Town-Crier Newspaper October 7, 2022

RPB BENEFIT FOR FARMWORKERS

Fall Is In The Air, And

Time To Celebrate The Spooky Season

RPB Recreation Board Receives Updates On Upcoming Projects

Royal Palm Beach Parks & Rec reation Director Lou Recchio gave members of the village’s Recreation Advisory Board an update on upcoming programs and projects planned for the new fiscal year at the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 26. Recchio began with an update on food-related topics in village parks, starting with the end of the food distribution program through partner Feeding South Florida. Page 4

Baxter And McGovern Vie For District 6 Seat On The Palm Beach County Commission

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

Pink Party At The Mall Marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Mall at Wellington Green held its annual Pink Party on Saturday, Oct. 1, marking the start of Breast Cancer Aware ness Month. The event began with students Emma Nevico and Madison Anderer singing on stage. Then, Lindsay Ben nett from the American Cancer Society let attendees know about her organization and called breast cancer survivors on stage to be honored. The afternoon ended with 14 in structors leading 106 people in a fun Zumba class. Page 16

In the race to replace term-lim ited County Commissioner Me lissa McKinlay, two candidates are seeking to represent the western communities on the Palm Beach County Commission in District 6 — Realtor and small business owner Sara Baxter, the Republi can nominee, and Michelle Oyola McGovern, former state director for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democratic nominee.

District 6 includes all of the western communities, along with the Glades area. While the election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, mailin voting is already underway, and early voting begins Monday, Oct. 24.

Sara Baxter — Baxter is a second-generation Floridian. An Acreage resident, she graduated from Palm Beach State College with a bachelor’s degree in busi ness administration.

Together with her husband, Baxter owns an auto mobile repair shop called Foreign Auto Specialists on Belvedere Road. In real estate, she works with Continental Properties.

“I’m a wife and mother of three

boys and a small business owner,” Baxter said. “The story of my life is being able to overcome chal lenges and to work with the re sources available to me and make them the most effective.”

Baxter said she decided to run after facing what she feels were unnecessary challenges while opening and operating her small business.

“I have come across many chal lenges from trying to find a space to open our small business, all the

way through the zoning and plan ning processes,” she explained. “I wanted to get into this race to help our economy improve, and that starts with the growth and develop ment of new small businesses and making the process simplified.”

Baxter said she wants to use her experience as a small business owner to help better manage the county budget.

“People are struggling. They are having trouble affording their gas,

See DISTRICT 6, page 7

Lox Groves Council Finalizes Contract With New Manager

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

After several months of nego tiations, the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council approved a threeyear contract with new Town Manager Francine Ramaglia on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Ramaglia served as the assistant town manager for several years and was the unanimous choice of the council to replace former Town Manager Jaime Titcomb, who left earlier this year.

The contract was presented by human resources attorney Lara Donlon.

“Since you selected Ms. Ra maglia at the June 21 meeting, we have worked with each of you, as well as Ms. Ramaglia, to bring forward a proposed agreement that will address her employment as town manager,” Donlon said.

The contract is effective from Oct. 5, 2022, through Sept.

30, 2025, with a base salary of $133,500. The council could approve an increase specifically to the manager’s salary at any time. However, if a cost-of-living increase is granted to all town employees by the council, the manager would be included in that.

While the base salary is a lot for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves, Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia reminded the council that it is on the low end of municipal managers in general.

“I think Francine is being very kind to Loxahatchee Groves,” she said.

Councilwoman Marianne Miles noted that the original base sal ary on job listing was $90,000 to $125,000, and that is not inclusive of benefits.

“All the benefits included is not what is being proposed by the con tract, it is much more,” said Miles,

ROTARY’S WELLINGTON FAMILY AUTOFEST

For the first time in 16 years, there’s a “new sheriff” oversee ing athletic programs at Semi nole Ridge High School. Since 2006, Scott Parks has been a fixture as the school’s athletic director, but he gave up the position at the end of the last school year. Page 21

Royal Palm Zoners Support Change For Sign At RPBHS

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report

Royal Palm Beach’s Planning & Zoning Commission met Tuesday, Sept. 27 and voted in favor of a text amendment to the village code that will allow Royal Palm Beach High School to finally begin the process of getting a new permanent sign.

The commissioners heard the request meeting as the Local Plan ning Agency.

The School District of Palm Beach County applied for the text amendment, adding the term “School Board Informational Sign.”

This would allow for RPBHS to install a permanent digital sign.

Senior Planner Michael Owens

was present on behalf of the school district. The sign would be used to provide school-related information only, with no commercial messag ing permitted.

Commission Chair David Le land and Commissioner Philip Marquis questioned why there was still a temporary, canvas sign in place at the main entrance to the campus.

“The original sign was in a state of disrepair. Until we could get the money together, we put up a canvas sign. It has been up there several years,” Owens explained. “As we go through the county, we try to update to digital signs. We wanted to ensure the village that we will work within the param

eters. If this goes through, we can work toward getting a budget for the sign, which will be upward of $55 to $60 thousand. Then we can place it, and there won’t be any code enforcement violations.”

It was also made clear the revi sion would not give permission for private schools to install similar signs. The motion passed unani mously.

In other business:

• Meeting as the Planning & Zoning Commission, the board reviewed several sign applications and business approvals.

They unanimously approved the request for updated signage at 1402 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. for

Truckers Carry Load Of Concerns To The ITID Board Meeting

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

There’s more than one truckload of resentment and frustration be ing hauled through The Acreage these days by big-rig drivers feel ing that they are being unfairly targeted by Palm Beach County Code Enforcement for parking their tractor-trailers at residential properties.

Several drivers and family members took their concerns to the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors on Wednes day, Sept. 21, sharing them during the public comments portion of the meeting. “We moved here because of the space,” said trucker Kemar Henry of 31st Road North. “It’s why we’re here.”

Truckers face up to a $1,000-aday fine for parking their rigs at

Cooler Weather Brings The Return Of

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

As the weather cools slightly, and the sun sets earlier, it’s time to welcome back the local weekly green markets in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach.

Both markets are family-friend ly, offer free parking and admis sion, and a great variety of ven dors. Conveniently taking place on different days, the markets are easy to get to and offer a refreshing outdoor experience.

The Lakeside Market at Wel lington Town Center is holding its opening day on Friday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. along the lakeside promenade. It will continue Friday evenings through the spring.

Heather Navarro, program coor dinator for Wellington, is excited to share that the vendor list has been extended, which will include booths all along the promenade.

“We are going to have more than 45 vendors,” she said.

Many vendors from last year are returning, and there are additional vendors adding to the mix. There will be food, artisans, crafters and everything in between for resi dents to explore.

Having the market at night, Navarro said, allows for great sunset views. Pontoon parking is back, she said, which was a big hit last year.

The market is rain or shine, pet friendly (with the request that you

pick up after your pet), and there are kid-friendly vendors, along with the nearby Scott’s Place Playground.

Throughout the season, there will be special events and activi ties at the market. On Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28, as well as Nov. 4 and 11, there will be a drop-off bin for Wellington’s Hometown Holiday Food Drive. A Pop-Up Biergarten event begins Oct. 21.

Updates about the market can be found at www.wellingtonlakeside market.com and www.facebook. com/wellingtonlakesidemarket.

Royal Palm Beach’s Green Mar ket and Bazaar, held lakeside near Village Hall, returns on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Royal Palm Beach event is organized by Kathy Gilbert, mar ket manager and owner of POTTC Events. The market will take place on Saturdays from Oct. 15 through April 29, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

The market takes place on the southeast corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. It will be held rain or shine, and leashed pets are allowed.

Many of the same favorite vendors, Gilbert said, will be re turning, as well as some new ones.

Fresh produce, fish, teas, honey, baked goods, beef jerky, cheeses, fresh guacamole and salsa, cloth ing, jewelry, artwork, pet treats, art

their residence. “We don’t want to have to leave,” said Henry, adding that he and his family might have to do so within 90 days.

While a number of truckers bought in The Acreage, which is in unincorporated Palm Beach County, believing that they would be allowed to park their rigs on their large residential properties, that apparently never was a part of any official zoning code, ITID Executive Director Burgess Han son explained.

While ITID can advocate on behalf of the community when dealing with Palm Beach County, it does not have any control over zoning and code enforcement, since ITID only has local authority for the purposes of roads, drainage and parks.

“Many people are used to park

Markets

& crafts, plant vendors and more are going to be at the market.

And there’s more room for any interested vendors.

“We do accept vendors through out the season,” Gilbert said.

“We’re always happy to talk with any vendor who would like to come out.”

The market, she said, is seasonal because of the weather, and she’s looking forward to seeing familiar faces as they come out to support the vendors.

“We’re getting ready for the season opening,” she said.

Updates on the market can be found at www.rpbgreenmarket. com and www.facebook.com/ rpbgreenmarket.

The Wellington Rotary held its first Wellington Family AutoFest of the season on Sunday, Oct. 2 at Wellington’s Village Park. The car show included many extra activities for families and also served as a fundraiser for the veterans’ nonprofit Unified Dream. Special guest Vanilla Ice surprised attendees and posed for photos with his classic car. Shown above is Vanilla Ice with members of the Wellington High School Interact Club.

DENISE

The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County held its 2022 Fall Fest fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 23 at CJR Fine Arts & Frame in Royal Palm Beach. Tickets included wine and hors d’oeuvres, as well as the opportunity to win a piece of art. Also, a percentage of all art sales and custom framing benefited programs of the Farmworker Coordinating Council, which helps local farmworkers access needed social services. Shown above are Chris Harrison, Dalia Paratore, Denise Negron and Maria Brown. MORE PHOTOS,

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Scott Parks Looks Back

On 16 Years As SRHS Athletic Director

Sara Baxter Michelle Oyola McGovern

Local Municipalities Prepare To Read For The Record Oct. 27

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report

Nearly 20 years ago, an orga nization called Jumpstart began a unique program that has turned into a nationwide initiative. Read for the Record is the world’s larg est shared reading event that brings adult volunteers and children together as they all read the same book on the same day.

Since its inception, more than 24 million people have participated in the event, and this year it will take place again on Thursday, Oct. 27. Local municipal leaders also get involved and bring a new story each year to thousands of school children.

Every year, the Literacy Coali tion of Palm Beach County hosts a Mayor’s Literacy Initiative that in cludes a special luncheon for local leaders to learn about the Read for the Record’s book of choice for the next event. This year, Jumpstart chose Nigel and the Moon by An twan Eady. The story showcases a young boy with big dreams, who is afraid to share them with his community and family.

“Jumpstart’s motivation to ini tiate this national reading cam paign was to bring attention to the importance of young children developing the early literacy and language skills needed to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed,” explained Jeanne Siccone, direc tor of children’s literacy for the Literacy Coalition. “Since I have been involved with coordinat ing the campaign in Palm Beach

County from the beginning, the countywide enthusiastic support and participation in Read for the Record has grown and exceeded all expectations. Palm Beach County leaders began volunteer ing as guest readers at elementary schools and childcare centers in their municipality, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of adults and children participat ing.”

Last year, 124 sites throughout Palm Beach County participated in the campaign, with 112 municipal leaders and staff volunteering as readers.

Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig said her village takes pride in hav ing won Read for the Record in Palm Beach County, and they want to keep the streak going.

“One thing that inspires me is how the community has really wrapped themselves around this as an initiative,” Gerwig said. “We want to ensure our kids know how important it is to learn to read.

And it’s important enough for the entire government to pretty much shut down for that day because we get our staff out. They give me a schedule, and then I just take off. I go all day to as many as they can get us.”

The Village of Wellington won first place in the large municipal ity category in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.

“She’s got a secret sauce,” said Royal Palm Beach Councilman Jeff Hmara, who was sitting next to Gerwig at the Literacy Coalition’s

Mayors’ Luncheon. “We read as long as the schools themselves can actually allow us to visit them, and it has grown from year to year. I don’t mind holding Wellington up as setting the bar. We are good with that, because sooner or later we will clear that bar. That’s a little bit of the motivation.”

Hmara mentioned the campaign at recent village meetings and was surprised at the immediate and positive response from a commu nity ready to get involved.

“It’s a really simple line that ap peals to people. If you want kids to love to read — read to kids. Of course, people who haven’t done it before get a little anxious, but once they step into it, you can’t stop them,” he said.

The Village of Royal Palm Beach read to more than 1,900 children last year. Mayor Fred Pinto enjoys participating and is ready to get back to seeing the kids in person.

“Before COVID-19 happened, I used to go to the library and read to the kids. That was a great experience for everyone involved. I’m hoping to get back to do that,” he said.

The story of Nigel and the Moon addresses the questions and fears that everyone faces.

“The fear and anxiety Nigel feels in sharing his secret dreams and aspirations of becoming a dancer, superhero or an astronaut with anyone but the Moon, are emotions all of us can relate to,” Siccone said. “Nigel’s story is a

Pinto agreed that it’s OK to have big dreams and knows there are opportunities available that many children never realize are out there.

I came down to Florida from New York. I worked on Wall Street for 20 years,” Pinto said. “Whenever I have an opportunity to congratu late fifth graders at their gradua See READ, page 14

Fall Is In The Air, And It’s Time To Celebrate The Spooky Season

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report

Trick, or treat? Face paint, pumpkins and hayrides, or music and mayhem?

It’s that time again, when spooky season descends upon us, and the villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach hold their special events welcoming the fall season.

Royal Palm Beach is kicking off the season with its Rock-N-Fall Festival, with a haunted house start, and the majority of events taking place Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park — post poned a week due to Hurricane Ian.

This trifecta of spooky fun be

gins with fun for the adults at the Catskill Haunts Haunted House, taking place from 7 to 11 p.m. on Oct. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29.

The haunted house is visible from the road, said Commons Park Event & Facilities Manager Sylvio Pierre-Louis.

Saturday begins with pumpkin carving at 1 p.m., and the opening of the fun zone. A pet costume contest will take place at 3 p.m., followed by a human costume con test at 4 p.m. Throughout the day there will be a fun slide, carnival games, train rides, a Ferris wheel, a bounce house, a corn maze, a petting zoo and live entertainment.

Live music will include the Kiss Alive tribute band from 7 to 9 p.m., and vendors will be selling a

variety of refreshments, including alcohol and beer.

Come Sunday, from 1 to 7 p.m., the fun zone will be open through out the event, and there will be two bands: Thirty Hertz, a rock cover band, from 3 to 5 p.m., and the Long Run, an Eagles tribute band, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Plenty of free parking will be available. For more information, visit www.royalpalmbeach.com/ calendar.

Wellington’s Fall Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 15 from 3 to 10 p.m. at Village Park with family-friendly fun for everyone, Assistant Community Events Di rector Michelle Garvey said.

New to the Fall Festival, Gar vey said, is the KultureCity Quiet

Area. The Village of Wellington has partnered with KultureCity to make events and programs more inclusive. Sensory bags filled with items to lessen sensory overload are available in gym rooms 2A and 2B, providing a quiet area within the event. This area pro vides a more secure environment with quieter activities for those who prefer a quick retreat from the excitement. KultureCity also offers an app that can be used to find quiet rooms at various events. To learn more, visit www.kultu recity.org.

Activities ranging from bounce houses, costume contests, enter tainment, face painting, hayrides, inflatable axe throwing, laser tag, a petting zoo, trick-or-treating

and pie-eating contests, to the ever-popular 10-and-up Haunted Hallways starting at 5 p.m., are available to keep kids of all ages, and kids at heart, busy and enjoy ing the fun.

In addition to inflatable axe throwing, Jupiter Bounce is bring ing along an inclusive bounce house for all children to enjoy.

All-access bracelets for activi ties are available for sale now, with pre-sale prices in effect until Oct. 14 at $7 per child, $5 per adult and free for children 2 and under. Bracelets the day of the event are $10 per child, $5 per adult and free for children 2 and under. Tickets can be purchased at Village Park or the Wellington Community Center.

Bracelets are needed for adults for the haunted hallways, laser tag and hay rides.

With nearly 40 vendors and 20 food trucks, there will be plenty of favorites available for food and drink, as well as to get to know some of the local businesses and groups within the community.

Parking at Village Park is free, but limited. Attendees are encour aged to utilize the free shuttle service offered at the Mall at Wel lington Green. Shuttles are avail able at the Palm Tran bus stop near Macy’s beginning at 2:30 p.m.

With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed in the park.

For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/fallfestival.

Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig and Royal Palm Beach Councilman Jeff Hmara at the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County’s luncheon announcing this year’s book, Nigel and the Moon

PHOTO COURTESY

reminder to find the courage to believe in ourselves and look to those in our lives who provide us with the support and courage to pursue our dreams and aspirations, whatever they may be.”

“I certainly wasn’t interested in becoming an elected official when

RPB Recreation Board Receives Updates On Upcoming Projects

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report

Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Director Lou Recchio gave members of the village’s Recreation Advisory Board an update on upcoming programs and projects planned for the new fiscal year at the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 26. Recchio began with an update on food-related topics in village parks, starting with the end of the food distribution program through partner Feeding South Florida.

“Food distribution has been going on for the past two years, and it ended this past Wednesday because Feeding South Florida lost their funding from the govern ment. We will not be distributing food here anymore,” he said. “We gave out more than 3.4 million meals. It was really an effort by numerous volunteers, not just individuals, but groups that came out. I want to give a shout out to everybody. It brought everyone together for a common cause.”

At Veterans Park, the Seeds Café is now open Wednesday through Sunday, serving breakfast and lunch. In the next few months, ice cream vendor Kool Runnings will also be opening at Veterans Park. At the Royal Palm Beach

Manager’s Contract

continued from page 1 who was irritated by the process and said she had some issues with the final product.

Vice Mayor Laura Danowski said she was initially skeptical of the salary request, which is slightly higher than Titcomb’s, but she has been impressed by the work Ramaglia has done thus far.

“She has worked without a net for four months, and she has gotten things done,” Danowski said.

Danowski added that there were a number of meetings held with each council member on this contract.

“Francine is the best choice for us. To have started over with an outside manager would have been a train wreck,” she said. “I do agree that this salary and package are kind of stretching the town’s affordability, but by God, she’s worth it.”

Mayor Robert Shorr said he would not have approved this contract back in June.

“I feel fortunate that she has had

Trucks County Code

Concerns

continued from page 1 ing their trucks in their yards,” Hanson said. “Some of them say they were told they would be able to park there [when they purchased the property]. But no one has ever produced one piece of paper that says that.”

Supervisor Joni Martin said that part of the issue is individuals not understanding in legal terms the difference between a “commercial vehicle” and a tractor-trailer. Un der the county zoning code, resi dential storage/parking is allowed of one commercial vehicle — de fined as registered and belonging to a resident of the property, and not exceeding 12,500 pounds and 26 feet in length. A tractor-trailer rig is often more than 60 feet in length weighing some 80,000 pounds or more. Restrictions with in municipalities may vary.

To further complicate matters in this semi-rural, equestrian enclave, Hanson noted that under state law, there is an agricultural exemption for big rigs pulling large horse trailers or cattle haulers. Thus, under that law, a rig with a horse trailer would be exempt from the county’s zoning regulations, while a trucker next door with his rig hitched to a car hauler would be afoul of county rules, he said.

Some local truckers have con tended that the ITID board’s refusal to write a letter to the Palm Beach County Commission stating that the district is OK with the tractor-trailer rigs using area roads has brought on this latest code enforcement push.

Not so, ITID Vice President Bet

Commons Park Sporting Center, the Parkside Café is open seven days a week.

“We now have somebody [Parkside Café] who has made a major investment, upgrading the kitchen and the equipment they brought in. They’ve got a food truck. He’s already booked a cou ple of weddings that are upstairs on the third floor, catering to them,” Recchio said. “He has been in the restaurant business for quite a while. This is the same vendor that runs our haunted house in October.”

The village has also completed a number of capital projects during fiscal year 2022 in parks around the community.

At Camellia Park, six tennis courts were resurfaced along with two basketball courts. Commons Park now has a second 18-hole disc golf course and an automated kayak rental system. The design phase is now complete for Crest wood Park North, although the name may change, while Home place Park has a new gazebo.

At Preservation Park, the Katz Soccer Complex received recon struction of two soccer fields and the replacement of four bleacher covers. Preservation Park also saw major changes with the removal of

these few months to prove her self,” he said. “She has eliminated two positions at town hall, saving us tons of money.”

Maniglia made a motion to approve the contract, seconded by Councilwoman Marge Herzog, which was approved unanimously.

In other business:

• The council approved an over time work request for the Lockhart Storage construction site at 14711 Southern Blvd., but not before demanding that the construction traffic stop using Tangerine Drive and access the site from Southern. The construction site is between the Loxahatchee AG Market and the Shell gas station.

The construction agreement sets the hours allowed for work at the site, but Brickell Group Construc tion asked for temporary overnight work on several dates in October and November to allow concrete trucks to pour concrete during the hours of 2 to 7 a.m. For each over night work, Brickell will submit a 72-hour overtime work notice to the building department and inform neighbors of the property.

Project Manager Carlos Izquier do addressed the council regarding the request.

ty Argue said during the meeting.

“This has been a problem for the last 20 years… and our posi tion has not changed,” she said. “We’re not responsible for land use or zoning… This is nothing but the county trying to kick the ball back to us.”

Argue later said that the real problem that has drawn the atten tion of county code enforcement is not truckers who park their rigs at their residence, but others who park them in swales, beside canals and who rent space on residential properties that they do not own.

“It’s frustrating for everyone. It’s people’s livelihoods, [but] it can’t be a free-for-all,” Argue said.

Estimating that more than 150 truckers live in the ITID area, she said there is no real truck parking anywhere in the county. She said the board is glad to encourage the county and the truckers to reach a “happy compromise,” but beyond that, there is little that the ITID supervisors can do.

Argue suggested that the county might consider buying property along Southern Blvd. where a parking area could be created for tractor-trailer rigs.

In another road-related matter, after a spate of recent accidents, some serious, other residents expressed concern over speeding in the area, especially along larg er, longer streets, such as Royal Palm Beach, Orange and Coconut boulevards.

One resident said it is not unusu al to see vehicles traveling 70 to 80 miles per hour at night.

ITID is aware of the issue and is doing what it can to slow driv ers down where possible, which means encouraging Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies to be watchful and installing speed tables, Hanson said.

He explained that while ITID

the RC track, installation of four pickleball courts and movement of the skate park.

“The reason for that is we had some issues. We had the skate park there where you had teenage kids, and right next to the skate park was a playground,” Recchio explained. “The mix of the teens and skaters with parents and kids really wasn’t conducive to be in the same area.

Since we were going to build the pickleball courts anyway, we decided to move it. It’s working out great.”

He noted that many of the re maining open capital projects are stuck simply waiting on delivery of the materials needed to do the work.

Capital projects in the 2023 fis cal year include new pavilions at Commons Park and replacing the lights at the golf training facility. Veterans Park will see its splash pad repaired, and the ballfields at Ferrin Park will get new lighting.

Throughout the village, resi dents will also see new electronic signs go up. The newer signs will allow for faster updating and give the ability to make immediate announcements.

Reccio is looking forward to the new corporate pavilions at Commons Park.

“The time will be used to pour concrete, which requires many trucks,” he said, explaining that the goal is to avoid disturbing traffic on the local roads, particularly Tangerine, where the trucks will be going in and out.

During public comments, res ident Paul Coleman said just informing the neighbors is not enough.

“There is more than one family that is impacted by this,” he said. “Those concrete trucks are not quiet.”

The council, however, was more concerned about why the trucks were coming in through Tangerine.

“Why are you not coming off Southern?” Maniglia asked. “Tan gerine is not equipped to handle those huge trucks.”

“We were instructed by the building department to have ev erything in and out for the con struction on Tangerine,” Izquierdo replied.

Maniglia was not happy with that.

“I don’t understand this,” she said. “Tangerine is going to be a mess by the time those concrete trucks go in and out of it.”

has the authority to install speed ta bles, it does not have the authority to erect stop signs or traffic lights. He said that requests have been made to the county, but “the coun ty doesn’t want four-way stops out here. They want traffic to move.”

ITID President Michael John son said that the traffic issues are likely to get worse due to increased development.

“Everyone on this board takes traffic calming very seriously,” he said. “Please reach out to the PBSO as much as you can.”

In other business:

• The supervisors approved the purchase of $865,442 of equip ment to be used in road and canal maintenance and related projects.

The purchases include four four-wheel-drive pickups, two John Deere 620G Motor Graders and one John Deere 644p Wheel Loader.

During the 2023 budget process, Argue questioned the need for some of the equipment but was part of the vote to approve them on Sept. 21.

“I would have rather made the decision vehicle by vehicle,” she said later. “But I had to weigh waiting six months while prices were only going to increase.”

• The supervisors heard from Mary McNicholas of the lobby ing group Sluggett & Associates that chances are improving that funding may finally be found from state and county sources for the long-delayed completion of the Corbett levee. The levee is supposed to protect residents in the northern and western parts of ITID who suffered flooding during Tropical Storm Isaac in 2012 but is only half finished.

The original price tag was $8 million, which the state agreed to fund over two years, but never provided the second $4 million

“The pavilions are going on the great lawn and will flank the east and west side of the amphi theater,” he said. “We get a lot of businesses and corporations that want to come out and have a picnic. These pavilions will be 82 feet in diameter and will house 100 to 120 people. It’s going to be great, and when we have our normal four or five community events out there, we can use it for another stage, alcohol tent, water distribution and so on.”

Program Supervisor Brandon Pendergrass noted the successful registration numbers for baseball, soccer and football. The travel basketball league has teams train ing, and other Recreation Center programs, such as yoga, are in full swing.

“Youth basketball had more than 200 participants last year, and we are looking to build on that. Perseverance Basketball is doing ‘Little Hoopsters’ for ages three to five and basketball training for kindergarten through sixth grade,” Pendergrass said, adding that the Recreation Center is also offering VPK, spring youth volleyball and flag football.

Programs for senior citizens in Royal Palm Beach continue to be popular with residents. Program

Izquierdo noted that there is not actually an entrance from Southern to the property right now. “You would have to go over a sidewalk, and we were told not to go over that with trucks,” he said.

Danowski also did not favor access from Tangerine.

“One of the specific approvals of this plan was that there is to be zero in and out from this facility on Tangerine,” she said.

Izquierdo said that his compa ny would use Southern Blvd. if they’re allowed to.

Once completed, access to the site will be through a connection with the AG Market.

“Why didn’t you put that con nection in now, so you don’t have to go over the sidewalk?” Shorr asked. “I don’t support using Tangerine.”

The overnight work request was approved unanimously, but the trucks will be required to use Southern, not Tangerine, for access.

• The council considered two ballot questions to be placed be fore voters during the municipal election next March, deciding to move forward with one of them and rejecting another.

installment, leaving the project in limbo. The price tag now is expected to run some $16 million for the state agencies responsible, the county and the South Florida Water Management District.

While happy to hear that the project may be about to finally move forward, Hanson noted that the 60,000-acre J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area is state property. “This is not a dis trict project, it’s a state project,” he said.

Argue agreed, while noting that the lack of an adequate levee could have a major impact on ITID residents during a heavy rain incident. She said that a change in messaging by Sluggett and a strong push from State Rep. Rick Roth (R-District 85) may have moved the funding needle.

“We looked at it and said, ‘Why are we having to fight to get the state to do its job?’” Argue said. “They have a responsibility to protect our community.”

• The supervisors heard from representatives of its parks depart ment that they expect the north football field at Acreage Commu nity Park won’t be playable until spring.

“If the new sod doesn’t properly root, there’ll be problems with fun gus and other issues,” Hanson said.

Once planned as $110,000 turf-replacement effort, the field has since undergone a major renovation after the discovery of substandard drainage and electri cal infrastructure dating back to the 1990s. The scoreboard, lighting and goalposts also have been re paired, upgraded or replaced.

The final price tag is now expected to be approximately $500,000, even though much of the work has been done by a dis trict crew in an effort to keep costs down, Hanson said.

Supervisor Shakeera Thomas ex plained that there are 18 programs for seniors, with only six of them being paid programs, and the remaining 12 are free. The next Young at Heart Luncheon is Oct. 7, and membership acceptance is now back up to full capacity. Other popular classes are diabetes self-management and technology workshops.

“We are working on other class es to bring. I listen to them, see what they want, and one of the things was to exercise more,” Thomas said. “So, we now have a senior dance party every Monday to get them moving. Technology is now every week on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. from now until March 2023. The seniors are loving it.”

Sporting Center Event & Facil ities Manager Sylvio Pierre-Louis announced that the Catskill Haunts Haunted House opened on Sept. 30 and will run every Friday and Saturday in the month of October. Entry is $10. The Rock-N-Fall Festival was moved due to Hurri cane Ian and is now Saturday, Oct. 8 from 1 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 9 from 1 to 7 p.m.

The planned concert series includes tribute bands for Elton John (Oct. 21), Toby Keith (Nov.

The first is similar to a ballot question that was rejected last year, that would allow the mayor to be the sole council representative signing ordinances and resolu tions. It fixes the previous wording to clarify that the mayor can only sign the documents after they have been approved by the council, and that it is only a ministerial act. The change would streamline the process and not require additional trips by council members to town hall.

Maniglia opposed the referen dum because she feels it is unnec essary and comes too soon after

4) and reggae/rock (Nov. 18). A car show fundraiser hosted by South East Rods and Customs will benefit Wounded Warriors on Nov. 6. Family movie nights begin Nov. 12 with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Food trucks will be on site, and the venue opens at 5 p.m. For families wanting photos with Santa, he will be visiting the Sporting Center during the Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 movie nights. The popular Win terfest event returns Dec. 3.

Event & Facilities Manager Ste ven Poyner was happy to share up coming events at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center and the nearby Village Hall Complex. The Green Market returns Saturdays starting Oct. 15, and the Cultural Center opens at 9 a.m. on Nov. 11 for a Veterans Day program and free breakfast for veterans who sign up in advance. The Jan. 27 Daddy Daughter Dance will incorporate a Winter Wonderland theme in 2023. Community band concerts are drawing 100 to 200 guests, and the next concert is Oct. 25.

Visit www.royalpalmbeach. com/parksrec for additional in formation on upcoming events or to register for programs. The next Recreation Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 28.

the previous version was rejected.

“This gives the appearance of a strong mayor,” she said.

The referendum was approved 3-2 with Danowski and Maniglia opposed.

The second would have allowed the town to purchase big-ticket items over more than three years.

The charter currently places a hard cap of 36 months on loan repay ment terms and requires any longer terms to win public approval at the ballot box. The council members, however, did not support the idea and rejected the proposed referen dum unanimously.

Spookyville Returns To South Florida Fairgrounds

Ford will present Spookyville in Yesteryear Village, a safe place to trick-or-treat, ideal for children 10 and younger, this month at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Dates for Spookyville are Friday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 31, Halloween, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Due to the sold-out Stevie Nicks concert at the iThink Financial Amphitheater, which is located at the fairgrounds, Spookyville will be closed on Friday, Oct. 28. Hours have been extended on Saturday, Oct. 29; Sunday, Oct. 30; and Monday, Oct. 31.

Admission gates close a half hour before the event’s closing time.

Admission is $10 per person with free parking. Skip the lines and buy tickets online at www. southfloridafair.com.

Spookyville is an old-fashioned Halloween for families and chil

dren 10 and younger. It offers a full array of safe trick-or-treats, a kiddie train, contests, games and more. It’s a throwback to the tra ditional days of family Halloweens in a fun, secure and family-friendly environment.

Enjoy live music and entertain ment in the Storm Tight Windows Pavilion.

To learn more, call (561) 7930333 or visit www.southfloridafair. com.

Mall At Wellington Green Accepting Drop-Off Donations For Hurricane Relief

The Mall at Wellington Green began accepting drop-off do nations from the public, local businesses and charitable orga nizations for Hurricane Ian relief starting Oct. 6.

The Mall at Wellington Green is partnering with Stuart-based DOA Fishing Lures, which will trans port donated items to Hurricane Ian-beleaguered communities on Florida’s west coast.

Donations will be accepted Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

The mall’s donation drop-off site is located on the first floor

across from California Pizza Kitchen.

The following items are re quested for donation: diapers and baby wipes, water, gasoline and gasoline cans, generators, non-per ishable food items, flashlights, batteries, new clothing items and packing boxes.

For more information, or to schedule large drop-off donations, contact Meghan Buser at info@ meghanbuser.com.

The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more in formation, call (561) 227-6900 or visit www.shopwellingtongreen. com.

OPENS NEW SEASON FOR MONTHLY

AUTOFEST

The

Wellington Rotary Club members joins with chamber and village representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Vanilla Ice received “The Godfather Award” for this 1956 Lincoln Mark II.

Maia and Lucas Sanchez with K9 Charlie. Don Neely’s 1939 Buick Century won a people’s choice award.

South Florida Golf Carts owner Brad Sharenow.

Akai Jackson and Julie Khanna of Khanna House Studios.

Jack and Luke Zeller with Seven Axes coach Clairessa Erilas.

The 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Deluxe owned by Rick Klotz won for best paint.

The Wellington Collegiate Academy choir.

This Chevy Impala does tricks. A 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.

Winners Rick Klotz (best paint, 1931 Ford Model A); Gary Kudish (30s best classic, Model A); Don Neeley (people’s choice award, 1939 Buick); Joe Cutroni (90s classic, 96 Corvette); Frank Martinez (best flames, 1934 Ford); Joseph Vettorino (best interior, 67 Cama ro); and Nick Kalfas with his son George (90s classic Mustang).

PBSO deputies Madison Lamm and Roy Gonzalez with therapy K9 Charlie.

Amber and Lilah Waring with a teddy bear hamster.

Author Hartley Barnes wrote the book A Veteran Speaks

PBCFR’s Anthony Kuhn, Danielle Bove and John Hartman with Hudson and Grayson Miceli.

Bob Salerno, Hope Barron and Aimee Stern.

Wellington High School Interact Club members Andrea Bustillo, Sarah Rahman and Hailey Guzik.

Westlake Officials Welcome ‘Distraction’ Of Beats & Eats Event

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

Though the City of Westlake suffered little damage from Hur ricane Ian, the stress of having a Category 4 storm prowling just on the other side of Lake Okeechobee is enough to jangle anyone’s nerves. That’s why the timing for the Beats & Eats food truck event couldn’t be better for the community’s residents, Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said during the Tuesday, Oct. 4 meeting of the Westlake City Council.

“It’s going to be welcome dis traction from everything that has been going on over on the west coast,” he said.

Sara Baxter Vs. Michelle McGovern

continued from page 1

FPL bill and groceries,” she said. “The county can do a better job at alleviating some financial burdens from them by not increasing our county’s budget, which they cur rently passed to increase it by 13 percent over last year.”

During the final stretch of the campaign, Baxter said she is work ing to get in front of as many voters as possible.

“I have been talking to the residents and finding out what their issues are, so I can address them should they elect me their next county commissioner,” she said.

Her campaign themes include reducing costs and better infra structure. “I want to improve the infrastructure, specifically in the unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County, improving roads and reducing congestion,” Bax ter said. “I would like to avoid overdevelopment of our western communities. I would also like to identify wasteful spending and prioritizing the budget instead of increasing it.”

In fact, Councilman Julian Martinez, a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue driver/operator, is deployed to the disaster zone with a hazardous materials team to aid in storm recovery.

The Beats & Eats event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, along Kingfisher Blvd. between North and South Town Center boulevards. There’ll be some 14 food trucks plus other vendors, including a bar truck offering beer and wine. Entertainment for children is planned and, of course, a DJ to put the beats in the eats.

“I hope all of Westlake is go ing to be there,” Councilwoman Pilar Valle Ron said. “I’m looking

For example, she is not in favor of the affordable housing bond program that the county placed on the November ballot for approval.

“Nobody wants to scale back, but people are struggling,” Baxter said. “It’s not the time to ask our residents to pay more toward a $200 million general obligation bond.”

She is, however, a supporter of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and said the county needs to pay its deputies better. “We need to keep great sheriff’s deputies here and increase their pay to get on par where they want to stay here,” she said.

Baxter is very concerned about affordability issues in Palm Beach County.

“A lot of people who cannot af ford to live here are moving up to northern counties,” she said. “The changes I would like to see would help the people who currently live here. To help with affordable housing would be to give the people who do not fall under the homestead exemption some tax relief, so they don’t have to pass down the cost increases to their renters. That would be a better way to solve affordable housing than asking residents to keep building more units.”

forward to being there with my family.”

Beyond merely a fun event, City Manager Kenneth Cassel said such happenings help build community spirit in a municipality as newly formed as Westlake, which came into being only in 2016.

“It’s great to see residents com ing out together as a group,” he said. “It seems to be something residents want.”

Several other events are being discussed, such as a winter holi day event tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 11, that would include a green market, along with other events focusing on fire pre vention and hurricane awareness.

Baxter believes that she has the right type of experience to best serve residents on the county commission.

“We need people with more practical experience on our coun ty commission, who struggled alongside the residents through the issues, and less political ex perience, because we have that covered already,” she said. “We need a voice of common sense on our county commission, and that would be me.”

Visit www.votesarabaxter.com to learn more.

Michelle McGovern — Mc Govern advanced to the gen eral election ballot after winning a three-way primary with nearly 57 percent of the vote.

A Palm Beach County native of Puerto Rican heritage, McGovern worked for former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson for 18 years as his state director. She now works for Bap tist Health. Married to Wellington Councilman John McGovern, she is the mother of two teenage daughters.

McGovern said that she is run ning on her long record of experi ence.

“I served as Sen. Nelson’s top aide for 18 years, and for my entire career, I have volunteered in the community and have a record of

There’s a little bit of everything at Beats & Eats, O’Connor said. “I’m very excited about the event,” he added.

In other business:

• The council heard from Cas sel that damage from Ian’s feeder bands was minimal.

“A few trees that were knocked down during the storm already have been stood back up and anchored,” he said, adding that there was no unforeseen flooding despite getting four inches of rain.

Cassel and O’Connor praised Seminole Improvement District officials for having the foresight to quickly lower water levels in drainage canals ahead of the storm.

success,” she said. “I helped bring the first rape treatment center to the county, expedited the dyke around Lake Okeechobee and served on the Wellington Education Com mittee. I have the experience that allows me to hit the ground run ning on day one.”

She said it was this unique experience that led her to run this year.

“The opportunity came about, and when thinking about it, I real ized that I have been doing a lot of public service in this district, and I know this district well,” McGovern said. “I know that I have the experience. I also feel strongly about bringing a Latina perspective to the county com mission.”

She noted that voting is already underway, with vote-by-mail bal lots arriving this week.

“We are communicating with voters by phone and knocking on doors,” McGovern said. “People have probably already mailed back their ballots. We are communicat ing with constituents all over the district.”

She explained that her campaign themes remain the same as the primary election.

“I’m really focused on the is sues that voters care about right now — affordable housing, public

“I just want to recognize the way the grid and infrastructure held up in Westlake,” O’Connor said. “We didn’t even have a flicker in our electricity when many of the sur rounding areas were in the dark.”

• The council voted 4-0 in favor on the second and final reading of two connected ordinances to allow a switch in land use designations for the Seminole Pratt Whitney Road property where Christ Fel lowship Church is being built, which was designated mixed use, and the vacant 9.137-acre site at the southwest corner of Persim mon Blvd. and Ilex Way, which had been set aside for civic use.

The switch makes the Ilex Way

safety and transportation. Water is a big issue for me. I have a background in water policy,” McGovern said.

On the county commission, she will focus on those issues.

“I would like for us to put a real dent in the affordability issue in Palm Beach County,” McGovern said. “People need to be able to live where they work. That in cludes teachers and first respond ers and janitors.”

She believes this will require a multi-pronged approach.

“If the housing bond passes, that helps to create more inventory,” McGovern said. “I think it needs to be multi-faceted. We need to be thinking outside the box on housing issues, such as rethinking old strip malls. We need to bring about more housing opportunities for everyone.”

Regarding public safety, she said, “We cannot take our public safety for granted, and that is something I will always have my eye on.”

Transportation goes hand-inhand with affordable housing, McGovern said.

“Every time we build, we need to make sure access to transporta tion is available at the same time,” she said. We need to extend State Road 7. Meanwhile, the commute

property taxable for future com mercial uses, while the church’s property remains tax free.

“It’s a win-win for the city,” O’Connor said. “It gets us some tax dollars on land we would not otherwise be getting tax dollars from.”

• The council agreed 4-0 with Cassel’s recommendation that Westlake again hire the account ing firm of Berger, Toombs, Elam, Gaines & Frank to conduct the annual audit despite a 40 percent increase in fees from $5,000 to $7,000.

The price has gone up due to the increased complexity of Westlake’s finances as the city experiences rapid growth, he said.

from east to west and west to east is a struggle for everyone.”

Women’s issues are also a top priority.

“Women are the decision mak ers in this country, not just this county,” McGovern said. “We need to be helping them in the issues that matter the most to them. Whether that is access to affordable daycare or opportunities for good-paying jobs, we need to think about those problems from a woman’s perspective.”

Water issues are also crucial for the county’s future, she said.

“We cannot keep our eye off water issues, whether that is water storage or clean water. It is our most precious resource,” McGov ern said.

She noted that the county was in the middle of a drought before Hurricane Ian. Now, too much of that excess water will be lost because the county does not have enough opportunities to store it.

McGovern believes that voters should support her because of her many years of local experience.

“I think that experience mat ters,” she said. “I have a record of service in this community, and I am asking for their vote to allow me to continue to serve.”

For more information, visit www.votemichellemcgovern.com.

Bimini Twist 20th Anniversary Gala Weekend Oct. 22 & 23

Located at 8480 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, Bimini Twist is celebrating its 20th anni versary on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23.

The popular restaurant has served seafood, steaks and chops, among many other delectable dishes, to the community as an award-winning eatery for two decades.

Starting bright and early on Saturday, Oct. 22, is a Family Fun Day, with activities such as temporary tattoos, face paint ing, games, music, dance, cheer lessons, arts & crafts and more

available for children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds from the activities, available for children ages 2 and above, will be donated to the MiniMe Foundation (www. minimefoundationusa.org), which supports children battling cancer.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Bimini Twist will hold its inaugural Clas sic & Exotic Car Show, where all proceeds will benefit the MiniMe Foundation. Car registration is $35, and there will be first, second and third place prizes. This car show is free to the public.

Starting at 6 p.m. Sunday eve ning, there will be a ribbon cutting

by West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James, followed by a formal din ner gala featuring the vocal styl ings of Reni De Lorenzo with a three-course prix fixe menu. Gala tickets are $75 per person, and reservations are required. There will also be complimentary valet parking.

A portion of all proceeds from the gala will also benefit the MiniMe Foundation.

Bimini Twist is located at 8480 Okeechobee Blvd. For more in formation, and to secure your reservation, call (561) 784-2660 or visit www.biminitwistwpb.com.

Palm Beach County Veterans Day Parade Set For Nov. 6 In Downtown WPB

The Friends of Veterans’ Palm Beach County Veterans Commit tee has announced that the 2022 Palm Beach County Veterans Pa rade grand marshal will be Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti, USMC (Ret.). He will lead the parade down Clematis Street on Sunday, Nov. 6

At the time of his retirement, Libutti was the commanding gen eral, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; and commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Pacific headquartered at

Petite Dancers To Perform

‘The Nutcracker’

The Petite Academy of Dance is leaping into a new session, starting Monday, Oct. 10. Children ages 2 through 12 who are current danc ing students are eligible to perform in the 12th annual abbreviated children’s production of The Nut cracker. The dance program has been serving Royal Palm Beach dancers since 2009 and offers a variety of classes. To learn more about dance classes, contact Miss Charlene at tinytoesdance@aol. com or the Royal Palm Recreation Center at (561) 790-5124.

Wellington’s Hometown Holiday Food Drive Returns

Wellington wants to ensure no village resident goes without a hot meal this Thanksgiving. Do you want to help make the holiday season bright for families in need?

Wellington is accepting donations for the annual Hometown Holiday Food Drive now through Nov. 15. Residents are encouraged to

Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. He was also the commanding general of Marine Forces Central Com mand.

Currently, Libutti is serving as CEO/president of Renaissance Global Services LLC, a servicedisabled veteran owned small business located in Wall, N.J., where his focus is on environmen tal restoration, energy efficiency operations and strategic security solutions.

For the past 14 years, a group of local veterans and community

contribute non-perishable food items; be mindful to check expira tion dates.

Items needed include: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn bread muffin mix, canned veg etables (green beans, peas, corn, sweet potatoes), packaged stuffing and turkey gravy.

Drop-off locations include the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Village Hall (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), the Lake Wellington Professional Centre (12133 Ken Adams Way), the Wellington Tennis Center (3100 Lyons Road) and Village Park (11700 Pierson Road).

Espressivo Concert At St. Michael Oct. 15

St. Michael Lutheran Church, located at 1925 Birkdale Drive in Wellington, will host the first con cert of the season for the Espres sivo choral group. This concert, Heart’s Rhythmic Flow, will be held at the church on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m.

This local choral group is com prised mainly of music teachers in Palm Beach County. The theme of this year’s concerts is “A Decade

activists, under the auspices of Friends of Veterans Inc., have pro duced a Memorial Day ceremony and a Veterans Day Parade in Palm Beach County. They are honored to have Libutti as this year’s grand marshal and are proud to be able to thank him for his service and sacrifice.

They invite the entire com munity to come out and line the street in support of all veterans on Sunday, Nov. 6 in downtown West Palm Beach on Clematis Street.

The 2022 Veterans Parade be

gins at 2 p.m. and travels from west to east on Clematis Street, ending at Flagler Drive in down town West Palm Beach. Expect veteran’s organizations and indi viduals, marching bands, JROTCs, scouts, car and motorcycle clubs, cheerleaders and more. Previous parades have garnered thousands of participants and several thou sand more supporters along the parade route.

The parade is presented by NewDay USA and generously sponsored by the City of West

NEWS BRIEFS

of Expression,” in tribute to the group’s 10 years of performances locally.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, and cost $15 for general admission, $12 for St. Michael members and $8 for students. The proceeds from the concert goes toward music scholarships for lo cal students.

For more information, contact the church at (561) 793-4999 or stmelc@bellsouth.net.

SWA Auction

Set For Oct. 15

Transfer trailers, excavators, loaders, dozers, heavy and light equipment, trucks, cars, SUVs and other Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County surplus items will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price. The SWA Absolute Auction starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, with no buyer’s premium, no minimums and no reserves.

The SWA Absolute Auction will take place rain or shine at the SWA Main Landfill Entrance at 6890 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach.

Graham Auction Company will again lead this government surplus auction. The complete sale catalog including mileage, hours, photos

and video can be found on the Graham Auction Company’s web site under the proxibid button at www.grahamauctionco.com.

SWA auction items are available for inspection between noon and 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, and at 8 a.m. on auction day. To obtain the full list of terms and for all other auction inquires, contact Graham Auction Company at (561) 4270520.

Each lot is sold as-is, where it is and with all defects therein. The items purchased immediately become the responsibility of the purchaser. All items must be re moved no later than Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County does not provide towing, lifting or loading services of any type.

Methods of payment include cash, cashier’s check or check with bank letter of guarantee. Credit cards are not accepted for pay ment. All sales are subject to local tax laws, unless the buyer presents a valid 2022 sales tax exemption certificate. Licensed dealers must present a valid identification prov ing they are a registered dealer.

Those not able to attend the SWA auction in person can bid online by registering at www. proxibid.com 48 hours in advance of the auction. There is an internet

Palm Beach, WIRK New Country 103.1, 850 WFTL News Talk, Florida Power & Light, Florida Public Utilities, Office Depot, Schumacher Automotive, Hu mana, Tire Kingdom, the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Akel Homes, and Smith, Ball & Baez.

The Palm Beach County Vet erans Parade is currently in need of additional community support through sponsors and donors, addi tional participants and spectators. Learn how you can get involved at www.pbcveteranscommittee.org.

premium of 5 percent added to all successful online bids, as well as 6 percent sales tax, which is applied to the invoice total, including the internet premium. Payment op tions are by money order and wire transfer.

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County reserves the right to add or delete equipment from the sale.

The Graham Auction Company is recognized as an industry leader in the sale of capital and surplus assets through public auctions. Buyers from Alaska to Europe have responded by purchasing more than $100 million in real and personal property over six decades.

Royal Palm Beach Rotary Mixer Oct. 18

The Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club’s next evening mixer will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18. Members and guests are invited to join the club for this mixer at 6:30 p.m. at Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grille, located at 10880 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. An open event, Rotarians are invited, along with spouses and guests. Interested members of the community are

also invited. Learn more at www. facebook.com/rpbrotary.

Gigantic Garage Sale At St. Rita

A Gigantic Garage Sale will be held at St. Rita Catholic Church in Wellington on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the parish hall. Refreshments and baked goods will be available for sale. St. Rita is located at 13645 Paddock Drive. For more informa tion, call Liz at (561) 779-9950 or Pat at (561) 714-4422.

Accomando To Host Free Dinner

Event Oct. 22

Elizabeth Accomando, candi date for Indian Trail Improve ment District Seat 1, will host a free spaghetti dinner meet and greet on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamlin House at the Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park, located at 14893 89th Place North. Accomando is hosting this evening to meet with residents and discuss issues of the district, her stance on them and what type of supervisor she would be for the community.

Bimini Twist has been serving its award-winning meals for 20 years this month.

Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti

PROGRAM ENDS AT RPB PARK

Rolando Chang Barrero To Speak At Art Society Meeting

The Wellington Art Society will feature acclaimed artist and curator Rolando Chang Barrero on Wednesday, Oct. 12. The meeting and presentation will take place at the Wellington Community Center. The meeting will open with a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the member spotlight and a brief meeting. The event will conclude with a presen tation by Barrero, of Box Gallery in West Palm Beach. For more information, contact Laura Jaffe at presidentofwas@gmail.com.

Barrero is an experimental me dia artist, visionary, cultural leader and arts advocate. He graduated from the School of the Arts Insti tute of Chicago in 1990, where he was awarded the Reyerson Fel lowship. Currently, he maintains a working artist’s studio behind the highly acclaimed Box Gallery.

Barrero is best known for his social justice art in film, video, painting and art installations. He has recently been nominated for Best Artist of Palm Beach County 2022, as well as Best Art Gallery and Best Activist. Barrero is the recipient of the Congressional Letter of Commendation and various proclamations for cultural leadership throughout the years. He was also awarded the Cul tural Council’s Muse Award for Outstanding Cultural Leadership. Most recently, he was honored by Palm Beach County, declaring June 7, 2022, as “Artist Rolando Chang Barrero Day.”

As an outspoken artist, commu nity leader and curator, Barrero has been featured in national and international media. His curatorial background includes Latino Fine Arts in Chicago, Center Gallery

(director/curator), the Frances Wolfson Art Gallery (director/ curator), the InterAmerican Fine Art Gallery (director/curator) and Ground Level on Lincoln Road (co-founder/curator). He is cur rently working on a new curatorial project at Florida CraftArt in St. Petersburg.

Barrero is the founder of the Boynton Beach Art District, the president and co-founder of Art Synergy and the Florida Arts Asso ciation. He is the host and founder of “Hola Palm Beach,” the first bilingual arts and culture television talk show in Palm Beach County.

To learn more about Barrero, visit www.theboxgallery.info/ about or follow him on social me dia @rolandochangbarrero.

For more information about the Wellington Art Society, visit www. wellingtonartsociety.org.

Local Kids Star In ‘The Frog Prince’ At Dolly Hand In Belle Glade

Deep in the royal swamp, a selfish princess makes a promise to befriend a lonely frog after he retrieves her golden ball from a well. But what happens when the princess tries every trick in the book to break her promise?

The local cast of The Frog Prince includes Conner Harper as Swamp Frog, Catherine Vazquez as the Castle Frog, Lleya Williams as Ollie the Aspen Tree, as well as Rae Shaw as promise-breaker Princess Prim. Her sisters Prin cess Proper and Princess Peppy are played by Emily Sanchez and Elyonna Padillo.

Blair Stone, Curtis Edwards, Melanie Mendoza, Elizabeth Brunet play the roles of Bum bling Knights, Aubrey Burgis is featured as the Alligator, and Solana Sharpe, Abigail Smith,

Chloe Wilkerson, Llogan Rogers, Kayleanna Bankhead and Trent Stone make up the slimy, yet kindly Swamp Things. Justyce Davis, Kennedy McKenzie, Hane ly O’Farrill, Amelia Molina Rojas and Melanie Villalonga lead the way as the Ducks. Amalia Rojas as the Busy Fly tries to make a quick escape from the mischie vous Venus Fly Traps, played by Caleigh Cowley, Jetarian Davis and Isabella Mendoza.

The Frog Prince will be pre sented at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center at Palm Beach State College in Belle Glade. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for stu dents under 12, and are available at the box office (561-993-1160) and online at www.dollyhand.org (service fees apply).

Susan Grohmann and Yvonne Wright.

Carolyn Hmara and Rita Liberatore bag cucumbers and zucchini.Parks & Recreation Director Lou Recchio thanks volunteers.

Alsacia Sakellis, Dennis Wright and Ron Trautman work one of the tents.Volunteers prepare food boxes.

Yvonne Wright and Carolyn Hmara.

Rolando Chang Barrero

Lee Friedman, M.D.

Randy Katz, M.D.

Barry Schechter, M.D., F.A.A.O.

Jonathan Criss, M.D.

Megan Rowlands, M.D., M.P.H.

Steven Naids, M.D.

James Walsh, O.D.

Wellington High School Marching Band Raising Money For London Trip

Wellington High School’s award-winning Mighty Wolver ine Sound marching band will travel internationally to perform live on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Festival. The Wolverine Band Booster Association (WBBA) is asking the community’s support to help raise $50,000 to offset the costs of the trip.

More than 650,000 people line the streets of Westminster to watch this famous parade in its 37th year, and an estimated 500 million tune in to the worldwide live screening through television broadcasts and online streaming. Wellington High School’s superior-rated marching band will join more than 10,000 participants who gather from 28 countries around the world to perform each year. Approximately 75 Wellington High School band members will gear up for the cold holiday weather in London to perform live before millions in this international parade.

“The marching band is ex tremely honored to be invited to perform in this worldwide holiday parade,” explained WBBA’s vol unteer president and band parent Greg Wunsch.

London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Festival founder and chairman Bob Bone and for mer Lord Mayor of Westminster Duncan Sandys traveled from

the United Kingdom to officially invite the band in person.

The marching band was initially in vited to perform on New Year’s Day 2021 and again for 2022, with both trips not possible due to the pandemic. “We hope this third time’s a charm,” Wunsch said. “Band members have waited a while for this opportunity!”

The Mighty Wolverine Sound is one of only 20 marching bands from the U.S. invited to the 2023 parade. Bone and Sandys, Sir Win ston Churchill’s great-grandson, brought a camera crew on the trip to Wellington High School last December to pre-record cut-ins featuring the band for the parade’s 2022 live stream and broadcast.

The Mighty Wolverine Sound was introduced as an upcoming 2023 parade performer during the Jan. 1 worldwide broadcast carried on PBS television stations locally in Palm Beach County and across the U.S.

The WBBA’s goal is to raise up to $50,000 in financial sup port for this once-in-a-lifetime international trip with help from the community. Funds raised will offset large costs for band mem bers themselves. Band members are active in leading their own fundraisers throughout the school year to support their efforts.

WBBA’s volunteer board of directors is committed to enlisting

the help of the community with fundraising and additional special ized cost items through in-kind do nations, such as uniform extras for London’s January temperatures.

WBBA fundraising co-chair and band parent Michelle De Armas highlights launching a fundraising campaign with the band in August.

“Band students, parents, booster volunteers and the board — we’re all concentrating on fundraising

for this amazing trip in a short amount of time,” De Armas said. “We’re asking for our commu nity’s help for this monumental event, the first of its kind for Wel lington High School, our Village of Wellington hometown and all of Palm Beach County.”

Wunsch explained that dona tions for this important effort are investments in the community’s youth. “A trip like this is a once-

in-a-lifetime for music students and provides higher-level, handson experience and an invaluable connection to the world,” he said.

Wellington High School’s band program is led by Director of Bands Mary S. Oser. The school’s principal is Cara Hayden. The WBBA is a nonprofit organiza tion that raises funds to support the Wellington High School band programs and asks the community

to join in collaborative efforts to raise funds for this group of local Palm Beach County music stu dents and enlist the community’s help with in-kind donations for special uniform extras.

For direct donations, visit the WBBA’s public GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/eb7344e2.

For in-kind or financial dona tions, e-mail ways_and_means@ whsband.com.

Piano Duo’s Hispanic Heritage Event Brings Artists From Around The Country opportunity of artists and scholars of classical Iberian-American music to display their research. It has brought national attention to PBAU’s School of the Arts.”

Piano Duo Gastesi-Bezerra, comprised of longtime Wellington residents Estibaliz Gastesi and Márcio Bezerra, hosted the 13th edition of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Hispanic Heritage Festival over the weekend of Sept. 23.

The festival was dedicated to longtime collaborator poet and journalist Alma Gallego, who passed away earlier this year. “It was really touching to have some of Alma’s closest friends reciting her poems in the presence of an audience. More than one person was moved to tears,” Gastesi said.

Like last year, this latest edition attracted presenters from major national universities and colleges.

“The level has been consis tently high since we transformed the festival into a conference,” Bezerra said. “We expect major growth in the next five years. As our guest artist Dr. Martin Cama cho has remarked, this is a unique

Envisioned and organized by Gastesi and Bezerra as a way to commemorate their 10th year liv ing and performing in Palm Beach County in 2009, the Palm Beach

Friday,

Wanderers Club ~

Aero

Atlantic University Hispanic Heri tage Festival is a celebration of the Iberian-American cultural heritage through a display of art music from various countries.

“We hope the festival will be come a national reference,” the piano duo explained. “We are actively looking for more com munity support and would love

to receive a local grant to expand it further.” Gastesi and Bezerra can be reached through their web page, www.duogastesibezerra.com.

The Piano Duo Gastesi-Bezerra with the poets of El Alma Hispana.

Guest artist Martin Camacho at the piano.

The Wellington High School Marching Band will travel to England in December to march in London’s New Year’s Day parade.

A Naturally Occurring Retirement Community

Seniors

Seven-Year-Old Ozzy Novak Is A Young Golfer Worth Watching

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Move over Tiger Woods, you have some competition! It’s none other than seven-year-old Ozzy Novak, a second grader at Panther Run Elementary School.

Not only does he play golf, but he’s exceptionally good at the game. According to Adam Novak, Ozzy’s father, his son plays on the U.S. Kids Golf Tour, where he has won 13 out of the 35 tournaments that he has entered. That’s a stun ning winning percentage for any golfer at any age.

It appears that Ozzy has what it takes to excel in golf.

“He’s had his hands on a golf club since he was two, and he has been playing golf since he was five,” said Adam, a golf pro who oversees the golf academy at Palm Beach National Golf Club. “He’s a well-rounded golfer who putts the ball very well. Ozzy can hit his drive 130 to 150 yards. He has a strong drive and competitiveness to succeed in golf.”

Ozzy is not just good in golf. He excels in other disciplines in life, too.

According to his father, Ozzy is thriving in the gifted program at Panther Run Elementary School.

“He loves math,” Adam said. “He’s also a level three piano

RPB Zoners

New Park Planned

continued from page 1 Soma Medical Center Pediatrics.

In Buckingham Square, the new Skechers store at 310 S. State Road 7 can move forward with a request to update the wall, window and

Event Set

For Oct. 27

continued from page 3 tion ceremony, I always ask how many of them plan on becoming astronauts. I tell them by the time they get to college, their country is going to need them in our quest to colonize Mars. So that’s something to think about.”

When asked about previous Read for the Record books, Ger wig knew exactly which one was her favorite.

player who enjoys getting better. He loves to swim, and he’s fluent in two languages — English and Chinese.”

Ozzy’s prowess on the golf course can be attributed equally to his father and mother. While Adam is a golf professional with a +5 handicap, Ozzy’s mother — He Huang “Mandy” Novak, who is Chinese — is a talented golfer, too. She is the reigning women’s club champion at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club, where the family lives.

Ozzy’s best nine-hole score on a U.S. Kids Golf Tour layout is a 31. And in head-to-head compe tition against his father, Ozzy has prevailed on a few occasions, but there is an asterisk next to those wins.

“Ozzy plays from the forward tees, so any wins against me don’t count until we play from the same tees,” Adam said.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, Ozzy had a chance to earn a trip to the Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters, in Augusta, Georgia in April 2023, where he would be competing in the national finals of the Drive, Pitch & Putt junior golf competition. He was playing against other boys who were seven, eight and nine years old.

monument signage at the former Tuesday Morning store, with both staff and commission approval.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car received approval to move its bay used for operations at 10381 Southern Blvd. to 10231 Southern Blvd. The facility is moving to elsewhere within the Village Shoppes Plaza.

• The village continues to prog ress toward building the new

“They’ve all been really good, but I love The Bear Ate Your Sandwich,” she said, “because I like to ask the kids at the end, ‘Who ate the sandwich?’ and they would always say ‘the bear!’ It’s fun talking about so much more than the story.”

Both municipalities and indi viduals can register to be a part of Read for the Record by visiting www.literacypbc.org. Individuals interested in volunteering to read at local elementary schools and childcare centers must complete the volunteer reader registration form on the web site by Friday,

“He was the youngest com petitor in his age group, and he finished seventh,” Adam said.

The competition is for young sters ages 7 to 15, which means Ozzy has many more chances to qualify for the trip to Georgia.

According to Adam, one of the

Crestwood Park at 900 Crest wood Blvd., near the BellaSera neighborhood. The park includes facilities for basketball, pickleball, tennis and volleyball, in addition to four outdoor pavilions, a restroom facility and a playground.

“We’ve purposefully located the courts the farthest away from the residents to the greatest extent pos sible. Parking will be provided on

biggest benefits of playing golf for Ozzy is his ability to enhance his social skills.

“Ozzy has always been able to socialize with adults, and that’s because of what he has learned from golf,” Adam explained.

Ozzy’s next golf tournament

the south side of the multipurpose field,” Planning & Zoning Director Bradford O’Brien said.

The project was carefully de signed to keep existing trees and utilize the path along the M-1 Canal for both pedestrian and emergency access for fire-rescue.

“I’m here on behalf of the Vil lage of Royal Palm Beach, and we are really excited to share the new plans for the proposed park,” said Donaldson Hearing of the architectural landscaping firm

will be a two-day junior golf event at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie on Oct. 9-10.

Don’t be surprised if young Ozzy returns home from that event as the winner, which would be the 14th golf tournament victory of his young career.

Cotleur & Hearing. “It’s a great little park and a great location. The site is 5.77 acres. This site was dedicated to the village as part of the BellaSera approval that satis fied the recreation requirement. A lot of thought went into this with your entire engineering, planning and recreation staff. We looked at a lot of different plans and concepts, and this one was really intended to provide a multipurpose field that is contiguous to the residential area, and then the more active sports that

And, if he doesn’t win, that’s OK, too.

“Ozzy is a big bundle of joy for us,” Adam said. And in the not-too-distant fu ture, Ozzy may well be a big bundle of joy to watch for golf fans around the world.

are adjacent to the M-1 Canal.”

The motion for site plan and architectural approval passed unanimously.

• Two items related to a new telecommunication tower at 10719 Southern Blvd. were postponed at the request of Towercom due to the coming storm on the west coast of Florida creating issue for client travel. These applications will be on the agenda at board’s next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Hi-Tech Plumbing & Air Recognizes Its Frontline Workers During National Customer Service Week

Hi-Tech Plumbing & Air has been celebrating Customer Service Week during the first week of Oc tober, recognizing the enormous contribution that frontline cus tomer care teams play in serving the community.

Pets Are Family, Too!

By Randall S. Dugal, D.V.M.

HIDING TREATS AND TOYS

Have you ever given your dog a treat only to watch it run off and hide it? Although it can be a puzzling habit, it is common for dogs to hide not just their treats but also their toys, and they do it for various reasons. Dogs often bury their possessions to keep them stashed for later, which is an instinctual act. Also, dogs may bury their

Oct. 14. The Literacy Coalition also has activity suggestions that complement this year’s book available for free on the web site.

Since the start of the pandemic, frontline essential providers have poured their time, sweat and tears into serving customers with

plumbing, air conditioning or electrical problems. In recognition of these outstanding individuals, each team member will be rec ognized individually throughout the entire week as a spotlight for their contribution and will include inspiring stories recognizing their efforts to embrace the giving spirit of serving others. To include your story and be

featured on this week’s National Customer Service Week, visit www.hi-techplumbingandair.com/ contact-us.

Hi-Tech is known for its finest practices in providing air condi tioning, plumbing and electrical services to homeowners and busi nesses throughout Palm Beach County. Learn more at www. hi-techplumbingandair.com.

Young golfer Ozzy Novak works on his golf swing. Ozzy Novak has won 13 tournaments in his young career.

CANCER

Helping patients navigate cancer care

Patients facing a cancer diagnosis receive treatment from a large team of specialists. At the center of that interdisciplinary team is a patient care navigator like Carmen Carrasco, RN, with Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Maroone Cancer Center.

“When my father was diagnosed and treated for lung cancer, his care navigator was a tremendous help and comfort for me and my family,” says Carrasco, a nurse for 24 years who now guides patients on their cancer journeys. “My personal experience has given me a deep understanding of the challenges endured by patients with cancer and their families, and I am grateful to be able to now help others and make sure they know they are never alone.”

A proven approach

Since its inception in 1990, patient navigation has become a vital component of cancer care. The first program sought to expand access to cancer screening and follow-up care for African American women living in Harlem, New York. Incredibly successful, the pilot program improved the 5-year survival of women with breast cancer participating in the program from 39% to 70%.

In 2005, the federal government funded research on the impacts of patient navigation, and by 2012, the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer required all COC-accredited organizations, like the Maroone Cancer Center, to have a patient navigation program.

Today Carrasco and her fellow patient care navigators at Cleveland Clinic Florida help care for thousands of patients each year being treated for solid tumor and blood cancers. They also collaborate with patient navigation teams at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and the Scully-Welsh Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital to support care coordination for patients across the region.

Benefits of patient navigation

Patient navigation is designed to enhance patient experiences and the delivery of cancer care by increasing cancer treatment adherence, reducing care delays and promoting education and lifestyle changes in survivorship care. According to research, patients experience lower levels of distress, anxiety and depression when they receive this level of support.

“Navigators help reduce time to treatment by streamlining care team communication and providing step-by-step guidance for patients,” explains Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Valerie BeJune, MSW, an oncology social worker and breast health navigator. “Studies have shown a significant survival benefit for patients who receive care navigation.”

Compassionate guides

Patient navigators are trusted intermediaries who provide evidencebased, unbiased information to educate patients about the diagnostic and treatment processes so that they can make informed decisions about their care. They provide emotional and psychosocial support and help patients overcome potential barriers to care.

“We assist with scheduling appointments, arranging transportation and interpretation services, and connecting patients with community-based resources and financial assistance,” says BeJune, stressing her goal to help patients even if they just need to talk. “As navigators, we are there for our patients and provide ongoing support across the care continuum, from screening, diagnosis and treatment to cancer survivorship.”

about cancer care services at the Maroone Cancer

From

Oncology social worker and breast health navigator Valerie BeJune, MSW (left), and patient care navigator Carmen Carrasco, RN.

PINK PARTY AT THE MALL WELCOMES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

PBC

On Friday, Sept. 30, the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elec tions began mailing vote-by-mail ballots to voters who are eligible and requested a mail ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. Voters who requested a ballot should re ceive their ballot soon, if they have not arrived already. International and overseas voters who requested a mail ballot were mailed ballots on Friday, Sept. 23.

Registered county voters may request a vote-by-mail ballot online at www.votepalmbeach. gov, by e-mailing votebymail@ votepalmbeach.gov or by calling (561) 656-6208. Voters should have their Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card or the last four digits of their Social Security number available when making the request.

The deadline to request that a

vote-by-mail ballot be mailed to a voter is 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. The main elections office will be open that Saturday to serve voters. A mail ballot may also be picked up in person at one of the four SOE offices until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7. Under emergency circum stances, a ballot may be picked up in person on Election Day.

Voters can return their ballot us ing pre-paid postage or drop it off inside any of the four SOE offices during business hours. Voters may also drop it off at designated dropoff locations across the county starting Monday, Oct. 24. Visit www.votepalmbeach.gov for a list of mail ballot drop-off locations.

All vote-by-mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. at the main office or by 5 p.m. at a branch office on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, in order to be counted.

Sends Out Vote-By-Mail Ballots For General Election

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day.

Voters can track their vote-bymail ballot from the moment it is requested until the time it is received back. Visit the “My Sta tus” page at www.votepalmbeach. gov to track your ballot and ensure your vote is processed and will be counted.

Voters can also opt-in to the new BallotTrax program. Voters who opt-in will receive alerts when their ballot has been prepared, mailed and when it has been received by the office. The alert system will also notify voters if there is a signature issue with their ballot so that it can be corrected right away. Opt-in today at www. ballottrax.net.

The Palm Beach County Su pervisor of Elections Office en

Tickets Now On Sale For Wellington’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Nov. 5

Calling all kings, queens and swamp things! “Laissez les bons temps rouler” at Wellington’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, returning to the Wellington Com munity Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) on Saturday, Nov. 5. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The theme for the event is “Murder on the Bayou” and features actors portraying characters in a New Orleans-inspired setting.

The time is approaching for the naming of the grand marshal of the Mardi Gras parade, but the big

reveal is not so easy when a more sinister plot is afoot. Can your krewe identify the Cajun killer be fore it’s too late? Or is there about to be another body on the bayou?

Tickets cost $60 per person and are on sale now at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road) and at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). A table of eight can also be reserved for the discounted price of $420. The ticket price will “bayou” appetizers, dinner, beer and wine. Because this is an adult-themed

event, Wellington will provide free on-site child care for children ages 5 to 12 only, including pizza and plenty of fun activities. The child care room will be separate from the event.

Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite New Or leans/bayou-themed attire and will have the opportunity to participate in costume contests for prizes. This event is expected to sell out, so be sure to reserve your seats today. For more info., visit www. wellingtonfl.gov/murdermystery.

The Mall at

Green held

annual Pink Party on Saturday, Oct. 1, marking the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

event organizer Shannon Burrows. The event began with students Emma Nevico

singing

stage.

Lindsay Bennett from the

Cancer

Zumba instructors gather on stage.

Attendees enjoy a Zumba class.

Shannon Burrows.

Breast cancer survivor Lissette Lahoz.

Zumba instructor Regina Rossi. Cancer survivors on stage with Emma Nevico and Madison Anderer, along with Siryah from BeastMakers Dance Studio.

Meghan Buser and Rachelle Crain.

Lindsay Bennett of the American Cancer Society. Emma Nevico and Madison Anderer.

Jason Treleaven, Adam Kombel, Denise Negron, Gayle Zevala and Daniel Stanislawczyk.

Luz Vanleek and Maria Brown.

Artist Valter de Morais with his work.

Angel Melendez and Tenchy Salas.Florencio Zavala, Brian Sergerie and Cal Miller.

Artist Julio Delgado with his artwork.

Mabel Datena, Sergio Palacio and Luz Vanleek.

Kelly Whittles and Ruth Menjaivar.

Krista Martinelli and Patricia Jorge.

Adam and Sandra Kombel. Denise Negron of the Farmworker Coordinating Council with Tenchy Salas, who won this painting.

Jess Hoffman, Denise Negron, Rosie Roque and Richard Mauseth.

Chris Harrison, Dalia Paratore, Denise Negron and Maria Brown.

A True Gem in Loxahatchee Groves

Sem Ridge, P.B. Central And TKA Remain Tops In Area Football

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

While most local high school football games scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22 and Friday, Sept. 23 were played with limited interruptions, all games scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 29 and Friday, Sept. 30 were cancelled, post poned or rescheduled, due to the impact of Hurricane Ian.

To date, the top high school football teams in the western communities are Seminole Ridge High School, Palm Beach Cen tral High School and the King’s Academy — each with one loss on the season.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the Semi nole Ridge Hawks took their 4-0 record on the road to Riviera Beach to play Inlet Grove High School, which was led by running back Sebastien Christian, who was a key part of Seminole Ridge’s of fense last fall. After four quarters of play, Christian and his new Inlet Grove teammates defeated Semi nole Ridge, 25-10. The Hawks (4-1) play next on Friday, Oct. 7, when they host Boynton Beach High School. The Hawks will play their first all-important district game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 13 against Atlantic High School in Delray Beach.

The Broncos from Palm Beach Central High School had a bye on Friday, Sept. 23, and their game on Friday, Sept. 30 against John I. Leonard High School was post

poned until Monday, Oct. 3. The game on Oct. 3 against Leonard was a key district game for the Broncos, and their first game since losing 35-14 to Pahokee back on Sept. 16.

After the two-week-plus layoff, the Broncos came out strong and defeated the visiting Lancers, 58-20. On Friday, Oct. 7, Palm Beach Central (4-1) will host the Bobcats from Boca Raton High School, and on Thursday, Oct. 13, the Broncos will be looking for their second district victory of the season when they take on Forest Hill High School.

The King’s Academy Lions, un der the direction of head coach Ben McEnroe, are riding a three-game winning streak, after defeating North Broward Prep, 28-6, on Fri day, Sept. 23. TKA (4-1) had a bye during the week of Hurricane Ian.

The Lions will look to continue their winning ways when they visit Pope John Paul II on Friday, Oct. 7, before hosting Suncoast High School on Friday, Oct. 14.

The Wellington High School Wolverines, meanwhile, are trend ing in the right direction. The Wolverines evened their season’s record at 2-2 on Friday, Sept. 16, when they defeated Royal Palm Beach High School, 39-12. One of the many bright spots in that game for Wellington was the play of backup sophomore running back Owen Brown, who ran for 107 yards against the Wildcats.

“We rested our starting running back Garrens Catul, and Owen had a great game for us,” WHS head football coach Danny Mendoza said.

After a bye week, Wellington was scheduled to host Forest Hill for its first district game of the season on Friday, Sept. 30, which was postponed to Monday, Oct. 3. Going into the game against For est Hill, Mendoza was confident that his team would play better football. The Wolverines did just that, as they prevailed, 36-7.

Overall, Mendoza was pleased with the play of his team.

“I liked that we played to gether and kept each other going,” Mendoza said. “We are coming together as a team, but still have work to do.”

The Wolverines (3-2) will be looking for their third-straight victory and fourth overall win this season when they travel to Indian River County to play powerhouse Vero Beach High School (6-0) on Friday, Oct. 7 in a non-district game.

For Wellington to defeat Vero Beach, it will require a complete game by its offense, defense and special teams.

“It’s going to take a full team effort and consistency with limited mistakes,” Mendoza said.

On Friday, Oct. 14, the Wolver ines will return to Wellington for a homecoming game against John I. Leonard, which will be another

key district encounter.

The Berean Christian School football team is no longer win less. After the Bulldogs opened their season with five consecutive losses, they responded with a 14-10 victory on the road against Miami Country Day School on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Berean head football coach Ma rio Jackson was delighted with the play of his young squad, which has continued to work hard in practices and games, despite the tough start to the season.

The Bulldogs (1-5) will be looking for their second win of the season when they return to MiamiDade County to play Archbishop

Carroll High School on Friday, Oct. 14. On Thursday, Oct. 20, Berean hosts Pompano Beach High School.

The Royal Palm Beach High School Wildcats were seeking their first victory of the season when they hosted undefeated Santaluces High School (4-0) on Friday, Sept. 23, but that game was postponed by lightning and has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Royal Palm Beach’s next game was played on Monday, Oct. 3, when the Wildcats played at Ju piter High School. It was the first district game for the Wildcats. While the Wildcats played better

than they have in recent games, the Warriors from Jupiter played slightly better, winning by a single point, 14-13.

According to Royal Palm Beach head football coach Chuck Ke nyon, the game hinged on three plays.

“We had a scoop and score called back, their first touchdown looked like it wasn’t in, and we threw a pick six,” Kenyon said.

The Wildcats (0-5) will continue their pursuit of their first victory on Friday, Oct. 7 when they visit Lake Worth High School. On Thursday, Oct. 13, Royal Palm Beach will play at Palm Beach Gardens High School.

Scott Parks Looks Back On 16 Years As SRHS Athletic Director

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

For the first time in 16 years, there’s a “new sheriff” overseeing athletic programs at Seminole Ridge High School. Since 2006, Scott Parks has been a fixture as the school’s athletic director, but he gave up the position at the end of the last school year.

Parks decided it was time to re turn to the classroom. Beginning in August, he started teaching work experience classes at SRHS. To remain connected to the athletic program, he’s also coaching the bowling team this year.

Getting hired as the school’s athletic director was a matter of timing for Parks. He was simply in the right place at the right time.

He started working at the school as a teacher and cross-country coach in 2005. In July 2006, then Seminole Ridge head football coach Matt Dickmann told Parks

that the athletic director’s job had just come open.

“As almost an afterthought, I sent an e-mail to Principal Lynne McGee that I would be interested in the position, and that I could talk to her in a week or so when I got back from vacation,” Parks recalled. “She replied to say that if I was interested, I had to be there the following Monday for an interview. So, I drove back from my vacation to do the interview, and the rest is history.”

With a master’s degree in sports management from Iowa State University, Parks felt like he was equipped to do the job. That wasn’t really the case.

“I didn’t know what I was get ting into, but the assistant principal at the time, Jesús Armas, assured me that he was just down the hall and that he could help with anything I needed,” Parks added.

“Unfortunately, a few days later,

he was offered a principal’s job at another school. The first year was extremely difficult, but once you settle into a routine, it’s not too bad, albeit long hours.”

Whether it was staying late on a Friday following a home football game, arriving early on campus on a Saturday morning to make sure everything is in order for a boys home basketball double-header, or staying late on a weeknight to make sure a uniform order is submitted, Parks was always there. He was often the first to arrive and the last to leave a Seminole Ridge athletic event.

There was never a job too big or small for Parks. If necessary, he was as comfortable selling tickets at a junior-varsity girls soccer game on a Wednesday night in January as he was overseeing the festivities during halftime of a homecoming football game in October. And he was always wear ing his Seminole Ridge polo shirt.

“I always planned my daily at tire based on what we had going on that day,” Parks added. “I always wanted to have that polo shirt on if we had any games, or even any type of meeting or event during the school day. When I was hired, Dr. McGee told me she wanted the athletic director to always wear long pants and look professional. So, even on 95-degree days, I always have slacks on.”

He was also probably Seminole Ridge’s biggest fan.

“I really, truly live and die with every play, and remain Seminole Ridge’s biggest fan,” Parks said. “Oftentimes, how good a weekend I would have in the fall was de pendent on how we did on Friday night. I always say, the perfect football weekend is when Semi nole Ridge, Eastern Michigan, Iowa State and the Detroit Lions all win. I’m not sure I’ve ever hit all four in the same weekend.”

The job has left him with pro found memories.

“The 2010-11 school year was probably the biggest highlight,”

Parks recalled. “The football team reached the state’s elite-eight, and we had state championships in boys volleyball and boys weight lifting, plus we had three indi vidual state champions that year — two in boys weightlifting and one in girls track — and that was coming off a state championship in girls flag football in the spring of 2010.”

Being athletic director is not a job for everyone, as there are things to do in the morning, after noon and night.

“On a typical day, I would ar rive around 7:15 a.m.,” Parks said. “I always arrived with a to-do list, but I had to be flexible, because you might have several crises to deal with and never even get to your to-do list. But, in general, the No. 1 priority each day was re-confirming what we have going on that night, making sure we have transportation for away games, and making sure for home games that we have referees, and the op posing team is confirmed. After school, I made sure to get around to all the practices on campus, to see that everything is running smoothly. Then in the evenings, depending on what is happen ing on campus that night, I was here until 9 or 10 p.m. several days a week, during the busiest times of the year. The hardest part would be getting home after everyone else in the house is asleep, then getting back up in the morning and leaving before everyone else is awake.”

As busy as he was throughout the year, there were moments when Parks could relax.

“The biggest down time is summer,” Parks said. “There is conditioning going on for several of the fall sports, but, generally, it is pretty slow. Winter break and spring break are slower times, but even with those, there are tourna ments going on.”

The coaches at Seminole Ridge didn’t take for granted that they had an athletic director who was

always there to support them and their athletes.

“The strength of Scott Parks is reliability and his passion to support Seminole Ridge High School,” said former head football coach Rick Casko, who retired earlier this year. “If it needed to get done, Scott Parks would make sure it got done. He would also drive the bus whenever teams needed a bus driver.”

“I am going to miss him. He’s a one of a kind,” said current Semi nole Ridge head girls basketball coach Maria Hudson. “He knew what we needed. Every year, he made my job easier.”

“Mr. Parks did a tremendous job as our athletic director,” added Scott O’Hara, the head coach of the girls varsity volleyball and flag football teams. “He was incredibly dedicated and truly cared about all the student-athletes and coaches he represented.”

Parks was also known to take off his AD hat and step on the field as an assistant coach from time to time. This past spring, he was an assistant coach of the girls softball team, which was led by head coach Candace Horton.

Another individual who en joyed working with Parks is Yetta Greene, the athletic specialist for the Palm Beach County School District. Greene worked with Parks to make sure every game for every team had a full complement of referees and game officials.

“Scott was a great athletic direc tor who served his school well,” Greene said. “He was on top of things, and he got things done when things needed to be ac complished. I will miss working with him.”

Looking back on his 16 years as the athletic director, Parks is proud of the fact that he didn’t let details slip through the cracks.

“Making sure our eligibility pa perwork was in order was always a high priority,” he said. “I am very proud that never once in my tenure did we have any sanctions

or probation by the Florida High School Athletic Association for any eligibility situations.”

One of Parks’ peers is going to miss working alongside him.

“Scott Parks was a pleasure to work with, especially as the AD of a rival school,” said Eric Patterson, the athletic director at Royal Palm Beach High School. “Scott was always there for advice, able to answer questions if need be, and an easy person to collaborate with.”

As Parks moves forward in life, he’s not taking a complete break from athletics.

“This fall, I signed up with the East Coast Football Officials Asso ciation as a clock operator to keep myself busy a few nights a week, mostly working JV football games, but a few Friday night varsity games as well,” Parks said. “I’m not allowed to work as an FHSAA official at Seminole Ridge games, since I work there.”

While Parks left big shoes to fill, he’s confident that Seminole Ridge’s athletic program remains in good hands.

“My successor is Karen Bottigl ieri,” Parks said. “She came from Western Pines Middle School. She is working hard and doing a good job.”

Wellington High School coach Danny Mendoza runs a scout offense during a recent practice session.

Wellington High School’s Ryan Anthony and Julian Lajara during the Forest Hill game.

PHOTO BY EMMA SEGFELDT

Scott Parks stepped down recently as athletic director at Seminole Ridge High School after 16 years.

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Senior Night Win For Seminole Ridge’s Girls Volleyball Team

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The Seminole Ridge High School girls varsity volleyball team is trending in the right direc tion. After opening the season in August with a pair of losses, the squad has rallied and won four out of their last five games.

The most recent victory was a big, come-from-behind, senior night win against Glades Day School on Monday, Oct. 3. The Hawks won in a comeback after dropping the first two sets. They rallied to a victory by winning the last three sets, 26-24, 25-20 and 15-7. Seminole Ridge’s record now stands at 8-5.

Seminole Ridge girls volleyball head coach Scott O’Hara is thrilled with how his team has been able to put aside the adversity of a rough start and rally with a series of vic tories in recent weeks.

“I have a very hardworking Seminole Ridge varsity volley

ball team of 14 great players who believe in each other and have terrific chemistry together on the court,” O’Hara said. “They love to practice and compete, and they are playing their best volleyball at the right time of the season.”

While O’Hara is the head coach, he’s quick to point out that his three assistant coaches have con tributed a great deal to the success of the team.

“I have three outstanding assis tant coaches — Amber St. Clair, Candace Navarro and Todd Wil liams — who do a tremendous job with each of our teams and make my job so rewarding,” Ohara said.

O’Hara is also quick to note that the contributions of his five seniors have been an integral part of the team’s winning record. Those five seniors are Aubrey Davis, Leah Lobeck, Jamilynn Vernati, Marlene Maurisset and Camryn Sessions, who served as the team captain.

Davis displayed quite a bit of courage during the senior night game. She was able to play, despite having a boot on her right leg.

According to O’Hara, she was able to participate in the match by being able to successfully serve.

“She continuously served in that spot and was then substituted for,” O’Hara explained.

The Hawks conclude their regular season with three matches in as many days — Oct. 10 at Wellington High School, Oct. 11 at Jupiter Christian School and Oct. 12 at home against Jupiter High School.

After that, the team begins post-season play in the Class 6A, District 13 tournament during the week of Oct. 17.

If they continue playing well, they will have a good chance of making a deep post-season run in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 6A tourna ment.

Strong Performances For Wellington Wrestlers In Broward County

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

On Saturday, Sept. 24, more than 300 youth wrestlers from across Florida traveled to Somer set Academy in Pembroke Pines to compete in the Alpha Authentics Somerset Qualifier.

The Wellington Wrestling Club, under the direction of coach Travis Gray, competed in this event and had a number of wrestlers excel against the competition. “We had

some outstanding performances,” Gray said.

This was a qualifying event for the Alpha Authentics Fall Cham pionships, which will be held Oct. 22-23 at Wellington High School.

The Wellington Wrestling Club had nine medal winners during the qualifier: first place, Dante Rossi (third to fifth grade, 65-pound weight class); first place, Tyler Gray (middle school, 103-pound weight class); second place, Sam

Honzik (middle school, 92-pound weight class); second place, Erik Luis (junior varsity, 160-pound weight class); second place, Randy Lancaster (varsity, 145-pound weight class); third place, Luca Rossi (kindergarten to second grade, 45-pound weight class); third place, Christian Garcia (ju nior varsity, 220-pound weight class); and third place, James Kosza (varsity, 132-pound weight class).

Seminole Ridge seniors (L-R) Aubrey Davis, Leah Lobeck, Jamilynn Vernati, Camryn Sessions and Marlene Maurisset.

PHOTO

(L-R) Luca Rossi, Dante Rossi and Angelo Rossi.

PHOTOS COURTESY TRAVIS GRAY

Wellington wrestler Tyler Gray.

Wellington wrestler Sam Honzik.

Wellington wrestler James Kosza (left) during his match.

Youth Robotics Competition Kicks Off At The Cox Science Center

Consider it the building blocks to a bright future as the Cox Sci ence Center & Aquarium launched the first Youth Robotics Competi tion in partnership with the First Lego League of South Florida.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, students between the ages of 9 and 14 — including a strong contingent from Polo Park Middle School in Wel lington — kicked off this year’s hands-on robotics competitions with STEM-centric coaches by their side. The center currently serves as home base for First Lego competitions with the Stiles-Nich olson Foundation as the presenting sponsor and Florida Power & Light as the superpowered season sponsor.

The league is the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education. Through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs, it has a proven impact on learning, interest and skill-building inside and outside of the classroom. For 30 years, students from all walks of life have developed self-confidence in STEM and valuable, real-world skills through the program.

“It takes just a quick conversa tion with these young participants to realize they have impressive, long-term goals,” Cox Science Center President & CEO Kate Arrizza said. “These kids are in novative well beyond their years — whether it’s their plan to use robotics to alleviate homelessness or to colonize Mars. We are so excited to be partnering with First

Lego to advance kids’ passions and to keep them engaged in STEM-related hobbies.”

Students gain real-world prob lem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teach ers build a better future together.

The league’s three divisions in spire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding and design skills through handson STEM learning and robotics centered around a yearly theme.

The Cox Science Center & Aquarium will support First Lego League teams across the region as they build and program a Lego ro bot to complete specific missions.

The 2022-23 season’s “energy” theme challenges teams to reimag ine the future of sustainable energy and power their ideas forward.

“These kids are learning skills for jobs that haven’t even been invented yet. The future of en ergy — how we generate it and consume it — depends on them,” said Pam Rauch, vice president of external affairs and economic development at FPL. “We look forward to the next generation teaching us new technology and methodologies that will reshape our energy industry entirely.

As a program delivery organiza tion, the Cox Science Center now serves as the backbone for First

Lego League teams in South Flori da, providing support and training, serving as the communication channel for teams, and leading the regional planning team that builds an exciting season of events, qual ifiers and competitions.

The Cox Science Center & Aquarium’s current indoor/out door venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, digital planetarium, Pre-K focused Dis covery Center, 18-hole conser vation-themed mini-golf course and quarter-mile-long outdoor science trail.

The Cox Amphitheater hosts daily live science shows, seasonal

Grandma’s Place Announces Patti Hadden As Honorary Chair Of Holiday Luncheon

Jodie Schmitz and Manda Galin, co-chairs of the seventh annual Grandma’s Angels Holiday Luncheon, recently announced that Patti Hadden will serve as the honorary chair.

Hadden has served on the lun cheon committee since the begin ning, is a very generous supporter of the luncheon, opens her magnif icent home to host many commit tee and board meetings, and serves on the board of directors. There is no one more deserving of this honor and recognition.

Herme De Wyman Miro is again serving as the international honorary chair. Committee mem bers include: Jane Bruno, Susy Burrowes, Patty Cooke, Amy

Considine, Margaret Donnel ley, Danielle Glendye, Barbara Hollender, Eleanor Jones, Mary Lewis Moews, Toni O’Brien, Joan O’Connell, Pamela Pike, Dina Ru bio, Lisa Shapiro, Marcie Singer and George Swan Jr.

Sponsors include: presenting sponsor Heidi Schaeffer MD, gold sponsors Danielle McDonald and Hadden Landscaping, and silver sponsor the International Society of Palm Beach.

The luncheon will be held Tues day, Nov. 29 at the Sailfish Club in Palm Beach. It starts at 11:30 a.m. with a wine reception and a fabu lous silent auction. During lunch, there will be a small live auction by Neil Saffer, while CBS12 News

Anchor Liz Quirantes will once again serve as the celebrity emcee.

The proceeds benefit Royal Palm Beach-based Grandma’s Place, which provides shelter and loving care to children who have suffered abuse or neglect and have been removed from their homes, and also provides respite care for young children with disabilities while offering support to their parents/caregivers to maximize each child’s safety and success.

Tickets are $200 per person or tables for $2,000. To receive an invitation, donate an auction item, purchase a ticket, place an ad in the event program or sponsor the event, call Roxanne Jacobs at (561) 376-0488, e-mail at rox anne@grandmasplacepb.org or visit www.grandmasplacepb.org.

laser shows and special event programming. The center took on a new name at the end of 2021 when leadership announced a $20 million gift from Palm Beachers Howard and Wendy Cox to launch

a transformative capital campaign. Join the excitement and form your own team until Oct. 31. To enroll in the program, visit www. firstinspires.org/robotics/fll or call (561) 832-1988 for details.

Project 425 Hosts Amateur Radio Operators

Project 425 had special guests on Friday, Sept. 16 at the G&M Ranch in Loxahatchee Groves.

Amateur radio operator Mike Bald and a few of his close friends came over to reach out to many other radio operators in the U.S., Venezuela, Columbia and many other South American countries to help celebrate National POW/ MIA Recognition Day.

With each contact that they made, they exchanged special QSL cards (a form of postcard), and this

year’s card will have a photograph of Project 425’s helicopter. Mike Bald’s call sign K4MIA was used by operators all over the U.S. and Puerto Rico to help create aware ness of this special event and day.

Project 425 had all its military vehicles on display. There were also tents, chairs and refreshments set up for many of the spectators who stopped by to enjoy while watching and listening to the radio operators in their quest to reach out all over the world.

(L-R) Polo Park Middle School students work on their robots; teacher David Grad, Polo Park’s robotics coach, speaks to the team; and the Polo Park team in action.

Patti Hadden

Project 425’s helicopter is used as part of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day event.

American Heritage Leads Florida In National Merit Semifinalists

The prestigious American Heri tage Schools is proud to announce that 86 seniors — 55 from the Broward campus and 31 from the Palm Beach campus — were named National Merit Scholar semifinalists. The Broward Cam pus is the No. 1 school in Florida and No. 2 private school in the nation for the highest number of National Merit Scholar semifinal ists. The Palm Beach campus is No. 2 in National Merit Scholar semifinalists out of all schools in Florida and the No. 5 private school in the nation.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic competition and the most presti gious award a senior can receive.

The Class of 2023 continues the tradition recognizing American Heritage Schools as the top school in Florida with a combined total of 86 seniors who were named National Merit semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Schol arship Program. This marks the 13th consecutive year that Amer

ican Heritage Schools has had the highest number of National Merit semifinalists in Florida. In addi tion, 72 seniors were recognized as National Commended Scholars.

The combined students from both campuses comprise 10 per cent of all National Merit Scholar semifinalists throughout the 2,227 public and private schools in Florida. One of six students from American Heritage Schools in the Class of 2023 is a National Merit Scholar.

“I am so proud of these students for earning this extremely presti gious award,” said Dr. Douglas Laurie, president of American Heritage Schools. “Not only are they nationally recognized as the top one percent academical ly, but they are also extremely well-rounded, excelling both in and out of the classroom in fine arts, sports and community service.”

In addition to the millions of dollars in possible scholarships, these bright students now have

On Sunday, Sept. 18, the Wellington Rotary Club and the Village of Wellington celebrated World Peace Day. Wellington Elementary School’s fourth grade poster contest winner, Florence Phillips, was present to accept her certificate and $75 award. Her art teacher, Erica Bordonaro, was also there. She received a $50 award to use in her classroom. The Wellington World Peace Poster Contest’s purpose was to raise the consciousness of Wellington students to the quest for world peace and what it means to achieve it. The school congratulates Phillips and thanks Bordonaro for providing students with so many diverse opportunities to shine.

new opportunities for college and confidence about their futures. According to the National Merit Scholarship organization, colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago and Van derbilt enroll the greatest number of National Merit Scholars.

American Heritage Schools is also excited to announce that 94 percent of the students passed their Advanced Placement exams with a score of 3 or higher, com pared to 59 percent in Florida and 65 percent globally. This places American Heritage Schools with the highest AP passing rate out of all private or public schools in South Florida, making American Heritage Schools one of the lead ing college preparatory schools in the nation.

American Heritage Schools is the No. 1 private school in Florida for nationally recognized scholars in math competition, science fair, mock trial, moot court, and speech and debate. Alumni are notable leaders in their chosen fields who

are generating positive differences in the world.

American Heritage Schools is an independent, non-sectarian,

co-educational, college preparato ry school in South Florida serving grades Pre-K3 to 12. It has two 40-acre campuses: one in Planta

tion and one in Delray Beach. For more information about American Heritage Schools, visit www. ahschool.com.

EMERALD COVE STUDENTS EARN PERFECT SCORES

Cats

Pets Are Family,

By Randall S. Dugal, D.V.M.

STRESS IN CATS

A

WESTERN PINES STUDENTS OF

Western Pines Middle School congratulates the following students for their hard work and dedication. They have been named as students of the month for August and September: sixth graders Olivia McCulloch, Lance Ishmael and Gracie LaCroix; seventh graders Skyler White, Kiera Miletta and George Shetka; and eighth graders Grace Chapek, Wyatt Wirkkala and Shawnley Al bert. The students are pictured here with Principal Philip Preddy.

Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington congratulates the students who earned a perfect score on the 2022 FSA. Several students earned a perfect score on multiple subject area assessments.

National Merit Scholar semifinalists and Commended Scholars from the Palm Beach campus.

(Above) Art teacher Erica Bor donaro and student Florence Phillips in front of Wellington Rotary Peace Park. (Inset) The world peace poster submitted by Florence Phillips.

The Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County will host its 23rd annual Triunfo Awards Gala on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at the West Palm Beach Marriott in the Regency Ballroom. This year’s theme is “Azúcar y Caña.”

One of the main purposes of the Triunfo Gala is to raise scholarship money to assist Hispanic high

school seniors achieve the dream of obtaining a college education.

A call to the heart will be initiated during the Triunfo Gala to benefit the Luciano Martinez Scholarship Fund. Over the last two decades, the Hispanic Chamber has award ed thousands of scholarships total ing more than $160,000.

Event sponsors this year are: Florida Crystals Corporation (pre

senting sponsor); Baptist Health South Florida and the Joe DiMag gio Children’s Hospital (gold sponsors); Wellington Regional Medical Center (bronze sponsor); WPBF Channel 25, Discover the Palm Beaches and Good Samar itan Medical Center (community sponsors); PNC Bank (business sponsor); and Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley P.A.

Attorneys (Amigos de Triunfo).

The 23rd annual Triunfo Gala will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the West Palm Beach Marri ott. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $160 per person. Amigos de Triunfo sponsorships are $1,000; a business sponsorship is $1,500; and a community spon sorship is $1,800.

For more information, and ad

The Arc To Host Breaking Barriers Breakfast

The Arc of Palm Beach County is driving change through inclusion and innovation in the workplace to help people with disabilities live, learn, work and thrive. In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the Arc invites the community to its inaugural Breaking Barriers Breakfast to learn about the vital role peo ple with disabilities have in the nation’s workforce.

The Arc’s inaugural business breakfast will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach. The breakfast aims to unite community leaders in promoting inclusive business practices and possibilities for all.

Guests will discover how people with disabilities can achieve belonging in the workplace and attain independence in their communities. They will also explore how inclusion is driving innovation, how forward-thinking businesses are enjoying success as thought leaders and how a diverse workforce leads to improved outcomes for businesses.

“At the Arc, we are dreaming big on behalf of children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with the families whom we are privileged to serve,” The Arc CEO & President Kimberly McCarten said. “We want

to help the community explore a change in the way we see our workforce and find inspiration through diversity, and to join us in developing an inclusive environment in our businesses — one that celebrates the beauty and value in all of us.”

The Arc is hosting keynote speaker and pro fessional development leader Dr. Alonzo Kelly to demonstrate how professional development platforms rooted in trust and diversity can help cultivate successful business cultures. Kelly is one of the nation’s top executive coaches who shapes the narrative on authentic relationships and creating a sense of belonging in the workforce and across our communities. “Now is the time for humility,” Kelly said. “If your conversation centered on ‘be longing’ does not result in new ideas, new concepts and new relationships, you are falling short of the opportunity to evolve.”

McCarten encouraged local businesses to get involved in this effort. “By embracing our unique qualities, we can and will turn challenges into opportunities for all,” she said. “If you ever con sidered leading a conversation on diversity of any kind, this event is where you need to be.”

For more information about the breakfast, or to RSVP, visit www.arcpbc.org/events.

ditional sponsorship details, call (561) 790-6200, e-mail info@ cpbchamber.com or visit www. hispanicchamberpbc.com.

The not-for-profit Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County is the gateway to connecting and growing business to the Hispanic community. The chamber assists businesses in reaching the growing Hispanic

market in Palm Beach County and is the voice of the Hispanic business community in the Palm Beaches.

The chamber supports educa tional activities, advocacy, and works closely with the Hispanic community supporting the ad vancement, education and eco nomic growth of the Hispanic community in general.

NEW MEDICAL CLINIC OPENS

The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches held a ribboncutting ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 27 to welcome the new Healthcare Navigation Systems Medical Clinic, a new subscriptionbased healthcare model addressing medical needs through patient-centered care. The facility is owned by Judith Scott and is located in Cobblestone Village near the Super Target store at 10287 Okeechobee Blvd., Unit A6. For more information, call (561) 223-6460 or visit www.healthnavisystems.com.

DiVosta Homes Opens Models At Windsong Estates Near Wellington

DiVosta, the luxury-home brand offered by PulteGroup, has un veiled three models at Windsong Estates, a new single-family home community located between Wel lington and Florida’s Turnpike in central Palm Beach County. Sales have also commenced for a limited inventory of 93 homesites.

“Due to the large variety of home designs, Windsong Estates is ideal for both growing families and couples who desire to downsize,” said Brent Baker, division presi dent for PulteGroup in Southeast Florida. “The luxury and quality associated with the DiVosta brand make buyers comfortable that they are getting an excellent home.”

DiVosta is offering six designs with quick move-in opportunities available. Three models are open now for tours, including the Mys tique, Palmary and Ashby home designs.

The single-story Palmary in the Classic series has 2 to 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2-car garage. A large gathering area opens onto a covered lanai with options for an outdoor kitchen preparation area, a sunroom and a patio extension.

The large owner’s suite includes a spacious walk-in closet. A flex room can be modified for a third bedroom.

The Mystique, also in the Clas sic series, has 2 to 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2-car garage. Its open layout is ideal for entertain ing while the owner’s suite offers privacy. The highly efficient floor design provides ample storage space and a flex room that can be configured as a third bedroom.

The Ashby in the Estate se ries has 3 to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3.5 baths and a 3-car garage. A spacious café gathering area looks onto a covered lanai and,

on some homesites in the series, a waterfront. The owner’s suite offers several options for bathroom design and a large walk-in closet. A flex space can be customized as a fourth bedroom.

All homeowners will enjoy high-speed internet that is in cluded in their property owners’ association fees, gated access, and an amenity center with pickleball courts, a pool and cabanas.

The new residents will be min utes from Wellington with its shop ping, entertainment, community activities and regional medical center.

Windsong Estates is located at 9674 Mosler Trail, just off State Road 7 south of Lake Worth Road. Home prices start in the $600s.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call or text (561) 462-5732, or visit www. divosta.com/windsongestates.

The Ashby design at Windsong Estates features 3 to 4 bedrooms.

Dr. Alonzo Kelly

I Love The Restaurant’s Food, But The Little Things Annoy Me

My husband Mark took me out to dinner last Friday at a restaurant where I order the New York strip every single time because the New York strip is fabulous. Every.

Single. Time.

The restaurant is located in a podunk town populated by podunk people who absolutely love this podunk restaurant. And I’m not saying I’m not podunk. I can podunk as well as the next person. I don’t dress up when I go there. I don’t expect to be seated for half an hour. I don’t expect a lot, except, of course, for the steak, which, as I said before, is fabulous.

Other than the steak, the things that irri tate me about this restaurant are numerous.

They have replaced their perfectly normal yellow incandescent lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs that border on the

ultra-violet. My retinas are failing.

There are no acoustics. I can perfectly hear the conversation taking place at a table 10 tables away, plus the conversations from the other nine tables in between us. The conversations are not intriguing.

The picture on the wall is crooked, the one directly in my line of sight. Anybody knows to put two nails in the wall so the

picture will always be straight. But this is a one-nail restaurant.

But another great thing about this restau rant is their two-for-one happy hour that goes on all night. I don’t know if anyone has ever explained the concept of happy hour to them, but I am certainly not going to be the one to do it. I order my second glass of wine and remind myself that I am not at the Ritz. Breathe in. Breathe out.

OK, things are looking up. The people 10 tables away, talking about the price of plywood, have left. In fact, Mark and I are the only ones left. Ahhhhhh.

And then — I feel my blood pressure shoot up. Oh, yes. I can actually feel it. It’s accompanied by a clenching of the teeth and a tightening of one’s hands into fists. It’s the busboy with the carpet sweep

er. VVVVVbbbo. VVVVVbbbo.

VVVVVbbbo. He begins, of course, not in the corner recently vacated by all diners, but in the corner immediately adjacent to my table. He’s not even looking at what he’s doing. Turns out he can scroll through his phone while “sweeping.”

Mark takes a cautious look at me. Last time we were here, I actually spoke to the manager about this. About the annoying sound and the dust particles swirling through the air and the tiny bits of food ostentatiously flying up into my bits of food. Mark is desperate. “Heh. Heh. I’m all finished. What about you?” He makes a move to get up.

I refuse to move. My eyes are narrowed into slits. It is my goal to outlast the carpet sweeper, and Mark knows this. He sits

back down with a sigh. I glare at the busboy with hatred as this perfectly nice, hard working teenager casually scrolls through his phone while sweeping the same twofoot patch of carpet for a full five minutes. By the time he moves on, I am trembling.

But he has moved on. When he does, I stand up as if shot from a cannon and march toward the front desk. Mark beats me there and practically throws his credit card at the hostess to avoid an ugly scene. He grabs a handful of mints and thrusts them toward me as one would thrust a young coyote to an advancing lion.

Mollified, I accept his peace offering. We leave the restaurant calmly, even though, in the distance, I hear it starting up again. VVVVVbbbo. VVVVVbbbo. VVVVVbbbo.

‘House Of The Dragon’ Is Pretty Good, But Has Some Weaknesses

The new HBO series House of the Dragon is a long-awaited prequel to the fabulous Game of Thrones series, which dominated cable TV for eight years. The new show carries on the tradition of excellent writing, good casting and, of course, lots of dragons. Actually more dragons than in the earlier show. But there is one glaring issue that gets in the way of brilliance, at least so far.

In Game of Thrones, right from the start we had heroes, people we could identify with. There was the Stark family, five at tractive kids and a handsome illegitimate son (who, of course, was not who the se ries implied he was at first). And they were all different but attractive. And Daenerys was lovely and seemingly helpless (we did learn otherwise). So we had people to attach to. For cranks like me, there was always Tyrion, the cynical dwarf. But the new show essentially follows

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

only one family, a really weird one. After a half dozen or so episodes, I am still waiting to find someone, anyone, I can identify with or even like. The story is filled with betrayal, back-stabbing and incest. But while admiring the work, it is hard to love it.

The story begins when King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) watches his wife die trying to give birth to a son, who also dies. That leaves only one direct heir, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock as

a teen, Emma D’Arcy as an adult), and it is felt by many that she should not rule since she’s a woman. She hangs out with her best buddy Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey as a teen, Olivia Cooke as an adult), until Alicent’s father sends her to comfort the king, which turns eventually into a marriage. Rhaenyra is wooed by just about every available lord in the Westeros, but to some degree winds up as a target for her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith), a noted warrior who some feel threatens the rule of far more gentle Viserys.

There is a jump after the first five episodes of 10 years so that the young girls are now women, both of them with children. Rhaenyra has been married off to Lord Laenor Valeryon (John Macmillan), eldest son of the second most powerful family in the kingdom. There is a minor issue, however. He is very gay. But some how Rhaenyra gives birth to a group of

children who look nothing like him. Lord Laenor, however, is quite understanding. Unfortunately, for Rhaenyra as heir to the throne, her former best buddy, wants her oldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to rule. Aegon, so far, is a bit of a bully. And, of course, we have all sorts of familial quarrels and even murders.

It sounds like things will become clearer eventually, and there will be an all-out war, or perhaps a cold war, between the two branches of the family. The problem right now is that because of the time gap, the two teen girls we might have felt some thing for are gone, and two bitter, angry adults are battling. And they are nasty.

Rhaenyra continues to have children not sired by her husband, and Alicent plots with some of the nastier elements in the court to make certain that her kids come out on top. Add to that Prince Daemon, who kills one wife and then orders a sec

ond wife to be the victim of a Caesarean, which in this world is always fatal.

The acting, as expected, is excellent. Considine is one of the few sympathetic characters, but that is because he is playing a weak king. Smith as the lecherous war lord is appropriately strong but sleazy. And the women are fine, although having two actresses for each part does confuse things.

I like the show so far. But I don’t love it the way I did Game of Thrones. That may be because the new show is still in the setup phase; the earlier show got better as the seasons went on. But I don’t really like the characters all that much. In this first season, just about every nice person has either changed, been killed or sent “offstage.” As a result, there are no heroes, which means the bad guys are in charge.

But watch the show. It’s on HBO Sun day nights and HBO Max any time. It’s lit erate and smart, something rare these days.

St. Jude’s Novena

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St.Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day by the 8th day, your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you, St Jude for granting my petition.

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