Wellington The Magazine September 2009

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contents

SEPTEMBER 2009

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departments WELLINGTON SOCIAL SCENE

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Western Executives Host Inaugural ‘Salad Days’ Benefit At IPC

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Visions Hair Salon Benefit Helps American Cancer Society

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‘Yappy Hour’ Brings Dog Lovers To Palm Beach Puppies

52 WELLINGTON AT HOME A large home in the Olympia community has proven to be the perfect canvas for Sal and Monica Ramos. A builder and an interior decorator, moving from house to house has become second nature to the couple, their 12-year-old son Daniel and a Rhodesian ridgeback named Dudley. BY DEBORAH WELKY

60 WELLINGTON TABLE Walking into the new area restaurant I’m Greek Today in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza is like being enveloped in the blue and white of that country’s flag. Eating at I’m Greek Today is like taking a quick trip to that ancient land — the recipes are authentic and the flavors are powerful. It’s good food that is good for you! BY DEBORAH WELKY

18 WELLINGTON WATCH 63 WELLINGTON DINING GUIDE 68 WELLINGTON CALENDAR 74 AROUND WELLINGTON ON THE COVER Longtime Wellington firefighters (L-R) Mitch White, Tom Shore and Michael Conlin photographed with their firefighting gear.

PHOTO BY BILL BARBOSA/ PHOTO DESIGNS INC.

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features 20 LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS SHARE THEIR STORIES Did you know you might be living next door to a hero? This month, Wellington The Magazine profiles eight Palm Beach County FireRescue workers who have logged 20 years or more in fire service — and they all live in the Wellington area. BY DEBORAH WELKY

30 PALM BEACH: ONE COUNTY, TWO WORLDS Palm Beach County is a place of extreme wealth and extreme poverty.

A Wellington teenager’s photographic effort to highlight that disparity has generated comment and reflection. Allison Parssi’s photo series “Palm Beach: One County, Two Worlds” pairs views of typical features in ultra-rich Palm Beach and ultra-poor Belle Glade. BY MARK LIOI

38 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach — founded by Dr. Alan Pillersdorf — offers services available for a wide range of clients, from reconstructive surgery for cancer patients and accident victims to cosmetic surgery for the image-conscious. BY RON BUKLEY

45 VINCEREMOS HARVEST FEST RETURNS OCT. 3 For 27 years, the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee Groves has offered a unique service to the South Florida community — allowing those with disabilities the opportunity for independence. Get involved when Vinceremos hosts its Third Annual Harvest Fest fundraiser at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Oct. 3.

BY REBECCA WALTON

48 MICHELLE GIBSON LOOKS TOWARD 2010 Diamante Farms’ stallion Don Angelo and head trainer Michelle Gibson have had a big year. Now Gibson hopes to be a contender for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next summer, and she and Don Angelo are well on their way to reaching that goal. BY LAUREN FISHER WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009

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Wellington The Magazine

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

Every Firefighter Has A Story To Tell... volume

6, number 9 | september 2009

publisher/executive editor

Joshua I. Manning associate publisher

Dawn Rivera graphic designer

Suzanne Summa circulation coordinator

Betty Buglio bookkeeping

Carol Lieberman account managers

Michelle Deegan Nicola Jimenez photography

Bill Barbosa Bea Bolton Devin Jacoviello Gary Kane Susan Lerner copy editor

As our nation marks the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy, we take a moment to honor Wellington’s own everyday heroes. The brave men and women who work with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue are there protecting Wellington around the clock.

The story itself was not hard to write — every firefighter has a story to tell. The hard part was choosing which of the dozens of worthy public servants to feature. In the end, we interviewed a handful of Wellington area fire-rescue workers who have logged more than 20 years of service. Even with such strict criteria, we were not able to include everyone. Our apologies in advance to anyone who feels left out… I’m sure we’ll revisit our wonderful firefighting force again in the future! Special thanks to PBCFR Public Information Officer Capt.

Don Delucia for helping organize this project.

Also this month, we feature the work of young photographer Allison Parssi. The Wellington High School sophomore has won herself several gallery exhibits for her photo series “Palm Beach: One County, Two Worlds.” The jarring series pairs views of typical features in ultra-rich Palm Beach with ultra-poor Belle Glade. While Parssi did not intend the exhibit to criticize or pass judgment, it is a presentation that has certainly generated a strong response.

Mark Lioi contributors

Jason Budjinski Ron Bukley Denise Fleischman Lauren Fisher Georgia Jacoviello Carol Porter Rebecca Walton Deborah Welky Wellington The Magazine

12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31 Wellington, FL 33414 Phone: (561) 793-7606 Fax: (561) 791-0952 www.WellingtonTheMagazine.com

Published by Wellington The Magazine, LLC Barry S. Manning chairman/chief executive officer Maureen Budjinski vice president Wellington The Magazine is published monthly in Wellington, Florida. Copyright 2009, all rights reserved by Wellington The Magazine, LLC. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the portion of the advertisement occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

Moving to the equestrian world, the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center is hosting its Third Annual Harvest Fest fundraiser on Oct. 3, an event we preview this issue. We also profile dressage rider and trainer Michelle Gibson of Diamante Farms. After a strong 2009, she has big plans for 2010.

If the words “plastic surgery” conjure up a specific image, put it out of your mind!

It’s probably a few decades out of date. This month we chat with the doctors at Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach, who offer clients a wide array of services, ranging from traditional techniques and services for accident victims to newer non-invasive procedures and even a full-service Wellington spa.

Meanwhile, Wellington at Home visits the Olympia residence of builder Sal Ramos and his wife Monica, an interior designer. They’re a family used to moving around a lot, each time putting their unique stamp on houses that they turn into beautifully designed homes. Wellington Table pays a virtual visit to the Greek isles this month, stopping by I’m Greek Today, a new restaurant in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza.

As we head into the height of hurricane season, here’s hoping for clear skies ahead as we sail toward the 2010 season with high hopes for the future and big plans for your favorite local magazine.

Joshua Manning Publisher/Executive Editor

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Wellington Advertiser List Advertiser Page Advanced Medical Clinic.................29 & 67 American Heritage School ....................... 25 American Shutter Designs ....................... 59 Ankle & Foot Centre of South Florida ..... 72 Bainbridge Companies............................... 8 Bea Bolton Photography .......................... 73 Bellini Furniture .........................................55 Boynton Financial Group ......................... 41 BrightStar Healthcare................................51 Cabinets Plus of Palm Beach ................... 59 Cambridge School ....................................46 Campagnolo Trattoria ..............................64 Centanni Italian Restaurant .....................64 Claudia Diesti ........................................... 73 Cosmetic Plastic Surgery ..........................33 Dance Theatre at Wellington Green .......... 5 Designer’s Touch Jewelry ......................... 27 DJ Computers ...........................................70 Dolce Dental ............................................. 37 Dr. Richard Hays ...................................... 72 Eclipse Salon & Spa ................................. 50 Eisenman & Eisenman, MDs .................. 43 Floor Specialists ....................................... 57 Floridian Community Bank ...................... 75 Freedom Boat Club ..................................69 Generations: A Hair Salon ....................... 27 Grayhills & Mohip Dental ........................ 50 Hair Spray the Salon .................................. 7

Hi Lites Hair Studio ................................. 43 Horticulturist ............................................29 Illustrated Properties, Boardwalk Group ..17 Illustrated Properties, Crowe Team .........26 Insurance for You .....................................70 JEZ Capital ................................................44 Kanold’s Welding...................................... 41 Kontiki Wine & Raw Bar ........................... 63 La Hacienda Show Stables ...................... 19 Law Offices of Daniel R. Brinley, PA. ........71 La Mer Nails & Spa ..................................67 Learning Express ...................................... 34 Live Arts Florida .......................................64 My Whole Pet Market.................................4 Ncognito Massage ................................... 43 Nicole’s Pasta & Grill ...............................66 Norlug Enterprises ................................... 57 O’Dell Inc. ................................................ 16 Original Hawaiian Ice Company.............. 65 Pain & Rehab Physicians of P.B.......33 & 72 Palm Beach Psychological Associates..... 72 Palms Wellington Surgical Center ........... 23 Palms West Hospital .................................11 Paymaster .................................................70 Photo Designs Inc. ...................................44 Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach ..................13 PMI Remodeling & Repairs ..................... 57 Red Balloon Consignment Shop .............29 Robert R. Morris, Attorney at Law ........... 27

Roderick C. Moe, CPA .............................. 56 Royal Inn ..................................................... 3 Royal Palm Auto Spa ................................67 Royal Palm Mazda.....................................71 Sadati Center for Aesthetic Dentistry ........ 2 Sea Breeze Air Conditioning .................... 56 Shop on Impulse ......................................70 Smiles by Jiveh..........................................76 South Florida Skin & Laser ...................... 47 Spices Modern Thai & Sushi ...................64 Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Thomas Leinwol .. 67 Stonewood Grill........................................ 65 Subscription Form.................................... 73 Suburban Volvo of Palm Beach ...............29 Tanism ......................................................71 TooJays Gourmet Deli ..............................66 Treasure Consignments ............................55 Ultima Fitness ..........................................68 Van Dell Jewelers .......................................51 Vantage Pointe Dance Studios .................15 Visions Salon ............................................ 18 Viso LASIK Medspas ..................................6 Vital Longevity Water, Susan Lerner ........68 WellingTAN ............................................... 56 Wellington Marketplace ............................71 Wellington Nails & Spa ............................ 34 Wellington Royal Marble & Granite ......... 57 Wellness Experience ................................. 12 Zen Massage ............................................69

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

Western Executives Host Inaugural ‘Salad Days’ Benefit At IPC The Western Executives held its inaugural Salad Days event on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. The event, a benefit for the Farmworker Coordinating Council, featured food sampling, best salad competitions, a business expo, raffles and a silent auction, and live music.

For more info., visit www.westernexecutives.net.

IPC Chef Francisco Gonzalez, Chef William Sellner, IPC President John Wash, Elvis (a.k.a. Joel Harris), Wellington Mayor Darell Bowen and artist Rick Seguso.

Peter Ranta, Troy Webster of the Western Executives, Anthony Scholl, Manuel Allende of the Farmworker Coordinating Council and retired San Francisco 49er Reggie Givens.

Kontiki restaurant co-owners Sue Porter and Vanida Coquin won several of the salad competitions.

Scott Cotton, Jen Mayfield, Steve Astles and Roberto Victoria of Max & Erma’s. The restaurant won first place for tortilla soup and second place for apple pecan salad.

(Above) Cathy Tosner gets a sample of Napoleon Caprese from Buca di Beppo Sales Manager Alane Riccardi. (Below) Rick Constanza of Rick’s Rods with racecar driver Jack Lumsden and his 1968 Camaro.

(Above) IPC’s Mike Jost with Troy and Ingrid Webster of the Western Executives and retired football players Troy Drayton (Miami Dolphins) and Reggie Givens (San Francisco 49ers). (Below) Caleb Petersen and Willie Johnson of the Cruzan Amphitheatre.

(Above) Joel Harris performs as Elvis.

(Below) Betsy Carroll gets a chocolate sample from Godiva’s Chrissy Hansen.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

Visions Hair Salon Benefit Helps American Cancer Society Visions Hair Salon in Wellington held its third annual haircut-athon on Sunday, Aug. 16 to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Staff members cut hair for customers who wanted to help support the fight against breast cancer, raising a total of $2,739. A few young ladies donated their hair to Locks of Love. Visions is located at 12793 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza. For more info., call (561) 790-1696.

(Above) Ghilsy Suarez, Amanda Covetskie, Jackie Wolfe, owners Linda and Tom Monticello, Melissa Lovett and Clarissa Cornelius. (Below) Linda Grove buys raffle tickets from Tara Weldon.

Devoney Lohnes (above with stylist Amanda Covetskie) and Katrina Salcedo (right with stylist Annie Mizrahi) with the hair they donated to Locks of Love.

(Above) Susan Chasteen blow-dries Margie Werner’s hair.

(Right) Mindy Inguanta gets a haircut from stylist Jennifer Casella.

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Wellington Social Scene

Photos by Denise Fleischman

‘Yappy Hour’ Brings Dogs Lovers To Palm Beach Puppies & Boutique Palm Beach Puppies & Boutique in the Pointe at Wellington Green hosted “Yappy Hour” on Friday, July 31. Free wine and pizza were available compliments of Pizza Fusion. Everything in the store except selected puppies was 20 percent off, and free treats were available. For more info., call (561) 422-2220 or visit www.palmbeachpuppies.com.

(Above) Palm Beach Puppies owners Heidi Garson and son Ryan with Sierra. (Below) Rhonda and Ken Fiore groom Garth.

(Above) Bob and Linda Parlette with Amy, Diva and Snuggi.

(Below) Carol Sakr and Andrew Lopez purchased a six-week-old shih tzu-poodle mix.

(Above) Lucille Ball (a.k.a. Lista Faircloth) with a lap full of puppies for sale.

(Above) Terri Turner, Brygida Trzaska and Amy Cohan with their dogs.

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Wellington Watch

BY Mark Lioi

Village Ponders Four-Day Work Week In Effort To Cut Budget To save money during a tight budget year, Wellington officials have proposed a four-day work schedule for most village personnel. Wellington Village Council members welcomed the cost-cutting proposal at an August budget workshop.

Village Manager Paul Schofield told the council the four-day work week for village employees would still involve 40 hours a week for full-time staff members. Most village offices and many recreational facilities would be closed Fridays, netting the village $300,000 in savings annually, he said. The Utilities Department would continue to operate around the clock, and the Parks & Recreation Department would be a six-day operation. The Safe Neighborhoods office on Wellington Trace, home base for community advocates, code enforcement and law enforcement, would also remain open seven days a week, with a staff member present to take telephone

calls on Fridays. Schofield said the village’s savings would be attained through reduced mobilization and demobilization of Public Works staff and giving lighting and air-conditioning systems on village property a three-day weekend.

“It’s not coming from personnel cuts, it’s the cost of fuel and the cost of lighting. Turn off the lights in the park for a day, it has an effect.”

Ball Still In Play For “Joe Pic” — Joe Piconcelli, who pioneered youth sports in Wellington, is continuing that avocation by coordinating a new pickup-style, threeon-three basketball league for youngsters in the 12th Fairway/White Pine Drive area. The informal league meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as a recreational endeavor of the village’s Safe Neighborhoods Initiative launched earlier this year. Play for kids age 10 and older takes place on the courts of Little

Blue Park on Wellington Trace, nestled between the Safe Neighborhoods office and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station 25. A Wellington resident since 1976, Piconcelli founded the Western Communities Football League in 1992 and remained on its board of directors until last year. Afterward, the village asked him to work for its Parks & Recreation Department. Piconcelli brought forward the idea for a “street league” in June, and it kicked off with a 14-team tournament late that month to coincide with the opening of the Safe Neighborhoods office. The basketball league is patterned after similar programs that have proven effective in reducing crime and juvenile delinquency in urban neighborhoods, he said. “We’re trying to keep the kids off the streets,” he said. “We’re trying to give them something to do, to build some trust, and hopefully through the kids, we can reach the parents.”

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Village Hall Contract Awarded — On Aug. 25, the Wellington Village Council chose the Weitz Company to design and build a new village hall, accepting the company’s proposal to create a new government center at a cost of $10.54 million.

The proposed municipal complex would gather village offices in one place for the first time after operating out of scattered locations for over a decade. The village requested plans for a complex having about 54,000 square feet of indoor space with at least two stories, a clock tower feature, impact-resistant windows and architectural consistency with an adjacent playground and amphitheater that have already been designed. The village also asked that the council chambers and building department be located on the ground floor for ease of public access, and that the design satisfy requirements for environmentally friendly construction.

Wellington The Magazine’s November 2008 edition, Cook was known for his easygoing disposition, wide-ranging interests and diverse work history, but also for building a fully functional 15-foot boat out of cardboard O’Doul’s non-alcoholic beer cartons. Richard Wood, owner of Woody’s Cobbler, first met him in 1975.

“I can’t remember one person who ever met Cookie who didn’t like the guy,” Wood said. “There was nothing not to

like about him — he was my small Grizzly Adams buddy. He looked like Grizzly Adams; he just didn’t have the bear.

He had the beard, the physique; he was stronger than an ox, too.”

Mark Lioi has served as news editor of the Wellington TownCrier since 2002. In that position, he monitors life in our community week in and week out.

Foreclosure Program Helping Many — Wellington’s foreclosure assistance program, bearing a new name and tailored to be more user-friendly, continues to attract a steady stream of homeowners. The Home Preservation Educational Symposium, previously billed as Foreclosure 911, takes place the third Thursday of each month in the Wellington Community Center and brings together various experts — attorneys, housing advocates, credit counselors and real estate agents — who sit at tables where residents can approach them to discuss their problems.

The program’s staff coordinator Meridith Tuckwood said the current format for the symposiums is much more effective than the initial setup in which experts lined up in front of an audience who were expected to stand up and ask questions. “It’s all about anonymity,” she said. “You don’t walk up to your neighbor and say, ‘hey, my name is Joe, and I’m in foreclosure.’

It’s a very personal issue.”

RIP, Cookie — We reluctantly bade farewell recently to local legend Bruce Cook, who died July 30 while spearfishing off Marathon Key. He was 58. Profiled in WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • september 2009

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(Left to right) Capt. Tom Shore, firefighter Michael Conlin and driver/operator Mitch White are among an impressive list of Wellington-area Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue personnel who have logged more than 20 years on the job.

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Wellington’s

Heroes

More Than A Career, It’s A Calling For Longtime Area Firefighters

Story by Deborah Welky Photography by Bill Barbosa/Photos Designs Inc.

Did you know you might be living next door to a hero? Doctors, nurses, police officers and firefighters all work hard to save lives every day. Profiled here are eight Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue workers who have logged 20 years or more in fire service — and they all live in the Wellington area.

James Sousa, 44, is a driver/engineer for Station 20 on Greenview Shores Blvd. He made the decision to become a firefighter at age 19 and has never looked back.

“I wanted an exciting, thrill-seeking job,” Sousa said. “And then there’s the joy of helping people. I never had any doubts. Once you get into it, it’s such a rewarding career.”

When Sousa had been just eight months on the job, a personal tragedy affirmed his commitment to firefighting: his own home burned down, taking the life of his young wife in the process.

“Fortunately, I was in a far-enough station away that I didn’t get called to the actual fire,” Sousa recalled. “They woke me up to tell me. That totally reiterated any thoughts I had about making a career of it.”

A few years later, another incident further cemented Sousa’s decision. “My friend’s three-year-old daughter died

(Right) James Sousa, shown here in firefighting gear, is a driver/engineer for Wellington’s Fire-Station 20 on Greenview Shores Blvd.

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in our hands,” he recalled. “She had been having some medical complications and she stopped breathing at 3 o’clock in the morning. It’s really hard when your friend is over your shoulder saying, ‘save her, Jim, save her.’ At least I knew we had done all we could.”

Sousa said the department helped him come to terms with those devastating experiences. “The fire department pulls together in your bad times because it is a brotherhood,” he said. “Even the women, they’re ‘brotherettes.’ We work 24 hours on and 48 hours off. It becomes an extended family. We spend a third of our lives with each other.” 

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Also citing camaraderie as a primary reason for his lengthy career is Michael Conlin, 50, a firefighter at Station 25 on Wellington Trace.

“I went away to a small college and played football for a while, then dropped out and came home,” he said. “My friends told me about this great job where you worked a 24-hour shift and were off for 48. I felt that would be a great job to have while I figured out what I wanted to do with my life.”

It didn’t pay very much — $11,900 to start back then — but Conlin quickly got hooked on the job. “I played team sports and there is a real team atmosphere,” he said. “After a while, it becomes like a family. The pay has gotten better, too.”

(Above) For firefighter Michael Conlin, the opportunity to save lives makes the more difficult parts of the job easier to handle.

(Below) Capt. Tim Wallace commands Wellington’s PBCFR Station 30.

But Conlin said helping people is another reward of the job, citing an accident that sent a 17-year-old girl through the windshield of a Jeep and pinned her face-down beneath it. With no discernable pulse, a nurse on the scene presumed her dead.

“We slid her out and the medic put the [electrocardiogram] paddles on her back and there was a straight line,” Conlin said. “Then there was a tiny little blip on the screen — a hesitation of a second or two — and we asked each other, ‘was that something?’

In that two seconds, the medic said, ‘I’m going for it’ and flipped her over and started working her like a regular code. He got a faint pulse, we got to her to the hospital and she survived.” 

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Capt. Tim Wallace, 44, is the commander of Station 30 in Wellington. He was first introduced to firemen by his father, a Hialeah municipal employee. After reading in trade magazines that Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue was the up-and-coming fire department in Florida, Wallace took the entrance exam and knew fire-rescue would be his career from the first day on the job.

“You wouldn’t believe what we see every day,” he said. “Then again, we see things where a tragic event has occurred and we’ve made it better or saved lives. Those are the daily calls that keep you motivated. To make it in this job, you have to have thick skin and not let those events control your feelings. It’s tragedy with children, that’s the hardest to cope with.”

photo courtesy pbcfr

Wallace said calls involving drowned children are especially tough — senseless tragedies that more prudent supervision might have averted. “Eighty percent of our call

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volume is medical calls, which includes car accidents,” he said. “We do everything from A to Z. Up north there are ambulances. Here, it’s fire-rescue. Each station in Wellington has a rescue truck and a fire engine.”

Wallace is proud of the fact that at Station 30, every one of his firefighters is also a paramedic. He defines his position of station commander as half management and half “one of the guys.”

“As a station officer, I make sure they are properly trained and prepared for calls, and I supervise them on alarms,” he said. “And part of my job is to keep them wanting to come to work every day.” 

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Station 25 driver/operator Michael Leskow, 46, was part of a small-town volunteer fire department and going to fire school at the same time. He hadn’t been in Palm Beach County six months when he was hired by PBCFR in 1986.

“It really interested me,” Leskow said. “I enjoyed the training and dealing with the public, and it was a nice feeling to help people when they’re in need. It’s a very stable job, a secure job, with pretty good benefits. The time schedule allows me to have my own business, which I did for many years. I’m eligible to retire in 18 months, but looking at the economy, I may stay on anywhere from three to six more years.”

(Above) Michael Leskow is a driver/operator at Station 25. (Below) Lt. Lorraine Starr is a medic with Station 27. photos courtesy pbcfr

Like many firefighters, Leskow has one call in particular he will never forget.

“In the late ’80s we had a call to go to the turnpike at Lake Worth Road. It was rush hour and people were backed up waiting to get off,” he recalled. “A semi had rearended a car; the car had exploded, and a grandmother and her six-year-old grandson burned inside. We had to take the bodies out of the car. It was pretty gruesome. I was OK at the moment, but the very next shift, there was a newspaper lying out that had photos of how the people had looked in real life. That disturbed me for a while. The best calls are the ones that involve kids, where things turn out good for them.” 

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Lt. Lorraine Starr, a medic at Station 27 on South Shore Blvd., was in her early 20s and working as a police dispatcher when she met a couple of PBCFR employees and began thinking fire-rescue sounded like “a nice profession.” Starr, who has also worked as a nurse in hospitals, prefers using her medical talents in fire-rescue. “We do a lot of good,” she said. “It isn’t all horror.”

The 51-year-old Starr recalled her crew saving one girl of about the same age as her own daughter. “Her car had been T-boned in the driver’s side, and she was in critical care for a while,” she said. “Every year, about the time of the accident, she stops by the station to thank us for saving her life.”

Starr works a lot of car accidents. “Of course, the most memorable time was when I pulled up on my own family in a wreck,” she recalled. “I said, ‘oh, my god. That’s my mother!’ Fortunately, she was all right. We also go and help old people who can’t cope by themselves, and it feels good to take a few minutes to help those people. It’s not 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 • WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE

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just a job; it gets more personal. I run into a lot of people I’ve helped when I’m at the grocery store, a lot of people.” 

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Capt. Tom Shore of Station 27 had been certified in air conditioning and refrigeration as a young man. He was designing and installing systems for the construction industry when the economy slumped. “The work was no longer out there,” said Shore, now 54. “My father suggested I apply for a job as a Riviera Beach firefighter.”

Shore worked for that city for two years, and then joined Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue. He enjoys a job that always involves the unexpected.

“In our field, we work in both realms of life,” he said. “I’ve delivered 11 babies during my career — in houses, in cars, at the intersection of Forest Hill and Military Trail. They just aren’t going to get to the hospital in time. I’ve brought life into the world, and then I’ve seen people at the end of their life, period.”

Driver/operator Mitch White (left) and Capt. Tom Shore (right) have logged decades of service with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue.

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Shore said it is especially gratifying when fire-rescue personnel are able to resuscitate a person, because it sometimes means family members have a chance to reconnect with that person, even if it’s just to say goodbye.

“The family is grateful, and we are happy that we were able to give them that chance,” Shore said. 

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Mitch White, 52, is a driver/operator for Station 20. When he was young, he knew an exterminator who was serving as a firefighter for Delray Beach. “I was in high school when my bug man asked me what I was going to do when I graduated,” he recalled.

Like many firefighters, the freedom of 48 hours off duty appealed to him. “Back in 1977, there weren’t as many people (Below) Capt. William Gauthier of Station 20 said fire service is a great career with room for all different types of people.

trying to get jobs as there are now,” White said. “They hired you first, sent you for training second.”

With 31 years now under his belt, White is proud that his daughter followed him into the “family business,” graduating from medic school and going to work for the Town of Palm Beach just six months ago.

White agrees with Wallace that pediatric drownings are the toughest calls. “We do our best, and there have been a lot of saves,” he said, “but if we couldn’t save the child, it’s hard when the parents come up to you later and thank you for trying.”

If White has any words of wisdom, it’s to watch your children when they’re around water and to “make sure you wear your seatbelt!” 

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Station 20 Capt. William Gauthier, 47, wasn’t one of those kids who always wanted to be a fireman, but got a nudge from a firefighter acquaintance when he was about 20.

“He sort of guided me,” Gauthier recalled. “I went to fire school just to see if I’d like it, and every day was exciting. It was everything from rappelling to fighting fires and breaking out windows and chopping up roofs. The more I was involved, the more I loved it. It never crossed my mind to leave. You build camaraderie and you get to work with neat fire apparatus and different tools and they’re like big-boy toys. You never know where you’re going to be or what you’re going to be doing when the fire bell rings.”

Gauthier recalled one call in particular in Boca Raton, in which a girl of about 18 months had wandered away from her older brothers and fallen into a swimming pool. “The child was retrieved out of the water by the brothers and they began CPR. We continued with that when we arrived,” he said. “She revived, so it had a happy ending, and about ten years after that happened, out of the blue we were recognized for it. I’ve got a plaque on the wall. Everyone on the call got a Hero Award. So that was a good day.”

And Gauthier added that the fire service is a great career. “One of our district chiefs, James Gribble, said there’s a place for everybody in the fire service, and he’s right,” he said. “There are dispatchers, building inspectors, public education people. The mechanics that keep the apparatus in good condition, that’s vitally important to what we do. Firemen get a lot of attention because we get to ride in the big red truck, and we make all the noise and have the lights. But there’s a lot of opportunity for everybody.”

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Through The Lens Of Youth Jarring Photo Series Lands Wellington Teen Allison Parssi Several Gallery Shows story By Mark Lioi

Palm Beach County is a place of extremes. Farthest east, extreme wealth; farthest west, extreme poverty. A Wellington teenager’s photographic effort to highlight the disparity has generated a lot of local comment and reflection.

Allison Parssi’s photo series “Palm Beach: One County, Two Worlds” pairs views of typical features — nightclubs, storefronts, schools and fire stations — in ultra-rich Palm Beach and ultra-poor Belle Glade. The series debuted at the EG2 student art gallery in West Palm Beach’s CityPlace last spring.

Parssi, a 15-year-old sophomore at Wellington High School, said she did not do the series to offer criticism or pass judgment, but to offer some perspective on the realities of life in Palm Beach County. The photos elicited a strong, positive reaction, she said.

“A lot of people never really had thought about the extremes before,” she said. “People don’t think about this concept every day — that there are two really big extremes in one county, but no one ever really thinks about it. It struck a lot of people I guess by surprise, because they were side by side, and they were so different, and it was in the county that they were living in.”

Inspiration for the series, Parssi said, came while reading Helen Keller’s observations on city life in her 1902 autobiography The Story of My Life: “I grow hot and indignant to think that good people should be content to live in fine houses and become strong and beautiful, while others are condemned to live in hideous, sunless tenements and grow ugly, withered and cringing.”

“That really hit me because she was blind and deaf, and she made that inference — a hundred years ago,” Parssi said. “And if you look at our society today, it’s still like that, with Palm Beach and Belle Glade.”

(Left) Wellington High School sophomore Allison Parssi, photographed at her Wellington home, presents one of the Belle Glade/Palm Beach sets from her photo series “Palm Beach: One County, Two Worlds.” photo by denise fleischman WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009

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FUNCTIONAL VERSUS ORNATE This photo set contrasts the municipal buildings of the City of Belle Glade (above) with the Town of Palm Beach (below).

HOUSES OF WORSHIP This photo set pairs a church in Belle Glade (above) with one of its counterparts in Palm Beach (below).

‘The first time I really picked up a camera was in kindergarten. My mom was teaching at the school I was going to, and she brought in like 20 disposable cameras for every kid, and she let us loose out onto the playground, and we just went and took pictures.’

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Parssi, who also makes jewelry using metal and glass, can credit her broad creative streak to her mother, either by nature or nurture. She’s the daughter of Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, a well-established Wellington painter and art teacher who also founded the non-profit organization ArtStart to bring art instruction to the underprivileged.

Parssi said her mother got her started in photography at a very young age.

“The first time I really picked up a camera was in kindergarten,” she recalled.

“My mom was teaching at the school I was going to, and she brought in like 20 disposable cameras for every kid, and she let us loose out onto the playground, and we just went and took pictures.”

But after a childhood spent exploring a wide variety of artistic media, Parssi became seriously involved in photography two years ago and attended the two-week Delray Beach Photographic Camp. “I’d gotten a digital camera for my birthday, and at the camp I really learned about how the digital camera works and what you can do with the digital camera,” she said.

“I have to brag a little bit,” Jeannette Parssi said. “One of her photographs was chosen as the invitation to the reception out of all the kids that attended the summer camp. So that was kind of the ah-hah moment, so to speak.”

Since then, Parssi has attended the Interlochen Summer Art Camp in Michigan two years in a row, learning how to shoot photographs manually as well as large-format and darkroom techniques.

This summer her photography earned her an award for outstanding achievement in visual arts at the camp.

“I love film photography,” she said. “I always say I could live in a darkroom, but it probably wouldn’t be so healthy, with all the chemicals.”

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Parssi said she enjoys the hands-on aspect of creating photographs the oldfashioned way.

“I like the fact that you are so involved with the process,” she said. “You have to take the picture, process the film, and then you set up the enlarger and print the picture. With digital you just upload your pictures and maybe just change it a little bit, then print it out. But film is a much longer process, and it kind of feels more complete. When you have a final photograph in film… I feel so proud when I have a really good film photograph.”

Parssi’s mother embarked on her painting career just after the budding photographer was born.

“That’s probably been a huge influence, because if she hadn’t started painting, I don’t think I’d be as interested in art as I am now,” Parssi said. “I love to go to art museums, where a lot of my friends, they don’t — that’s something they wouldn’t do on a weekend. And I really like being in a house full of art.”

When not involved in some creative activity, Parssi volunteers for her mother’s organization and enjoys listening to music, reading and playing golf — she is looking forward to playing on the WHS team this school year, but insists she isn’t very good at it. “I had played when I was younger, and when I got to middle school I stopped,” she said. “I just picked it up again recently.”

At WHS, Parssi tutors other students in math, and last year also founded a school club called Circle of Friends, to work with special-needs students. In middle school she had taken a yearlong class on working with special-needs kids and discovered another gratifying pursuit.

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maritime pursuits While luxury yachts like this one (above) may be a common sight off the coast of Palm Beach, boats found on waterways in and around Belle Glade (below) are not so opulent.

shopping for jewelry While Palm Beachers have easy access to the world’s top jewelers (above) buying a ring in Belle Glade is a more down-to-earth affair (below).

‘I love film photography...

With digital you just upload your pictures and maybe just change it a little bit, then print it out. But film is a much longer process, and it kind of feels more complete.’

Allison Parssi on why she prefers a more traditional approach

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(Above) Allison Parssi reviews some of her photography. She also makes jewelry out of metal and glass, such as the piece she is wearing. (Right inset) Parssi with her mother Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi, a well-known Wellington painter and founder of the non-profit organization ArtStart. photos by denise fleischman

she said. “There’s a class called Volunteer Public Service that I took for one semester, but it’s really only supposed to be for juniors and seniors.”

WHS students will get a chance to see Parssi’s series when it is exhibited at the school from mid-November to midDecember. Before that it will be shown at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts in Tequesta Sept. 14 through Nov. 5, and in April of next year it will travel to the Dolly Hand Cultural Center at Palm Beach Community College’s Belle Glade campus.

Considering the amount of mileage and notice her first series has generated, Parssi is of course mulling the possibilities of a career in photography. “If I don’t, I will most certainly keep it as a hobby, or something I do regularly,” she said. “I think it will always be with me.”

But Parssi seems more inclined to go into education. “I’m actually thinking about becoming a math teacher,” she said. “I have this dreamlike plan in my head that I could get a master’s in math and teach during the year, and get a mas-

ter’s in fine arts and go and teach at Interlochen over the summer.”

With all her talents, Parssi knows she could have secured a spot at the Dreyfoos School for the Arts instead of attending Wellington High School. But attending the prestigious high school in downtown West Palm Beach might not have offered such an opportunity to lead a well-rounded life. “I enjoy art, but I need the other things,” she said. “I really want to work with students with special needs. It gives me something different than art. It’s good to have variety.”

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More Than Meets The Eye Plastic Surgery Of Palm Beach Has Services Available For A Wide Range Of Clients Story by Ron Bukley  Photos by Susan Lerner

Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach provides a full range of services, from reconstructive surgery for cancer patients and accident victims to cosmetic surgery for the image-conscious.

The five physicians at Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach are registered at eight area hospitals, including Wellington Regional Medical Center and Palms West Hospital, where they work with trauma surgeons and in scheduled operations calling for reconstructive surgery. At their offices in Wellington, Jupiter and Palm Springs they supervise a full staff of nurses and technicians.

The founder of Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach is Dr. Alan Pillersdorf, who is chief of surgery at JFK Medical Center as well as vice speaker of the Florida Medical Association and president of the Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Pillersdorf opened Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach in 1990. Dr. Dov Eidelman joined him in 1999, followed by Dr. Hatem Abou-Sayed in 2003, Dr. Ernesto Hayn in 2005 and Dr. Alberto Navarro in 2007.

Pillersdorf, who previously practiced in New York City, worked in emergency rooms doing reconstructive surgery when he first came to Palm Beach County.

“Trauma surgery makes you a better surgeon,” Pillersdorf explained. “When I first came to town, that was a big part of our practice. Those cases set me up for my later years of being a good cosmetic surgeon.”

(Left) Dr. Alan Pillersdorf, founder of Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach, injects a client’s upper lip with Juvederm Ultra, an injectable gel designed to smooth out facial wrinkles and folds. (Right) MemoryGel is one of the products used in breast implants done by the practice.

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Pillersdorf said one of his strengths is organizing procedures that work together efficiently. Skin cancer surgery is a significant part of the practice, and a surgeon and pathologist work together

to remove lesions and then graft the skin immediately. “People want to have a plastic surgeon to close their skin cancer, so we want to make sure we can take care of them in the correct way,” he said.

Eidelman said breast cancer patients also should undergo reconstructive surgery immediately following a mastectomy.

“It’s the best opportunity to do it with the least amount of pre-existing scar tissue,” he explained. “If it is delayed, there is enough scar tissue to make it difficult to recreate the normal breast.”

The practice’s Palm Springs office has its own state-licensed surgery center with three operating rooms, a full-time anesthesiologist and nursing staff.

Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach also provides laser surgery treatments to clear up wrinkles, acne scars and other skin imperfections.

“There’s really no downtime associated with it,” Office Manager Monique Flores said. “The patients are a little bit red afterward, but it’s not like laser resurfacing where you have two days of downtime.”

Lasers can remove tattoos, vascular lesions and hair, as well as resurface skin.

Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach also offers a variety of dermal fillers to fill lips or smooth wrinkles.

The Wellington office has a unique feature, Aesthetics at Spa Zen, with rooms set up for facials, massages and laser hair removal. Pillersdorf said the conjunction of a medical practice means the spa operates on a very high standard.

“It’s run like a medical office, but the spa side is very upscale,” he said.

Office Manager Monique Flores discusses Latisse eyelash treatment options with a client.

‘People today don’t have the dollars to spend, so they are looking to maximize their looks with minimum cost.’

Dr. Alan Pillersdorf

The spa’s procedures are all done by trained specialists and technicians.

“People today don’t have the dollars to spend, so they are looking to maximize their looks with minimum cost,” Pillersdorf said. “The practice with the five doctors around is a good model, as opposed to spas where there is never a doctor around.”

Flores noted that the spa staff can also help patients undergoing cosmetic sur-

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gery. For instance, spa aestheticians can guide facelift patients on applying makeup to conceal temporary bruising.

“After a patient has a facelift and all their stitches are out, they look great, but they still have residual bruising,” Flores explained. “They go over to the spa, and the aesthetician teaches them how to do makeup to camouflage the bruising. It works out nicely to have that modality, where it doesn’t just stop with the surgeon, but we continue to take care of patients.”

The spa also offers VelaShape, an FDAapproved, non-surgical slimming and cellulite reduction procedure that uses lasers. “It’s a nice body contouring; it’s non-surgical and there’s no downtime,” Flores said. “It’s like a deep-tissue massage. It’s a popular procedure that we do in the spa. You can treat pretty much any part of the body, but the most popular areas are the abdomen, buttocks and

thighs. Both men and women have it done.”

VelaShape can also reduce post-operative swelling and promote lymphatic drainage after liposuction, she added.

The practice provides a full range of cosmetic surgery, including ultrasound liposuction and breast implants. Ultrasonic liposuction is a technique that requires less downtime for the patient than standard liposuction. “There is less bruising, if any, and there is less swelling and less pain,” Flores said.

The practice also treats patients who have excess skin after weight-loss surgery. “That is a new challenge,” Pillersdorf said. “Those are not simple tummy tucks or facelifts, because these people have overstretched their body and the elasticity is gone, so you almost have to invent new procedures to make them look better.”

Eidelman performs a wide variety of cosmetic surgery procedures, but specializes in “mommy makeovers” for women looking to restore a youthful look to their bodies after their childbearing years.

“Usually it consists of a tummy tuck with a little bit of liposuction together with a breast lift and augmentation with an implant, because breastfeeding and being pregnant leaves a lot of loose skin, and it leaves volume after breastfeeding and having children,” Flores said. “The breast implant helps restore the size and lifts them back up to where they should be. The tummy tuck gets rid of loose hanging skin.”

Eidelman said plastic surgery involves a wide range of procedures, often used in tandem.

“There’s quite a lot of variety in plastic surgery, from cosmetic surgery to reconstructive surgery,” he said.

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‘We make sure the technology has been perfected before actually using them. People often get drawn in by new technologies that have not withstood the test of time. We don’t want to immediately jump into the latest fad without knowing its long-lasting effects.’

Dr. Dov Eidelman

Today’s cosmetic surgery has evolved to the point that it is less invasive and the patient has a shorter recovery time. “Patients are inquiring more about procedures such as fillers to correct wrinkles as well as laser treatment,” Eidelman said. “Everybody wants less downtime and quicker results, and we find that non-invasive procedures can achieve that effectively.”

(Left) Dr. Dov Eidelman discusses breast implant surgery with a client.

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Eidelman employs almost a dozen different types of fillers to smooth facial wrinkles. “You have to examine the patient and pick the correct product for the individual,” he explained. “One of the things that I pride myself on is I don’t have a cookie-cutter approach to treatment. I really cater to the individual’s needs for a particular problem.”

Eidelman said the practice does not rush to provide headline-grabbing new procedures. “We make sure the technology has been perfected before actually using them,” he said. “People often get drawn in from the media by new technologies that have not withstood the test of time.

We don’t want to immediately jump into the latest fad without knowing its longlasting effects.”

Patients should weigh a surgeon’s experience above all other factors when considering plastic surgery, he advised. “The key to plastic surgery is to maximize the outcome and minimize downtime,” Eidelman said. “It’s an artful balance that an experienced surgeon should undertake.”

Eidelman added that the difficult economy has generated a lot of discussion about the cost of plastic surgery. “In general, patients need to do due diligence and compare practices before committing to a procedure purely on the basis of price,” he said.

Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach has offices in Wellington, Palm Springs and Jupiter, and maintains a web site at www.plastic surgerypb.com. The Wellington office is on the campus of Wellington Regional Medical Center at 10115 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 400. For more information, call (561) 790-5554. The Palm Springs office is at 1620 South Congress Ave., Suite 100 in the Greenwood Shopping Center. For more information, call (561) 968-7111. The Jupiter office is at 601 University Drive, Suite 203 in the Abacoa Center. For more information, call (561) 968-7111.

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Vinceremos Harvest Fest

Plans Another Exciting FOR

Oct. 3

By Rebecca Walton

For 27 years, the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee Groves has offered a unique service to the South Florida community — allowing those with disabilities the opportunity for independence.

Ruth Menor started the not-for-profit in 1982 after she graduated from college with a degree in therapeutic recreation. She traveled to Battle Creek, Mich. to receive her instructor certification and then moved to South Florida to begin a program where none existed.

Vinceremos Executive Director Ruth Menor with Jessica Welsh at the Special Olympics.

Taris Handy riding Cracker Jack with Head Vinceremos Instructor Carly Brown.

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Since its founding, Vinceremos has grown to offer therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy and most recently, “Horses for Heroes,” a program dedicated to rehabilitating former members of the armed forces.

More than 350 clients utilize the many services Vinceremos has to offer each year.

“We have a lot of riders who have learned to ride independently, without a leader or a side-walker, and they accomplished that in various ways,” Menor noted. “On the one end, we have really good horses, and secondly, we have very skilled staff members able to teach people to their ability level and able to understand acceptable risk to make people successful.”

“Part of our philosophy is for people to overcome the limits of their disabilities,” Menor explained. “That happens in a lot of different ways depending on what you’re doing. What we have always done is encourage our riders to be as independent as we have felt safely possible.”

This year, Vinceremos will be hosting its Third Annual Harvest Fest fundraiser at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Oct. 3.

The skills riders learn at Vinceremos include strengthening postural control and core balance, and improved motor function. They also experience an increased ability to concentrate, greater self-esteem, and improved communication and social skills. All of those lessons are vital to those with disabilities, and Vinceremos offers a unique opportunity to reach such goals with the help of an equine partner.

The original idea for the event began as a ride-athon 20 years ago held in Indiantown. During a ride-athon, participants collect donations to sponsor them while they participate in a trail ride. The event was always successful with the Vinceremos riders, but when the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center just east of Wellington became available, Vinceremos jumped at the chance to bring its fundraiser closer to home and allow for more community participation.

Harvest Fest was developed to make the

Kids in costume at last year’s Vinceremos Harvest Fest.

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event more entertaining for all members of the community. The event includes carnival games, pony rides and riding demonstrations. Two of the scheduled demonstrations this year are a drill team routine and an Arabian riding demonstration. Another feature event is the Breyer model horse contest. Children may bring their own Breyer model horse or purchase one at the event to decorate and receive prizes.

Members of the community as well as Vinceremos riders are welcome to participate in the ride-athon, which features trick-or-treat stations throughout the trail.

“We have treat stations set up so that the riders can stop. It’s either a trick or a treat, and sometimes they have to do a trick to get their treat,” Menor laughed.

“They are usually little skills, like throwing a hula-hoop over an object or tossing a ghost in the monster’s mouth. The

‘Part of our philosophy is for people to overcome the limits of their disabilities.

That happens in a lot of different ways...

What we have always done is encourage our riders to be as independent as we have felt safely possible.’

Vinceremos Executive Director Ruth Menor riders always seem to have a good time with it!”

people an opportunity to come out and learn about Vinceremos.”

This year Vinceremos will be partnering with the Palm Beach County Mounted Posse for a unique horse-and-rider costume contest. Riders may compete as individuals or in a team.

Money raised at Harvest Fest will benefit the Vinceremos scholarship program, which gives many of the riders the opportunity to utilize the services. The organization’s other main fundraising event is its annual benefit auction, dinner and dance that takes place during the winter equestrian season.

“There are a lot of things going on that day,” Menor said. “The demonstrations are just fun to watch, and there will be a DJ playing music all day as well as a delicious barbecue. I think anyone interested in horses will enjoy it, and it gives

For more information about Vinceremos or Harvest Fest, visit www.vinceremos. com or call (561) 792-9900.

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(Above) Dressage rider and trainer Michelle Gibson keeps adding to her long list of accomplishments.

(Far right) Gibson rides Diamante Farms’ stallion Don Angelo.

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Diamante Farms’ Head Trainer Michelle Gibson Looks Toward 2010 STORY BY LAUREN FISHER  PHOTOS BY SUSAN J. STICKLE

Diamante Farms’ stallion Don Angelo and head trainer Michelle Gibson have had a big year, making their successful Grand Prix debut in May and training in Germany with the renowned Olympic gold medalist Hubertus Schmidt through August and September. Gibson hopes to be a contender for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next summer, and she and Don Angelo are well on their way to reaching that goal.

Diamante Farms is a dressage training, showing and boarding facility in Wellington owned by Terri and Dick Kane. The facility provides a beautiful location in the heart of Wellington’s thriving equestrian community, giving Gibson every opportunity to excel in the competitive sport of dressage.

One of Gibson’s accomplishments was riding as a member of the U.S. Bronze Medal Team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and she has enjoyed many more successes since then. In 2002, Gibson became head trainer at Diamante Farms, began training the Kanes’ daughter Devon, and has since trained many world-class horses, including Don Angelo, a nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion.

In May, Gibson and Don Angelo made their first return to the show ring since winning the USEF National Intermediaire I championship in 2008.

The pair made their Grand Prix debut at the Poplar Place Farms May Dressage Show, and exceeded expectations when they were awarded the FEI division championship as well as the Collecting Gait Farms FEI high score award for their Grand Prix test.

“Don Angelo’s debut just felt so easy,” Gibson said.

“He went in there and did everything. We have spent a lot of time working on his Grand Prix test. He has to do it pretty regularly at home so that we can build the strength that he needs to be able to carry himself through all of that very collected work. We have just been training, trying to put things together, and get him stronger and more confirmed.”

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Don Angelo has been in training since the championships last year, and Gibson is very happy with his development overall.

“For sure, his whole canter tour is his biggest strength right now, but he does everything beautifully,” she smiled. “He has gorgeous half passes, the zigzag is easy for him, he can sit and do a pirouette, the flying changes are great. The one-tempis are so straight and big and forward. They are beautiful.”

The 2010 show season will be Don Angelo’s first full season showing Grand Prix since his debut, and he trained with Schmidt in Germany this summer in order to begin the season fully prepared.

Gibson’s goals for the trip were to perfect the Grand Prix with Don Angelo and to clean up the movements and add brilliance to the routine. She also traveled with Lex Barker, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Elite European Sport Horses.

Gibson has taken several of Schmidt’s clinics throughout her career and worked with him last season when Diamante Farms hosted the trainer for a clinic in Wellington, but this was the first time she trained with him in Germany, and she was eager to learn more.

“He is an excellent trainer, an excellent rider, he is a nice person, he treats people with respect, and I just think that it is a good fit,” Gibson said of Schmidt. “He is an excellent communicator, and he obviously has a very thorough understanding, or he wouldn’t be what he is. His style of riding and training are not so different from what I learned, so it makes a lot of sense to us.”

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‘I am really happy for the Kanes because we have had him since he was five years old, and he is really developing beautifully. I think I can speak for them as well as for myself in saying that we are very happy with his progression.’

Michelle Gibson on stallion Don Angelo Florida to take part in Wellington’s unmatched equestrian competition. The winter months will allow Gibson and Don Angelo to compete regularly and hopefully qualify as contenders for the World Equestrian Games.

Gibson explained that she is very excited about the 2010 season and the opportunities it will provide both for herself and Don Angelo. “I am really happy for the Kanes because we have had him since he was five years old, and he is really developing beautifully,” she said. “I think I can speak for them as well as for myself in saying that we are very happy with his progression.”

Terri Kane is also very excited that the stallion has grown so nicely. “I am just thrilled with his training and cannot wait to see how he will continue to advance,” she said. “He is just the sweetest little stallion, and we are excited about his new future.”

Kane enjoys watching Gibson and Don Angelo compete at the top levels of dressage and is happy to have a beautiful facility in Wellington just minutes from home that affords the opportunity to compete against some of the best in the sport. It’s an unmatched setting that gives these top horses and riders a wonderful experience every show season, she said.

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W ELLINGTON at Home

Large Olympia Home Serves As The Perfect Canvas For Sal And Monica Ramos STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY  PHOTOS BY BEA BOLTON

The Olympia home of Sal and Monica Ramos was Internet déjà vu. They were living in Wellington’s Aero Club and looking for a more childoriented community for son Daniel’s sake.

“We saw this house on the Internet on Saturday and bought it on Sunday,” Monica laughed. “It was on the market for exactly one day. When I walked in, it had so many of the things I liked about my Aero Club home: the same colors, even the same pool tiles in the same pattern.”

Moving from house to house has become second nature to the Ramos family, which includes 12-year-old Daniel and a Rhodesian ridgeback named Dudley.

“My husband is a builder, and I am an interior decorator, so when I sell a home, I usually sell it with everything in it, all the furniture and even the paintings,” Monica said. “My mother came from Brazil to help me make the drapes for the Aero Club home. I wanted to keep them, but the buyer said he wouldn’t buy it without the drapes. When I saw the drapes [in the Olympia house], it was the same idea, the same colors here!”

The paintings in the Olympia home are another story, one-of-a-kind originals done by Monica herself.

“When we travel, I take lots of pictures, and when I get home, I try to transform my travel pictures into paintings,” she said.

Monica, who began by painting landscapes and flowers, has recently extended her repertoire to include abstract art.

Her first such effort, titled The Breathing Earth, hangs above a credenza in the living room. “It was very liberating,” she said.

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(Main photo) This bronze statuette was purchased at one of the antique shows held at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

(Inset) Sal, Monica and son Daniel Ramos pose in the game room in front of two florals painted by Monica.

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The Ramos home has five bedrooms and five and a half baths. At 4,034 square feet with 14-foot ceilings and lots of light, the view upon entering is almost majestic. Most of the uncarpeted floor space is a deep, rich Brazilian cherry, which Monica admits is not the best surface for dogs. The interior walls, which were white and cold when the couple bought the home, are now painted in muted Mediterranean hues. They also had their carpenter add crown molding, panels with faux-painted inserts, a niche and other architectural details. “The panels are a nice touch to a big wall like that,” Monica pointed out.

Furnished in warm woods (the coffee table has a dark granite top), deep comfy sofas, “puddling” drapery and art that pops, the living room is especially welcoming. “We moved in with our toothbrushes and our mattresses,” Monica said. “For us, doing it that way is great.

We don’t have a lot of stuff to move.”

Because both Monica and Sal work out of their home, offices are essential. To the right of the foyer is Sal’s office, a dark soothing space conducive to computer usage and quiet time. Monica painted The Honest Lady Café that hangs over his desk after being amused by the name when they encountered the real restaurant in their travels.

Behind Sal’s office is a hallway that leads to a guest room with bath, son Daniel’s room, Monica’s office and another bathroom. The first guest room is painted in a color called “Harmonica Tan” that morphs from tan to a greenish shade de(Top left) Crown molding and faux-painted panels add architectural detail to a living room that was not much more than a big white box when the family moved in.

(Left inset) Monica’s first abstract, The Breathing Earth, was done in colors picked up from the living room.

(Bottom left) The family room, visible across the kitchen island, offers comfortable seating as well as a stunning view of the pool through floor-toceiling windows.

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pending on the intensity of the sun. The room is furnished in dark wicker and wood with a wall-mounted TV, towering pillar candles, a silk orchid plant, and lots and lots of pillows. “Pillows make a big difference,” Monica said. “They make a room so inviting.”

Daniel’s room features various souvenirs he’s collected during family excursions — a batik from the Caribbean, a metal sculpture from Naples, Florida and a metal fire engine from, well, Pier 1.

A bathroom done in shades of gold and mahogany again reminded Monica of her Aero Club home. “The color, the wood, the granite, it was all the same,” she remarked.

Her office, a model of efficiency, is also home to an original painting she did of the small town of Tuscania, located about an hour from Rome. “We were walking along when we came upon this arch, looked out and saw that scene,” she said.

“It was so beautiful I got goosebumps all over.”

Found throughout the home are silk orchids from the Stalk Market in Wellington.

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An equally impressive Venetian scene on the computer screen is a digital record of one of the paintings Monica sold with the Aero Club home. “I love to paint, but it is very lonely,” she noted. “I think that’s why I love decorating more, because I like people.”

Monica is currently taking classes toward a degree in interior design, stressing that its distinction from interior decorating is the knowledge of structures right down to their plumbing and their electrical systems. Accreditation in design will allow her to do things like authorize the removal of an unnecessary wall.

Monica Ramos added accessories to a kitchen that already had beautiful maple cabinetry and a work island topped with pink Bordeaux granite from Brazil.

Left of Sal’s office and across the foyer is a hidden laundry room, and down an adjoining hallway is the master bedroom. Done in shades of burgundy and khaki, the bedroom offers a superb view of the pool area. A coffered ceiling in an unusual geometric pattern draws the eye upward while a stylish wicker paddle fan hints of lazy days better spent in bed.

Drapes creatively bunched at the top of the windows also add interest. Family photographs grace two matched bedside dressers. “I love having family pictures everywhere,” Monica said. “It gives a lot of peace to the house.”

Located behind the bedroom, the master bath is reminiscent of a spa, with walls faux-painted to mimic stone, a sheet of glass between the tub and shower and a triple window that Monica is considering painting to resemble stained glass, for added privacy as well as beauty.

Out of the bedroom and across the living room, a formal dining room is ready on the right side, while an open kitchen/ family space invites from the left.

An inviting retreat, the master bedroom reflects the primary colors in use throughout the house: mahogany, khaki, deep reds and a calming green.

The dining room was lightened considerably when panels were added with mirror inserts. A centerpiece from one of Monica’s favorite haunts, the Stalk Market, looks real but is rendered in silk.

Adorning the sideboard is an Art Nou-

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veau-style bronze statuette that Monica purchased at an antique show at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

“I just love her,” Monica said. “She is one of those pieces I take out before I sell a house. Those pieces I will never sell. I like combining new things with antiques. Antiques are a great way to give character to a house.”

Kitchen counters and a prep island are topped in a pinkish-gray Brazilian granite called Bordeaux that Monica loves because “it has a lot of movement to it.” A clay tile backsplash echoes the granite’s color and adds cohesiveness between upper and lower cabinets. Stacked double wall ovens and a black ceramic cooktop make kitchen cleanup easy. Glazed maple panels on the refrigerator and pantry doors tie in with the cabinetry.

An entertainment center that formerly consumed much of the living room was

moved to the family room with its sound system, flat-panel television and wine cooler. Dark woven wicker fans, a glasstop table with six chairs and a metal-andglass chandelier round out the space.

The second floor is accessed from a stairway at the front of the house flanked with framed black-and-white photos depicting both Sal’s and Monica’s parents’ weddings, their siblings’ weddings and their own.

The main feature of the second floor is a “bonus” game room. Many other Olympians who purchased this “Casa della Flora” design chose to use it as the master bedroom, but the Ramos family has preserved its recreational purpose.

Gracing the room is an impressive granite-topped bar with four accommodating maple barstools and beveled mirror. “The bar was downstairs in the living room when we bought the house,

but it obstructed the view,” Monica said.

“Our carpenter Gabriel took it apart and brought it up here.”

With green and gold on opposing walls, the space is home to a pool table (with optional table-tennis top), computer, Xbox, TV set (complete with Guitar Hero), an electric organ and an electric drum set. To do her artwork, Monica tops the table-tennis surface with plastic and begins painting. The arts, especially music, are important to the Ramos family. When the adults congregate, the guitar Monica plays is real, not the videogame version.

“This house is wonderful for having parties,” Monica said. “There are people everywhere. I always dreamed about having a house like that. We dance, we play guitar, we sing. That’s what life is all about. It’s worth working hard for it when your friends and family can enjoy it together.”

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Wellington Table

(Right inset) Alex and Chris Papas invite you to visit I’m Greek Today, now open in Southern Palm Crossing. (Above) The restaurant’s dining room is decorated in the Greek national colors. (Far right) The beef souvlaki platter features marinated beef tenderloin skewers served over a bed of Greek salad with patates fourno baked in lemon oil and oregano.

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I’m Greek Today IS LIKE A Trip To The Mediterranean A VISIT TO

STORY BY DEBORAH WELKY PHOTOS BY DEVIN JACOVIELLO

Walking into the new area restaurant I’m Greek Today is like being enveloped in the blue and white of that country’s flag. Eating at I’m Greek Today is like taking a quick trip to that ancient land. The recipes are authentic, the flavors are powerful, and with everyone more conscious of their health these days, it’s good food that’s good for you!

With invigorating music playing in the background and Zorba the Greek running silently overhead, I’m Greek Today — located in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza — is a welcome respite from the everyday.

Officially open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, I’m Greek Today stays open “until the party ends” on Friday and Saturday nights. And if you’re coming to this party, come hungry.

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The menu features 19 different appetizers — everything from fried calamari and spanakotyropita (spinach and feta pie) to loukaniko (Greek sausage) and saganaki (broiled kefalograviera cheese).

Menu items are listed by their traditional Greek names as well as easy-tounderstand translations for speakers of English.

The specialty of the house is a souvlaki platter, marinated meats and seafood from the grill. “The platter was one of the reasons for the concept of the restaurant,” owner Chris Papas explained.

Souvlaki platters are reasonably priced at $9 to $10.50 for a single portion and feature pork, lamb, chicken, steak, marinated beef or marinated shrimp skewers nestled up against “Greek Fries” (French fries sautéed with lemon oil and oregano) and a huge Greek salad consisting of lettuce, feta cheese, red onion, sweet pepper, Greek olives and tomato.

Papas is quick to point out that there are 4.5 to five ounces of meat per skewer and that the pork is pork tenderloin, the beef is tenderloin and the chicken is breast meat. Diners also have the option of a gyro platter, bifteke souvlaki (herb-spiced chopped steak skewers) or a combo platter.

Not in a platter mood? How about some seafood. I’m Greek Today offers salmon, mahi-mahi or tilapia served over a bed of spinach sautéed in garlic and olive oil.

The restaurant has other Greek specialties as well: moussaka (layers of eggplant, meat sauce, potato with béchamel and cheese), pastitsio (Greek lasagna), yemista (green peppers stuffed with meat and rice), macaronada (Greek pasta), yiouvetsi (pasta with meat), paidakia (lamb chops over spinach) and steki me patates (garlic-spiced rib eye steak).

And what would a Greek restaurant be without pita wrap sandwiches? For between $7 and $8.50, diners can feast on

a pork, chicken or lamb souvlaki pita, an authentic gyro, loukaniko or steak pita, or the yummy grilled portobello mushroom pita. All pitas include tomato, onions, lettuce and tzatziki (a yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip).

“I moved to Florida in 1991 with this concept, and in the last five or six years, noticed the population embracing it,” said Papas, who opened I’m Greek Today on July 30. “All different kinds of ethnic backgrounds like this kind of food. It’s a crossover cuisine. When I saw the potential for this location, it was time to make it happen, to make the dream come true.”

Papas’ mother was born in Greece. His father came by way of Egypt, the descendant of Greeks who migrated to Alexandria and Cairo in the early twentieth century to run cotton factories. A love of cooking was passed down through the generations.

“I try to follow the Mediterranean diet from the Mayo Clinic, heart-healthy choices,” Papas said. “I use extra virgin olive oil and canola oil and the spices of Greece — lemon, oregano and garlic, garlic, garlic!”

The name of the restaurant originated with rotating Sunday barbecues that Papas enjoyed with friends. Whenever it was his turn to cook, one friend would announce, “I guess I’m Greek today!”

Are you feeling a bit Greek? I’m Greek Today is in Southern Palm Crossing next to Stein Mart at 11051 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. A menu is available at www.imgreektoday.com. Call (561) 333-4233 to order ahead or discuss catering.

(Left, top to bottom) Food selections at I’m Greek Today include: Greek hummus and pita slices brought to each table; authentic stuffed grape leaves; the chicken souvlaki platter served with Greek salad and Greek fries; and loukomades, heavenly fried dumplings dripping in honey syrup with cinnamon.

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Wellington Dining Guide Backstreets Neighborhood Bar & Grill serves the finest seafood, steaks, salads, burgers and pizzas as well as daily specials. Stop by on Sunday for a 14-ounce prime rib dinner. Backstreets is located in the Wellington Plaza and is open for lunch and dinner. Call (561) 795-0100 for info.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant is located on Forest Hill Blvd. near the Mall at Wellington Green. Specializing in family-style Italian cuisine, Buca di Beppo is known for its large portions designed to serve several people. If you’ve got a large party, reserve the Pope’s Room; for a unique experience, reserve the table in the kitchen. For more info., call (561) 7903287 or visit www.bucadibeppo.com.

Café Las Palmas, located at 7750 Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach, has an international menu with a focus on Cuban and Colombian cuisine. It is open for lunch and dinner, and features live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For more info., call (561) 697-1786.

Campagnolo Italian Restaurant offers a taste of New York’s Little Italy in Wellington. In the Marketplace at Wycliffe, Campagnolo serves family-style Italian cuisine with huge portions meant to share. For an appetizer, try the stuffed artichokes or mussel soup.

For an entree, try the Chicken Campagnolo, veal pizzaiola or penne con broccoli rabe. Located at 4115 State Road 7, it is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more info., call (561) 434-9427.

Campagnolo Trattoria is now open in the Mall at Wellington Green serving high-quality Italian cuisine in a casual setting. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Mall at Wellington Green. For more info., call (561) 790-1311.

Centanni Café & Restaurant in Royal Palm Beach serves up delicious Italian dishes cooked to order. It is located at the corner of State Road 7 and Southern Blvd. near Kmart. Call (561) 792-7677 for info.

The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach has added a hip new element to its 60-year tradition of offering the finest steaks and ribs with the Polo Steakhouse.

For “ladies that lunch” there is a lighter menu, and now the hotel proudly introduces the Palm Court al Fresco with lounge seating and billowing curtains in a lush garden setting. Open for breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. Located at 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach, call (561) 655-5430 for more info.

Executive Chef David Palmateer, previously of Café Chardonnay, recently opened deVine Bistro & Bar with his wife Sara. The restaurant’s atmosphere is chic yet comfy, and the gourmet menu focuses on hand-selected and all-natural ingredients. DeVine Bistro & Bar is located in the Plaza at Wellington Green at 2465 State Road 7, Suite 300. For more info., call (561) 204-5432.

Field of Greens, located at 10140 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Pointe at Wellington Green, serves some of the freshest and healthiest food in town. It is a quick, contemporary restaurant specializing in salads and sandwiches. Enjoy customized salads with homemade dressings, as well as signature salads and wraps. For more info., call (561) 795-4345.

Gabriel’s Cafe & Grille is Wellington’s oldest restaurant. Serving breakfast and lunch, Gabriel’s is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the Wellington Plaza at the intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace. For more info., call (561) 793-0675.

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Wellington Dining Guide Drop by the Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant and relax in a warm, traditional Irish setting complete with oak-barrel tables and a full bar with many types of beer flowing from the tap. Regular live entertainment is offered. The Gypsy’s Horse is located in the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Call (561) 333-3700 for more info.

Eating at I’m Greek Today is like taking a quick trip to that ancient land. The recipes are authentic and the flavors are powerful. The restaurant is located in Southern Palm Crossing next to Stein Mart at 11051 Southern Blvd. Visit www.imgreektoday.com or call (561) 333-4233 for more info.

Ironwood Grille, located in the PGA National Resort & Spa, is now open to the public, providing an amazing new contemporary American dining experience.

The heart of the menu is a tempting list of steaks and fresh seafood. Guests will find room for private dining and a wine room featuring a floor-to-ceiling collection of 2,000 bottles. For reservations, call (561) 227-2681 or visit www.ironwoodgrille.com.

Kontiki Wine & Raw Bar is located in the Courtyard Shops of Wellington at the corner of Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Blvd. Steaks and seafood are featured, prepared with a Euro-Asian fusion flair. Enjoy the full sushi bar and a glass or bottle of wine from a large and varied list. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For info., call (561) 296-0404.

La Fogata Restaurant serves delicious Mexican cuisine. The restaurant, located in the Wellington Town Square at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., features a tequila bar. Call (561) 422-1641 for info.

Family owned and operated, Mamma Mia’s Trattoria has served South Florida since 1983. Huge portions; open for lunch and dinner; featuring New York style brick oven pizza; specializing in fresh seafood, oakwood-grilled lamb chops, slow-roasted ossobuco and frutti di mare. Mamma Mia’s is located at 8855 Hypoluxo Road at Lyons Road. Call (561) 963-9565 for more info.

Max & Erma’s restaurant is now open in Royal Palm Beach, serving gourmet hamburgers, steaks, chicken, pasta, salads and sandwiches. Call-ahead seating and carryout available. Max & Erma’s is located at 11111 Southern Blvd. in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza. For more info., call (561) 383-8878 or visit www.maxandermas.com.

Nature’s Table Café in the Wellington Marketplace offers a wholesome menu featuring hearty soups, specialty salads, gourmet wraps, signature sandwiches and fruit yogurt shakes. Free Wi-Fi access is available, as well as online ordering. For more info., visit www.ntcwellington.com or call (561) 383-8343.

Nicole’s Pasta & Grill, formerly Nicole’s Village Tavern, is located at 12300 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. Recent changes have added a full menu of popular Italian dishes while maintaining a number of favorites from the old menu. For more info., call (561) 793-3456 or visit www.nicoles villagetavern.com.

The Original Hawaiian Ice Co. brings a taste of the tropics to Wellington with over 100 refreshing treats featuring Hawaiian shaved ice, gourmet Italian ice, smoothies, hot Kona coffee brewed-to-order and much more. Catering is available for any function.

Original Hawaiian Ice is located in Wellington Town Square at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. and is open seven days a week. Call (561) 693-2822 for more info.

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Wellington Dining Guide The Players Club Restaurant & Bar (13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington) features gourmet cuisine along with a popular piano bar, outside dining, two outside smoking bars, live entertainment and catered events. Call (561) 795-0080 for more info.

Got a craving? Master Chef Shingo at Shingo’s Authentic Japanese Restaurant can satisfy that craving with so many sashimi and sushi varieties, you could never taste them all! Try them a la carte or in combo platters. The restaurant also features many other Japanese specialties. Shingo’s is located in the Woods Walk Plaza at the corner of Lake Worth Road and State Road 7. For more info., call (561) 963-5050.

Spices Modern Thai & Sushi Bar features delicious Asian cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. Enjoy authentic savory Thai cuisine coupled with a full-service sushi bar. Spices is open every day for lunch and dinner located at 11071 Southern Blvd. in the Southern Palms Crossing shopping plaza behind Bank Atlantic. For more info., call (561) 798-3877 or visit www. enjoyspices.com.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern in the Pointe at Wellington Green serves up exciting flavors in a casually sophisticated setting. The gourmet American fare features delicious entrees with the perfect wines to accompany. Call (561) 784-9796 or visit www.stonewoodgrill. com for more info.

A family tradition since 1905, Strathmore Bagels is located in the Marketplace at Wycliffe at the corner of State Road 7 and Lake Worth Road. For more info., call (561) 357-0044.

Too Bizaare Café wine, sushi bar and gallery in Jupiter has a varied menu and wine list. There are a variety of tapas, and the sushi bar features various sushi and sashimi as well as classic and hand rolls.

Specialty dishes include pastas, seafood and chicken dishes. Too Bizaare Café is located at 287 E. Indiantown Road. For more info., call (561) 745-1032 or visit www.toobizaare.com.

Drop by the award-winning TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli in the Mall at Wellington Green for breakfast, lunch or dinner. TooJay’s is reminiscent of your favorite New York delicatessen. Specialties include signature overstuffed sandwiches, chicken noodle soup and traditional deli classics. For more information, call (561) 784-9055 or visit www.toojays. com.

Tree’s Wings & Ribs is located at 603 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Royal Plaza. Eat in or pick up your order of signature wings, ribs, chicken and more. Tree’s also delivers mouthwatering menu items, and caters events and parties. Visit www. treeswingsandribs.com or call (561) 791-1535 for more info.

Tub Tim Thai Restaurant in the Marketplace at Wycliffe features authentic Thai cuisine and decor. Thai dishes made with fresh seafood, juicy duck and authentic ingredients are prepared for you to enjoy. For more information, call (561) 641-5550 or visit Tub Tim Thai Restaurant at 4095 State Road 7 at Lake Worth Road.

Zensai Asian Grill & Sushi Bar features Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisine, offering something for everyone. Sushi is made fresh to order daily in an upscale, soothing atmosphere. The restaurant is located at 10233 Okeechobee Blvd. in the Super Target shopping center. Call (561) 795-8882 or visit www. zensairestaurant.com for more info.

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Wellington Calendar THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 • The Wellington Women’s Club will kick off its 2009-10 season with a dinner meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Players Club (13410 South Shore Blvd., Wellington). Returning members and guests will enjoy a “welcome back” reception with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by dinner and speaker Suzanne Turner, CEO of the YWCA of Palm Beach County. Guests are welcome for a fee of $30. To RSVP, call Allyson Samiljan at (561) 798-6741.

MONDAY, SEPT. 7 • The Palm Beach Kennel Club (1111 North Congress Ave., West Palm Beach) will host the $20,000 Labor Day Puppy Stakes on Monday, Sept. 7 at 11:30 a.m., featuring PBKC’s top youngsters, an afternoon of fun and excitement, as well as prize drawings and young greyhounds to pet.

Admission is $1. Visit www.pbkennelclub.com or call (561) 683-2222 for more info.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9 • The Wellington Art Society will kick off its 2009-10 season with its annual open house and membership drive on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). There will also be information on membership and the group’s upcoming events and demonstrations, as well as a raffle and refreshments. Admission is free. For more info., call Wellington Art Society President Adrianne Hetherington at (561) 784-7561.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Magic School Bus Adventures” on Wednesdays, Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. for ages five and up. Explore concepts in nature and science with Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus gang. Themes include “Explore the Senses,” “In the Time of Dinosaurs,” “Baked in a Cake” and “Inside the Human Body.” Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a “Writers’ Critique Workshop” on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. for adults. Offer and accept constructive criticism and comments to improve your fiction, nonfiction and poetry in a supportive atmosphere led by Florida Writers’ Association member Mark Adduci. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “The Magic Secrets Magic Show” on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 3:30 p. m. for ages five and up. See magician John Cesta with a story of magic, inspiration, music and audience participation. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will hold a Mini Biz Expo center court in the original Wellington Mall (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. Four-foot display tables are available to members for $25. Call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com for more info.

• The Wellington Chamber of Commerce will host an After-Hours Networking Reception at the 7th Chukker Restaurant at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 5:30

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to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for chamber members and $10 for guests. RVSP by Sept. 7 to (561) 792-6525.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11 • The Armory Art Center (1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach) will open three exhibitions on Friday, Sept. 11: the Florida Artist’s Group 59th Exhibition (Montgomery Gallery), the Hispanic Heritage Exhibition (Greenfield Gallery) and a Faculty Exhibition (Colaciello Gallery). Opening receptions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. The exhibitions will run through Oct. 3. For more info., call the Armory at (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armoryart.org.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 • The Mounts Botanical Garden will feature the plant sale weekend “Everything Orchids/A Shady Affair” Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Everything Orchids” will feature top orchid growers, artists and craftspeople.

“A Shady Affair” will feature more than a dozen additional vendors selling numerous varieties of begonias, bromeliads, orchids, ferns, hoyas and aroids. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. For more info., call (561) 233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

• The Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13 at the South Florida Fairgrounds featuring seminars, demonstrations, fishing boats and a huge indoor tackle sale. Florida Sportsman magazine promises that the show will be bigger and better than previous years. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $8 for adults and free for children 12 and under with a parent. For more info., visit www.floridasportsman.com.

• Bill Poje, author of the Florida crime novel Painless, will hold a book signing on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon at Waldenbooks in the Mall at Wellington Green. For more info., call Poje at (904) 525-3928 or visit www.painless-poje.com.

MONDAY, SEPT. 14 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Baby Story Time” on Mondays, Sept. 14, 21 and 28. Babies will love the rhymes, finger plays, songs, books, and toys. Times are 9:30 a.m. for under nine months and 11:15 a.m. for 10 to 18 months. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

• The Wellington Garden Club will meeting on Monday, Sept. 14 at the Wellington Community Center. The event will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. For more info., call Mary Anne at (561) 9681062.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Board Games Spectacular” on Monday, Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. for ages six and up.

Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 15 • The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 for more info.

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Wellington Calendar WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16 • The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host an After-Hours Networking Mixer on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hoffman’s Chocolates (5190 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth). Admission is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. RVSP to Catherine Engel at (561) 790-6200.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Socrates Café” on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. The Society for Philosophical Inquiry initiated the concept for this discussion led by Marji Chapman. Find out this month’s thought-provoking topic when you call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• County Commissioner Jess Santamaria will host a community forum Wednesday, Sept.

16 from 7 to 9 p.m. center court at the original Wellington Mall (12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). For more information, call Santamaria’s office at (561) 355-6300.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Open Mic Night” on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Join neighbors and perform poetry, short prose, an essay or a dance. Play an instrument or sing a song for an audience of all ages. Pick up the rules when you pre-register. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Chess Club meeting on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m. for ages eight and up.

Chess fans will practice strategy skills with other players. Basic game knowledge is required. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will host its Annual Friendship Ball on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Tickets cost $70 per person and include musical entertainment, open bar, door prizes and a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m. For tickets, call Alvin Nembhard at (561) 333-8891, Millie Hampton at (561) 7901751, Lawrence Logan at (561) 791-0162, Ernie Garvey at (561) 422-3359, O.G. Smith at (561) 7989444 or Lascelles Harris at (561) 798-3634.

MONDAY, SEPT. 21 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Introduction to Irish Dancing” on Monday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. for adults.

Marie Marzi, a certified instructor from the Drake School of Irish Dance, will guide participants through beginner steps. Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. Call (561) 790-6070 to preregister.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature its Poetry Discussion Series on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Engage in a provocative discussion of several published poems written by various poets. Copies are available at the information desk. Call (561) 7906070 to pre-register.

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Wellington Calendar THURSDAY, SEPT. 24 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Leaf Art” on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. for ages nine and up. Be inspired by the book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert to create art with colorful leaves. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Teen Game Night” on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 12 to 17. Join other teens for Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and board games. Snacks will be served. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Advances in Pain Management” on Friday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. for adults. Dr. Stuart Rubin, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, will discuss diagnosing and relieving pain.

Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Science Club: Butterflies and Other Insects” on Fridays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. for ages eight and up. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold a Scrapbooking Class on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. for ages five and up. Want a great way to preserve your memories of a special event? Bring your own pictures and memorabilia and learn how. Basic supplies will be provided.

Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

MONDAY, SEPT. 28 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Paper Plate Puppets” on Monday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. for ages six and up. Design your own puppet using paper plates. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 29 • The Wellington Village Council will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561) 791-4000 for more info.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 • The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold “Meet the Author: Stuart Woods” on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. for adults. Chat, ask questions and get the scoop on Woods’ novel Hothouse Orchid. A book signing will follow. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life” on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. for adults. Social worker Susan Lander will offer practical advice on nurturing a life filled with possibilities. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

SATURDAY, OCT. 3 • The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center will host its Third Annual Harvest Fest fundraiser at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Saturday, Oct. 3 featuring carnival games, pony rides and riding demonstrations. For more info., visit www.vinceremos.com or call (561) 792-9900.

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Around Wellington

WHS Club Helps Support Group — The thinkPINKkids Club at Wellington High School presented $2,000 to the breast cancer support group Your Bosom Buddies II on Thursday, Aug. 13. The club raised the money at the 5K Walk to Win the Battle Against Breast Cancer in May. Shown here are Amy Aqua, Lorna Johnson, Travis Michaud, Ben Aqua, Marie Phillips and Susie Donovan. Photo by Denise Fleischman Panther Run Elementary School teachers Olga Espinoza, Lisa Kenny, Mara Hoberman.

Dr. Shullman Salutes Teachers — Shullman Orthodontics hosted a teachers’ appreciation night on Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant in the original Wellington Mall. The event included free food and drinks, raffle prizes from local businesses and more. The grand prize was a free set of braces from Shullman Orthodontics. Shullman Orthodontics is located at 9859 Lake Worth Road, Suite 21 in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 868-5050.

PhotoS by Denise Fleischman

Dorothy Bradshaw speaks as Linda Spielmann looks on.

Making Strides Kickoff — Or-

(Above) Madison and Andrew Savoie claim their raffle prize from Dr. Howard Shullman. (Below) Dr. Shullman with his team.

ganizers of the Palm Beach County Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk held a kickoff party Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Nicole’s Pasta & Grill in Wellington. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Okeeheelee Park. For more info., contact Dorothy Bradshaw at (561) 346-5910 or Jeremy Morse at jeremy.morse@ cancer.org. Photos by Carol Porter

(Above) Catherine Engel of the Palms West Chamber with Lisa Gardi of Palms West Hospital.

(Below) American Cancer Society representatives at the kickoff.

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