greenbriar Park are now available to the general public for open play on a first-come, first-served basis. They are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Players must bring their own paddles and balls. Greenbriar Park is located at 2975 Greenbriar Blvd. Learn more about pickleball in Wellington at www.wellingtonfl.gov/652/ pickleball.

Football Season Ends In The Playoffs For Three Local Teams

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The Palm Beach Central High School football team’s season came to a sudden and unexpected end in the waning moments of its Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 7A regional semifinal game at home against the Vero Beach High School Indians on Friday, Nov. 22. At the 2:00 mark of the fourth quarter, the Indians were leading the Broncos, 14-13. During the course of the game’s final 120 seconds, both teams scored dramatic touchdowns, and the visiting Indians prevailed, 21-20. With just more than a minute left to play in the game, Bronco wide receiver Nedrick Boldin was able to evade Vero Beach’s secondary. Palm Beach Central quarterback Chance Routson saw his open teammate and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to him, which gave the Broncos a 19-14 lead. After that touchdown, Palm

Beach Central head coach Kevin Thompson had to make a big decision. He could send out placekicker Ethan Dagostino to get one more point with a point-after-touchdown conversion kick, which would give his team a six-point cushion, or he could send out the offense to pursue a two-point conversion, which, if successful, would provide the Broncos with a seven-point lead. Thompson decided to go with Dagostino. The senior placekicker successfully split the uprights, which gave the Broncos a 20-14 lead, with roughly a minute left to play in the game. Thompson, his coaching staff and the entire team were confident that the Broncos would stop the Indians from reaching the end zone in the final 60 seconds of play. As it turns out, the Vero Beach offense was not called upon to win the game because the Vero Beach kickoff return team produced an immediate touchdown. Vero Beach’s Latravious Woods

caught Dagostino’s kick at the four-yard line and, with the assistance of some key blocks, he was able to take the ball straight down the middle of the field for a 96-yard touchdown return. That knotted the score at 20-20. To take the lead once more, Vero Beach senior placekicker Sam Kines trotted onto the field for his third and most important PAT of the game, which would give his team another onepoint lead. Kines’ kick was good, and Palm Beach Central didn’t have enough time and timeouts to launch another come-from-behind drive. At the end of the game, Vero Beach won, 21-20. The Indians’ record improved to 8-3, while the Broncos dropped to 10-2. That loss snapped the Broncos’ nine-game winning streak. Palm Beach Central earned its way to the game against Vero Beach by defeating Fort Pierce Central, 38-0, on Friday, Nov. 15 in its FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinal.

The King’s Academy — On Friday, Nov. 15, the varsity football team from TKA outscored the Calvary Christian Academy Eagles in a FHSAA Class 2A quarterfinal, 28-26. That win propelled the Lions into a Class 2A regional semifinal game in Sarasota against the top-seeded Cardinal Mooney High School Cougars on Friday, Nov. 22.

As a No. 5 seed, TKA was the underdog against the Cougars, but the Lions didn’t play like underdogs. At one point in the second half, TKA trailed by just seven, 35-28. But that’s as many points as the Lions’ offense would mus-

ter. The Cougars responded with a second-half surge to win 56-28.

TKA had standout performances from senior quarterback Joe Dailey, who passed for 417 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. Fellow senior teammate Javian Jones caught nine of Dailey’s passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

TKA head coach Dan Burack was proud of his team’s play in the game against Cardinal Mooney and throughout the season.

“We knew we could score against Cardinal Mooney, but they definitely had a size advantage

over us. My heart really hurts for the seniors,” Burack said. “Back in the summer, we knew we had talent on both sides of the ball. The commitment we had as a team was special. I’m proud of the maturity that our team showed in the classroom, spiritually and on the football field.”

TKA concluded its season with an 8-4 record.

Burack and his staff have begun laying the foundation for the 2025 football season.

“We’ve already started looking at tape to see what we did well and where we can improve,” he said.

Royal Palm Beach High School — The RPBHS Wildcats may have lost their FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 15 against the Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls from Wesley Chapel by a score of 42-7, but head coach Chuck Kenyon has his program headed in the right direction.

“It was our program’s first playoff game since 2014,” Kenyon said.

Getting to the playoffs was a big achievement for the Wildcats this year.

“Early in the game, we had three turnovers and a blocked punt. It’s tough to win if you have that many turnovers,” Kenyon said. “That was a pretty good team that we played.”

It’s fair to expect more of the young Wildcats next season.

“Earning a bid to play against Wiregrass Ranch was absolutely fabulous for our program,” Kenyon said. “It truly was a great experience. Both the players and coaches learned a lot from this trip. We learned how to travel.”

Royal Palm Beach High School finished with a record of 7-4. Kenyon and his staff will initiate off-season workouts and conditioning in early January, as the team makes plans for next season.

Wellington officials are joined by USA Pickleball ambassador Raul Travieso for the ribbon cutting.

Residents try out the new courts at the grand opening event. PHOTOS COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON

Residents fill the

RIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH 6-10PM

The Wellington Tennis Center Hosts USTA National Family Clay Court Championships

By Mike May

Town-Crier Staff Report

From Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, more than 170 players from 24 states and Canada were in Wellington to play in the USTA National Family Clay Court Tennis Championships. The event was held at the Wellington Tennis Center.

The Clay Court Championships are part of four national events on multiple surfaces — grass, hard, indoor and clay court — held across the United States.

The mid-November event was a USTA Category One Gold Ball Championship event, with players competing for national ranking points, as well as the prestigious gold, silver and bronze ball awards.

Play was hosted in various divisions and age groups with teams

of mother/son, father/daughter and mother/daughter competing in various age groups.

Many of the competitors were very talented, including a number who have played tennis at an extremely high level — past and current NCAA Division I college players, past pro tour players, Davis Cup players and current International Tennis Federation (ITF) competitors.

“This was the fourth year we have hosted the USTA Family Clay Court Championships, and the level of tennis this year was better than ever,” said Chuck Gill, the tournament director and Wellington’s director of tennis.

“Many matches were decided by the super tiebreaker, and upsets were seen each day. The tournament continues to showcase

everything that is good about the sport of tennis. We had players of all ages competing with family members at a great venue. We look forward to bigger and better tennis in 2025.”

This year, there were noteworthy winners, as the team of David and Karlyn Martin from Chicago, whose repeat win in the super senior 70-over division, gave them yet another gold ball for their collection. The team of Ned and Samantha Caswell won the father/ daughter senior/dad 60-and-over division. Ned Caswell was a repeat winner from 2023.

The Florida team of Franco and Te’Anna Mata overcame some tough opponents to capture their first gold ball in father/daughter competition. Kathy and Christian Settles from Claremont, Califor-

nia, added to their collection of gold balls by winning the title in mother/son.

Former tour professional and current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour coach Rhyne Williams teamed up with his mother Michelle to capture the senior mother/son. Rebecca and Madison Diianni of Marietta, Georgia, swept through the field without losing a set to win the mother/daughter open division.

The Canadian duo of Erin Boynton and Hannah Atkinson won the mother/daughter senior division/ mother over 60.

For this tournament, Welch Tennis Courts was the title sponsor, the Village of Wellington was the tournament sponsor and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission was a key sponsor.

Swimmers From TKA Excel At State Swimming Championships

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The King’s Academy girls and boys swimming and diving teams had strong performances at the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 1A swimming and diving finals, which were held in Ocala on Friday, Nov. 15.

In the overall team competition, the TKA girls finished in fourth place with 117.5 points, while the boys earned 79 points to finish in ninth place. The Bolles School from Jacksonville won both competitions.

The list of girls who represented TKA included senior Emma Her-

rera, senior Kiersten Munna, sophomore Tessa Broedell, senior Rebekah Foster, senior Diana Harris, senior Julianna Bell and senior Sarah Person. The boys swimmers from TKA included sophomore Asher Smith, senior Tyler Wilkinson, junior Timothy McQueeney, senior Maxwell Strohecker, freshman Aaron McQueeney, junior Enzo Gaeta and sophomore Samuel Strohecker. Jonathan Zuchowski, the head coach of the swim teams at TKA, was delighted with the performances of his swimmers at the state tournament.

“The girls swam great. It was the fourth time in four years that

they finished in the top four,” Zuchowski said. “That’s hard to do with so many of last year’s swimmers now swimming in college. A top four finish was the goal, and it was a hard goal.”

All the swimmers competed in a series of preliminary races on the morning of Friday, Nov. 15. The top eight swimmers in each event qualified for the Championship A finals, and the next eight swimmers qualified for the Consolation B finals, both of which were held that night in Ocala.

In the individual events, the top female swimmer for TKA was Herrera, who finished second in the girls 200-yard freestyle and third in the girls 500-yard freestyle. In the 200-yard freestyle, she had the second-fastest time (1:50.0) in the preliminaries. In the Championship A final, Herrera improved her time (1:48.23) from the morning but was barely out-touched by Allison Kelly of Jacksonville Bolles, who swam the eight-lap race in 1:48.06.

“Emma’s 200-yard freestyle was amazing, and she came up a fingernail behind at the finish,” Zuchowski said.

In the 500-yard freestyle, Herrera swam the morning preliminary race in 4:51.49, which was the second-fastest qualifying time. That time earned her a spot in the

Championship A final, where she swam the 20-lap race in 4:52.37, good enough for third place overall. Isabella Riva from Shorecrest Prep won in 4:50.11.

Other points-producing performances by TKA female swimmers included Julianna Bell’s 10thplace finish in the 50-yard freestyle (23.99), Bell’s ninth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (52.03) and Kiersten Munna’s 16th-place showing in the 100-yard freestyle (53.03).

The opportunities for big points came in the three relays. The girls 200-yard medley relay team (Munna, Broedell, Foster and Harris) finished ninth (1:50.56); the girls 200-yard freestyle relay quartet (Bell, Harris, Foster and Herrera) finished fourth (1:37.7); and the girls 400-yard freestyle relay squad (Herrera, Harris, Bell and Munna) also finished fourth (3:33.9). Other girls from TKA who swam at states included Broedell (200-yard individual medley, 2:11.84, 17th place); Foster (50-yard freestyle, 25.4, 24th place); Munna (100-yard backstroke, 1:00.11, 20th place); and Sarah Person (one-meter diving, 17th place).

In the boys competition, the top male swimmers for TKA were Smith, Timothy McQueeney and Wilkinson. Smith was seventh

in the boys 100-yard backstroke (52.11), McQueeney was eighth in the boys 100-yard breaststroke (57.89) and Wilkinson 15th in the boys 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.89).

“The boys team did incredible, and I could not be prouder,” Zuchowski said. “Everyone had a role on relays.”

The main points-producing events for the boys came in the three relays. The boys 200-yard medley relay team (Smith, Wilkinson, Maxwell Strohecker and Timothy McQueeney) was fourth (1:35.95); the boys 200-yard free-

style relay unit (Wilkinson, Maxwell Strohecker, Gaeta and Aaron McQueeney) was 12th (1:29.66); and the boys 400-yard freestyle relay foursome (Aaron McQueeney, Samuel Strohecker, Maxwell Strohecker and Timothy McQueeney) was ninth (3:14.57).

Other boys who swam at states included Timothy McQueeney (100-yard butterfly, 53.61, 19th); Aaron McQueeney (100-yard freestyle, 48.46, 18th); Maxwell Strohecker (100-yard backstroke, 55.03, 19th); and Samuel Strohecker (100-yard backstroke, 55.06, 20th).

Winning gold in the father/daughter competition was Te’Anna and Franco Mata, shown here with Wellington Tennis Center Director Chuck Gill.

The King’s Academy swimmers at the state championships in Ocala. PHOTOS BY BRAD PERSON

TKA senior Emma Herrera swims in the girls 500-yard freestyle.

Long Line-Up Of Family-Friendly Holiday Events In Wellington

Looking to get into the holiday spirit this year? The Village of Wellington is offering a festive mix of free, family-friendly activities for you and your loved ones to enjoy all month long.

Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, Holiday Light Displays on the Town Center Promenade — Throughout the month of December enjoy festive light displays along Wellington’s Town Center promenade (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The holiday lights will be on display throughout the month of December, courtesy of the Village of Wellington and its community partners: Humana, Florida Blue, Xfinity and Wellington Regional Medical Center.

Select Thursdays in December, Holiday Shopping at the Lakeside Market — Get in your last-minute gift shopping, support local small businesses and enjoy one of Florida’s beautiful winter evenings outdoors at the Lakeside Market at Wellington Town Center. Browse unique gifts and handcrafted goods while shopping with a variety of artists, crafters, bakers, makers and more. A number of food and beverage vendors will also be on site offering a selection of items for purchase, along with food trucks and live music as part of the Food Truck & Music Series events, happening alongside the market. The market will be open on Thursdays, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (except Dec. 26), on Wellington’s Town Center promenade (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Learn more about the market and view the vendor list at www.wellingtonlakesidemarket. com.

Thursday, Dec. 5, Holiday Cultural Celebration — Start your festivities off with a Holiday Cultural Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 5. Recognizing holidays and traditions across cultures, the

celebration will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) in combination with Wellington’s weekly Food Truck & Music Series and the Lakeside Market. In addition to food trucks and the market, the event features a holiday tree lighting at 6:30 p.m., along with book readings, face painting, holiday card crafting, a hot cocoa station, special performances, vendors and more. A number of children’s holiday characters will also be on hand for photo opportunities from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., plus enjoy a very special visit with the big man in red himself — Santa Claus! Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/holidaycelebration for more information.

Friday, Dec. 6, Winterfest 2024 — Winterfest, hosted by the Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Village of Wellington and presenting sponsor Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, will be held at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) on Friday, Dec 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Featuring headline performer, music icon, philanthropist, actor and TV star Vanilla Ice, the event will include live musical and dance performances, exhibitors, pet adoptions, retail and holiday shopping, food vendors, lounges for adult attendees, kids and teen activities, and more. Complimentary on-site and shuttle parking will be available. Visit www.wellingtonchamber. com for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 7, Holiday Boat Parade — Come watch as local residents and boating enthusiasts “light up the lake” with the annual Holiday Boat Parade on Lake Wellington. Approximately 40 festive, decorated boats are expected to cruise in the parade. Visible from the Town Center Promenade, the

boats will pass behind the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) at around 6:30 p.m. Attendees can also visit with a variety of vendors from Wellington’s weekly Lakeside Market in the greenspace adjacent to the promenade. Those interested in participating in the boat parade should contact Jack Brownson at jbrownson@comcast.net. For more information visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/holidayboatparade.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 40th Annual Wellington Holiday Parade “Rockin’ in the Holidays” — The annual Wellington Holiday Parade, hosted by the Village of Wellington and the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, will be “Rockin’ in the Holidays” while it celebrates 40 years on Sunday, Dec 8. Enjoy a free day of fun and festivities with a judged parade filled with imaginative floats, marching bands, characters, dance troupes and more. The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. and winds its way down Forest Hill Blvd., from Wellington Trace to Ken Adams Way. Grab your family and your sneakers and come on out for this fantastic holiday event! Visit www.cpbcchamber.com for more information.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, Senior Holiday Party (age 50-plus) — Wellington seniors ages 50 and up are invited to attend a free Senior Holiday Party on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Lunch will be provided along with holiday-themed decorations, entertainment and activities. Registration is required. Call (561) 753-2484 to RSVP. Existing CivicRec users may sign up at www. wellingtonfl.gov/civicrec.

Saturday, Dec. 14, 34th Annual Children’s Holiday Fishing Clas-

sic — Get ready to reel in “the big one” at the 34th annual Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic, presented by the Village of Wellington in conjunction with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Building Up Sports Academy. The tournament will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road), and is open to all local children ages 15 and younger. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place based on a point system of fish caught and released (all species) in each age group: 6 and under; ages 7 to 9; ages 10 to 12; and ages 13 to 15. Registration is free and can be completed in advance at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) or the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), or e-mail athletics@wellingtonfl. gov to request a registration form. Learn more at www.wellingtonfl. gov/holidayfishing.

Sunday, Dec. 22, Annual Wellington Holiday Jingle Bell Run 5K — The annual Wellington Holiday Jingle Bell Run 5K returns to Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) on Sunday, Dec. 22. The race begins at 7 a.m. and participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to families in the Wellington community as part of the annual Hometown Holiday Toy Drive. All participants will be provided with jingle bells to wear prior to the start of the race. For more details, and registration information, visit www.runsignup. com/Race/FL/Wellington/WellingtonJingleBellsRun.

Wednesday, Dec. 25, Grand Menorah Lighting (virtual) Chag Sameach! Celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, with the annual lighting of the Grand Menorah. This year’s event will take place virtually on Wednesday,

Dec. 25. Hanukkah celebrates triumph over adversity by recalling the renewal of Jewish life after a period of oppression. Learn more and join us for a virtual lighting of the first candle at www.wellingtonfl.gov/hanukkah. Hanukkah will continue for eight nights, ending on Jan. 2. Thursday, Dec. 26, Kwanzaa (virtual) — Wellington is proud to celebrate life, family, community and culture, and bring recognition and awareness of Kwanzaa every

year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. At www.wellingtonfl.gov/kwanzaa, you will find videos and information from Wellington’s Virtual Kwanzaa Celebration. This virtual content is a partnership between Freedom Fighters 4 Justice and the village. Community members and leaders from all walks of life come together in celebration of African American culture and traditions. For more information on upcoming

Partnership Ensures Seniors Are Not Forgotten This Holiday Season

This holiday season, Alzheimer’s Community Care has partnered with Kelly Merbler for the Senior Significance Project. The project is seeking volunteers for its events in Wellington. Merbler is a leadership development consultant, keynote speaker and founder of the Kelly Merbler Company. The Kelly Merbler Company is a leadership consulting firm specializing in the development of leaders and creating strengths-based cultures for companies of all sizes. Launched in 2014, Merbler started the Senior Significance Project in memory of her mother’s legacy.

home residents across Florida during the holiday season.

As part of her broader mission to keep seniors as a significant part of life and give back, the Senior Significance Project brings community members together to donate gifts and spend time with Alzheimer’s patients and nursing

“In 2013, I lost my mother to her battle with dementia. I was so moved by her experience and seeing how many nursing home residents spend holidays and birthdays alone, I vowed to find a way to make an impact in seniors’ lives. The Senior Significance Project is very near and dear to my heart because it is one way I’m able to honor my mother’s

legacy and continue making a difference,” Merbler said. “They may not know who we are, but they know we’re there and that we care. Our motto for this project is just because they can’t remember doesn’t mean they should be forgotten.”

This year, Alzheimer’s Community Care is a beneficiary of the project. On Friday, Dec. 13, a team of volunteers will visit Alzheimer’s Community Care’s

Wellington Specialized Day Center to share gifts and spend quality time with patients. “We could not be more thrilled to partner with Kelly Merbler again for the Senior Significance Project,” Alzheimer’s Community Care President & CEO David Franklin said. “It’s incredible to see how a small act of kindness can bring so much joy to our patients. Nothing compares to seeing our patients’ faces light up when they see the volunteers. We are so thankful for Kelly and her dedicated team this holiday season.”

Volunteers are needed to help raise awareness, wrap gifts on Dec. 8 from noon to 3 p.m. in Wellington, and/or help with gift deliveries. Interested volunteers are invited to visit www.emailmeform. com/builder/form/7KBjGi4f18W9PNT66J1aX.

Wellington Winterfest featuring Vanilla Ice will return Dec. 6.

PBSC Celebrates Legacy At Second Annual Emerald Torch Awards

Palm Beach State College welcomed more than 300 guests for a celebratory night of dinner and dancing at its second Emerald Torch Awards Gala held Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Lake Worth campus. The sold-out event was hosted by mistress of ceremonies and WPTV news anchor Hollani Davis to recognize the school’s legacy, raise funds for student scholarships, and honor alumni and other leaders who strengthen the community.

Attendees included PBSC President Ava Parker, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and CEO of the Foundation for PBSC David Rutherford, Congresswoman Lois Frankel, State Rep. Anne Gerwig, many municipal and county officials, members of the PBSC district board of trustees, foundation board members, donors and friends of the college.

Those in attendance got an up-close look at the new Panther Plaza at the Lake Worth campus, which featured an iconic panther sculpture and a three-dimensional animated Welcome Cube, displaying four screens of PBSC pride. Parker said the new technology prominently displayed on the campus points to the college’s future of leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to grow Palm Beach County’s workforce. Based

Gala

(L-R) David Rutherford, Lesly Smith, Danielle Moore, Harold Caudio, Julie Kime, Bill Yeargin, PBSC

President Ava Parker and PBSC Chair Jon Harrison. on a recent economic impact study, PBSC contributes 1.4 billion and supports 18,187 jobs in the county. Five outstanding alumni and community leaders were recognized.

RUMMAGE SALE A SUCCESS AT ST. MICHAEL CHURCH

On Saturday, Nov. 14, St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington held a very successful rummage sale. There were more than 20 tables displayed with glassware, paintings, Christmas items, golf clubs, children’s books and other treasures. Church members were able to connect with the community and make new friends, along with selling many beloved items. “Walking

The signature award of the night, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was given to philanthropists Danielle Moore, the current mayor of the Town of Palm Beach, and her mother Lesly Smith, the former mayor, who together carry on the legacy of the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, a family foundation started in the 1950s by Moore’s grandfather, oilman Philip N. Fortin. Moore is the foundation’s president, and Smith is its vice president. It has supported PBSC with scholarships for decades.

The college also presented Emerald Torch Awards to: alumnus Harold Caudio, an accomplished mixed-media artist and designer; alumna Julie Kime, a philanthropist and board member for the Foundation for PBSC and the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club; and alumnus Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft and author of six books. For more info., visit www. palmbeachstate.edu/torchawards.

Dr. Saulis Banionis Provides Stem Cell Therapy To Help Equestrians Heal Quicker

For years, horses have benefited from advanced treatments like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Now, it’s time for their riders, trainers and owners to access similar regenerative medicine treatment options, according to Dr. Saulis Banionis of Palm Beach Anti-Ag-

ing and Regenerative Medicine in Wellington. Banionis, a board-certified expert in stem cell and PRP therapies for regenerative medicine, is among the few physicians in South Florida with a fellowship in stem cell therapy. He has extensive experience in this cutting-edge technology, which he has passionately pursued since regenerative medicine’s early days more than 16 years ago. Learning directly from industry pioneers, Banionis quickly recognized its transformative potential.

His passion for regenerative medicine became personal after his own knee surgery, which inspired him to seek alternative solutions for his patients.

“I wanted to provide patients with the opportunity to harness

the healing power of regenerative medicine to maintain an active lifestyle and avoid the complications and restrictions of surgery,” he explained.

In addition to his work with patients, Banionis holds multiple board certifications in internal medicine, interventional pain, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. He has trained fellow physicians in stem cell harvesting techniques through A4M, the organization where he first achieved certification, and collaborated with the Florida and American Societies of Interventional Pain Physicians to refine these methods. He has also served as a medical expert in regenerative medicine for the Florida Department of Health.

“Stem cells improve injury repair by significantly improving

the concentration of your body’s healing properties at the site of the injury,” he explained. “This reduces inflammation and allows the tissue to heal naturally while reducing scar formation. This is particularly important for equestrians, who are elite athletes needing peak physical condition and minimal lingering pain to perform optimally.”

Stem cell therapy involves harvesting the patient’s own stem cells and injecting them into areas of injury or degeneration. These stem cells, naturally present in the body, play an essential role in maintaining healthy tissues and organs. Banionis’s approach combines traditional interventional methods with cutting-edge regenerative techniques like stem cell therapy and PRP to help patients maximize functionality. His clinic

is also highly skilled in minimally invasive procedures that use live imaging, such as fluoroscopy and ultrasound-guided needle techniques. This precision allows for accurate delivery of medications and biological products to damaged tissues, encouraging the body’s natural healing processes.

“Supporting equestrians in maintaining peak physical health enables them to compete at their highest level,” Banionis said. “Our team understands the unique bond between horse and rider, so we focus on helping riders stay in optimal health to excel in their sport.” Learn more about Dr. Saulis Banionis at www.pbantiaging. com.

Dr. Saulis Banionis helps a patient heal through stem cell therapy.

tacos,” breakfast burritos,

Attendees shop at the plant table.

Council President Wanda Malave shows her wares.

Mara Haines, Justin Malave and Walter Carney sell food.

Dr. Saulis Banionis

Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School thanks the Cresswind Women’s Club for their generous donation of $1,500 to help support the LGES Cares program. This program provides for the needs of students, be it socks, sneakers, school uniforms, school supplies and more. Shown above is LGES Principal Richard Myerson with Cresswind Women’s Club members Sheree Biafore (chair), Stormi Bivin (co-chair), Donna Gropper (secretary) and Coco Forlizzi (outreach coordinator).

Big Win For RPBHS Naval JROTC Academics Team

In a field of 24 teams from 16 Florida high schools, the Royal Palm Beach High School Naval JROTC Academics Team took home first place recently in the Nova High School Brain Brawl.

In his first year of command of the NJROTC at RPBHS, Chief Sergio Sandoval established the Academics Team and achieved their initial first place competition in less than four years.

Academics Team captain for the last three years, Lt. Junior Grade Marli Wilhoit, has led her unit from the front, setting a rigorous

practice schedule and developing the depth of her team. “It’s why I get up early and come home late most days,” Wilhoit said. “Each member of our lead team gives their best effort to master Naval history and policy.”

The winning team includes: C/LTJG Marli Wilhoit, C/ENS Lee Elliott, C/LCDR Ramemsha Georges, C/CPO Kamaal Bryan, C/PO3 Audrey Sandoval and C/ PO3 Heather Hirsch

The first-place win clears a path to compete for the state championship.

SRHS Students Team Up With James Hardie And

Sports Legends To Build Habitat Home

To celebrate the inaugural James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, being hosted in Boca Raton next spring, manufacturer James Hardie recently collaborated with students from the Weitz Construction Academy at Seminole Ridge High School to help build a new Habitat for Humanity home for a deserving South Florida family.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former Miami Dolphins line-

Emerald Cove Middle School chorus students,

the direction of Morgan Kirchman, participated in the 17th annual Georgina Dieter Dennis Honors Choral Festival at Florida Atlantic University on Friday, Nov. 15. The students spent all day rehearsing with students from across Florida, in addition to FAU vocal and choral students. The event ended with a concert featuring “Missa Brevis in C Minor” by Imant Raminsh. It was a show-stopping performance with more than 150 students.

Fourteen

under

Panther Run Elementary School’s behavioral health professional Jennifer Schneider was recognized for a Buddy Ambassador Award this month. Schneider received this award from Delta Kappa Gamma and the Buddy Ambassadors organization for her commitment and dedication to serving Panther Run students in the areas of social, emotional and mental well-being. Panther Run is honored that its Buddy Ambassador program is being recognized in the community and congratulates Schneider on this accomplishment.

Zach Thomas talks to students at Seminole Ridge High School.

Sean Gadd of James Hardie and former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas with the new Habitat for Humanity homeowner.

The Royal Palm Beach High School Naval JROTC Academics Team celebrates their big win.

WRMC Introduces New Digital Resuscitation Training And Education

Patients who suffer a cardiac arrest must receive the highest quality CPR possible, which is known to be the cornerstone of survival. More than 209,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S., with survival rates at about 26 percent from adult in-hospital cardiac arrest. For decades, the CPR training standard for healthcare providers has been Basic Life Support with a requirement for participants to renew their course completion card every two years. However, studies show that CPR skills can decay within three to six months following this training.

Wellington Regional Medical Center, a 235-bed acute care hospital, recognizes the importance of

high-quality CPR competence and performance to save more lives.

WRMC recently introduced Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI), a program co-developed by the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, to help clinicians achieve, master and sustain high-quality CPR skills and competence, resulting in improved patient outcomes. The hospital’s RQI program adoption demonstrates its continued, longstanding commitment to providing a positive, proactive and patient-centered experience, leveraging innovative solutions to advance patient care and prepare clinicians to deliver that care.

More than 1,066 clinicians are enrolled in Basic Life Support,

Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support course instruction, which is delivered through four RQI simulation stations. The stations are positioned throughout the hospital, and there is a portable station that can be checked out by leaders to bring to their unit. This will afford learners with greater flexibility and 24/7 access to resuscitation training and education.

“Our hospitals are committed to providing the highest quality of care, and adopting the Resuscitation Quality Improvement program reflects this dedication,”

WRMC CEO Pam Tahan said.

“By implementing RQI, we are ensuring that our healthcare professionals have the opportunity to

regularly refresh and hone their lifesaving skills using a program shown to improve the quality of resuscitation efforts, which positively impacts patient outcomes. Ultimately, our goal is to empower our teams with the best tools and training possible, fostering a culture of excellence in patent care across our hospital system.”

RQI is self-directed, simulation-based learning and performance provided through cognitive and hands-on CPR quality improvement sessions that measure and verify competence. The program employs a “low-dose, high-frequency” model requiring healthcare providers to complete course assignments in short sessions every quarter.

Four New Stores Open In The Mall At Wellington Green

Four new retail destinations are joining the more than 160 stores at the Mall at Wellington Green. Couture by Ilina, Galtsand, Plus Platinum Jewelry and Yuly360 add to the growing and robust offerings in apparel, health, beauty and more at this lifestyle destination in Wellington. Couture by Ilina — Hailing from Cuba, Ilina Hernandez

opened her inaugural brick-andmortar store, Couture by Ilina, on Nov. 13. The new, 1,200-squarefoot women’s boutique showcases European brands from Italy, Turkey and Spain. Local fashionistas can stock up on got-to-have-it wardrobe staples, including cocktail dresses, denim wear and sporty tracksuits to a treasure trove of jewelry, bags, hats and more. For additional information, call (561) 516-2549 and follow Couture by Ilina on Instagram and TikTok @couturebyilina.

Galtsand — The online retail behemoth Galtsand launched its inaugural brick-and-mortar store, totaling 1,602 square feet of space, on Oct. 24. Initially launched in 1986, it became popular among the college set for its iconic loose-fitting sweatshirts. The company embraced other market segments, including sports, wellness and the outdoors. Committed to protecting the environment by using sustainable practices, menswear (sweaters, tops and bottoms in heritage styles) and womenswear (movement-based clothes ranging from sports bras to biker shorts) are manufactured from premium recycled materials and utilize technologies like Silvadur, which require fewer washings, keeps clothing fresh and eliminates the need to keep buying new items. For more information, call (561) 221-7309 or visit www.galtsand. com.

Plus Platinum Jewelry — Founded in 2001, Plus Platinum Jewelry is a family-owned company specializing in custom jewelry and pre-owned timepieces by Rolex, Breitling, Cartier and other luxury brands. This treasure trove is filled with antique, vintage and estate jewelry by prestigious companies like Tiffany, David Webb and Roberto Coin. The 940-square-foot boutique opened on Sept. 18 and also sells loose diamonds spanning a half-carat to 10 carats. Additional onsite services include watch and jewelry cleaning and repair. For more information, call (954) 969-9776 or visit www.plusplatinumjewelry. com.

Yuly360 — Yuly van Brakel opened her third Yuly360 store on Oct. 4 and will launch a fourth location later this month. The airy, 2,105-square-foot setting houses sustainable lines of athleisure constructed from organic and recycled performance fabrics that are breathable, stretchy and moisture-wicking. Every piece is designed by Yuly, pronounced

Westlake Reaches New Home-Building Milestone

The building boom taking place in Florida’s fastest-growing city has hit a new milestone. The City of Westlake has issued 3,315 residential building permits and 2,975 certificates of occupancy since October 2017, when Minto Communities — the community’s largest landowner — started developing the 3,800-acre Westlake master-planned community. The building figures are calculated through Oct. 31.

“Sales at Westlake have been strong since we started building homes seven years ago and have shown no signs of slowing down,” said Mike Belmont, president of Minto Communities USA. “This is a testament to the exceptional home value and lifestyle we offer

at Westlake that you won’t find anywhere else in the region.”

Westlake offers a wide variety of single-family and townhome designs for just about any taste and budget, and a robust array of amenities tailored for an active lifestyle.

The Pines and the Woodlands are two single-family neighborhoods offering homes from the Cypress and Indigo collections of single-family homes and the Atlantic Collection of estate homes, starting in the mid-$400s. Minto offers 11 furnished model homes for touring. Recently, Minto launched sales of new townhomes in the Terraces neighborhood, where prices start in the mid-$300s. The Terraces

Orangetheory Fitness Opens New Location In Westlake

Orangetheory Fitness launched its 1,542nd studio in Westlake on Friday, Nov. 15. Area residents can now get “more life” from their workouts and be a part of the “orange community” they’ve been waiting for.

Orangetheory is a heart ratebased group workout that combines science, technology and expert coaching to help members live a longer, more vibrant life. Its unique fitness routine is increasingly popular. Just 13 years after being founded, Orangetheory Fitness continues to provide members with a unique personalized experience for all fitness levels.

Owners Steve and Patti Braswell, who brought the popular workout program to the Westlake market, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the steps of the new studio, which is located at 4951 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. There was a strong turnout for the grand opening, which included a fully booked specialty celebra-

Owners Patti and Steve Braswell cut the ribbon to open the new location.

tion class with a live DJ, local food and retail vendors. The new location is currently open for business with classes offered all throughout the day. Call (561) 459-3311 for more information. Learn more about Orangetheory Fitness at www.orangetheory.com.

To ‘Round Up For Kids’

Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest family-owned Ace Hardware dealers with 50 locations in nine states, is kicking off the season of giving with its “Round Up for Kids” fundraiser. Throughout the campaign, which extends through Dec. 31, customers are asked to round up their purchase total to the next dollar. The difference is donated to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals.

“The healthcare professionals at these hospitals are doing the work of heroes,” Rocky’s Ace Hardware President Rocco Falcone said. “CMN helps more than 10 million kids each year get the best possible medical treatment.”

Last year, the initiative raised more than $41,000 across all Rocky’s locations. All the money raised goes to benefit local CMN hospitals, including UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in

Gainesville. Local participating Rocky’s locations include the stores in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Wellington and Tequesta.

Donations help fund critical treatments, innovative research, pediatric equipment, financial assistance for families and services aimed at putting the minds of children at ease during difficult hospital stays.

“Every year, I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers,” Falcone said. “Children’s Miracle Network helps save lives. We’re looking forward to another successful season of contributing to this worthy cause.”

Rocky’s Ace Hardware, your neighborhood store for paint, hardware, lawn and garden, and grilling, has been in continuous operation, under the same family ownership, since 1926. For more information, visit rockys.com.

offers three floorplans from the new Courtyard Collection, ranging from 1,649 to 1,786 square feet.

“We saw what was happening in the economy with inflation and rising interest rates and decided to build the Terraces so that we could offer a more affordable housing solution to meet the needs of everyday working families,” Belmont said.

In another move to address affordability, the City of Westlake revamped its Housing Assistance Purchase Program Yearly program, known as HAPPY, that provides first-time homebuyers and civil servants with downpayment assistance. A family with a household income up to $300,000 can qualify for $25,000 to $35,000 for a down payment on a house

that costs no more than $568,577.

All homeowners have access to the exciting amenities found at the Westlake Adventure Park.

The $22 million park features a resort-style lagoon pool with a tower slide, splash pad and poolside concessions; a separate adult lap pool; a multipurpose building with adjoining event lawn; and a covered concert pavilion, food truck court and picnic areas, BMX pump park, bocce ball courts, playground, dog park, and full-length, lighted basketball courts.

Conceived to be the “new downtown” for central Palm Beach County, Westlake is a lifestyle-focused, mixed-use community encompassing 3,800 acres with the capacity for 6,500 homes and 2.2 million square feet of retail, restau-

In 2018, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, and Laerdal Medical, one of the world leaders in medical simulation and resuscitation training, called for a new standard of care by shifting resuscitation practice from training once every two years to quarterly instruction to verify CPR competence for healthcare professionals. The RQI program is delivered by RQI Partners, a partnership between the AHA and Laerdal.

“We are excited that Wellington Regional Medical Center answered the call and are fully embracing the RQI program and working with the American Heart

Association, Laerdal Medical and RQI Partners to shift to a new standard of resuscitation care — competence,” explained Russell Griffin, RQI Partners’ senior vice president of programs and marketing. “Wellington Regional Medical Center has made high-quality CPR delivery a priority and joins our commitment to ensuring that all healthcare providers in every community are competent and confident in their resuscitation skills to help save more lives from cardiac arrest.”

To learn more about the RQI program and the value it brings to hospitals, patient care and local communities, visit www.heart. org, www.laerdal.com and www. rqipartners.com.

“Julie,” and manufactured in Colombia and China by women she fondly refers to as the “breadwinners.” The Venezuelan entrepreneur launched her company during the pandemic after struggling with postpartum depression. Finding therapy in running, the Fort Lauderdale resident is using her fashion to inspire other women struggling physically or emotionally. Each collection is named after terminology that describes the human condition, such as journey, freedom and inner peace, and empowering messages are printed on the clothing tags. For more information, call (561) 720-2145 or visit www.yuly360.com. The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit www. shopwellingtongreen.com.

Dennis Wedgworth Family Named Farm Family Of The Year By Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau

The Dennis Wedgworth family was recently recognized by the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau as the 2024 Farm Family of the Year, awarded for their outstanding commitment to agriculture and community outreach.

Wedgworth Farms was founded in 1932 by Herman Wedgworth, the first plant pathologist at the Everglades Research and Education Center, along with his wife, Ruth Wedgworth, who later took over the management of all operations upon his early demise.

Dennis Wedgworth earned a mechanical engineering degree from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Florida. In 1975, he began working in the family business. Dennis now

leads Wedgworth Farms and its sister company, Wedgworth’s Inc., and is in the process of completing his 50th year in farming and fertilizer. His commitment has always been to provide growers with innovative, premium products for increased ag production and profitability.

He and his wife Becky raised two daughters, Sarah and Katie, and now have five grandchildren.

Wedgworth Farms started in 1932 with 320 acres. Today it consists of 10,000 acres of prime muck land in the Glades and 10,000 acres of beautiful “old Florida” ranch land near Yeehaw Junction. Wedgworth’s Inc., the fertilizer mixing blending operation that Dennis’s grandfather

started in a wheelbarrow, is now the largest fertilizer company in Florida and is highly regarded throughout the industry.

In addition to leading Wedgworth Farms and Wedgworth’s Inc., Dennis is on the board of directors of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative, the board of directors of the Bank of Belle Glade, a former director of Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau and is a former chair of the Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association. In honor of his lifelong dedication to the success of Florida farmers, the Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau presented its highest honor of the EAA Farm Family of the Year Award to the Dennis Wedgworth family.

WPB VA Now Offers Robotic System For Dental Surgery

The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System is now the only VA nationwide with the integration of the state-of-the-art Yomi robotic system, enhancing the precision and efficiency of dental surgery for veterans.

Transforming the way care is provided, the Yomi robot allows dental professionals to perform

minimally invasive procedures with improved accuracy, offering a higher standard of care for veteran patients.

This achievement is another milestone in the multi-year journey to distinguish the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System as a leader in cutting-edge healthcare with use of robotic technology

to achieve faster recovery times, reduced discomfort and improved long-term outcomes.

“We are truly dedicated to world-class healthcare, as the only VA to offer this enhanced dental service. Put simply, we are just getting started,” Chief of Staff Dr. Ronald Williams said.

“Access is at the center of what

we do, and innovation allows a standard of access for our veterans they can’t find anywhere else, but here with us.” The Yomi system is now operational and available to eligible patients. This addition underscores the VA’s dedication to offering groundbreaking, high-quality care to America’s heroes.

DiVosta Closes On Wellington Land For Canter Community

DiVosta, the luxury-home brand offered by PulteGroup, has completed its purchase of 22.5 acres of unused church land in the Village of Wellington for its upcoming Canter community. The site is located near the intersection of Lake Worth Road and 120th Avenue South, behind St. Therese De Lisieux Catholic Church. The Diocese of Palm Beach sold the property to DiVosta. DiVosta is planning 42 estate lots in the gated community, which will accommodate one-story and two-story luxury farmhouse and coastal-style homes ranging from 3,301 to 5,376 square feet. Buyers can personalize their homes with designer

options, including gourmet kitchens outfitted with premium Wolf appliances. Prices are expected to start at $1.5 million.

“The farmhouse architectural style will make Canter a landmark community,” said Brent Baker, division president for PulteGroup in South Florida. “The theme will blend the best of Wellington’s equestrian lifestyle with the high-quality home construction for which DiVosta is known.”

The development is near top-rated schools and offers convenient access to Florida’s Turnpike and other major roads.

DiVosta already has a significant presence in central and western Palm Beach County, including Amara, Greyhawk Landing,

Hendrix Reserve and Windsong Estates. For more information about Canter, or to schedule an appointment, call (561) 220-7900 or visit www.divosta.com/homes/ florida/palm-beach/wellington/

An aerial view of the Westlake community under construction.

Online behemoth Galtsand launched its inaugural brickand-mortar store in October. Plus Platinum Jewelry specializes in custom jewelry and pre-owned timepieces.

Yuly360 features sustainable lines of athleisure wear.

Couture by Ilina showcases European brands from Italy, Turkey and Spain.

Dennis Wedgworth

I’m Off To Spend Thanksgiving In Arkansas With My Grandkids

We drove to Arkansas for Thanksgiving. Why? Because that’s where the grandchildren were going to be. Not all the grandchildren. We have perfectly wonderful grandchildren in Florida — three of them. But the Northern grandchildren seem to need us more. Or rather, maybe their parents do.

It all started when my daughter, then a teenager, was worried. She said, “Mom, I want to have children but not babies.”

“Adopt,” I said. “Adopt older children.”

“But I want to have my own children.” I replied, “Have babies then, and don’t worry. I’ll watch them. I love babies.”

“Great!” she said.

(I knew right then I had spoken too soon, but she was a teenager. I mean,

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

come on. She’ll forget, right?)

She moved to Detroit when she got a job with Ford. (“I love my job! I love being an engineer!”)

“That’s nice, honey.”

She moved to Kansas City when she got a job with Hallmark. (“I love my job! I love inventing products!”)

“I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom, and oh, I’m ready to have babies, so come on up.”

Wait. What?

I hired a manager to run my store, sold my house, put all my worldly goods up for sale out on the driveway and moved. That was 12 years ago.

Last year, she took a job with Tyson, in Arkansas. (“Food inventions! I’ve never done that before!”)

(Deep breath.) “I cannot move to Arkansas. I simply cannot keep following you around the country.”

“That’s OK. Come for Thanksgiving. Oh, and mom? Could you bring the turkey? The stuffing? A vegetable or two? And the pies?”

She paused and added, “Is there anything you want me to get?”

(Immediate response.) “Wine. Lots and lots of wine.”

The grandkids are 12 and 10 now. (Oh, yes, she threw in another kid while we were tied up watching the first one.) They don’t need us as much, and soon (like, overnight), we’ll be old as barnacles. Once those kids learn to drive, that’ll be it. We’ll be millstones around their necks.

The 12-year-old, excited: “Grandma!

Did you know that in Arkansas you can drive when you’re 15? I’m going to drive when I’m 15!”

“But isn’t that only in the case of hardships? Like if a caregiver can no longer function or something?”

He frowns, thinks about this, then brightens. “I can drive you!”

“I am functioning, in case you didn’t notice!”

“I mean when I’m 15!”

“Three years from now? Thanks a lot for that vote of confidence!”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” he said, slowly realizing he may have hurt my feelings. He comes over and gives me a hug — but there’s none of that baby-adoration in his eyes, only a modicum of hard-earned respect. We both know, deep down in our hearts, that he would be perfectly fine jumping in as my driver if I became severely incapacitated, preferably by 2027.

It’s the end of an era.

Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’ Is One Of The Best Films Of The Year

‘I’

On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Let’s make it simple. Ridley Scott’s long delayed sequel, Gladiator II, is the best film I have seen all year. Of course, I should note that it has not been a very good year for movies. But this new film, taking place 16 years after the end of the first one, is filled with some great battle scenes, spectacles and plot to keep the audience interested. Good acting also helped. The young boy from the first film, the son of the heroes, Lucius Aurelius (Paul Mescal), lives in the African city of Numidia, hiding from Rome and using the name “Hanno.” The Roman army under Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) conquers the city, enslaving Lucius and killing his wife. Outside of Rome, the slaves are used to fight feral baboons (a really great scene), and Lucius impresses gladiator stable owner Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who makes him a gladiator. After all, as Macrinus puts it, “You can either fight or die.” But he promises Lucius a chance to kill Acacius if he does well. Acacius is a Roman war hero and twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) honor him and force him to stay in Rome along with his wife Lucilla (Connie Nielson), who is the widow of Maximus. At a party, Lucius has to fight for his life and wins, and then recites Virgil’s poetry, revealing a Roman education. He is sent to the Coliseum, where he fights like his father and Lucilla recognizes him.

However, he rebuffs her attempts to forge a relationship because he feels she abandoned him, but she knows she did it to protect him when his father was falsely accused. And from there, the maneuvering really begins.

One of the best things about the film is that it moves back and forth from family drama to battles to political maneuvering so easily. Director Scott never lets up. Somehow events seem to accelerate as the film keeps going, so you’re involved the whole way. Between a battle against a charging rhino and a naval battle inside the Coliseum, the film keeps going. I should mention that the sets are spectacular. I know they didn’t use the real Coliseum, but it certainly feels that way.

The acting is what really held me. Mescal is a very good hero. His anger and confusion gradually ebb away as the script depicts, making him a very real hero. Pascal is particularly good. Although

leader of the enemy armies, he is clearly a man who wants to do good, who wants to get away from the corruption, weary of all the games. Nielson, who was in the first movie as the young mother, is still beautiful, now as older and torn between duty and her love for both her son and her husband. Quinn and Hechinger are more like the clowns from Dumb and Dumber than our normal leaders, wildly over the top disturbed, but do provide a measure of fun. Alexander Karim in the relatively small role of Ravi, a former slave who has become doctor to the gladiators, makes a very strong impression; in some ways, the most decent person in the film. But Denzel Washington steals every scene he is in. As a former slave, maneuvering for more power and willing to do anything to get to the top, he seems to be having the time of his life. He plays almost everyone for fools as he attempts to find his rightful place… at the top of the heap.

As a history person, I do have a couple of quibbles. Yes, there were naval battles in the Coliseum as water was pumped in, but unlike the film, there were

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