Wellington’s leaders saluted the village’s top cop and top firefighter of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 3, putting an exclamation point on a huge point of emphasis for the community. At the presentation ceremony, members of the Wellington Village Council encapsulated their respect for public service.
Page 3
NRI Institute In RPB Holds Commencement
To Celebrate New Grads
The NRI Institute of Health Sciences held a commencement ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The ceremony celebrated the newly graduated nurses and ultrasound students. The NRI Institute is located in Royal Palm Beach. Page 5
Wellington Rotary Club
To Hold Annual Peace Day Ceremony Sept. 22
Each year in September, the Rotary Club of Wellington holds its annual World Peace Day ceremony aimed at promoting multicultural understanding and conflict resolution as a means to achieve world peace. This year, the ceremony will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. at the Wellington Rotary Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive near the Wellington branch library. Page 7
Joshua Schwartz
Drafted By The Seattle Seawolves Rugby Club
Wellington’s latest athlete to join the professional ranks is a rugby player. Joshua Schwartz is a 2020 graduate of Wellington High School and a 2024 graduate of Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. In high school, Schwartz, 22, played middle linebacker and as a fullback for the Wolverines football team. He also learned the sport of rugby with the Wellington Wizards Youth Rugby Club. Page 21
ROYAL PALM END OF SUMMER PARTY
and (back
Irene
New Culvert Install Underway At Carol Street Crossing
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report
After some four months of often emotional entreaty from Santa Rosa Groves residents to the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, earth is being moved and culvert pipe is being laid that will allow a renewed connection between Carol Street and 60th Street. Through a subsidiary, developer GL Homes is providing an 80-foot-long pipe and installing it free of charge on the canal that runs along 60th Street and 59th Lane North. The Cypress Grove Community Development District owns the canal, but ITID owns the underlying land. Cypress Grove will continue to maintain the canal around the crossing. “It sounds like we reached a happy medium,” ITID Supervisor Patricia Farrell said this week. The culvert was removed in April due to long-term structural damage, leaving Santa Rosa Groves residents with only one way in and out of their rural tier neighborhood.
Initially, ITID Engineer Jay Foy estimated it would cost $334,000 to install a new culvert engineered to district standards. That would have required a $3,400 per lot assessment to Santa Rosa Groves property owners.
That’s when GL Homes, one of the area’s largest landowners, stepped in with an offer to return
the crossing to its previous agricultural standard. ITID expressed legal and engineering concerns about restoring the crossing in such a way, but GL overcame them and filed for a permit in July. However, the agreement nearly hit a snag at the Wednesday, Aug. 21 ITID meet-
Wellington Board Clashes With JCPenney Over Design Changes
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report
JCPenney representatives say that the department store is spending more than $500,000 refreshing its location at the Mall at Wellington Green, including bold exterior signage — unfortunately, parts of the project were already completed before asking village officials to approve the changes.
Store representatives lacked proper awareness of local regulations, they told Wellington’s Architectural Review Board at a meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 28.
“I’m just curious to see, you guys are a big corporation. You understand things on a very local level. How does something like this happen?” Board Member
By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report
Thanks to stay-at-home mom
Destiny Ivey, Royal Palm Beach now boasts a bustling community hub where mothers can drop off stuff they no longer need, while others can come in and scoop up free clothes, children’s items, and even food and diapers.
“Helping One Nugget at a Time” was conceived earlier this year when Ivey’s firstborn, Colton, was four months old.
“As a new mom, I was shocked how fast he grew out of baby clothes,” she said. “We had a yard sale, and there was so much left over, quality stuff, and I wanted a better option than Goodwill. I called a friend who was also wondering what to do with no-longerneeded baby clothes.”
That’s when Ivey had her “aha” moment, and “Nugget” was born. The name comes from the first
John Greene asked. “You come in, you make these bold changes to a storefront in a community like Wellington, without knowing that, ‘Oh, I guess I need approval for this.’”
In the end, the board voted 4-0 to postpone the matter to a future meeting while options are studied.
Board members Maria Wolfe, Sal Van Casteren and Luis Rodriguez did not attend the meeting. Among other issues, the building sign comes with raised white letters on a dark gray background, about 50 percent larger than Wellington normally allows, according to village staff.
Local store officials at the meeting referred questions about how the mix-up happened to corporate
offices, but said the redesign was consistent with others happening at stores throughout the region and a sign of revitalization across the nationwide chain.
JCPenney has remained a longtime anchor at the mall despite the chain’s filing for bankruptcy in 2020 and closing a number of stores nationwide, blamed in part on the pandemic. Greene praised the Wellington store’s “great staying power” even as he raised concerns about the matter at hand.
Another question involved red paint around the entrances, which staff said was “close to” a color the village has approved, but it was for doors.
Board Member Maria RasSee ARB, page 4
ITID Looks At Alternatives To Citrus Grove Halloween Party
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report
The decades-old street party that has come to be known as “Halloween on Citrus Grove” is a lawsuit waiting to happen, district staff told the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors at their Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting.
ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson urged supervisors to distance the district as much as possible from the event, which, in theory, is supposed to happen along the sidewalk and swales and in the yards along Citrus Grove Blvd. However, in practice, large crowds spill onto the ITID-owned street with all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles mixing with families and small children on foot.
“It has become too large,” Hanson said. “It’s no longer a neighborhood event, or even a community event. It has become a regional event. People from everywhere are coming.”
Some of the supervisors agreed.
“It’s definitely a party atmosphere,” Supervisor Patricia Farrell said. “It’s not a matter of if but when somebody is going to get hurt.”
As an alternative, ITID Parks & Recreation Director Kenny Lawrence recommended a districtsponsored parade on Saturday, Oct. 26 from Citrus Grove Park at the corner of Citrus Grove and Avocado boulevards west to Hall Blvd., then north to the Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park. Trunkor-treat stations would be set up in the arenas with kid-friendly events located in the surrounding park, and food trucks and bathroom facilities would be available.
The supervisors voted 5-0 for the plan in May, ITID President Elizabeth Accomando noted. “It has a ‘Headless Horseman’ theme, so it works with the equestrian park,” she said. Hanson explained that at the
urging of its insurance company, the district is trying to separate itself as much as possible from the block party. The current plan is for Citrus Grove Park to be closed to the public and to hire a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy to be stationed in the park to protect ITID property. ITID is charged with maintaining roads, drainage and parks within its boundaries. In the past, the park has been open to the public during the Halloween event with appropriate security.
Now, however, the new plan is drawing pushback from ITID Supervisor Betty Argue, who suggested that the Hornstein event would do nothing to change the Oct. 31 neighborhood event.
“Halloween is a big deal in our community,” said Argue, who is seeking her third term on the board in the Nov. 5 general election. “This [block party] is what the community is doing. Going against what the community has done every year — I can’t support that.” Argue said that even if the board wanted to shut down the Citrus Grove event, it would be nearly impossible because the block party happens organically.
“There’s no committee to go to… no single person in charge,” she said. “We have to be involved because it’s our roads. I do not support trying to excommunicate ourselves from it.”
However, some people have already expressed concerns about the scale of the block party.
“I’m hearing that parents don’t want to bring their little ones because it gets too crazy,” Accomando said. “If we do it on our own event, at least, we’ll have some control over what’s happening.” Argue said that she does not support the Oct. 26 plan at the Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park See ITID, page 14
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HOSTS SOCIAL EVENT
time Ivey saw an ultrasound of Colton. “He looked exactly like a comfortable little nugget in there, so the term has become endearing in my household,” she explained. The program gained rapid popularity among the community of new moms in Royal Palm Beach. All the action starts at the Facebook group, “Helping One Nugget at a Time,” where available items are posted and given away on a first-come, first-served basis. More than 2,000 items have been placed, absolutely free, into local homes.
“I’m so grateful for Colton, and the roof over my head, and that we can afford baby clothes and food,” Ivey said. “I just want to help folks who haven’t had the good fortune that I enjoy.”
“Destiny makes sure that everyone who needs something for their babies gets it. She is amazing,” Dazie Owens of Loxahatchee said. Royal Palm Beach resident
Christine Wilders Carpenter agreed.
“Helping One Nugget at a Time has been a blessing to me and my family,” she said. “We have not only been a receiver, we have been able to donate as our grandchildren outgrow their clothes and toys. I have many friends that are now a part of this group who are receiving the blessing as well.”
Ivey grew up in Royal Palm Beach. She attended Cypress Trails Elementary School, Crestwood Middle School and Seminole Ridge High School. An outstanding athlete, she played travel soccer for the Royal Palm Beach Strikers from the age of 7 until about 17, when she was sidelined by an injury. She worked in the local hospitality industry, but when Colton was born, she became a stay-at-home mom.
“As a stay-at-home mom to
See CULVERT, page 4
Royal Palm Beach seniors enjoyed a fun-filled End of Summer Party on Friday, Aug. 30 at the
Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center. The event had a Hawaiian theme with great food, music and dancing. Shown above are: (front row) David Merrick, Chris Englestad, Connie Vasalotti and
Sabatka;
row) Vernalyn Rowe and Barbara Searls. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 16
PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
The advisory board of the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington hosted a social gathering at Molé Mexican Cantina on Thursday, Aug. 29. The gathering helped bring awareness to upcoming events. Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers, a DJ and time to mingle with local community members. Shown above are Luc Limbourg, Duane O’Connor, Patricia Limbourg and Lisa Tvedten.
(L-R) Alexa Murphy with Ryder, Destiny Ivey with Colton and Vanessa Quigley with Aurora. PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER See NUGGET, page 14
Work is underway on a culvert bringing a renewed connection between Carol Street and 60th Street. PHOTO COURTESY THE INDIAN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Wellington Council Honors Top Cop And Top Firefighter For 2024
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report
Wellington’s leaders saluted the village’s top cop and top firefighter of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 3, putting an exclamation point on a huge point of emphasis for the community.
At the presentation ceremony, members of the Wellington Village Council encapsulated their respect for public service that no officials dared discount.
“I’m so happy and proud to serve here,” said Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue EMS Capt.
Jessica Banks, honored as 2024’s top firefighter. She drops off her children at Panther Run Elementary School like many others, she said.
“From a mom like me, I’m thankful for a mom like you,” Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri said.
The reality is that life gets plenty gritty and unpleasant for both cops and firefighters in Wellington, but Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Agent Terence McDonald was not complaining. In fact, he was crediting others. “Success is al-
ways a team effort,” he said. “This achievement belongs to all of us.”
The top cop for 2024 credited his wife and three daughters, along with colleagues at the PBSO.
“I sleep better at night knowing all the things you’re doing,” Councilwoman Tanya Siskind said.
“You’re the first line of defense keeping us safe,” Mayor Michael Napoleone added.
Banks combines exceptional technical skills as a paramedic and registered nurse, as well as a firefighter, said PBCFR District Chief Amanda Vomero in her
nomination letter. “She consistently performs at the highest level during both training exercises and real-world emergencies,” Vomero wrote. “She is known for her calm demeanor under pressure, which has been crucial in many highstakes situations.”
Banks began the latest stage of an 18-year career in the department in January, when she started work in Battalion 2 as EMS captain. She has delivered pediatric cardiac-arrest training to the battalion’s nine stations.
McDonald won praise for ac-
tions ranging from arrests of gang members outside the Mall at Wellington Green to the capture of a stabbing suspect in a dark field near 120th Avenue South.
The mall case in the 2022-23 holiday season involved identifying gang members carrying weapons and drugs and taking three into custody. The stabbing case occurred in April 2023.
McDonald works on what the PBSO calls its “Street Team” in District 8, which serves Wellington.
“I am grateful to have such an
experienced and skilled agent under my command, and I am sure the village feels the same way,” noted PBSO Sgt. James Benedict in his nomination letter. In other business:
• The council recognized professional polo players Hope Arellano and Nicolas “Nico” Escobar for their representation of Wellington at the 2024 Paris Games Polo Challenge, in which Team USA defeated Team
Variance For New Business On Aldi Way Concerns
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report
The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission last month refused to support a parking variance requested by a new tenant at 100 Aldi Way, near the Aldi Distribution Center off State Road 7.
Royal Palm Logistics LLC owns the property and presented two requests to the commissioners at the meeting held Tuesday, Aug. 27. The property owner has a unique potential tenant for the building — a small airline equipment repair company. Novo Aero Services LLC will be the second tenant in the building.
Mark Smiley of Smiley & Associates Inc. was there to present a case in support of a variance request to allow for a reduction in parking spaces. The village code
requires 256 spaces, while the variance would allow only 159 spaces.
Royal Palm Beach Senior Planner Josue Leger explained that village staff was not in support of the variance.
“I do want to mention that this application is being reviewed concurrently with the special exception application, which is obviously a decision,” he said, adding that the companion request for a special exception to allow the manufacturing facility would be moot without the variance approval, unless significant changes were made to the plan.
Smiley explained that the business in question does not need nearly the parking spaces required by the village code.
“This particular tenant has small airline equipment that is shipped
to them. They fix it in house, and then they ship it back out, so there are not a lot of people that come in and have to park at this facility,” Smiley explained. “They have 10 to 15, max 20, employees. So, it fits the parking that’s required for this particular tenant.”
Smiley added that the parking issue is a likely deal breaker for the prospective renter.
Nevertheless, several commissioners sided with village staff and struggled to come to a decision. One concern was the variance being tied to the land, and not to the tenant. After a motion to approve the variance failed, a motion to deny it passed 3-2.
The next item, while related to the first, creates a complication for the applicant and its new tenant. The special exception use request-
ed would allow manufacturing, limited processing and assembly for the certified FAA repair station, Novo Aero Services.
“Village staff considered compatibility with adjacent land uses consistent with the village comprehensive plan in conformance with the village development standards for the industrial limited zoning district,” Leger said, added that village staff supported the request with some site-specific conditions. The special exception would no longer apply to the property should Novo Aero Services leave the site. Either a site plan modification to accommodate the required 97 additional spaces will be necessary, or the parking variance will need to be granted by the Royal Palm Beach Village Council when it appears before them.
The special exception approval, with the conditions, passed 5-0.
Commissioner Kara Dery expressed concerns that there is not much area on the site plan to add the parking spaces, and such modifications could result in the loss of green space. Both items will be presented to the council, likely later this month, for a final decision.
In other business:
• The growing eatery chain 3Natives Acai & Juicery is coming to 1192 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Crossroads shopping plaza.
The request for architectural approval to install new wall signage was supported by both village staff and the entire commission with a unanimous vote.
“If anybody has been in Palm Beach County and has stopped at
3Natives, they know it’s a great juicery and a growing franchise,” agent Gill Strelec Jr. said. Several members commented on the happiness of family members at the prospect of the business coming to the community.
“The Chronic Bowl is my favorite,” Commissioner Andrew Alba said. “I was going to say if you’ve been, you know. They empty my wallet once or twice a week.”
• Salon Centric, located at 543 North State Road 7, Suite 101, received approval to install a new sign and update monument signs.
• The buildings at 501 and 601 103rd Avenue North, located in an industrial area off Southern Blvd., are slated to get new paint schemes by Riteway Contracting and Painting. The commissioners supported the updated look unanimously.
The Wellington Village Council presents Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue EMS Capt. Jessica Banks with the village’s “Top Firefighter” award for 2024. PHOTOS COURTESY THE
The Wellington Village Council presents Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Agent Terence McDonald with the village’s “Top Cop” award for 2024.
Groves Council Approves Budget Leaving Tax Rate Unchanged
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report
The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council held its first formal budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 3, giving preliminary approval to a spending plan that does not raise the property tax rate or the town’s roads and drainage assessment.
The total spending plan of $12.7 million — $8.6 million without transfers, fund balances and reserves — will be finalized at the town’s second formal budget hearing Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
Project Coordinator Jeff Kurtz led the council through a brief budget overview, summarizing the changes made at a series of workshop sessions over the past two months.
“You are being presented with a balanced budget, and it calls for a solid waste assessment at $450, a roads and drainage assessment at $200 per unit and a millage rate at 3.00 mills,” Kurtz said.
Early in the budget cycle, the council set its preliminary TRIM (truth in millage) property tax rate at 4.00 mills, up from 3.00 mills.
The assessment for roads and drainage was set at $250, up from $200, and the annual solid waste assessment was set at $450, up from $400.
In the end, the council cut enough out of the budget to leave the property tax rate and the roads and drainage assessment unchanged from 2024, only raising the solid waste assessment $50 to $450.
Kurtz noted that a glitch in the town’s transmission of information had county TRIM notices go out at $200 per unit for the roads and drainage assessment, which would have required a costly re-notice process to fix, but since the council had tentatively decided to use the $200 rate, that issue was moot. Money was removed from the budget when several capital projects were postponed, including traffic calming in Okeechobee Blvd. and work at Loxahatchee Groves Town Hall to allow it to serve as an emergency operations center. The council is also exploring whether having an in-house attorney will save money.
Town Manager Francine Ramaglia noted that the tax rate of 3.00 mills and the assessment rate of $200 per unit have now been unchanged since 2018.
The town’s General Fund, used for day-to-day operations, comes in at $4.3 million, and includes transfers of $595,493 to the Roads and Drainage Fund and $394,000 to the Capital Fund. The Roads and Drainage Fund is balanced at $2.4 million with revenues coming from the $200 per acre assessment, along with the $595,493 from the General Fund and $268,000 from the Transportation Fund.
The town’s Capital Fund calls for $2,079,375 in project spending, funded by $750,000 from a state grant, along with transfers from the General Fund, the Transportation Fund and the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).
Finally, the Solid Waste Fund is balanced at $720,000, primarily funded by the solid waste assessment of $450 per unit. This assessment rate generates net revenue of about $650,000, with an additional
$70,000 coming from the use of reserves, interest earnings and a small amount of recycling income.
Meeting as the dependent Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, the council set the roads and drainage assessment at $200 per unit, which passed 4-1 with Councilman Robert Shorr dissenting.
When it came time to set the solid waste assessment, Shorr said that getting the extra money from the increase does not warrant the change to $450. He suggested removing another road project and keeping it unchanged.
Mayor Anita Kane said that the town is just asking residents to pay for a service that they receive.
“We are talking about bringing it back up to a rate that it was at previously, and no longer subsidizing something at a rate of $170,000 per year,” Kane said. “It’s easy to subsidize things when you have $2 million of federal money coming into the town, but we don’t have that now.”
Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia made a motion to approve the
assessment at $450, which passed 4-1 with Shorr dissenting.
Maniglia also made a motion to adopt the town’s property tax rate at 3.00 mills, unchanged from the previous year, which passed unanimously. Due to increasing property values, the rate of 3.00 mills will bring in some additional revenue to the town. It is 10.9 percent above the rolled-back rate of 2.7048 mills, which is the rate that would bring in the same amount of revenue as fiscal year 2024. When it came time to adopt the overall budget, there was an in-depth discussion regarding the town’s pay plan, which classifies pay rates by position.
Councilwoman Laura Danowski asked if the pay plan in the budget was set in stone and was told that it could be changed if needed.
Ramaglia said that when coming up with the pay plan, she surveyed comparable municipalities and special districts and went with the lower end. Ramaglia noted that a cost-of-living increase for employees is included in the budget. Vice Mayor Marge Herzog
noted that the town is in a unique situation where it has a lower population than most municipalities but is larger in size than many. “We are unique, and we have to work within what we have,” Herzog said.
Ramaglia said that she is very happy with the current town staff and compared them to Swiss Army knives.
“These employees are the best employees that I have ever worked with,” she said. “They are mission-driving employees... We don’t have as many people as the size of our footprint. We make our people do everything. They are cross-trained.”
Maniglia made a motion to adopt the tentative budget, which passed 4-1 with Shorr dissenting. The council also adopted the annual update to the capital improvements element of the comprehensive plan, which included a list of roads to be improved over the next five years. However, the list beyond fiscal year 2025 is tentative and subject to change. It passed 4-1 with Shorr opposed.
Westlake Sweeping Streets Of Unwanted Trucks, Other Vehicles
By Louis Hillary Park
Staff Report
For nearly two years, big-rig truckers in The Acreage have been fighting to be allowed to park their 18-wheelers at their homes. Now the City of Westlake is saying, don’t leave them here.
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Westlake City Council, meeting as the Local Planning Agency, passed regulations that prohibit the parking of 18-wheelers and similar vehicles on all public streets, alleys and rights-of-way for more than one hour in any 24-hour period.
The ordinance also includes watercraft, boat trailers, recreational vehicles (RVs), swamp buggies and buses; trucks with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 10,000 pounds, or rated over one ton, or height in excess of seven feet including any load, bed or box, or length in excess of 22 feet; truck tractor, trailer, semi-trailer or pole trailer; step-van or commercial vehicle; or construction and industrial equipment.
The ordinance also passed 5-0 on its first reading when the coun-
cil subsequently held its regular meeting. The ordinance will have to be voted on again, likely at the council’s Tuesday, Oct. 1 regular meeting, before it goes into effect. “We’re not against truckers,” Westlake Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor said Wednesday. “But we were finding that some drivers were parking their trucks on some little-used stretches of road or in rights-of-way and leaving them.”
City Manager Kenneth Cassel said they discovered that 18-wheelers were parking all weekend on parts of Persimmon Blvd. “And that’s just not Westlake,” he said.
O’Connor said he has no knowledge if the left-behind semis were spillover from The Acreage, which is a short walk from Persimmon Blvd. “[But] we just can’t allow that sort of random parking. It’s a quality-of-life issue,” he said.
O’Connor noted that the city owns no land but that he has had talks with individuals who might be willing to invest in a truck park venture on land within the city
zoned for that sort of use, far away from residential areas.
“I don’t think the issue is unsolvable. I’m trying to solve it,” he said. “I think there could be an opportunity here for the county… or for a private investor. These truckers need a place in the western communities to park.”
In other business:
• The council approved the site plan for a 1.3-acre shopping center site to be known as “Westlake Palms” located within the Westlake Landings development on the west side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The shopping center would be next to the recently approved Tractor Supply Co. store. The new structure will include a 10,400-square-foot building with seven tenant bays and 520 square feet of outdoor seating area.
Agent Donaldson Hearing, representing the developer, said that much of the space already has been reserved by a single business on a 10-year-lease. Hearing said he was not at liberty to name the business.
“I think this is going to be an
absolutely beautiful addition to the city,” O’Connor said. “I think they have their thumb on the pulse of what we want here. The long lease shows their confidence in the community and their commitment to it.”
Even Councilman Gary Werner, who is often critical of development plans, told Hearing, “Nice project. Good job.”
• The council approved the tentative 2025 city budget of just over $10 million with an expected property tax rate of 4.70 mills.
At the second workshop of the budget season held Aug. 6, council members instructed Cassel to cut the property tax rate from the staff recommended 4.90 to 4.70 mills.
The reduction would result in a $180 savings for the average owner of a property valued at $600,000 for tax purposes, according to Cassel. The number does not include taxes from other government entities, and the amount an individual homeowner actually will pay also can be affected by increased property values.
If approved at the council’s
Wednesday, Sept. 11 final budget
hearing, it would mark the third year in a row that Westlake’s millage rate has been decreased.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Westlake Adventure Park Lodge, located at 5490 Kingfisher Blvd. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
• The council congratulated Vice Mayor Greg Langowski on completing the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials run by Florida League of Cities University.
• Following up on a recent issue that caused a tightening of Westlake ordinances, O’Connor said Wednesday that two registered sex offenders were no longer in residence at a home in the community’s Cresswind development. They were not the owners of the home. “I was extremely happy to hear this,” O’Connor said.
The men were the only two such offenders registered within the Westlake city limits with the U.S. Department of Justice sex offender public web site and the Florida Department of Law En-
forcement sexual offenders/predators search. However, numerous such individuals are registered in nearby residential areas. Concern grew in Westlake when the situation became public in July, and council members quickly moved to strengthen the community’s sexual predator ordinance over the objection of individuals across Florida and from as far away as Colorado. The change to the ordinance extended from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet the prohibition against persons listed as sexual offenders or predators living near parks, playgrounds, daycare centers or “any other place where children regularly congregate,” such as bus stops or the Westlake Adventure Park. A municipality cannot enact an outright prohibition against registered sex offenders. O’Connor said Wednesday it might not be “impossible” for a sexual offender to find a residence in some corner of Westlake, “but he would be very hard pressed to find a house he could [legally] move into.”
PBSO Aims To Bring Down Juvenile Crime And Property Crime
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report
Juveniles accounted for 15 percent of arrests in Wellington in 2023, up from 10 percent in 2020, a services plan filed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at a Tuesday, Sept. 3 meeting of the Wellington Village Council shows.
“The village, as in previous years, continues to enjoy low, but persistent, juvenile crime issues, property crimes and traffic-related problems,” the PBSO’s plan for 2025 noted.
The PBSO has provided law enforcement services to Wellington
Culvert Work Is Underway
continued from page 1 ing, when GL seemed to seek greater control over possible future changes to the crossing.
“I cannot and I will not support giving up our rights,” ITID Supervisor Betty Argue said. “We cannot have developers dictating to us what the terms are.”
GL holds permits to build 3,897
under contract since the village’s incorporation in 1996. Currently, the PBSO and the village are in the fourth year of a five-year deal. As part of its consent agenda at the Sept. 3 meeting, the council approved the PBSO District 8 budget and contract for the new fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
As expected per the five-year deal, the PBSO proposed a 4 percent increase. The contract total for 2025 is $11,297,752, an increase of approximately $434,529 over the current fiscal year. In accordance with Wellington’s Law Enforcement Services Agreement (LESA), the PBSO is
housing units, 300,000 square feet of commercial space and 50,000 square feet of office space on the nearby Indian Trails Grove property. Most of the land currently is being leased for farming.
Looking to the future, Argue said, “I want it to be understood that this is an agricultural crossing, period.”
During discussions the following day, GL backed off, and the permit was issued.
“We went back and forth for weeks, but in the end, we reached
TOWN-CRIERTHE
required to file an annual services plan outlining accomplishments, challenges and future goals.
That 15 percent juvenile percentage remained the same from 2022, even though the overall number of arrests fell from 476 to 350, records show. It stood at 11 percent in 2021.
The PBSO intends to renew a program aimed specifically at juvenile offenders in District 8, which covers Wellington.
“To address all juvenile-related crime issues, District 8 will continue to utilize the Juvenile Arrest and Monitoring (JAM) deputy to 1) educate the district’s
agreement,” ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said, adding that while she was not “100 percent happy” with the outcome, she was glad to see the issue put to rest.
Accomando, a Carol Street resident, was vilified by some neighbors for how the culvert removal was handled. She has repeatedly said that public safety was her only motivation in bringing the deteriorated culvert to the attention of ITID staff. The board accepted the staff’s recommendation and voted 5-0 for the removal.
In other business:
• The supervisors voted 5-0 for staff to move forward with negotiations with Diamond Communications to place a 120-foot-tall cell tower on property owned by ITID at 15955 71st Place North at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The tower would be disguised as a pine tree on a 40-by-40-foot portion of the larger property and host relays for at least four cell phone carriers. Diamond Communications would be seeking a 40-year lease.
During the discussion, it was noted that the land was being held for a possible future fire station. A Diamond Communications representative said his company would
deputies in keeping them informed about juveniles on probation, and 2) to ensure those juveniles are frequently monitored,” the report explained. “Any juveniles found violating their probation are arrested and returned to the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). Additionally, we continue to work with the State Attorney’s Office to address particularly troublesome juvenile cases.”
Vehicle burglaries (178 in 2023) helped drive an overall 28 percent increase in property crimes in Wellington. The report does not break those down by age of the offender, but they have involved
work with the district to locate the tower in such a way that there still would be room for a fire station.
Argue also asked ITID’s attorney to make sure that allowing a tower of such height would not set a precedent and create a loophole for future construction of equally tall structures.
• The supervisors approved up to $340,000 for a new or used guardrail to block illegal access to the district from the Town of Loxahatchee Groves at 162nd Drive North.
• The supervisors heard that renovations to Temple Park — including restoration of the tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts — could cost between $350,000 to $500,000. “They’re not in good shape… [and] there’s no way to simply repair them,” ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson said.
• An Aug. 28 workshop with the Acreage Athletic League was canceled while the AAL works through some internal issues, Hanson said this week. The AAL is seeking a new service provider agreement with the district. The supervisors were expected to vote on the issue at their Sept. 18 regular meeting.
juveniles in the past, often with unlocked vehicles.
In addition, the Mall at Wellington Green continues to attract juveniles, sometimes from surrounding communities, officials said.
For those living within Wellington, the PBSO tries to bring support programs to bear.
“In addition to our enforcement strategies, the district’s Community Policing Unit proactively looks to identify families that have juvenile-related problems and work with the village to support these
JCPenney Redesign
continued from page 1
panti argued for letting the store’s choices stand, because it fits the chain’s new look.
“I personally am fine with it,” Raspanti said.
She made a motion to approve the application, but it was not seconded and failed.
“I know the village spends a lot of time and money making sure we’ve got colors and a look that is compatible throughout not just the mall site but the community,” said Greene, a former member of the Wellington Village Council.
“It’s a tough pill for me to swallow from a compatibility standpoint.” A justification statement from the company said, “JCPenney is refreshing the interior and exterior of the store with a budget of over $500,000. The scope will include fresh interior white paint, updates to fitting rooms and interior spaces, and alignment with the company’s nationwide color scheme. The exterior of the building was already painted to the provided scope, as JCPenney was not aware of the ARB process or the paint color requirements.”
Village staff recommended ei-
families with programs,” the report continued.
After juveniles and property crimes, the PSBO identifies lowering vehicle crashes as a priority. The crash rate crept up to 2.059 per 100 residents in 2023, up from 1.977 the year before. The game plan there involves at least 10,000 vehicle stops in Wellington in the upcoming fiscal year. Among other initiatives, the strategy is to “target enforcement of seatbelts and texting while driving,” according to the report.
ther the background to the big wall sign go back to the same off-white color as the rest of the building, or the dark background color known as Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain be reduced to 200 square feet from an estimated 300.
But there are problems with that, observed Board Chair Stacy Somers. “If we strip away the gray, I feel like this white lettering is going to kind of fade into this beige background,” Somers said. The white letters are ringed in black, staff noted. Alternatively, a tightened box of gray around the white letters could look out of scale, some worried. Any changes the board might decree could cost the store money. On the other hand, simply allowing what is there now makes it harder to deny other stores similar leeway, or perhaps even encourages future applicants to plead ignorance, make changes first and seek permission later. In other action, the board approved updates to the Lazy Dog restaurant plans for the Lotis development on the west side of State Road 7, north of Forest Hill Blvd. Among them were reducing the prominence of an architectural tower in the planned restaurant’s profile and adding wood backing to building signs amid a surrounding stone surface.
STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ
Town-Crier
The new culvert under construction near the Santa Rosa Groves neighborhood. PHOTO COURTESY THE INDIAN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Shakeera Thomas, NRI Clinical Director Dr. Mary Jean Duthie and Arianna Vishnudat-Samaroo.
Erin and Paula Beauchesne with Jessynia Rivero.
Rose Boutin with her son, Eddbryan Boutin.
NRI’s Elizabeth Stolkowski with Nadia Taylor, pinned by Dr. Jermaine Myers.
NRI’s Elizabeth Stolkowski with Maria Valencia, pinned by Osmaira Catalan.
Alumni speaker Guerlande Fontus.
Student speaker Karen Azan.
Student speaker Jessynia Rivero.
The guest speaker was Wellington Regional Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Tracy Edelstein.
NRI graduates gather for a group photo.
Jorgens Nemorin, pinned by Sandra Condé.
NRI’s Elizabeth Stolkowski with Nicole Cruz, pinned by Janet Cruz.
NRI’s Elizabeth Stolkowski with Sha’von Butler, pinned by Nakya Dotson.
Karen Azan, Jessynia Rivero, Dr. Tracy Edelstein, Mayor Fred Pinto and Councilman Jeff Hmara.
Faculty members Hans Meyer, Anthony Ferri, Ellen Steinberg, Sara Curry, Elizabeth Stolkowski, David Lynch, M.J. Duthie, Guerlande Fontus and Charmaine Huntley.
Mariah Valdez, Erin Beachesne, Anthony Ferri, Dr. Han Meyer, Jessynia Rivero and Nerline Louis-Osias (diagnostic medical sonongraphy graduates).
Welcome to Neighborly Urgent Care Express.
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Conservation Tradition Continues At AAZK Bowling For Rhinos Event
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report
The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) has been raising funds for endangered rhinoceros conservation since 1990. The AAZK chapter at Lion Country Safari is in its 22nd year of hosting its Bowling for Rhinos fundraising event.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, more than 80 participants came to the Greenacres Bowl to enjoy pizza, music, a silent auction, a raffle and, of course, bowling.
“We have a part two for this event,” AAZK Chapter President Frank Verney said. “We have Winos for Rhinos on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. We will be hosting it at the Tasting Room in West Palm Beach, and that will end our
Bowling for Rhinos fundraising for this year.”
For those interested in participating in AAZK events, or to learn more about the local chapter’s work in conservation and education, visit www.aazklcs.com or e-mail aazklcs@gmail.com.
SHARKEY/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Rotary Club To Hold Annual Peace Day Ceremony Sept. 22
Each year in September, the Rotary Club of Wellington holds its annual World Peace Day ceremony aimed at promoting multicultural understanding and conflict resolution as a means to achieve world peace.
This year, the ceremony will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. at the Wellington Rotary Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive near the Wellington branch library. The ceremony is the culmination of work that started in January with competitions within all local schools.
Elementary school students
were encouraged to submit posters that depict multicultural understanding and conflict resolution. More than 350 posters were submitted and judged. A winner from each school was chosen and will receive a check for $75 and a certificate at the ceremony. Middle school students entered poems on the same topic. Approximately 100 poems were received, and the winner from each school will get a check for $100. High school students submitted essays on a chosen theme. This year, the words of Benjamin Franklin were used: “There is no
such thing as a good war, and no such thing as a bad peace.” A winner from each school will receive $125. All the winners’ teachers will also receive a check for $75 for use in their classrooms.
A single student is also chosen as the person who is deemed to have contributed the most in achieving the goals of the Wellington Rotary Peace Initiative. Each year, a high school student is awarded the SMART (Student Mediation Award for Resolutions Today) award. A student who helps bring their
classmates together receives this award.
The annual Wellington Rotary Peace Prize will go this year to Diana Stanley for her years of service as CEO of the Lord’s Place and their work helping the homeless and less fortunate in Palm Beach County.
The peace ceremony will commence with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Drill Team providing an honor guard and playing “Taps” as flags are raised by Wellington High School Interact members.
The words on the peace poles
— “May Peace Prevail on Earth” — will be read in eight different languages by local residents.
After speeches by local dignitaries, including Mayor Michael Napoleone reading the Peace Declaration, and the presentation of prizes, the ceremony will end with Dr. Wes Boughner’s release of peace doves.
Boughner, the father of the Wellington Rotary Peace Initiative, developed the annual World Peace Day ceremony beginning in 2006. Most of the 60 club members have volunteered in some way to help put this program on for the Wel-
lington community. According to the club, “The peace initiative is aimed at reaching out to all within the Wellington community and to bringing awareness of the continuing need for multicultural understanding and conflict resolution as a way forward to achieving world peace. It is especially important that we start this with our students and young people.”
The whole community is welcome to attend the ceremony, which lasts for approximately one hour. For more info., contact Don Gross at wellrotary1@gmail.com or visit www.wellingtonrotary.org.
Meals’ Welcomes Local Volunteers To Feed Hungry Neighbors
Great things come in small packages, and in this case, there are 200,000 of them. On Hunger Action Day, Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Palm Beach County Food Bank (PBCFB) will be hosting its “Day of 200,000 Meals” in partnership with the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and catering by Lessing’s Hospitality Group.
The gathering will take place during Hunger Action Month, where volunteers will package meals to support the one in nine hungry residents in Palm Beach County.
“We are so grateful to our partners at the Kravis Center for allowing us to host this event,”
NEWS BRIEFS
Sept. 11
Remembrance Ceremony In Wellington
The community is invited to join the Wellington Village Council on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. for a remembrance ceremony at the Wellington Patriot Memorial (12198 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. During the ceremony, village officials will share their thoughts and lay a memorial wreath for those lost and affected by the attacks. Representatives from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and the New York Fraternal Order of Police 3100 will also be in attendance to show solidarity for those lost on 9/11. Wellington dedicated its Patriot Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The memorial includes one of the largest steel beams salvaged from the World Trade Center site, as well as an eternal flame fountain and etched glass panels inscribed with the names of the victims. For information on Patriot Memorial sponsorship opportunities, including personalized brick pavers, contact Public Works Administrative Coordinator Michelle Diaz at (561) 791-4117.
St. Michael Drive-Through
Pet Blessing
Friday, Oct. 4 is the Feast Day for St. Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. St. Michael Lutheran Church at 1925 Birkdale Drive in Wellington will celebrate this day with a community-wide drive-through pet blessing from 4 to 7 p.m. All are welcome regardless of faith.
PBCFB CEO Jamie Kendall said. “Our community-wide events always leave us in awe of the kind-spirited volunteers and sponsors that exist in all corners of Palm Beach County. It’ll be exciting to see the extraordinary impact that will come out of this day, thanks to the generosity of our community.”
Packaged pasta meals will feed a family of up to six people and will be distributed among the food bank’s more than 200 local community partners.
Between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., volunteers can participate in the three available shifts in the Gimelstob Ballroom in the Cohen Pavilion
at the Kravis Center. It’s free to volunteer, and participants will receive a complimentary t-shirt.
There are several opportunities for participants to do their part on Hunger Action Day. Available volunteer shifts include: 9 a.m. to noon, noon to 3 p.m., and 3 to 5 p.m.
“We are honored to serve as the presenting sponsor for a ‘Day of 200,000 Meals’ and act as a central hub for compassionate and community-minded individuals to come together,” Kravis Center CEO Diane Quinn said. “Our mission extends beyond enriching lives through the arts; it encompasses a commitment to supporting our neighbors by providing essential resources and addressing their fundamental needs.” For more information, or to reserve your team’s volunteer slots, visit www.pbcfoodbank.org/dayof-200-000-meals-event.
In the spirit of giving and to ensure that no village resident goes without a hot meal this Thanksgiving, the Village of Wellington invites residents to participate in the annual Holiday Food Drive. The village is partnering with local community partners and their various organizations to receive donated food items for this year’s drive.
Donations will be accepted Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Friday, Nov. 15. Residents are asked to contribute non-perishable food items that have not exceeded their expiration dates. Items needed include canned vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, sweet potatoes), cornbread muffin mix, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, packaged stuffing and turkey gravy.
Convenient drop-off locations for donations can be found at several village facilities, including the Wellington Tennis Center at 3100 Lyons Road, Wellington Village Hall at 12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Village Park at 11700 Pierson Road and the Wellington Community Center at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Donations will also be taken at Wellington’s Lakeside Market, held Thursday nights at the Wellington Amphitheater, located at 12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The community is invited to participate and make a difference in the lives of neighbors this holiday.
Pastor A.J. Striffler will offer each pet and their owner an individual blessing. Pets will also be offered treats and water as well. For more information about St. Michael Lutheran Church, visit www.stmichaelelc.com or contact the church office Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at (561) 793-4999. Sunday morning services are at 9:30 a.m.
The Binks Forest Elementary School PTA will hold its annual fundraising event “Party with a Purpose” on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Wellington National Golf Club, located at 400 Binks Forest Drive. The event raises funds to purchase educational supplies for the school. The event will feature a “Moonlight Masquerade” theme. There will be a full casino, auction items, basket prizes and dancing. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at the adults-only event. Tickets are $60 until Sept. 10, and $75 from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15. No tickets will be sold at the door. Buy tickets at www.binksforestpta.org.
County To Host National Recovery Month Conference In Wellington
Join in Palm Beach County’s annual Recovery Month Conference, held this year in Wellington on Wednesday, Sept. 25. The theme for the sixth annual National Recovery Month Conference is “A Journey of Resilience, Recovery and Renewal.” Join the county in celebrating September as National Recovery Month, receive updates on the county’s substance use disorder and mental health initiatives, learn ways to achieve health and wellness through a resilience and recovery capital lens, and join in a community feedback session and other fun activities.
The conference is hosted in partnership with the Palm Beach County Community Services Department, the Recovery Community Hub of Palm Beach County, BeWell of Palm Beach County and Commonly Well.
This year’s conference features Dr. Julie Radlauer-Doerfler as the keynote speaker. She is a leading expert in the social influences of mental health and uses her experience to create an impact within communities, systems, organizations and individuals. She has extensive experience in behavioral health, public health and organizational development and speaks nationally and internationally on social support and social connectedness. The first 100 attendees to check in at the conference will receive her newly released book, 100 Ways to Create Happiness in Your Life.
Residents and leaders from governments, nonprofits, foundations and businesses are all invited to attend this free event, set for Wednesday, Sept. 25. Check-in and networking start at 9 a.m., with the event running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Register at https:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/ reg/g2phkf3.
Genealogical Society Meeting Set For Sept. 14
The Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County will present “Got Ancestors? We Can Help You Find Them at the Genealogy Library” on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the Palm Beach County Main Library at 3650 Summit Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
Librarian Paula Vick will identify resources at the library that might help with your research. The Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County maintains a genealogical library, provides instruction, promotes scholarly research, and collects, preserves and disseminates genealogical and family history information. For more information, visit www. gensocofpbc.org.
Step up to the starting line and join the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County for its 10th annual Heroes for Education 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, Oct. 6 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth.
The event aims to bring together supporters of education to promote health and wellness while raising funds and awareness for the foundation’s programs, grants and initiatives that make a difference in students’ lives in the School District of Palm Beach County.
The morning will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including the Kids One Mile Fun Run, the Kids 100 Yard Dash and the School Mascot Dash. Participants can enjoy family-friendly entertainment, refreshments and opportunities to engage with community sponsors and vendors, making it a festive event for the entire family.
“We are thrilled to bring together our community to celebrate education at our 10th annual Heroes for Education 5K Run/Walk,” Education Foundation CEO James Gavrilos said. “The event is the perfect opportunity to get active and support our mission to enrich the educational experience for students. We hope to see you there as we race for a brighter future in education!” Registration will begin at 6 a.m. for the races at the following times: 7:15 a.m., Kids One Mile Fun Run; 7:45 a.m., 5K Run/Walk; 8:40 a.m., School Mascot Dash; 8:45 a.m., Kids 100 Yard Dash; and 9:15 a.m., Award Ceremony. Event sponsors include UnitedHealthcare, Optum, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Boca West Children’s Foundation, Tanger and Gold Coast Federal Credit Union.
Awards will be given in various categories, including the Heroes Awards for the largest overall participating team and the largest elementary, middle and high school teams. Awards will also be given to the fastest teams in the elementary, middle and high
The School Mascot Dash will feature Palm Beach County school mascots racing to raise money for their respective schools.
school categories, as well as age groups from 9 to 70-plus and overall winners. Additionally, the School Mascot Dash will feature Palm Beach County school mascots racing to raise money for their respective schools. Registration fees are $35 for the 5K Run/Walk, $25 for school district students, teachers and employees with ID, $20 for the Kids One Mile Fun Run and $15 for the Kids 100 Yard Dash. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ FL/LakeWorth/HeroesforEducationRunWalk. For more info., contact Angel Adams at angel@ educationfoundation.com. The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County was founded in 1984 and serves as a nexus between the county’s public schools and the community. The foundation awards grants, supports innovative programs and scholarships, and provides necessary school supplies and resources from Red Apple Supplies, the foundation’s signature program. The foundation operates more than 100 programs which close achievement gaps in learning, prepare students for post-secondary success, and create positive, measurable change for more than 100,000 students. Visit www.educationfoundationpbc.org to learn more. Education
PHOTOS BY CALLIE
Chris Gayle, Alyssa Thibodeau, AAZK Chapter President Frank Verney, Raven Bernard, Caitlyn Salamida and Travis Curling.
Katie Perhacs bids on a silent auction item.
Emma Neugent and Raven Bernard.
Jerry and Rita Rallo enjoy some pizza.
Ashlee Butler of Juno Couture shows off her unique wares.
AAZK chapter officers Secretary Ryan Guía, Conservation Officer Charlotte Jones, President Frank Verney, Communication Officer Alyssa Thibodeau and Vice President Meghan Gillespie.
Alee Carter shows off her animal-themed artwork.
Emily Borsodi-Sundberg with her daughter Layla.
Morgan Miller and Michele Dzama get ready to bowl.
Volunteers will package thousands of meals on Sept. 17.
Jay Eversole, Samantha Silverberg, Shelley Nesbitt, Sean Majewski, Tim Krusko, Jamie Huls, Brittany Evans and Alex Gumiroff of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.
Bob Barella, Bill Cittadino, Bruce Lubsen, Mickey Karlo, Bob Biello and Tom Monticello with Angelo “Bif” Radassao.
Friends of Royal Palm Beach resident Angelo “Bif” Radassao
Angelo “Bif” Radassao enjoys his big day.
Bob Barrella and Bob Biello.
Mickey Karlo and Tom Monticello.
Angelo “Bif” Radassao with Mary Rakoff and Mark Rakoff, owners of Hilary’s.
Boys & Girls Club board members Lidy Mata, Allie Britt, Shelly Albright, Linsey Desich, Sonali Mendiratta, Luc Limbourg, Louis Eisenburg and Jason Kimbrell.
Shelly Albright hands out popcorn to the kids.
Palms West CEO Jason Kimbrell and his therapy dog Dax with Marie.
Julie and Avery Trieste. Zuri gets a butterfly painted on her face by Rachel of Face Art by Daisy.
Sonali Mendiratta and Linsey Desich prepare cotton candy.
Club Director LaTricia Jenkins and PBSO
Capt. Nichole Addazio with club children.
large contingent was on hand from Palms West Hospital.
Colorectal & General Surgery
Dr. Hayder Al-Azzawi is a colorectal and general surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted abdominal procedures, anorectal procedures and robotic abdominal procedures for a wide range of colon and rectal cancer, digestive and abdominal ailments including cancer and benign diseases such as diverticulitis, polyps and hernias.
Dr. Al-Azzawi and his experienced medical team offer treatment options using some of the most advanced techniques and specialize in same day discharge colon surgeries, that may benefit patients with an easier, more comfortable recovery.
Procedures
• Colon and Rectal Cancer
• Diverticulitis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis)
• Rectal Prolapse
• Fecal Incontinence
• Hernias
• Robotic Surgery
• Same Day D/C Colon Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Hemorrhoid Procedure
MALL’S LEADERS ADDRESS GREATER WELLINGTON CHAMBER AT LUNCHEON
The Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon event on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Wellington National Golf Club. The topic of the luncheon was “Transforming the Mall at Wellington Green” with guest speakers including Mall at Wellington Green General Manager Asad Sadiq and Carmen Spinoso, CEO of Spinoso Realty Group, which operates the mall.
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, accepted a Community Project Funding check for $2.25 million for affordable workforce housing from U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-District 20). This funding will provide gap financing for the acquisition, construction and equipping of housing for affordable and workforce housing.
“On behalf of the people of Palm Beach County, I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s commitment and support of our efforts to provide housing for all our residents. The demand for affordable housing continues to
increase with the ongoing population growth in the area, along with the average wage, which continues to lag behind the amount of money people need to buy affordable housing, and the result is that our essential workers and service providers are basically being priced out of our area,” Sachs said. “This new commitment by her office, from the federal government to us, will give us an opportunity to build affordable housing that we are hopeful will help ease the effects of this housing crisis. On behalf of the people of Palm Beach County and this county commission, we thank the congresswoman for her support in addressing and relieving the affordable housing crisis.”
As required by state law, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office has mailed notices to all property owners in Palm Beach County on behalf of the taxing authorities that set the tax rates and levy taxes on properties.
The 2024 Truth in Millage or TRIM notices include information about property values, exemptions and assessment reductions, and budget hearings. One side of the TRIM notices details the proposed taxes to be levied on each property by taxing authorities, along with the dates, times and locations of budget hearings. During those hearing, the final tax rates will be determined, and so those meetings are an opportunity to raise concerns about proposed tax rates. In addition, there is a section for non-ad valor-
em assessments, which are charges for governmental services such as solid waste, drainage, street lighting, etc. They are not based on the value of the property. The other side of the notice lists the market, assessed, and taxable values of each property, along with any qualified exemptions and assessment caps. Also listed is information regarding the process for filing a petition to appeal the market valuation or exemptions. The deadline to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board is Sept. 16. More information is available at www.pbcpao.gov/trim. The office welcomes any questions regarding your notice, property value and exemption amounts at (561) 3552866 or myexemption@pbcgov. org.
Sylvie Leduc, Julie Trieste, Jason Kimbrell, Dr. Allison Rice, Stephanie Kelley and Claudia Mallory of Palms West Hospital.
Mall at Wellington Green General Manager Asad Sadiq, Wellington Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Wellington Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri and Spinoso Realty Group CEO Carmen Spinoso.
Kim Voyer, Alec Domb and Westlake Councilwoman Charlotte Leonard.
Women of Wellington (WOW) Leadership Team members Arlene Smith and Melody Domb.
State Rep. Katherine Waldron, Alec Domb and Stuart Hack.
Sandy Erb, Anne Gerwig and Lois Spatz.
Kendra Sabha, Dr. Deirdre Reid-Thomas, Dana Murphy and Barbara Richardson.
New members Tonie
VanderHulst, Susan Wenberg and Darrell (Rusty) Radford.
Palm Beach County officials accept the Community Project Funding check.
Nugget Mothers Helping Mothers
continued from page 1
an 8-month-old, I understand the financial challenges of baby es-
sentials. That’s why I established ‘Helping One Nugget at a Time.’ We’re dedicated to assisting families with babies, toddlers, teens and your loved ones. From diapers to clothes to toys, we’re collecting it all!” she explained. The moms’ community has turned out in droves. One woman anonymously delivers 20 boxes of
Council
First Budget Hearing
Held
continued from page 3 the planned $148 million village budget for fiscal year 2025, starting Oct. 1. The latest budget includes an increased contribution for a roundabout at 120th Avenue South and Lake Worth Road. Final approval of the budget will come up for consideration Thursday, Sept. 19.
• After an extended discussion, the council voted unanimously to proceed with updated land use and zoning for recently annexed
properties near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road on the north side of Southern Blvd.
Several speakers spoke in support of the updated land use and zoning, which, in keeping with the plan included with the annexation proposal, gives commercial zoning to land fronting on Southern or Seminole Pratt, with residential zoning in the interior areas.
Nearby resident Alex Larson voiced her opposition. “All that shows is Wellington needs more money,” she said. The council gave some consideration to which level of residential use to place on the interior land. “Residential E” was recommended, but the council discussed using the slightly less dense “Residential
cereal at a time. A local neonatal nurse just posted on the site about needing weighted blankets, and several mothers responded within minutes. Grandmothers are also participating.
“I am a licensed day care provider, and one of my moms has a preemie (surviving twin) who is on special formula, and because of this group, I was able to get two containers of formula for her son,” Mary Kaye Packard said, thanking Ivey for her work with the group.
Alexa Murphy is Ivey’s partner in doing good. “Our kids are the same age and hang out together while Destiny and I sort donations and makes posts,” Murphy said. “I’m an admin for the site and here almost every day.”
She is shocked how quickly things have taken off and how far the program has expanded. “We started with baby clothes, and now people donate everything from baby furniture to wall hangings,” Murphy said.
“We had someone donate a washer and dryer one day,” Ivey added. “We had 25 requests for it within 15 minutes of putting the item on our page.”
What about leftover items?
“There aren’t any. We screen donations, and once in our system, we keep it available,” Ivey said, pointing out a like-new green children’s lamp with a frog imprinted on it. “We’ve had this cute thing since the beginning. I’m not sure why it’s still here, but I’ll advertise it until someone can make good use of it in their home.”
Donation boxes are clearly labeled on the covered front porch, and up to 50 people a day come
D.” Village Manager Jim Barnes noted that the zoning requirement of only allowing single-family homes on the approximately 125 acres already significantly restricts what can go there. The land was assigned “Residential E,” as suggested by staff.
• A hot-button issue to watch for in the future: Several speakers said village enforcement against abuses at short-term rentals is not cutting it. They referred to noise and parking issues, even occasional episodes of violence. Village efforts are constrained by state laws, but Vice Mayor John McGovern said he wanted meaningful updates at the next meeting on what village officials are doing to address the problem.
by to donate or pick up. Vanessa Quigley and her daughter Aurora stop by mostly to donate and pick up items to help others.
“Today, I’m picking up food and clothes to help a woman I know who has seven kids,” she said, as she arrived and left inside of two minutes.
As their children Colton and Ryder play with each other, Ivey and Murphy sort donations. Asked whether the program might ever become too popular, Ivey scoffed at the idea.
“The more the merrier. I just keep thinking how hard it would be to be a single mom in this ex-
pensive community,” she said. “I keep thinking how it could be me and my baby in dire need, so I am so grateful we can do a little to help moms out… one little nugget at a time.” To get involved, search Facebook for “Helping One Nugget at a Time.”
Join Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control For ‘Clear The Shelter’ Adoption Event
Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control is inviting the public to an event at the shelter, located at 7100 Belvedere Road, just west of Florida’s Turnpike, on Saturday, Sept. 7 from noon to 4 p.m., to promote adoptions for the end of Clear the Shelters, a nationwide event hosted by NBCUniversal. Come on out to Animal Care & Control and help clear the shelters. The shelters are overcrowded and bursting at the seams with adorable
CarePlus Health Plans Inc., a leader in Florida’s Medicare market, has introduced its new CarePlus Community Navigator found at https://careplus.findhelp. com. The innovative platform is designed to address critical social determinants of health, which are nonmedical risk factors, such as life circumstances and environments, that can affect a person’s health and well-being.
Floridians using the CarePlus Community Navigator will be able to find and connect to valuable local resources, such as food
ITID
Citrus Grove Halloween
continued from page 1 because there is too little parking, and the equestrian venue is not designed for such an event. She suggested that Acreage Community Park is the only realistic location.
cats and dogs looking for loving homes, and interested individuals can help make a difference. Sept. 7 is the final day of the nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign. Not only will adoption save lives, but event attendees can
of
listed are based on those most requested in the areas where they live. Initial utilization shows that 47 percent of searches on the CarePlus Community Navigator are related to food security, 26 percent to housing and 8 percent to transportation. “When we talk about the overall wellness of Medicare beneficiaries, health equity is always at the forefront of discussions,” said Steven Ruiz, president of CarePlus Health Plans. “The launch of the CarePlus Community Navigator
The CarePlus Community Navigator is part of a larger effort
“I support doing it within the confines of [Citrus Grove Park] and creating a safe space” during the traditional Halloween celebration, Argue said. In the end, the board made no final decision on if, when or where to host an alternative event.
Hanson said that moving the event to Acreage Community Park could interfere with previously scheduled Acreage Athletic League games and practices.
“We’re not trying to stop [the block party], but we need to limit our liability,” Accomando said. Hanson said he appreciates that the block party has become a tradition but emphasized that if someone were to be seriously injured during the revelry, “we’re the ones who are going to be left holding the bag.” Argue voiced her disagreement and urged Citrus Grove homeowners to come to ITID’s Sept. 18 meeting to share their views.
“Helping One Nugget at a Time” founder Destiny Ivey with her little nugget, Colton.
CANCER
Early detection is key to surviving pancreatic cancer
Trends suggest pancreatic cancer will be the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States by 2030. While researchers are working on new and effective therapeutics to treat pancreatic cancer, the best option for patients is finding the disease early when it is most treatable.
“There isn’t a screening protocol or reliable test for pancreatic cancer, so it’s essential that we get patients referred as soon as the first potential signs of disease arise,” says Mayank Roy, MD, Surgical Director, Pancreas Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.
Dr. Roy shares these four key red flags that should raise suspicion of pancreatic cancer:
• Painless jaundice
• New onset diabetes in older adults
• Uncontrolled diabetes after years of control
• Initial presentation of adult pancreatitis with no obvious cause
Unfortunately, symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer can be vague and often do not develop until the disease has begun impacting other organs. These symptoms include nausea, bloating and abdominal or back pain, as well as weight loss and jaundice, among others.
“We have specialists from South Florida to the Treasure Coast who participate in our multidisciplinary Tumor Board meetings held every two weeks to review cases and develop treatment plans,” says Dr. Roy. “It’s a critical part of making sure our patients receive the right care for the best possible outcome.”
Our highly experienced team includes oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, nutritionists and geneticists who develop a personalized treatment plan for each patient.
Pancreas Center is a Center of Excellence
The Pancreas Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital is one of only four centers in Florida recognized by the National Pancreatic Foundation as a Center of Excellence for the treatment of both pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
A highly experienced team that includes oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, nutritionists and geneticists offers a multidisciplinary approach to develop a personalized treatment plan and disease management for patients who present with symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
The only way to improve survival in pancreatic cancer is total surgical removal of the cancer at an early stage combined with chemotherapy. The Pancreas Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital is a high-volume center that receives referrals from across southeast Florida, including all surgical cases within Cleveland Clinic’s regional health system in Florida.
“Surgery and chemotherapy are the current standard of care for resectable pancreatic cancers,” says Dr. Roy. “Here in Weston, we perform pancreas surgeries laparoscopically or robotically in appropriate candidates. The increased use of minimally invasive surgical approaches has reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with these highly complex surgeries.”
Dr. Roy believes a major treatment advancement for pancreatic cancer is years away. “Our best hope in the short term is to improve early detection and find more resectable disease.”
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Roy or a Cleveland Clinic cancer specialist in West Palm Beach, call 877.463.2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Access today.
Mayank Roy, MD
Gail Rand, Rose Seenarine and Sandra Meeranje. Khadijeh Hommasi and Mehrdad Ghezelayagh.
Linda Foutty and Khadijeh Hommasi show off their henna tattoos.
Sandra Papciak, Debra Bundshuh, Elena Acevedo and Wayne Papciak.
Sarrah Shabbir applies a henna tattoo to Rhonda Sidlauskas.
Victor Montero and Karen Labarga show off her henna tattoo.
(Front row) David Merrick, Chris Englestad, Connie Vasalotti and Irene Sabatka; and (back row) Vernalyn Rowe and Barbara Searls.
Ronny Shariff, Hannah Weidgans and Ivy Benito dance.
Entertainer Andre Carroll (right) leads a dance.
WELLINGTON CELEBRATES SENIOR CITIZENS DAY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER
The Village of Wellington celebrated Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Wellington Community Center. The event included a visit from Big Dog Ranch Rescue volunteers with dogs for adoption, as well as guests from the City of Belle Glade Parks & Recreation Center. Entertainer Neil Zirconia performed for the crowd.
WRMC Among Top Hospitals For Treating Heart Attack Patients
Center has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2024. Wellington Regional is one of only 259 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.
The award recognizes Wellington Regional’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that the hospital has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.
To receive the Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, Wellington Regional Medical Center has demonstrated sustained achieve-
ment in the Chest Pain – MI Registry for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process, using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.
“It is an honor to award Wellington Regional Medical Center with the Platinum Performance Award for their valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Dr. Michael C. Kontos, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and a cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “The receipt of this award
indicates that Wellington Regional Medical Center remains committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.
Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s top-performing hospitals for the
treatment of heart attack patients.
The American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing the highest quality of care. This achievement reflects our sustained commitment to excellence and our relentless focus on improving patient outcomes,” said Pam Tahan, CEO of Wellington Regional Medical Center.
Chest Pain – MI Registry empowers healthcare provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Guests from the City of Belle Glade Parks & Recreation Center.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue volunteers Steven with Lychee, Brogan with Betty, Dave with Bubba, Lorna with Barkley, Lisa with Ruth and Larry with Puddles.
German and Clarita Urrea.
Neil Zirconia serenades Elfriede Beyel.
Ashley Hamzik and Kyle Ostroff.
Roxanne Stein and K.P. Birhane hand out lunch.
Conviva Care Center Community Engagement Specialist Angelica Rivera with Rosa Norton.
Wellington Regional Medical
Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County CEO Jaene Miranda addresses the gathering.
Attendees enjoy some of the great food available at Molé Mexican Cantina.
Wellington Village Council members Amanda Silvestri, Maria Antuña, Michael Napoleone and John McGovern with Boys & Girls Club board members.
Board members Marcella Montesinos and Luc Limbourg with Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone.
Board Member Marcella Montesinos with Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County CEO Jaene Miranda.
Kevin Crosby and Charles Orozco of event sponsor JP Morgan.
Jenny Pettis-Hassell and Debra Jackson.
Louis and Beth Eisenberg.
Ian Williams and Byron Smith.
Mary Coleman, Wellington Vice Mayor John McGovern and Marcella Montesinos. Luc Limbourg, Duane O’Connor, Patricia Limbourg and Lisa Tvedten.
Rosario and Latricia Jenkins.
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.
Jonathan Lam, M.D, M.B.A.
James Walsh, O.D.
General Eye Care
• Laser Cataract Surgery
• Laser Vision Correction/LASIK
• Medical & Surgical Retina (Macular Degeneration/Diabetic Retinopathy)
• Diabetic Eye Exams
• Corneal Transplantation, Tumors & Lesions of the External Eye
Medical & Surgical Glaucoma
• Advanced Dry Eye Care & Treatment
TEMPLE B’NAI JACOB OF WELLINGTON
• Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Eye Allergy Treatments 12794 West Forest Hill Blvd, #6 Wellington, FL 33414
561-793-4347
www.templebnaijacob.org Templebnaijacob@gmail.com
COME CELEBRATE THE 2024 HIGH HOLIDAYS AT TEMPLE B’NAI JACOB
We are a conservative synagogue serving the western communities of Palm Beach County. Our services are traditional, engaging, and inspiring, in a setting where every congregant counts!
ROSH HASHANA
Erev Rosh Hashana Wednesday October 2nd @ 7 PM
First Day Thursday October 3rd @ 10 AM
Second Day Friday October 4th @ 10 AM
YOM KIPPUR
Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur Friday October 11th @ 6:30 PM
Morning Service/Yizkor Saturday October 12th @ 10 AM
Mincha & Book of Yonah October 12th @5:30 PM
N’ilah/Closing Service October 12th @ 6:30 PM
FASTING ENDS AT approximately 7:30PM
All services are being held at Temple B’nai Jacob of wellington.
A limited number of tickets are available for non-members. Tickets are $150 or 2 tickets for $250.
Please Contact the Temple for information.
RPBHS, TKA Football Teams Undefeated Entering Week Three
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
As week three of the high school football season gets underway, the teams from Royal Palm Beach High School and the King’s Academy are off to a perfect start.
TKA’s varsity football team had a resounding 49-7 victory against Park Vista High School on Aug. 16 in a kickoff classic matchup before opening the regular season with two more victories — a 13-0 win over Saint Andrew’s School on Aug. 23 and a 28-21 victory over Fort Pierce Westwood on Aug. 30. In the win against Saint Andrew’s, TKA quarterback Joe Dailey threw for 143 yards and a touchdown, as he completed 10 of 17 passes. The Lions’ top rusher was Tristan Stewart, who ran for 67 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, James Powell led the team with five tackles and five assisted tackles. In the game against Fort Pierce Westwood, TKA rallied with 14 points in the fourth quarter to prevail. Overall, TKA head coach Dan
Burack is pleased with his team’s commitment to excellence. “So far, our team has shown a relentless effort in games. They never give up on any play,” Burack said. “In practice, we are still working on improving our fundamentals, specifically blocking and tackling.”
The Lions’ pursuit of their next win will take place Friday, Sept. 6 when they travel to Miami-Dade County to play the winless Raiders from Gulliver Prep (0-2). Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. On Sept. 12, the Lions will host Somerset Prep from North Lauderdale. RPBHS Wildcats — The varsity football team from Royal Palm Beach High School is off to its best start in years. Just like TKA, the Wildcats won their kickoff classic game decisively, 52-7, against Olympic Heights High School on Aug. 16. Then they won their first two regular season games — a 28-27 win at Port St. Lucie High School on Aug. 23 and a 59-19 triumph at home against John I. Leonard High School on Aug. 30.
In the win against John I. Leon-
ard, RPBHS head coach Chuck Kenyon was especially pleased with the play of two freshman, Demetrius Gibson and Al Carter. Gibson caught five passes for 116 yards. Two of those receptions were for touchdowns. Carter scored a touchdown on a 50-yard jet sweep.
Another RPBHS player who did exceptionally well against John I. Leonard was sophomore Demetrice Rolle. Rolle returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. After a John I. Leonard player returned Royal Palm Beach’s ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, Rolle returned the very next kickoff by Leonard for more than 80 yards for a second Royal Palm Beach touchdown. In both cases, Rolle ran to daylight and kept going.
“On the first touchdown, I broke to the left where there was blocking, and on the second touchdown, I ran to the right because I saw an opening of daylight,” Rolle recalled.
“In my 26 years of coaching high school football, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Kenyon said. “The score was 13-7 in favor of us at the 11:13 mark of the first quarter. Simply unbelievable.”
The Wildcats will pursue more victories on Friday, Sept. 6 at Suncoast High School and Thursday, Sept. 12 at home against William T. Dwyer High School. WHS Wolverines — The varsity football team from Wellington High School is 1-1 after its first two games of the regular season. In their regular season opener at home on Aug. 22 against Port St. Lucie’s Centennial High School, the Wolverines forced five turnovers, yet still lost, 26-12. Coach Ross Pryor’s Wolverines leveled their record on Aug. 29 with a resounding 31-0 shutout win
against Lake Worth High School.
To date, Pryor is delighted with the overall performance of his defense. “Our defense is playing lights out,” he said. “We are coaching 11 hats to the ball on every defensive snap.”
Three players who had standout performances against Lake Worth were junior running back J.T. Thomas, who ran for 115 yards and a touchdown; senior wide receiver Trey Allen, who caught three passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns; and junior defensive lineman Nicholas Lane, who had two quarterback sacks.
The Wolverines will be looking to add a victory to their win column when they play at Park Vista High School on Sept. 6. The Wolverines have a bye during the fourth week of the regular season.
Other Football Action — The Broncos from Palm Beach Central High School are 1-1 after their first two games. They opened with an impressive 21-14 road win at Pahokee High School on Aug. 23, and then dropped their home opener against West Boca Raton High School, 28-7, on Aug. 30. Palm Beach Central will visit undefeated Spanish River High School on Friday, Sept. 6 and then host Santaluces High School on Friday, Sept. 13.
The Hawks from Seminole Ridge High School could easily be 2-0, but instead are 0-2. The two close losses were a 34-31 overtime defeat against Glades Central High School on Aug. 23, followed by a 27-23 loss to Spanish River High School on Aug. 30. The Hawks will be looking to right their record with victories against Pahokee High School on Thursday, Sept. 5 and West Boca Raton High School on Friday, Sept. 13.
The Berean Christian School Bulldogs opened their season on
Wellington’s Joshua Schwartz Drafted By The Seattle Seawolves Rugby Club
By Mike May
Town-Crier Staff Report
Wellington’s latest athlete to join the professional ranks is a rugby player. Joshua Schwartz is a 2020 graduate of Wellington High School and a 2024 graduate of Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.
In high school, Schwartz, 22, played middle linebacker and as a fullback for the Wolverines football team. He also learned the sport of rugby with the Wellington Wizards Youth Rugby Club.
In the most recent Major League Rugby draft, which was held Wednesday, Aug. 28, Schwartz was selected in the second round by the Seattle Seawolves Rugby Club. When the news reached Schwartz that he had been drafted, he was delighted, yet a bit surprised.
“I submitted my name for the draft, and out of all the names, a combine was held for 50 players, but I was not one of the 50 players invited to the combine, so I didn’t think I would be drafted,” Schwartz said. “During the draft, I was washing dishes where I work at a bar in Charlotte. During a break, I checked my phone, and it was blowing up with text messages about me getting drafted by the Seattle Seawolves. Then, I was getting phone calls and people were posting the news to Instagram.”
Schwartz’s rugby roots can be traced to Wellington, where he started playing rugby in 2014 as a member of the Wellington Wizards. Ron Vargo was one of his first rugby coaches, and he has strong memories of coaching Schwartz.
“Josh was one of our original players when we started the Wellington Wizards in 2014,” Vargo recalled. “We actually won the U14 Florida State Youth Rugby Championship in our first season.”
According to Vargo, Schwartz was a team leader and always had an intimidating presence on the field, where he played as either an inside center, which is like a running back in football, or as a number eight, which is the equivalent to a linebacker or a tight end in football.
“Opposing players didn’t like to tackle Josh because he was like a human bowling ball. And opposing players didn’t like to be tackled by him, either,” Vargo said. “But all his teammates wanted to play with him.”
Longtime Wellington Wizards President Alan Lawson has seen Schwartz develop as an athlete since age six.
“Josh is a businessman on the rugby field,” Lawson said. “He just goes about his business. He’s not a talker, he leads by example, and he’s a real grinder on the field.”
Now, Schwartz’s main position in rugby is the hooker, whose primary job in the scrums is to literally hook the ball with one of his feet along the ground in the direction of his teammates as the ball is inserted into the scrum by his team’s scrumhalf.
Schwartz has the ideal physique and mindset to play hooker in rugby. In addition to his responsibilities in the scrum, the hooker
usually is the player on the team who throws the ball back into play during a lineout, which is the equivalent of a jump ball in basketball. In general, the hooker should have good foot speed, must be able to pass the ball well during live play, and is required to be a sound tackler.
According to Queens University of Charlotte head men’s rugby coach Frank McKinney, Schwartz excels in all three areas.
“Josh is also very accurate with his throw-ins on lineouts, which is important in rugby for a hooker,” McKinney said.
McKinney also has strong words of praise for Schwartz’s commitment to excellence, on and off the rugby field.
“Josh sets the tone for how well a Division I hooker should play and what is expected of a studentathlete,” McKinney added. “He understands the importance of hard work in rugby.”
And, clearly, Schwartz is reaping the dividends.
After starting his rugby journey with the Wellington Wizards and graduating from WHS, Schwartz attended Queens University, where he received a rugby scholarship in order to continue his life as a student-athlete.
This past May, Schwartz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. Currently, he’s playing his last season of rugby for Queens University while he pursues an MBA, which may be put on hold once he starts playing
Aug. 23 with a loss by forfeit against Palm Beach Christian Prep. The official score was 2-0. On Aug. 30, the Bulldogs lost 54-7 to Somerset Academy Key from
Schwartz’s rugby résumé includes playing for many all-star teams, such as the Florida Juice middle school team, the South Florida Lightning U16, the USA Rugby South 7s and the USA Rugby South 15s, where he competed in the 2019 RAN Tournament in Barbados. He continued to excel as the captain of the NCR Southeast Bears Rising Stars in 2022 and was named an all-star in both 2023 and 2024.
“His dedication and leadership qualities have made him a standout player, and we are thrilled to have him join our squad,” noted the Seawolves in a statement after the draft. “Joshua’s diverse background and strong passion for rugby make him a perfect addition to the Seawolves. We can’t wait to see his impact on the field as we gear up for the upcoming season.”
Schwartz is expected to sign a contract with the Seattle Sea-
wolves later this fall, and the new Major League Rugby season will start early next year.
Schwartz worked as an operations intern earlier this year for Anthem Rugby Carolina, the Major League Rugby franchise based in Charlotte.
“When I watched Anthem Rugby Carolina’s games last year, I knew that I could play with those guys,” Schwartz said. Now he will get a chance to do just that.
Besides the Seawolves, the other teams in Major League Rugby include the Houston SaberCats, NOLA Gold Rugby (New Orleans), SD Legion Rugby (San Diego), the New England Free Jacks (Boston), Old Glory DC (Washington, D.C.), the Dallas Jackals, Chicago Hounds Rugby, the Miami Sharks, Anthem Rugby Carolina (Charlotte), RFCLA (Los Angeles) and Utah Warriors Rugby (Salt Lake City).
Joshua Schwartz makes a tackle in a match against the University of Alabama.
Deerfield Beach. On Friday, Sept. 6, Berean hosts Central Florida Christian Academy from Orlando. On Friday, Sept. 13, Berean travels to Miami Country Day School.
Joshua Schwartz receives a pass during a match versus Army.
PHOTOS BY HANNAH TRACY PHOTOGRAPHY AND KATIE BEATTY PHOTOGRAPHY rugby for the Seawolves.
Wellington’s Tyree Jackson gets ready to cut to his left in the game against Centennial. PHOTO BY JACK BARTLETT
TKA senior running back Tristan Stewart runs in the game against Saint Andrew’s School. PHOTO BY DEREK CHIRCH
Seminole Ridge running back Willie Young III breaks free in the game against Glades Central. PHOTO BY RICHARD AREYZAGA JR.
WHS Runner Cameron Shelby Has Big Plans For This Season
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
Wellington High School senior cross-country runner Cameron Shelby is on a mission to run faster each time she competes in a meet this fall. On a personal level, she thrives in a running environment.
“I find it relaxing when I run,” Shelby said. “I also like the team dynamics of running cross country. Also, in running, you can quickly see the results of your hard work and how it pays off.”
Shelby is off to a good start in her senior year. She ran a personal best time of 18:33 (for 3.1 miles/5K) in her first cross-country meet of the fall season. That race, the Garcia Invitational, was contested at Riverbend Park in Jupiter. While she set a personal best at Riverbend, her favorite crosscountry venue in Palm Beach County is South County Regional Park in Boca Raton.
“It’s all grass at South County Regional Park, and there’s only one hill,” Shelby said.
While cross-country meets are contested over a 3.1 mile/5K course, her daily training prepares her for those high school races.
“I’m running six or seven miles a day, six or seven days a week,” Shelby said. “On some occasions, we will run 10 miles in practice.”
You don’t necessarily have to attend one of Shelby’s meets to see her in action, since she and her teammates are literally running around Wellington for practice.
“We run along the sidewalks of Wellington, along the horse trails, and sometimes we run at Okeeheelee Park,” Shelby noted.
Chances are strong that Shelby will break that personal best time of 18:33 at least one more time this season, since she’s also interested in earning her way back to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state cross country meet, which will be held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee on Saturday, Nov. 16. If she qualifies, it will be a repeat performance.
Last year, she finished in third
place in an FHSAA regional, which qualified her for the state meet. When she competed up in Tallahassee, she finished in 34th place. Shelby knows that she can improve on last year’s performance by increasing the difficulty of her practice terrain here in Palm Beach County.
The state venue, Apalachee Regional Park, has many hills. In order to be better prepared for this year’s state meet, Shelby and her teammates are doing more rigorous workouts. “We are doing more bridge repeats and hill repeats,” Shelby explained.
One of Shelby’s running tactics is to wear different shoes for training and racing. She wears New Balance shoes for training and Nike shoes on race day.
“My New Balance shoes have more cushioning and support, whereas the Nikes are more reactive, which means they are better for races,” Shelby said.
As Shelby progresses through the fall season, she is motivated by memories of watching the
Olympic track athletes in Paris last month. But she is fueled on race day by an all-American snack. “I always eat a peanut butter sandwich about two hours before my race,” she said.
The end of the cross-country season will not mark the end of her high school competitive running career because she has the high school track season coming up in the spring.
“In the past, I have always just run the one-mile race in track, but I have done enough training to also include the two-mile run next spring,” Shelby noted.
She also qualified last spring for the FHSAA’s Class 4A Track & Field Championship. There, she ran the one-mile race and finished in 12th place. She hopes to return to the state track meet and improve upon last spring’s performance.
After high school graduation next May, she has her sights set on running cross country in college while pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
TKA Girls Varsity Volleyball Squad Making Strides To Success
By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report
The King’s Academy girls varsity volleyball team has a 5-4 record so far this season, but that is not necessarily a reflection of the team’s overall athleticism, ability and talent. Instead, it’s a sign of the growing pains that many high school volleyball teams need to experience on their way to a strong and successful season.
This year’s team, under the guidance of head coach Bethany Avila and assistant coaches Haley Lane and Rachael Perla, was looking to improve its regular-season record entering Thursday night’s contest at Jupiter High School (4-
1). That result was not available at press time.
This year’s team had a strong start to the season by winning its first three games. The big victory was a straight-set win (25-16, 2511 and 25-15) against longtime girls volleyball powerhouse Lake Worth Christian School on Aug. 26.
The biggest learning experience of the season took place Aug. 3031, when TKA traveled to Gainesville to participate in the Nike Tournament of Champions. There, the Lions played six matches in two days. They won two matches and lost four while playing teams from Kentucky, South Carolina,
Alabama, Georgia and two from Florida. “Our strongest performances were our two wins against Venice High School and the team from Alabama (McGill-Toolon),” Avila said.
According to Avila, during the trip to Gainesville, everybody on the team learned a great deal about what it’s going to take for them to have a winning and memorable season.
“The Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast has the best high school teams in all of the southeastern part of our country, so it was great to play tight matches with all six teams we played in those two days, and it showed us some areas we needed to work on defensively,” Avila said. “It was a great test, and a huge part of our preparation for the rest of the season. The players came back ready to work harder.”
Moving forward, Avila is looking for on-the-court leadership from seniors Kelly Kinney and Sidney Saltalamacchia, as well as sophomores Miranda Knoll and Alanis Molina.
“Kelly, an outside hitter, is our on-court captain chosen by her teammates,” Avila said. “She is a
steady, high-level player, humble but confident. She has the ability to calm the team, leads us in kills, and has the ability to rip from anywhere on the court. She played for USA’s U19 team this summer.”
Saltalamacchia is also a cocaptain chosen by her teammates. “Sidney brings a consistently positive attitude, very athletic reflexes and makes amazing plays. She is a steady server and defender,” Avila said. “Miranda, an outside hitter, is a co-captain chosen by the team. She has the most powerful jump top serve in the county and can power a ball through or surprise you with off-speed shots.”
Molina plays the position of libero. “Alanis is an intense and smiley libero who makes all the plays and is a great passer and solid spiritual leader for the team,” Avila said.
Looking ahead, one of the more intriguing matchups will be Tuesday, Sept. 10 when TKA hosts Boca Raton Christian School, which has been the runner-up in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2A competition in both 2022 and 2023. The game will start at 7 p.m.
The goal is to get ready for the
post-season, which starts in midOctober with the Class 3A, District 14 tournament. The overall goal is to reach the FHSAA’s Class 3A state championship final four, set for Nov. 5-6 in Winter Haven.
Last year’s team advanced to within one game of reaching the Class 3A final four, losing to Lake Highland Prep in the Region 4 final.
Avila is committed to getting her squad to go further in this year’s state tournament.
“The players have set their
sights on making it to the final four in November, and it will take us staying focused, lessening a few errors and tightening up our defense,” she said. “But I wholly believe we will. This group is special, united and mature.” Of the 13 girls on TKA’s varsity roster, there is one eighth grader, one freshman, two sophomores, four juniors and five seniors. The main statistical leaders are two seniors (Kelly Kinney and Kiersten Henley) and a sophomore (Miranda Knoll).
Cross-country runner Cameron Shelby during a competition.
The King’s Academy girls varsity volleyball team.
(Left) TKA’s Kiersten Henley soars for a block and (right) Kelly Kinney with a jump serve. PHOTOS BY DEREK CHIRCH
Red, White & Gold: Team USA Wins Paris Games Polo Challenge
Wellington residents and professional polo players Hope Arellano and Nicolas “Nico” Escobar were instrumental in Team USA’s victory over Team France in the Paris Games Polo Challenge.
Honoring the opening match of the fourth Olympic Polo Tournament at the 1924 Paris Games, Team USA (Quinn Evans, Hope
Arellano, Nicolas “Nico” Escobar and Cody Ellis) met Team France (Elena Venot, Dorian Bulteau, Clément Delfosse and Julien Reynes) on Wednesday, Aug. 7, in a commemorative centennial celebration.
Presented by U.S. Polo Assn. and Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, the international clash took place just 40 minutes from the heart of Paris in Apremont, France, following the conclusion of the equestrian events in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Dominating the second half, a decisive fourth chukker fueled by lead scorer Escobar vaulted USA into the lead to send the stars and stripes to the top of the podium.
Following an opening goal from France’s Delfosse, Evans responded from the field to kickstart the scoring for USA. A back-and-forth battle between USA’s Escobar and France’s Bulteau and Reynes, neither team wavered, each adding four goals to the scoreboard to enter the half tied 5-5.
Seizing the moment following the break, Escobar commanded USA’s offensive efforts, displaying accuracy and confidence from both the field and penalty line,
adding four goals moving into the final chukker. Responding for the first time in the second half, France added two goals in the fifth chukker, but a final drive from Escobar sealed USA’s historic 10-7 win.
As the title and apparel sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. provided apparel for the American and French teams with performance jerseys, practice jerseys and an assortment of U.S. Polo Assn. custom designed country apparel to wear off the field.
U.S. Polo Assn. also outfitted the USA team with custom USPA Pro whites, saddle pads, as well as club and team staff kits. VIP gifts for the event included limited edition Paris Games Polo Challenge caps, scarves and pocket squares, as well as branded duffle bags.
Arellano is an active Team USPA member, Escobar is a graduating Team USPA member and Cody Ellis is Team USPA alum. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher-rated amateur and pro players, and the resultant give-
back to the sport of polo.
The United States Polo Association is organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo; coordinating the activities of its member clubs and registered player members; arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions and games; and
providing rules, handicaps and tournament conditions for those events. Its overarching goals are improving the sport and promoting the safety and welfare of its human and equine participants.
Founded in 1890, the USPA is the largest voluntary sports organization in North America
Another Great Year For Annual Summer League At The National Croquet Center
The 16th annual Palm Beach County Summer Golf Croquet League came to a conclusion Aug.13 at the National Croquet Center. For six weeks, 52 teams competed Tuesday and Wednesday evenings playing golf croquet, an alternating single-shot version of the game that is quite easy to learn and play. Teams from around Palm Beach County participated, formed by
County’s
families, friends and business associates. The players were male and female, ranging in age from 10 to 85. Many of the entrants were croquet beginners. If you did not get a chance to be a part of the fun this year, don’t miss out next summer.
The summer league takes place each year at the National Croquet Center beginning in July, with practice sessions and lessons for players throughout June. In games of friendly competition, but mostly for fun, participants play one day a week for five weeks, followed by week six’s final games and an awards presentation. Dinner is available each night of the league in the Clubhouse Restaurant.
Part of the fun is choosing a fun, creative team name. In this year’s championship block final, Tues-
day’s PS Wickets team defeated Wednesday’s Holy Rollers team by a score of 6 to 5. The Rameys team prevailed over the Sitting Ducks team by a score of 7 to 5 in the social block final match. And Just Us/Gilded Age won the beginners block by beating the Swingers team with a score of 7 to 4. Special recognition awards were announced in the following categories: Team Spirit: Pink La-
‘Parks For Pollinators BioBlitz’ Now Underway
The Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department needs your help to participate in the national Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz campaign. Organized by the National Recreation and Park Association and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, this annual campaign is aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of pollinators and positioning parks as national leaders in advancing pollinator health and native habitat. Pollinators are a vital component of the ecosystem and an
essential link to the world’s food supply. According to the White House Pollinators Health Task Force, during the last 30 years, the United States has seen a steady decline of pollinators (such as bees, bats and butterflies) at an alarming rate of 30 percent annually — making it vital to take action on pollinator protection. Throughout September, Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation is encouraging individuals to explore nature and wildlife in Palm Beach County and find as many species as possible to
create a snapshot of the county’s biodiversity.
To participate, join the Parks for Pollinators 2024: Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation project via the iNaturalist app or web site and submit observations of various plant and animal pollinators found in parks, natural areas, backyards and other locations throughout the county. To download the iNaturalist app, visit the app store on your smartphone or visit www. inaturalist.org. Share your BioBlitz activity results by sending photos and
stories to the county on Facebook and Instagram @pbcparks or by e-mail to pbcparks@pbc.gov.
Other ways to participate in Parks for Pollinators in September include attending a program at Palm Beach County nature centers or Riverbend Park that is specific to learning about pollinators. Also, get the Nature Adventure Journal, which helps people of all ages explore the natural world around them by completing outdoor and nature-related activities. Learn more about Parks for Pollinators at www.nrpa.org/parks4pollinators.
Paris Games Polo Challenge champions, Team USA, with Quinn Evans, Hope Arellano, Nicolas “Nico” Escobar and Cody Ellis.
PHOTO BY WENDY FLD PHOTOGRAPHY
52 teams competed in the Summer Golf Croquet League.
Most Valuable Player Nicolas
“Nico” Escobar, a Wellington resident, scored nine goals in Team USA’s victory. PHOTO BY WENDY FLD PHOTOGRAPHY
Charlotte Leonard To Lead New Healthcare Franchise The DRIP BaR In Royal Palm Beach
With more than 35 years of extensive experience in healthcare operations, Charlotte Leonard is now a healthcare executive at The DRIP BaR, opening in Royal Palm Beach this October. Known for her experience in strategic planning, regulatory compliance and cost
management, Leonard previously worked as an entrepreneur in a medical spa, also with a focus on eldercare.
The DRIP BaR is a new franchise that is known for leveraging health benefits and providing IV vitamin therapies that are designed
Palm Beach County Food Bank Welcomes New Culinary Director
The Palm Beach County Food Bank (PBCFB) recently appointed Doug Barg as its new culinary director. As a newly minted Royal Palm Beach resident, Barg is bringing his culinary expertise to oversee the food bank’s community kitchen.
The nonprofit’s newly opened 24,000-square-foot expansion is projected to feed up to 10,000 hot, nutritious meals a day. In his role, Barg will systematically launch all of PBCFB’s culinary programs to prepare children and senior meals, lead culinary training programs, as well as host event spaces and culinary social enterprises.
“We are thrilled to have Doug’s decades of culinary expertise help us fight hunger,” PBCFB CEO Jamie Kendall said. “His background runs the gamut from fine dining, managing bulk production and teaching culinary school. So, we know we are in good hands for getting more meals out the door and empowering local residents to grow their skill sets if they have an interest in joining the food service industry.”
Prior to entering the workforce, Barg obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Boston University. His experience includes many culinary roles at high-end restaurants and resorts, including the Ritz-Carlton, the Chesterfield Hotel, the Hotel Washington, Edson Hill Manor, Topnotch Resort and Spa, and more. Additionally, he was a celebrated chef instructor at the New England Culinary Institute.
“It’s an honor to be among such committed, kind and passionate people doing their part to relieve food insecurity here in Palm Beach County,” Barg said. “It’s a goal of mine to be the connective tissue between all facets of the commu-
nity kitchen and to teach culinary techniques to future chefs, using their apprenticeship to feed into our meal programs and ultimately into the future of feeding our neighbors.”
The PBCFB procures food from grocery stores, farmers, food distributors, wholesalers and other sources and distributes to almost 200 local community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens and residential housing programs. PBCFB programs reach families, children and seniors, and connect those in need to available benefits and resources. Partner agencies distribute the products received, including culturally appropriate food and necessities like household products. This process ensures families have access to food when they need it most.
Visit www.pbcfoodbank.org for more information about the community kitchen’s culinary training programs, event spaces and workshops.
to do everything from slowing the signs of aging to reducing brain fog and boosting energy. Vitamin therapy, or intravenous vitamin therapy, is the administration of nutrients and hydration directly into the bloodstream for immediate absorption. Some common benefits of IV vitamin therapies include boosted energy levels, a stronger immune system, quick hydration, headache recovery, improved mental clarity, reduced anxiety symptoms, supplemental cancer treatment, anti-aging capabilities and an overall feeling of well-being.
Leonard’s transition from eldercare to vitamin therapy appealed to her because it provides an opportunity to give back to the Palm Beach County communities while building a family legacy. The DRIP BaR is considered to be an accessible luxury in a day spa environment.
Pawsitive Beginnings has officially opened the Human-Animal Alliance Healing Den in Key Largo. This innovative space at the fox sanctuary will provide opportunity for trauma survivors to heal through the unique bond between humans and animals, specifically focusing on the therapeutic potential of fox-assisted therapy sessions.
With the support of a $10,000 grant from Wellington-based charity the Human-Animal Alliance, Pawsitive Beginnings CEO Nicole Navarro has transformed a previously underutilized maintenance room into a serene environment for private sessions to be conducted.
The opening ceremony included a symbolic ribbon-cutting with Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein, as well as some 50 community members, including law enforcement officers, dignitaries and Jackie Ducci, founder of the Human-Animal Alliance, who made the project possible.
The Healing Den at Pawsitive Beginnings is designed to accommodate individuals seeking comfort and healing through animal-assisted therapy.
“Our animal-assisted therapy
The skills required to be a successful healthcare executive and an entrepreneur in a medical spa are closely aligned. Both roles require strong leadership and strategic thinking skills to navigate complex regulatory environments, increasing organizational growth.
The DRIP BaR Royal Palm Beach offers alternative non-drug therapies to support a patient’s optimum health and everyday lifestyle. Its mission intersects with Leonard’s values when it comes to extending beyond traditional perceptions of healthcare to include all aspects of youthful living. Each service offered is motivated by the fundamental focus of supporting the best health for all clients.
The new facility will be located at 11965 Southern Blvd. For more information, visit www.thedripbar. com/royal-palm-beach-fl.
program was born out of the idea that sharing stories of survival — from the fox’s perspective — has the power to help heal those who may be struggling with trauma, PTSD, or circumstances beyond one’s control, that have placed them in emotional imbalance,” said Nicole Navarro, CEO of Pawsitive Beginnings. “Each and every one of our foxes has a story to tell, and when we share those stories, they have the power to heal and inspire hope. We are so grateful to Jackie and the Human-Animal Alliance for helping us to raise awareness and expand our mission.”
The $10,000 grant from the Human-Animal Alliance was instrumental in creating this therapeutic space, transforming the existing area into a calming setting that promotes the powerful bond between humans and animals, which has been shown to be effective in treating trauma, depression and anxiety.
The selection of Pawsitive Beginnings as a grant recipient was driven by the unique approach of its program.
“I had never heard of using foxes in the context of animal-assisted
therapy,” Ducci said. “Nicole’s program is not only effective in helping people but incredibly innovative and different. That was the reason I couldn’t wait to get behind it, and I am so glad we found a way to work together.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Human-Animal Alliance, which distributes grants nationwide to similar projects that provide opportunities for human-animal connection.
A Wellington resident, Ducci personally covers the organization’s overhead costs to ensure that every dollar donated through exclusive events and private gifts goes directly to the charitable projects selected for grants, ensuring that more individuals have access to transformative experiences by connecting with animals.
For more information about Pawsitive Beginnings, visit www. pawsitivebeginnings.org or call (305) 376-1887. Learn more about the Human-Animal Alliance at www.h-aa.org or call (561) 4850445.
Charlotte Leonard will lead The DRIP BaR, opening in Royal Palm Beach this October.
Doug Barg is the new culinary director at the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
The Human-Animal Alliance Healing Den aligns the visions of Human-Animal Alliance founder Jackie Ducci (right) and Pawsitive Beginnings CEO Nicole Navarro.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL J. KANIK
New Leadership At Palm Beach State College Board
The Palm Beach State College District Board of Trustees reorganized its leadership, electing a new chair and vice chair for the 202425 academic year at the board’s Aug. 20 meeting.
Trustee Jon Harrison was elected to serve as chair, and Trustee Daniel Epstein was elected to serve as vice chair.
“It is an enormous privilege to chair the district board of trustees of Palm Beach State College, the Florida College System’s oldest and finest institution. Since joining the board, I have been impressed by the college’s laser-like focus on the employability and academic advancement of our students and
their families.” Harrison said. “I look forward to building on the college’s record as the engine of economic mobility for more than 40,000 students in Palm Beach County, meeting the needs of local employers and universities in the fastest-growing region of the best state economy in the country. I’d also like to pay tribute to outgoing chair Pat Bishop for her leadership in bringing the PGA’s Tomorrow Golf League to campus, an incredible opportunity for every member of the Panther family.” Harrison and Epstein were appointed to the board in March 2024 by Gov. Ron DeSantis and bring a wealth of experience.
Harrison, who previously served as the eighth chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, sits on the board of directors of Albers Aerospace, a defense manufacturer, and of Diamond Age, a pioneer in construction automation. He is a venture partner at IronGate Capital Advisors, a defense technology venture fund. Epstein is currently an assistant professor of law at St. Thomas University, a private institution in Miami Gardens. He has formerly worked in venture capital, the U.S. Congress and the White House. He served three years as a special assistant and senior associate counsel to former President Donald Trump.
Facility Expands Residential Treatment And Care At West Palm VA Healthcare System
The West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System recently announced the expansion of residential care, serving veterans across Florida with the full activation of its 60-bed facility.
The Domiciliary, located on the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center campus, is designed to provide state-of-the-art, high-quality rehabilitation and treatment services for veterans with identified addiction or substance use disorders.
The programs take a whole health approach to address challenges that veterans may experience, including medical concerns and social needs, such as employment and housing. The programs provide these services 24/7 in a structured, supportive and comfortable residential environment.
“The expansion of the Domiciliary represents our commitment to ensure that veterans receive the care, services and support they need to achieve a full recovery and for their well-being,” said Dr. Ronald Williams, chief of staff at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. “One of my proudest moments was opening the Domiciliary and now to ex-
WES Assistant Principal Donna Dekersky, first-grade teacher Deborah Alfonso and Principal Dr. Maria Vaughan create a “Gator” sandwich.
FSU fans Kindergarten student Nathan Alfonso (left) and cousin Nathan Altamirano (right) with VPK teacher Cathy Eckstein.
The Domiciliary is located on the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center campus.
Westlake Named Among Top 50
U.S. Master-Planned Communities
Minto Communities USA recently announced that its award-winning community, Westlake, has once again been recognized among the top 50 master-planned communities in the United States. Westlake has climbed the ranks on the RCLCO Real Estate Consulting mid-2024 listing, moving up from the 31st position in 2023 to now being ranked 24th. With a population nearing 7,000, Westlake is one of the fastest-growing communities in all of Florida. Conceived to be the “new downtown” for central Palm Beach County, Westlake is a lifestyle-focused, mixed-use community encompassing 3,800 acres with the capacity for 6,500 homes and 2.2 million square feet of retail, restaurant, office and other commercial development. Westlake offers townhomes, single-family homes and estate homes starting in the $300s. This summer, Minto opened four furnished models at its newest townhome neighborhood, the Terraces. The Terraces offer 3- and 4-bedroom homes from the new Courtyard Collection and is immediately adjacent to the newly opened Westlake Fitness Trail, a 39-acre
linear park. The trail features a one-mile asphalt path carved around a scenic lake and a circuit of nine fitness stations strategically installed along the way. With a full range of resort-style amenities, Westlake homeowners can enjoy the $22 million Westlake Adventure Park. The park features a large lagoon pool with a tower water slide, a splash pad, Snack Shack and Scoops Ice Cream poolside concessions, a BMX pump park, a children’s playground, an expansive lawn area with a concert pavilion for community events and much more.
On the commercial side, a new Starbucks and KFC recently opened in the Shoppes of Westlake, which should be fully built out in the coming months. Other retailers and restaurants to open include Taco Bell, Habit Burger, 3Natives, Heartland Dental, Verizon Wireless, Go Green Cleaners and Orangetheory Fitness. Publix, which opened a grocery store in Westlake a year ago, has started constructing a new retail center on adjacent land, phase two of its approved development plan. Construction will start soon on a new Tractor Supply Co. store, giving
The Westlake entry sign along Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. residents a new place to shop for home, garden and pet supplies.
“We are honored that Westlake continues to be recognized among the top 50 master-planned communities in the U.S.,” Minto Southeast Division President Steve Svopa said. “It reflects our commitment to quality, innovation and value, and our luxury lifestyle that is clearly resonating with buyers and residents.”
RCLCO provides real estate economics, strategic planning
Swank Specialty Produce Unveils Its
Swank Specialty Produce is thrilled to announce the schedule for its highly anticipated 2024-25 Swank Table series, featuring 10 extraordinary al fresco dinners set on the picturesque Swank Farm. The season kicks off Sunday, Nov. 3, with a vibrant “Day of the Dead” celebration and continues through April with a variety of themed culinary events that highlight rich flavors and traditions from around the world. Each Swank Table dinner is a feast for the senses, where renowned chefs from South Florida and beyond collaborate to create unforgettable, multi-course meals. Guests will enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail, an array of appetizers, and a delectable fivecourse plated dinner beneath the farm’s rustic pole barn while listening to live music from some of the region’s favorite bands. Every event contributes to a local charity, adding a meaningful layer to this
exceptional dining experience. This season, Swank welcomes an impressive lineup of talented chefs and several new themes, including “Champagne & Caviar Dreams 1980s Pajama Party,” “A Tribute to Alice Waters” and “Louisiana Blues.” Themed events have become a hallmark of the Swank Table series, with guests fully embracing the experience by dressing up to match the evening’s theme, creating a lively and immersive atmosphere. Whether channeling the 1970s with groovy attire, dressing in all white or wearing a cowboy hat and boots for the ho-down, the creativity and enthusiasm of attendees add a unique flair to each event. This year also marks the return of Swank’s “Infused: A Cannabis Dinner,” a unique event showcasing cannabis grown at Swank Farms. Swank Table dinners are a celebration of local purveyors and Florida agriculture. Each menu
showcases the finest ingredients sourced from Swank Farm and neighboring farms, ensuring that every bite reflects the region’s rich agricultural heritage. From fresh, pesticide-free vegetables to micro-greens and edible flowers, the farm’s bounty takes center stage, supported by local partners.
In addition to the Swank Table series, Swank Specialty Produce will host its fifth annual Farmer’s Market starting on Saturday, Oct. 12. This free market, open every Saturday through May from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., offers fresh produce, live music and a wide selection of goods from more than 25 local vendors.
Founded by Jodi and Darrin Swank, Swank Specialty Produce is a hydroponic farm regionally famous for its 350 varieties of pesticide-free vegetables, edible flowers and micro-greens. The 20-acre farm also features an expansive pole barn and stage where
and management consulting to real estate investors, developers, home builders, financial institutions, public agencies and anchor institutions.
Since 1994, RCLCO has conducted a national survey identifying the top-selling master-planned communities through a rigorous search of high-performing communities in each state.
For more information about Westlake, call (888) 299-3628 or visit www.westlakefl.com.
Owners Jodi and Darrin Swank. they host a free weekly farmer’s market and all-inclusive ticketed dining experiences. The farm and farmhouse, located at 14311 North Road in Loxahatchee Groves, are also available for private events and weddings. Learn more at www.swankspecialtyproduce. com.
Wellington Regional Medical Center has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hip & Knee Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.
The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
WRMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with Total Hip & Knee standards spanning several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of the individual.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help healthcare organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“As a healthcare accreditor, the Joint Commission works with healthcare organizations across care settings to inspire safer and
higher quality of care that is more equitable and compassionate,” said Ken Grubbs, executive vice president of accreditation and certification operations and chief nursing officer at the Joint Commission. “Through collaborating on innovative solutions and evidence-based resources and tools, the Joint Commission helps drive improvement while maintaining accountability through our leading survey methods and standards. We commend Wellington Regional Medical Center for its commitment to advance safety, quality, equity and compassion for all patients.” WRMC CEO Pam Tahan is proud to receive the Total Hip and Knee Replacement Accreditation.
“This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of care for our patients,” Tahan said.
“At Wellington Regional Medical Center, we strive for excellence in every aspect of our orthopedic program, ensuring that our patients receive the best possible outcomes and experience. This accreditation reflects the dedication of our entire team to continually improving our services and achieving the best for our community.”
Wellington Regional Medical Center is a 235-bed acute care hospital. To learn more, visit www. wellingtonregional.com.
Better Together is partnering with the Light WPB to host a community job fair from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 in West Palm Beach. Registration is now open for hiring employers and job seekers to participate in the September event. Church-based job fairs not only connect job seekers with local employers who are ready to hire, but also provide resources to facilitate stronger connections and more hires. Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are available to job seekers to review résumés and interviewing skills, and additional services will be available onsite. The community job fair is
at https://bettertogetherus.org/ events/west-palm-beach-fl-community-job-fair-hosted-by-the-
A Trip To Visit My Sister In L.A. Gave Me A Taste Of The Good Life
When I was younger, I looked forward to retirement because I thought I’d have more time. Ha. Ha. Ha. What I have is less time, and I’m not saying that because the Grim Reaper is chasing me down the street. I’m saying that because it’s true.
Once you reach my age, even as you’re being chased, you have to slow down once in a while to help others — people who raised you, people who have temporarily fallen, people who have reached out for help. It definitely impacts your time. I just got back from Los Angeles, where my sister Pam had her hip replaced. Comparatively, she’s six years younger than I am but, also comparatively, her job as a flight attendant had her swinging people’s
heavy bags into overhead bins for 38 years. (Management doesn’t allow them to do that anymore due to the high cost of torque-injury surgeries for an entire fleet of flight attendants. The new ideology is, “You packed it; you hoist it.”)
At any rate, Pam flew me out there
because she was not yet allowed to drive and was getting bored. She wanted to go shopping. My job was to get her car in and out of the garage, load and unload her wheelchair and drive through ridiculous L.A. traffic like I was playing “Frogger.”
Once we arrived at a store, I was to fetch any item out of her reach, carry large items that didn’t fit onto her lap and navigate the narrow check-out lanes. It wasn’t a hard job. It got even easier when we started seeking out stores that furnished motorized wheelchairs. (FYI: once you need one, you prefer the word “scooter.”)
For me, it was more of a vacation. We’d spend half the day shopping and half the day side-by-side in her bed, playing
Scrabble and watching crime shows, her favorite. In the evenings, one of her many friends would have us over for dinner. We ate like princesses — three course meals with wine and dessert.
“It’s our way of ‘paying it forward,’” Pam explained. “We all know we’re going to need help sooner or later.”
By the time I was Ubered back to the airport, I had grown accustomed to the lifestyle. My first day back, I slept for 12 hours, then played Scrabble online.
I watched “The First 48” and was ready for a nap. Shaking it off, I decided to go get groceries but caught myself heading straight for the store’s scooters.
“It’s contagious,” my sister had warned
me, and she was right. Even as I resumed my daily activities, I found myself wondering what was on TV and longing for fabulous dinners with homemade desserts, served to me on china.
I’m better this week. Things like phone calls and mail have snapped me back to reality. My car had a flat. The clerk at my store had a $750 overring. Work had piled up to an alarming degree. My head is spinning again.
“Remind me of that myth of old people sitting on their porches in rocking chairs,” a formerly retired co-worker lamented. “Remind me of ‘vacation.’”
“It’s in Los Angeles,” I replied. “But let me make you dinner.”
The New ‘Alien: Romulus’ Movie Is A Pretty Good Horror Flick
The new movie Alien: Romulus is another sequel in a year filled with them. Happily, for a change, it is a pretty good horror flick. Actually, it is not exactly a sequel, because although it is the seventh in the series, it takes place between the first and second movies. But we have new characters, although there are some references to the first film and a bit of CGI magic to bring back a character.
There are usually problems with sequels in that they become a sort of carbon copy of the original. Think of the seemingly infinite number of Halloween movies. Only the victims really change. Seen one, seen them all. And there are so many different ones now. A huge percentage of this year’s flicks are part of these franchises. But this film is different. The aliens are the same, but the people working to survive are so much more interesting.
The same uncaring corporation, Weyland-Yutani, has a nasty project at the
‘I’ On
CULTURE
By Leonard Wechsler
Jackson’s Star colony. Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny), an orphan, works with her adoptive brother Andy (David Jonsson), an android, and is miserable, particularly after her contract is arbitrarily extended by the company, mainly because she has no resources to fight it. She decides to join Tyler (Archie Renaux), her ex-boyfriend, and head to a derelict spacecraft that has cryostasis chambers that will allow them to escape to a free planet, along with his pregnant sister Kay (Isabela Merced), cousin Bjorn (Spike
Fearn) and his friend Navarro (Aileen Wu). Andy, who can interface with the ship’s computer, joins them. While on the ship, they accidentally revive “face hugger” aliens and shut down the computers, which shuts down Andy.
Rain gives Andy a computer chip from the damaged android Rook, who we saw in the first movie, and Andy stops trying to help because he is now under the control of the corporation. And then the face huggers, which wrap themselves around a person’s head and deposit eggs down their throats, attack and things get very wild.
There are plenty of the usual horror moments, the quick shocks and the occasional screams from other audience members. In a way, this is a typical, old-fashioned horror flick: a group of young people go into a deserted place and not only discover that the place is not deserted, but whatever is there is harmful. Here, of course, it is a space ship and aliens. But it is done so well.
Director Fede Álvarez, who co-wrote the movie with Rodo Sayagues, keeps things moving. There are many plot twists, but in general, they are interesting ones. The issues with androids is an excellent one that opened up a lot of possibilities. When the first film came out in 1979, the whole idea of artificial intelligence and robots was far-out science fiction. Today, many of us are terrified about how we’re going to be replaced. In the new movie, Rain does more to take care of Andy than the other way around, an interesting view.
Also, the young folk are looking for decent living conditions, desperate to escape what seems a situation not far from slavery. The nasty corporation seems to be true to its evil ways. Intelligence may shift, evil doesn’t. I really liked the cast. To me, they were all newcomers, although they did a bit of movie magic with the face of the now-deceased Ian Holm. Spaeny was
very good. In what I’ve always thought of as the Sigourney Weaver type of part, she seems more fragile but also very competent. She is not just tough but caring. Renaux and the others were good as well. A special cheer should go to Jonsson. His was a tricky part, in essence, playing three different roles. First he was himself, then the evil android, and finally a sadder but wiser version of the first. That is not easy and requires subtlety, and he really pulled it off. I generally do not like these kinds of movies, being a sort of old flower child myself. But there have been two sequels of horror flicks this year that really work: this one and Quiet Place: Day One. The reasons: good acting,
