Town-Crier Newspaper December 27, 2013

ITID BOARD TO HEAR MINTO WEST DEC. 30 SEE STORY, PAGE 3

TOY DRIVE BRINGS CHEER TO P.W. HOSPITAL SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 19

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TOWN - CR IER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE Wellington Agrees To Buy Lake Wellington Professional Centre

Volume 34, Number 52 December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

TIME FOR BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

The Village of Wellington will likely be the new owner of the Lake Wellington Professional Centre after members of the Wellington Village Council voted last week to approve the purchase. At a special meeting Friday, Dec. 20, council members voted 4-1 to approve the purchase. Page 3

RPB Throws In Support With Area Communities To Hire SR 7 Lobbyist

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council pledged $5,000 to the Western Communities Council on Dec. 19 to help pay for a national lobbyist to support the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd. Page 7

The sixth annual Kids Cancer Foundation Breakfast with Santa was held Saturday, Dec. 21 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The breakfast is a chance for the kids with cancer and cancer survivors to reunite. There were crafts, raffles, breakfast, a magician and more. Children got a toy and a stuffed animal from Santa, and those in treatment also got a bag of toys from their wish list. Shown here, Rachel Goldenberg and Jennifer Reichert visit with Santa and his elves. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 12 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Santa Claus Brings Holiday Joy To Chimps

Santa Claus stopped by Lion Country Safari to deliver presents to the chimps on Thursday, Dec. 19. Page 12

Wellington Children’s Fishing Classic Returns

The Wellington Children’s Fishing Classic was held Saturday, Dec. 21 on the shores of Lake Wellington. Families enjoyed a day together fishing, with awards for the top catches. Page 19

OPINION Communities Should Support SR 7 Lobbyist

The fight for the extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. appears headed to the federal level, and several local leaders have expressed the need to lobby the issue in Washington. With strong opposition from West Palm Beach — which is already lobbying at the state and federal levels — the western communities must come together to win this battle and make sure there is a safe way for residents to travel in and out of our communities. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 12 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS........................ 8 PEOPLE ............................... 13 SCHOOLS .....................14 - 15 COLUMNS .....................16, 23 BUSINESS .................... 24 - 25 CALENDAR .......................... 28 SPORTS ........................ 29 - 31 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 31 - 35 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

2013 IN REVIEW: ROYAL PALM BEACH

RPB Celebrates Park Opening By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Royal Palm Beach basked in the fruits of its labor in 2013, taking time to enjoy its large new park, while crafting a vision for the village’s future. At long last, Royal Palm Beach Commons Park opened, playing host to several community events, including a new green market. The village continued to expand its recreational options, planning and opening a skate park at the request of young residents, and starting discussion on adding a dog park and a flying disc park at Commons Park. A March election saw a veteran council member return to the dais, ousting an incumbent and changing the makeup of the board. After not having a candidates’ debate before the 2013 election, council members took action to make sure one will happen in 2014.

Royal Palm Beach also saw progress on highly anticipated projects, including a groundbreaking on the Aldi distribution center and the opening of the Renaissance Charter School at Palms West. Council members, along with residents, began crafting a more concrete future for the village with a visioning workshop that will help shape Royal Palm’s future policies. After much debate, council members finally settled on a residential designation for its former wastewater treatment plant site, settling residents’ concerns about the site being used for commercial space. After Temple Beth Zion merged with another temple, leaving its building vacant, council members considered buying the property. Ultimately, council members decided against it, but by year’s end, a new Jewish congregation had made its home in the building.

Royal Palm Beach Commons Park Delays on the village’s new signature park dominated the headlines in 2012, causing frustration for residents and council members alike. But Royal Palm Beach finally got to enjoy its new space after the park opened on March 2. The entire community — more than 50,000 people — came together March 22 through March 24 for a grand opening weekend bash, kicking off a year of community events coming to the park. In the fall, the village announced that the new Royal Palm Beach Green Market & Bazaar would make its home at Commons Park, offering fresh produce, handmade See ROYAL PALM, page 18

Big Staff Changes, New Focus

ITID Rejects Water Pump Agreement With WPB In a 3-2 vote, the ITID board rejected a proposed water pump agreement with the City of West Palm Beach on Feb. 15. The decision to discontinue negotiations over the agreement came after the

board listened to protracted arguments from residents against the idea and a unanimous request by the Acreage Landowners’ Association to stop the talks. The proposed agreement would have been to study the feasibility of establishing a permanent pump structure at the southern end of ITID’s L Canal that would redirect stormwater discharge from ITID’s M-1 Basin into the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area via West Palm Beach’s M Canal. Proponents said the idea would provide ITID with a permanent avenue of extra stormwater discharge that was utilized during the flooding that followed Tropical Storm Isaac through a temporary agreement with West Palm Beach using temporary pumps. Opponents said they did not trust West Palm Beach to hold to its agreements, and feared the sometimes drought-stricken city would take water from The Acreage during dry periods when the

2013 IN REVIEW: WELLINGTON

A Year Of Conflict And Compromise

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report For the Village of Wellington, 2013 was about picking up the pieces of its fractured community. A year for healing, 2013 saw resolutions and compromise for several hotly debated issues, as well as consensus and progress on projects. Wellington resolved its legal department issues by deciding to hire an in-house attorney, finally settling on former Councilwoman Laurie Cohen for the job. But Wellington council members were thrust back into hot water when talk of firing longtime Village Manager Paul Schofield drew the ire of the community. An independent auditing company complained about the company’s treatment by employees, and a blunder saw Wellington needlessly pay more than $180,000 in taxes on the KPark property. Ultimately, council members called in an independent consultant to evaluate the village’s issues.

The Equestrian Village site continued to be an issue, but late in the year, Wellington finalized a settlement agreement with site owners, pulling the village out of the years-long legal battle and allowing for expanded uses on the property. Wellington also continued to carve out an identity for itself in 2013. Council members gave great consideration to what its community would look like, from its town center to the remaining land along State Road 7. Several projects began to take shape, with council members making more decisions about the future of its tennis facility and the K-Park property. They decided just this month to purchase the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, adjacent to the village’s municipal complex. There were also several policy decisions made, from re-evaluating the village’s permitted business hours to taking another look at the use of recreational vehicles See WELLINGTON, page 18

B&G CLUB HOLIDAY FUN

The village also took another look at its garage sale rules, while dealing with complaints from residents about weeds in local canals.

2013 IN REVIEW: THE ACREAGE

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District took steps toward a new future in 2013, with sweeping changes in top management including the hiring of a new manager and a new engineer/hydrologist, as well as some contentious politics on a divided board of supervisors. The board also scrapped plans for a community center in The Acreage and committed to a newly intensified focus on drainage problems. The district starts 2014 with a new team in place, led by newly appointed ITID President Carol Jacobs.

Serving Palms West Since 1980

community needs to retain its water. ITID Refocuses On Drainage Improvements The ITID board conducted a public hearing May 13 on its draft budget for fiscal year 2013-14 and emphasized holding the line on assessments while still making major drainage improvements. Key goals of the budget were a comprehensive drainage plan, inhouse canal improvements, telemetry to continue the automation of manually operated water control structures, in-house mowing and a road improvement schedule. A majority of the budget is allocated to maintenance of the district’s 389 miles of unpaved roads and 70 miles of paved roads. The overall proposed budget was up from $9.6 million to $10.8 million, due largely to an increased focus on drainage. The average assessment increase for all active See ACREAGE, page 4

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington held a holiday party on W ednesday, Dec. 18. Fun activities included raffles, games and food. Each child got to pick a toy from a wide assortment of donated toys. Shown here is Tony Nelson with Eric Parson and Anthony Fontana. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

2013 IN REVIEW: LOX GROVES

LGWCD, Town Work Together On Roads

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report While the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District began 2013 by hiring a new administrator, voters in the Town of Loxahatchee Groves narrowly re-elected one councilman and the town clerk turned aside a challenge to Palm Beach State College’s planned new campus. Later in the year, both bodies turned their attention to baby steps toward consolidation of responsibilities, and the town focused on the threat to its rural lifestyle posed by potential development of the former Callery-Judge Grove land.

Yohe Starts As LGWCD Chief The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors approved a contract with engineer Stephen Yohe to be their new district administrator Feb. 11, replacing longtime administrator Clete Saunier, who left in late 2012 over salary disagreements. The board quickly went over details of the contract, including a car allowance, administrator responsibilities and terms of severance. It provides a base salary of $84,000 with a possible 2 percent merit raise after six months (which Yohe received) and a 3 percent See LOX GROVES, page 18

2013 IN REVIEW: PALM BEACH COUNTY

Development Plans, Roads Dominate County’s Focus By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report During a busy 2013, the Palm Beach County Commission advanced development applications for several sites in the western communities that could bring thousands of additional homes, and also made strides toward improving traffic flow and drainage in and around The Acreage and Royal Palm Beach. Meanwhile, four candidates lined up to compete for the seat County Commissioner Jess Santamaria will vacate next year. County OKs Contract To Fight Wage Theft The Palm Beach County Com-

mission approved a $100,000 contract Feb. 5 with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County to assist workers who feel they have been unfairly denied their wages. In December 2012, the commissioners established a policy condemning the denial of lawful wages to an employee and established a procedure for employees to recover back wages through a program administered by Legal Aid. Members of People Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE), who had lobbied more than a year for a wage theft ordinance, said the resolution fell short of what they advocated. The Legal Aid program will cover the salary and benefits of a staff

attorney assigned to the program, along with the support services, investigative needs, court processing and other costs. The program and its funding will be reevaluated next year.

The rate for most of the Acreage/Loxahatchee region will drop from $376 per year to $165 per year in eastern portions of The Acreage and $176 per year in western portions of the community.

Acreage Residents See Reduced Trash Rates The commissioners, sitting as the Solid Waste Authority Governing Board, gave initial approval June 12 to the SWA’s 2014 budget, which significantly reduces trash collection rates for residents in The Acreage. The budget passed with a $1 increase in the single-family tipping rate to enhance the storm recovery reserve.

County Action Dooms Acreage Commercial Proposal The commissioners denied postponement July 24 of a request for transmittal of a land-use change from rural residential to low-intensity commercial for property at the southeast corner of Northlake and Coconut boulevards, which doomed the proposal and heeded the contention of Acreage leaders that the postponement was only a stall tactic.

The developer had asked to push the heavily opposed development to a January 2014 transmittal hearing. The owner proposed a multiple-use planned development with commercial uses up to 49,005 square feet, including a gas station. However, many letters opposing the development were received from Acreage residents, the Indian Trail Improvement District and the Acreage Landowners’ Association. County staff also recommended denial. SR 7/RPB Blvd. Connection In June, the commissioners approved the purchase of 24 parcels of land on 60th Street North along See COUNTY, page 7

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NEWS

Wellington Agrees To Buy Lake Wellington Professional Centre

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington will likely be the new owner of the Lake Wellington Professional Centre after members of the Wellington Village Council voted last week to approve the purchase. At a special meeting Friday, Dec. 20, council members voted 4-1 to approve the purchase and designate Mayor Bob Margolis as executor of the contract. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig cast the dissenting vote. Because the property had not yet been appraised for the sale, Gerwig wanted the item brought back before council members for a vote on the final contract. “I’m not willing to abdicate my vote,” she said. “Whatever it takes to make this decision as a council, I think we have to do it. It’s not a matter of me wanting to kick the can down the road. It’s that we don’t have all the information in front of us.” The 2.5-acre property, which currently houses 22,282 square feet of office space and is home to many local businesses, had three appraisals in 2011 with an average price of $4.8 million. Under the proposed agreement, Wellington would purchase the property for

$5 million, and the owner, former County Commissioner Ken Adams, would donate $1 million back to the village. Wellington plans to do its own appraisals and inspections, but Village Attorney Laurie Cohen said results would not be available until at least Friday, Dec. 27. The contract stipulates Wellington would buy the property “as is,” but council members could reconvene if there are additional issues. Adams hopes to sell the property and make the donation in time to meet Dec. 31 tax deadlines, which means the village must close on the sale within days. Vice Mayor Howard Coates was concerned about paying more than the appraised value for the property. “I don’t think public officials get sued for that,” Coates said, “but I wouldn’t want to be one of the public officials paying more than the appraised value.” He suggested adding a provision to the contract that would stipulate that the village not pay more than the appraised value of the property. “If it comes in a little lower than we think, we’ll take a hit on the charitable donation,” Coates said. “I would be prepared to support this if we could tie it to this council

not paying more than what the appraised value is.” Councilman Matt Willhite asked Coates whether there was a threshold at which he’d be willing to consider paying a bit more. “Even if the property appraises at $4.5 million and we pay $5 million, we’re getting $1 million back,” he said. Coates said he didn’t want to misrepresent the agreement to taxpayers. “If we say we’re getting a $1 million donation, then the property has to appraise at $5 million for Mr. Adams to make $4 million,” he said. “I think we should be representing to the public what the true economics of this deal is.” Gerwig said she would rather make a decision when she had actual numbers in front of her, along with inspection reports and other details that could affect the price and decision to purchase the property. “Would it be possible to continue this meeting?” she asked. But several other council members said they would be out of town for the holidays. Cohen suggested council members approve the purchase of the site and authorize Margolis to execute the closing documents.

“They could then make a decision if there’s some reason not to close,” she said. “As far as the purchase price, that’s a difficult question to answer. We don’t have the information we’d like to make this decision.” Councilman John Greene said that although not all the information was available, he trusts staff to execute a fair agreement. “It’s a unique situation,” Greene said. “The gift that is being offered, because of the tax laws, is affecting the timing. This isn’t the ideal way of doing business, but I trust our staff to ensure this is done properly. This is the deal that is in front of us. I can tell you there’s probably interest from other parties who would love to get their hands on that property.” Adams said he would rather see the village own the site. “I think the property and the business is worth considerably more than we’re talking here,” he said. “I want to see the Village of Wellington own it. I want to see the beach on the lakefront restored. With the success you’re having in your other projects, you’re going to run out of room in your town center.” As part of the agreement, Wellington would also agree to hire three current employees of the

Lake Wellington Professional Centre who have been there for many years. Council members said they wanted to be sure the decision of which businesses are leasing in the building is a staff-level decision to remain politically neutral. Village Manager Paul Schofield said the council could draft a policy listing the types of businesses desirable in the facility but stating that it would stay out of decisions on individual leases. There were also concerns raised by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that the purchase could evict them from their offices in the building, but council members cleared up any misconceptions. Greene stressed that Wellington is not singling out any particular business. “This is not about going in and making changes to who is in the building,” he said. “But at the same time, we need to be fair to everyone.” Cohen said that although the Wellington Chamber did not have a signed lease, there was an agreement between the parties to provide certain services for businesses in the complex in exchange for use of the office space. Attorney Ronald Witkowski, representing Adams, said that the

chamber space and utilities were paid for by Adams. “In return, the chamber provides advertising and marketing services that otherwise Lake Wellington would be paying money for,” he said. “The chamber is also a business generator. New businesses coming in get exposed to the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, and that has been a good thing.” Schofield said another business with a similar agreement is a computer repair company that has been providing technology support to the building in exchange for rent. Cohen said the village would ask tenants without a written agreement to sign a lease at the standard rate for rent. Coates made a motion to approve the purchase agreement and designate Margolis to execute the contract, which was seconded by Greene. “If we decide not to do this now, Mr. Adams may sell it to some other entity, and it could be another decade before we are able to obtain what I think is the missing piece in this town center,” Coates said. “I understand the timing is accelerated. I don’t like it, but sometimes you have to roll with the flow.” Coates added that he was comSee PURCHASE, page 7

Indian Trail Board To Hear Minto West Presentation Dec. 30

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors has called a special meeting for Monday, Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. to discuss Minto West, the development proposed for the 3,900-acre former Callery-Judge Grove property. Representatives of Minto Communities Florida are scheduled to make a 30-minute presentation, with no input from the public, according to ITID attorney Mary Viator. At the supervisors’ meeting Dec. 18, ITID President Carol Jacobs wanted residents to be aware that they would not be allowed to speak at the presentation. “Around holiday time, they might not want to come all the way down here knowing that they are not going to be able to ask questions,” Jacobs said. ITID Manager Jim Shallman said the board would not be making a decision or taking an official

position on the Minto project at the Dec. 30 meeting. Minto recently purchased the Callery-Judge Grove property for $51 million. The land, located off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, has a future land-use approval for up to 2,996 homes and up to 235,000 square feet of non-residential uses. Minto is requesting necessary land-use changes for up to 6,500 homes and about 1.4 million square feet of workplace and community-serving commercial uses. In October, the Palm Beach County Commission approved a special transmittal process for Minto West — a decision that county planners said would actually allow more time for the review process. Minto conducted a workshop Dec. 9 with residents at the Seminole Improvement District office. Members of the media were not invited, and some residents said they were not invited to or informed of the meeting.

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At the Dec. 18 meeting, Supervisor Gary Dunkley requested that ITID legal staff submit their relations, if any, with Minto, Loxahatchee Groves, the Ibis Golf & Country Club, GL Homes and/ or Palm Beach Gardens. “I would like that in writing within 30 days,” Dunkley said. Supervisor Jennifer Hager said she would like an unbiased, informational report on all planned development in the area. “I can’t tell you how many people I’ve spoken to who don’t know about all this,” Hager said, explaining that she wanted the information to be posted on the district’s web site. “I want it 100 percent neutral, who it is, what they would like to do. I think people need to know what’s coming out here. It’s unavoidable, but they should be aware of what’s coming. I think many residents are unaware of what’s going on.” Hager made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Michelle Damone,

to post the information as soon as possible, which carried unanimously. Jacobs said that Minto had not yet made a presentation to the board about its plans. “There will be more time to have them back and have public comment, but this is just for us,” Jacobs said. “You are welcome to attend, but there will be no public comment.” Damone pointed out that there will be an opportunity for public comment at the board’s meeting in January. Resident Alan Ballweg said he thought every opportunity should be permitted for public comment. “There’s no reason to keep the public quiet on something so important, and I think that out of respect for the First Amendment and out of respect for the expression of transparency, the board should reconsider that position and open it up to comments,” he said. Ballweg also pointed out that Minto has proposed to help ITID

with drainage. “There are several reasons why it would be difficult for them to do so,” he said. “They are going to be turning pervious land into impervious land. They’re going to be covering it with roads, structures and commercial buildings and parking areas, so it will be harder for water to soak into the ground, which means they are going to need their drainage more than ever.” He pointed out that the current Federal Emergency Management Agency maps put 90 percent of the Minto property in a flood zone. “The only way they’re going to give us any drainage would be to make their flooding problem even worse than it already is,” Ballweg said. Jacobs suggested that after the board hears the Minto presentation, it invite the builder’s representatives to come back, possibly in January, to answer questions or respond to comments from residents.

“To be fair, I would like to hear what the presentation is, and then have another date in January where they come back, and we can ask questions and the residents can ask questions,” Jacobs said. ITID has no actual power to control the Minto development; that authority rests with Palm Beach County. Minto is scheduled for hearings with county agencies in March and April, but specific dates have not been set. Minto representatives have submitted a request to the county for an additional comprehensive plan amendment round to revise the agricultural enclave language in the plan and revise the Future Land Use Atlas to reflect the Minto West proposal. After that, Minto will also need Unified Land Development Code text changes and a rezoning. Minto has set up a web site for information about Minto West. It can be found at www.mintoinfo. com.

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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OUR OPINION

Western Communities Should Support Plan For SR 7 Lobbyist The fight for the extension of State Road 7 to Northlake Blvd. appears headed to the federal level, and several local leaders have expressed the need to lobby the issue in Washington. With strong opposition from West Palm Beach — which is already lobbying at the state and federal levels — the western communities must come together to win this battle and make sure there is a safe way for residents to travel in and out of our communities. The Western Communities Council, which has taken the lead on this effort, is made up of elected officials from each of the western communities. It is designed to provide a coordinated response to regional issues. At the Dec. 10 Western Communities Council meeting, local municipalities agreed to go before their elected leaders and ask for a $5,000 pledge of support to hire a lobbyist to respond to the aggressive West Palm Beach lobbying effort that has already drawn support from U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-District 22) and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-District 20). The Town of Loxahatchee Groves, the Indian Trail Improvement District and the Village of Royal Palm Beach have pledged $5,000 to support lobbying services proposed by the Western Communities Council to help fight for the crucial expansion of SR 7 to Northlake. Earlier this month, the Village of Wellington reaffirmed its support for the extension, but had not yet offered financial support.

It’s imperative that all of the western communities get moving and make its message heard: the long-promised SR 7 extension is needed, and it’s what is best for the community. Unfortunately, West Palm Beach — which could not get support to block the extension from state leaders — has taken its message and trumped-up environmental concerns to the federal level, counting on the support from officials who are not familiar with our community or our situation. Now it’s up to our leaders to bring the message from the western communities to Washington and push to be heard. Although it’s important to make sure the road will not seriously impact the environment, experts have likened the situation to many other roads through sensitive wetlands. Thanks to the expert mitigation abilities of the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Transportation, we are sure the missing SR 7 segment can be built without significantly impacting wildlife or water quality. It’s a message that won’t come cheap, but it’s important for the safety of our community to push the issue and have our voices heard. We hope elected officials are willing to come together and take up the fight, whatever the cost. It’s a road we will all benefit from, and it’s something we must all fight for.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Unger On Name Calling And Scare Tactics

Imagine my surprise, being called “an obvious Socialist” by Mr. [Thomas] Euell, in his letter published Dec. 20. Sadly, Mr. Euell hasn’t read Rousseau’s A Social Contract, or even the dictionary meaning of the word “socialist.” He reminds me of the blustering McCarthyism of (thank goodness) bygone days where name calling, persecution and blacklisting were the order of the day. This name calling is supposed to conjure up fear, and sadly, amongst the ignorant, it does. Yet Social Security and Medicare

are socialist concepts of which millions of Americans count on, as are FEMA, the ICC, the CDC, the FAA, the FCC and hundreds of other government regulatory agencies meant to protect and help us. Would he abolish them as “socialist?” Mr. Euell goes on to compare American “killed in action” statistics from Bush’s presidency (575) to Obama’s (577) in Afghanistan. Of course, he leaves out completely the Iraq War initiated by Bush that drew troops out of Afghanistan to start yet another war in Iraq. Did I mention it was started by Bush to address “weapons of mass destruction” after parading in front of us, proof positive of these weapons, that ultimately never existed?

Also, he has forgotten that it was under President Obama that Bin Laden was dispatched. I am dismayed that Mr. Euell uses partisan politics here. Our combat deaths should not be fodder for partisan discussion, especially when the war that Mr. Euell forgot to mention cost us thousands of American lives, caused us to take our eye off of the Taliban (who were not in Iraq) and was the causation of a “surge” that the generals requested in Afghanistan as the Iraq War was ending, which caused an up-tick in American casualties. I guess Obama deserves nothing for ending the bigger war (Iraq) and has set a timetable for ending Afghanistan in 2014. In summation, Bush and the Re-

publican party called Americans against the war traitors, treasonous and unpatriotic, yet Mr. Euell states “he had six years” and “get us out” when his ilk fought Obama on every issue, including the wars. This is precisely Mr. Euell’s tactics, most especially calling our president names. As a combat-wounded veteran, I am ashamed that Mr. Euell would try to defame President Obama using casualties or deaths as fodder, leaving out the bigger war completely, and then would proceed to call me names at the same time. It’s amazing to me that those who were so ready to go to war and exclaimed continuously that we were winning are now strangely quiet and even blaming

Obama for more casualties. As individuals, and as a country, we should be beyond that. But I’m afraid that we have learned little

from our mistakes, and partisan politics have worsened. George Unger Wellington

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OPINION

Roy Halladay: First Rounder For The Baseball Hall Of Fame Yes, his retirement announcement, at 36, did make most of the media, and yes, there were a few highlights of his magnificent career mentioned in some of them, but let me be among the very first to start the push to put pitcher Roy Halladay into baseball’s Hall of Fame on the first ballot! What were some of Halladay’s

Footloose and... By Jules W. Rabin

fabulous accomplishments? Well he did win two Cy Young awards as Major League Baseball’s best pitcher, for starters. In baseball’s current age of “pitcher specialization” during the last two decades, only Randy Johnson (74) pitched more complete games than Halladay (67). From age 30 to 34, Halladay was the only MLB pitcher to

lead his league in complete games for five straight years. His career boasted 203 victories and 103 losses and a .297 ERA (earned run average). He also pitched a perfect game and a post-season no-hitter. Halladay’s pitching creed: “I wanted to be in every game as long as I possibly could,” he

recently said. “Maybe there were times when I shouldn’t have taken the ball, but I wasn’t going to tell anybody.” That driven attitude might have forced another two or three years of fat paychecks from more-thanwilling baseball franchises, but Halladay realized his time had come.

The first shot Halladay has at the Hall of Fame will be on the 2018 ballot. Among others included in that class of possible inductees that year are Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Todd Helton. I don’t get to vote, but I will be a cheerleader for the recognition due one of baseball’s true superstars.

NEWS

WRMC Employees Raise Money For Area Families S.F. Fair To Host Run/Walk Dec. 28

Wellington Regional Medical Center helped make the holidays a little brighter for Palm Beach County families in need this holiday season. WRMC’s employees and medical staff have donated more than $11,000 toward its Adopt-a-Family Program. The dollars were able to provide food, clothing and necessities for 23 families in serious need this holiday season. “Wellington Regional identified a need within our very own community of children and families,” WMRC Chief Financial Officer Joseph Paul said. “It is our continuous goal to give back to the

Acreage

Many ITID Changes

continued from page 1 units is 1.48 percent, with the average assessment being $426 a year. SFWMD Begins Plans To Reinforce Corbett Dike South Florida Water Management District officials conducted a public workshop, April 26 regarding a planned levee to reinforce the berm separating the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area from The Acreage. SFWMD officials said the need to strengthen the levee became apparent in August 2012 when Tropical Storm Isaac dumped about 15 inches of rain on The Acreage, which brought flooding to the community and high water levels in the Corbett area that exerted increased pressure on the existing berm separating Corbett from residents in the northern reaches of The Acreage. After temporary measures were put in place, Gov. Rick Scott directed the SFWMD and other agencies to come together and develop a plan to strengthen the integrity of the existing berm. Scott later wrote $8 million into his proposed budget, which was

community, and this is a great opportunity to reach out to those in need.” The majority of the families were identified through a partnership with six Palm Beach County schools within the hospital’s immediate service area in the western communities. Paul noted that the hospital communicated with school administration and guidance counselors to identify students and families dealing with difficult situations at home. “There are families in need right here in our community,” Paul said. “As a leader in the community, giving back is a priority.

reduced by the legislature to $4 million. Officials hope to get more money for the project in next year’s budget. Foy Tapped As ITID Engineer On July 10, the board hired Jay Foy of Stormwater J Engineering to serve as both district engineer and hydrologist. ITID’s contract with its previous engineering firm, Engenuity Group, expired Sept. 30. Foy was ITID’s engineer from 1991 to 2005, and hydrologist in conjunction with Craig A. Smith from 2005 to 2008. Foy also sits on two Federal Emergency Management Agency committees, including the flood insurance mapping committee. Foy was involved in most of the development of the M-1 Basin, including the main floodgate and inverted siphons draining canals underneath some of the main roads, as well as the impoundment outfalls. During his interview, Foy said he wants to change the paradigm under which the district operates. “There’s a paradigm out there that says if you build in the swamp, you get what you deserve. That’s wrong,” he said. “A quarter-inch per day is failure to serve the public. We need to get more than that.”

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We are blessed beyond words with the outpouring of response and generosity.” Donations came from employees, medical staff and their families, and gifts were distributed to the needy families in the first two weeks of December. Paul said he would like to see the program continue in the future. “If there is a need within our community, we will plan to continue this program,” he said. Wellington Regional Medical Center is an acute-care facility and medical center that has served the area since 1986. For more info., call (561) 798-8500 or visit www.wellingtonregional.com.

Administrator Quickel Leaves Indian Trail The ITID Board of Supervisors accepted the resignation of District Administrator Tanya Quickel on June 28, asking her to leave immediately instead of giving her the option of remaining for a 60-day transition period. After months of contention, with two board members seeking to change to a less powerful manager position, Quickel submitted her resignation June 10. Supervisor Carol Jacobs made a motion to put finance department staffer Jim Shallman in charge until a replacement could be found, which carried unanimously. Quickel’s June resignation followed a contentious six months, which kicked off with Quickel first offering to leave in December 2012. After leaving ITID, Quickel took a job with Wellington as chief financial officer. ITID Board Scraps Community Center Plans On Aug. 7, the ITID supervisors rescinded their prior designation of $3.7 million to build a community center at Acreage Community Park. It was the latest chapter in a decade-long debate over whether a community center is needed and whether ITID is the proper organization to build and operate it.

More than 500 people are expected to participate in the South Florida Fair’s third annual 5K run/walk at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Okeeheelee Park. Every participant will receive a free technical running shirt and one free admission ticket to the fair, along with a quick energy breakfast, finisher’s medal, goodie bag, bib number and refreshments after the race. Entry fees are $35 on the day of the race and $15 for students 18 and younger. Parking is free. Registrations the day of the event will take place at the Micanopy Pavilion. All entry fees are non-refundable

The community center appeared to be on the verge of reality last year, until Tropical Storm Isaac and a sharply contested election refocused ITID on drainage issues. After hearing hours of input from residents on what ITID’s priorities should be, supervisors scrapped plans for the building and decided instead to refocus on drainage improvements. The board did agree, however, to get cost estimates for additional outdoor park amenities, including more athletic fields, and to see how much of the work could be done in-house. Supervisor Gary Dunkley, who was elected on a pledge to improve drainage in The Acreage, made a motion to un-designate the money for a community center and instead conduct a cost analysis for development of other outdoor amenities. Shallman New Manager The ITID board voted in October to give Interim District Manager Jim Shallman a sixmonth probationary period in the post after deciding to stop the drawn-out selection process for a permanent manager that it went through over the summer after Tayna Quickel left. At a special meeting Oct. 4, Supervisor Carol Jacobs said she was disappointed with the interview process and the applicants.

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and registration is non-transferable. Race day packet pickup is available from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Okeeheelee Park. The 5K run is timed with disposable accu-chip timing chips distributed in each participant’s packet attached to the bib number. The top three male and female finishers for overall and masters will receive a customized award. The top three male and female finishers in each age group will receive a customized medal. For more information, contact Donna Rizzo at (561) 790-5201 or donna@ southfloridafair.com.

She suggested keeping Shallman, previously a finance department staffer, for a probationary period, allowing him to hire the people needed to fill vacant office and finance staff positions. Further, Jacobs said that she wanted the manager, operations and maintenance director, and parks and recreation director all to answer directly to the board. Supervisor Gary Dunkley made a motion to maintain Shallman for a six-month period with full hiring and firing authority, with an evaluation after that time and the protection to go back to his former position if the board chose to find another manager. Hamlin House Work Proceeds The long-delayed Hamlin House project at Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park in The Acreage got a major push forward on Sept. 18 when the supervisors directed work to move forward with a contractor rather than as a high school construction academy project. The board met at Hamlin House to give the roughly 40 residents attending an idea of what the 5-acre horse ranch west of the park looked like. The project had started in early 2011, and the Seminole Ridge High School Construction Academy came in for a few days in the summer of 2012 and did some

demolition work and then moved on to other projects after Hamlin House ran into permitting issues. At the height of the housing market, the property was listed at $775,000. After the crash, ITID got it for $269,000. In 2011, the district invested some money in the project with the goal of making it a public meeting house for clubs and organizations. Jacobs Elected ITID President ITID starts 2014 with a new president. On Dec. 18, Supervisor Michelle Damone nominated Supervisor Carol Jacobs for the post, replacing Supervisor Jennifer Hager. Hager and Supervisor Gary Dunkley dissented in the 3-2 vote. Damone also nominated herself for treasurer to replace Dunkley and was elected on another 3-2 tally. Damone said her decision stemmed from Dunkley’s appointment of former ITID Supervisor Penny Riccio, a longtime political foe of Damone’s, to be his assistant treasurer. Damone nominated Bair to be vice president, which also carried 3-2. Then she made a motion for the district’s attorney, Mary Viator, to remain as secretary, which carried 3-2, and for Dunkley to serve as assistant secretary, which also carried 3-2.

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Page 5

NEWS

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CELEBRATES JOYFUL SEASON WITH BIG HOLIDAY PARTY

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington held a holiday party on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Fun activities included raffles, games and food. The kids were treated to snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn, and each child got to pick a toy from a wide assortment of donated toys. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Destiny and Ave Dominguez and Izayna Carrasquillo enjoy cotton candy.

Tony Nelson, Latricia Jenkins and Reed Kellner.

Bike raffle winners Jared Portu and Hannah Paul with Neil Hirsch and Sara Gehrke.

Johnny Marrero, Al Paglia, Todd Barron and Dr. Max Cohen.

Schnider and Johan Saintil with their raffle presents.

Director of Cultural Arts Susan Mosely applies jewel art to Alyssa Hamalanen.

RPB SENIORS ACTIVITY GROUP HOLDS HOLIDAY PARTY AT CULTURAL CENTER

The Royal Palm Beach Seniors Activities Group held a holiday party on Friday, Dec. 20 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Rick Nelson played oldies, and there was a holiday music sing-along, as well as a gift exchange and refreshments. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Activites Director Dolly Hughes (left) with volunteers.

Mae Gold with Dolores Valentine and Santa.

Cathy Frederick and Claudia McBarnette with Santa.

Page 6

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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CRIME NEWS

Man Found Dead In Gas Station Bathroom

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report DEC. 20 — A Wellington man was found dead early last Friday morning in the bathroom of a gas station on Forest Hill Blvd. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was called to the gas station at approximately 2:26 a.m. by an employee to check on a man who had been in the bathroom for approximately two hours. According to the report, the deputy knocked on the bathroom door and received no response. The deputy then opened the door and found 26-year-old Matthew Swartz lying on the floor. According to the report, the deputy notified Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, which arrived and pronounced Swartz dead. There was no further information available at the time of the report. ••• DEC. 4 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was called to a home on Key Lime Blvd. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, regarding a case of fraud. According to a PBSO report, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the victim was notified that someone had changed the e-mail address linked to her bank account. The victim had not changed the information and did not authorize anyone else to do so. According to the report, someone put in several requests for money to be transferred out of the account and into another with the same bank. There were two transfers for $980 each requested. According to the report, the victim contacted her bank and was told the funds had not been transferred and the victim’s account had been frozen, along with the other account. The victim was able to provide a name for the account and an account number, but there was no further information available at the time of the report. DEC. 14 — A resident of 40th Lane North called the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation Saturday, Dec. 14 to report a case of vandalism. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the victim observed via a surveillance camera two unknown white males enter his vacant home before the camera went black. When he arrived at the home, he discovered the camera had been broken. The video camera was valued at approximately $100. There was no further information available at the time of the report. DEC. 17 — A resident of 68th Street North called the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation last Tuesday to report a case of fraud. According to a PBSO

report, the victim received a call from her bank informing her that on Saturday, Dec. 14, someone made several suspicious charges on her debit card. According to the report, the perpetrator(s) made a charge at Comcast in Memphis, Tenn. for $861.78 and two charges at an Old Navy in Maine for $100 each. Additionally, two other charges were made and declined. According to the report, the victim did not make the charges, and she has been in possession of her card the entire time. She said she did not know how the card was compromised. There were no suspects at the time of the report. DEC. 17 — A deputy from the PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatchee substation was dispatched to a home on 49th Street North last Tuesday regarding a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime last Monday, someone stole a license plate from the victim’s motor scooter. The scooter was not working and had been parked outside the victim’s home most of the time. According to the report, however, the victim towed the scooter to a service center near Southern Blvd. and Military Trail. The victim could not remember if the license was on the vehicle at the time, but she noticed it was missing when she picked it up. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. DEC. 20 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested last Friday on drug charges following a traffic stop near the intersection of State Road 7 and Old Hammock Way. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was dispatched to the area after a report of a suspicious vehicle. The deputy observed a 2000 Buick Century driven by 19-yearold Benson Charles driving 60 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with Charles. According to the report, the deputy smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed 26 grams of marijuana packaged for sale, as well as a loaded 9mm Ruger semi-automatic handgun. According to the report, Charles was also cited for being in violation of a learner’s license and having illegal window tint. Charles was arrested and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of a concealed weapon. DEC. 20 — A female juvenile was arrested last Friday on drug and trespassing charges following an incident at the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a See BLOTTER, page 18

PBSO Seeks Suspect For Burglary And Bank Fraud

DEC. 23 — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a woman wanted for vehicle burglary resulting in fraudulent withdrawal of bank account funds. According to a PBSO report, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, an unknown woman entered a Chase Bank located on Lake Worth Road and withdrew thousands of dollars from the victim’s account. On the same date, the suspect withdrew a few thousand more dollars from a Chase Bank located on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. If anyone can identify this woman, they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

The PBSO is seeking help identifying this suspect.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Jerome Pasahow is a white male, 5’8” tall and weighing 200 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a scar on his forehead. His date of birth is 10/16/63. Pasahow is wanted for violation of probation, leaving the scene of a crash involving an injury, resisting a police officer with violence and driving under the influence. His last known address was Orange Grove Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. He is wanted as of 12/19/13. • Raul Brown is a black male, 5’10” tall and weighing 190 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 12/19/80. Brown is wanted on felony charges of possession of marijuana. His last known address was Wind Tree Way in Wellington. He is wanted as of 12/19/13. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com.

Jerome Pasahow

Raul Brown

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. CRIMESTOPPERS IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SHOWN HERE.

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Page 7

NEWS

RPB Throws In Support With Area Communities For SR 7 Lobbyist

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council pledged $5,000 to the Western Communities Council on Dec. 19 to help pay for a national lobbyist to support the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd. Councilman David Swift told council members that he attended the Western Communities Council meeting Dec. 10 in Loxahatchee Groves, where several of the communities had pledged their support and sought backing from other members to fight a lobbying effort by the City of West Palm Beach. West Palm Beach has been protesting the SR 7 extension, specifically with Washington elected officials, and was able to get letters from U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (DDistrict 22) and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-District 20) noting environmental concerns that had been raised by West Palm Beach. The Western Communities

Council is made up of elected officials from each of the western communities designed to provide a coordinated response to regional issues. Swift said Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Jim Rockett had made a motion for each member community to come up with $5,000 each to retain a Washington lobbyist to tout the benefits of the SR 7 extension. “I would rather have brought that to you with a scope of work,” Swift said. “Unfortunately, those folks are a couple of meetings ahead of us on this. I did vote in the affirmative that Royal Palm Beach would do that, basically on the idea that Loxahatchee Groves is about 10 times smaller than us and they came up with $5,000. I figured we might be able to do that.” Swift said representatives from Wellington, Loxahatchee Groves, the Indian Trail Improvement District and Royal Palm Beach

plan to meet Jan. 21 to develop a scope of work. “I’ll bring that back to the council,” Swift said, asking members to agree to participate. Village Manager Ray Liggins said $5,000 for a lobbyist is not currently in the budget, and that he would need the council’s direction to move forward with the necessary budget amendment. Councilman Fred Pinto said he would participate only if the council has a clear vision of what the lobbyist is expected to accomplish. “The State Road 7 initiative, which has been going on forever, is really at a point where it has become [a Florida Department of Transportation] project initiative,” he said. “What has happened is the situation has become recharged politically by our neighbors in West Palm Beach.” Pinto scoffed at the environmental concerns noted by West Palm Beach, pointing out that

the FDOT has done thousands of projects and gone through the necessary environmental mitigation process when necessary. “If they are real issues, they need to be addressed, but I just want to point out a few realities of history,” Pinto said. “Andros Isle and River Walk would not exist today had there not been an agreement that West Palm Beach entered into to have those developments built along that same waterway that they now claim [would be damaged] by extending State Road 7.” Pinto added that the project will serve the critical transportation needs of nearly 500,000 people and that West Palm Beach’s existing Okeechobee Blvd. communities only exist because of plans for the promised SR 7 extension. “It was OK when they wanted to build those developments,” Pinto said. “Now they want to reverse what they agreed to previously, and now they are using the

rationale of environmental impact, which, if they are real issues, they should be mitigated. We have to think of the good of the many and not just the wishes of a few.” Pinto said he was frustrated that the western communities still must spend money to support the road. “My concern is I don’t want to spend one penny for a lobbyist unless I know specifically what the strategy is, and we as a council agree on what the strategy is,” he said. “I don’t want somebody else creating a strategy for me.” He said he would support the Western Communities Council plan only if Royal Palm Beach gets to sign off on it. Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara asked Swift whether the regional organization had expressed any specific expectations of a lobbyist, and Swift said the group is trying to figure what the best approach would be, but were concerned about misinformation that might

have been distributed to elected officials. “We think [U.S. Rep.] Ted Deutch, for example, was presented misinformation,” he said. “We’d like to provide the right information for him.” Swift said they would also like to get state elected officials to write in support of SR 7. “I do feel very similar to the way Fred feels about this,” he said. “I would rather have had a scope of work. Personally, I feel that this can move forward,” he said, explaining that he planned to meet with Liggins and other stakeholding entities to agree on a scope of work. “I think we can come up with something that will work.” Councilman Richard Valuntas said he would support participation as long as the other three communities did, and trusted Swift to represent the village in discussions. Valuntas made a motion to approve the $5,000, which carried 5-0.

Drug Abuse Summit Puts Focus On Solutions To Drug Pandemic

Hanley Center and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office joined forces to present the inaugural Palm Beach County Drug Abuse Summit on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Presented as a free community service and open to the public, the event attracted an audience of nearly 150 people to the Hanley Resource Center auditorium.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Dr. Rachel Docekal.

County

2013 In Review

continued from page 1 the M Canal in The Acreage in preparation for paving the road to connect the State Road 7 extension to Royal Palm Beach Blvd. The link will enable SR 7 passthrough traffic to make the connection on the three-lane 60th Street North link, rather than Persimmon and Orange Grove boulevards, which were intended to serve primarily local Acreage traffic. Adoption of the resolutions initiated eminent domain proceedings on the 24 parcels, which have a total appraised value of $137,000. The project includes replacing the Royal Palm Beach Blvd. bridge over the M Canal and reconstructing the intersection with 60th Street North. A signal will also be installed at the intersection. The 60th Street connection will provide major relief to the residential streets that have had to bear the burden of traffic that has been using the SR 7 extension. County Covers IG Funding Shortfall The commissioners agreed Aug. 13 to cover a $687,000 shortfall for the Office of the Inspector General, a move made necessary partially by a lawsuit from several municipalities, which have disputed the office’s financing method. The proposed budget for the office is

Covering a wide range of topics, the summit was broken down into four separate panel discussions, each exploring the drug pandemic from a different perspective. “The Palm Beach County Drug Abuse Summit’s mission is to effectively restrict the impact of the prescription and synthetic drug pandemic and its far-reaching effects through common awareness,

Chief Deputy Mike Gauger with Norman Hemming.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO

$3.7 million, which includes 40 positions, 23 of which are filled. The office is funded by the county, the Children’s Services Council and the Solid Waste Authority. About $1.5 million of the budget comes from the municipalities. The county has kicked in about $300,000 each year to make up for the deficit from the municipalities. Without the additional county money, Inspector General Sheryl Steckler said she would need to lay off employees. Meanwhile, 2014 will bring big changes to the Office of the Inspector General, after Steckler announced her decision in October not the seek reappointment when her current contract ends in June 2014. New Livestock Waste Rules The commissioners approved amendments to its unified land development code on Aug. 22 that included stricter control on livestock waste after years of complaints that some landowners were stockpiling large amounts, creating health and water pollution hazards. Many residents in more rural areas use wells for potable water. Several municipalities, such as Wellington and Loxahatchee Groves, already have rules in place regulating livestock waste. Planning, Zoning & Building Executive Director Rebecca Caldwell said bona fide agricultural uses still will be exempted from the ordinance. Caldwell said

communication and networking within our communities locally, regionally and nationally,” said Dr. Rachel Docekal, CEO of Hanley Center Foundation and vice president of external relations for Caron Treatment Centers. “We are grateful to the esteemed leaders who participated in this important event.” The summit’s criminal justice/ law and order panel featured: Capt. Eric Coleman, Narcotics Division, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Deputy Mike Gauger, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office; Norman Hemming, special counsel, U.S. Attorney’s Office; and John J. McKenna, assistant special agent in charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fort Lauderdale district Office. A panel of legislative representatives and elected officials included: State Rep. Lori Berman (D-District 90); Todd Bonlarron, director of legislative affairs for Palm Beach County; State Rep. Dave Kerner (D-District 87); West

Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio; and Curt Siegmeister, regional representative for Gov. Rick Scott. A medical and pharmaceuticals expert panel included: Dr. Antonella Carlozzi, pharmacist; Dr. Barbara Krantz, medical director of the Hanley Center; Dr. Karen Flannery of Good Samaritan Medical Center; Dr. Jessica Prince of the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center; and Dr. Mark Rubenstein, former president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society. Finally, the day concluded with a public health/community outreach panel featuring: Diane Huff, director of operations for 211 Helpline; Jeff Kadel, executive director of the Palm Beach County Substance Abuse Coalition; Michelle Maloney, executive director of treatment services for the Hanley Center; Gary Martin, a detective with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and dean of students at Lynn University; and Karen Perry, executive director of the NOPE Task Force.

the county was only proposing to regulate the receipt of horse manure, with required receiving permits that would be good for three years, and did not propose hauling permits.

cost of which will be shared with developers of a planned commercial site nearby. The college’s board previously authorized $4.5 million in August 2011 to purchase 75 acres of the property for the campus and finalized the purchase in October 2012. The decision to finance construction puts PBSC closer to its goal of providing more convenient access to educational services for residents in Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and The Acreage.

Four Candidates Declare For District 6 Race The November 2014 race to replace term-limited County Commissioner Jess Santamaria got off to an early start in 2013 as four candidates emerged to run. The candidates include former Wellington Mayor Kathy Foster, Royal Palm Beach Councilman Fred Pinto and Melissa McKinlay, who works in the Palm Beach County Legislative Affairs Department. They will run in the Democratic primary. Andrew Schaller, who ran unsuccessfully for the post in 2010, is running as a Republican. County Commission District 6 trends Democratic. Former Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster, a Democrat, initially planned a run, but withdrew from the race and threw her support behind Foster. College OKs Loxahatchee Groves Campus Funding The Palm Beach State College Board of Trustees voted Oct. 8 to spend up to $4 million for architectural design, infrastructure and site work on the college’s long-planned fifth campus in Loxahatchee Groves. Infrastructure improvements will include paving B Road, the

Highland Dunes Land Use Change The commission voted 6-1 in October to approve up to 2,000 homes on the 1,209-acre Highland Dunes land within the Palm Beach Aggregates property, 2.5 miles west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. About 20 residents from surrounding neighborhoods opposed the development at a county zoning meeting, saying it would complicate transportation and drainage, and compromise their rural way of life. Commissioner Jess Santamaria cast the only “no” vote. The action returned Highland Dunes to the same zoning it had five years ago, which was abandoned when the residential home market collapsed. The developers’ application asked for rezoning from a residential transitional zoning district to a planned unit development district for 2,000

The Hanley Center is a nonprofit residential substance abuse treatment center established by the Hanley family as a community resource nearly 30 years ago. It has led the treatment industry as a pioneer with older adult and baby boomer programs, setting a hallmark for effective treatment with those populations.

Purchase

In South Florida, Caron and Hanley Treatment Centers operate lifesaving addiction treatment centers at the Hanley Center, Caron Ocean Drive and Caron Renaissance in Palm Beach County, and Gate Lodge in Vero Beach. For more info., call (561) 8411048 or visit www.hanleycenter. org.

Hopes To Close By Dec. 31

comfortable, and I think everyone gave their word that it isn’t the desire.” The measure passed 4-1 with Gerwig opposed. Gerwig said she supports buying the property but wants the council to have a say on the final sale agreement. “I want to support this, because I agree that the property should be with the village,” she said. “I would love for that to happen, but I’m not willing to abdicate my vote with all the unknowns that are out there. It would be irresponsible of me at this point to accept this contract as written.”

units at about 1.65 units per acre. The site had been rezoned in 2008 from the PUD to the RT to allow agricultural uses during the housing downturn, which saved the property owner about $1 million per year in property taxes.

Mecca Site Bought For Water Storage The commissioners approved the sale of the Mecca Farms property to the South Florida Water Management District in October, ending a decade of frustration that began when the county had purchased the property for the Scripps Research Institute, only to be stuck with it when Scripps ended up building at a site in Jupiter. The county sold the nearly 2,000-acre former agricultural land to the SFWMD for $26 million. The county had invested more than $150 million into the land, including $60 million to buy it. The SFWMD plans to build a water storage and treatment area there that will help restore flow to the Loxahatchee River.

continued from page 3 fortable that all tenants and employees would be protected. “My motion presumes that the existing tenants and licensees will be protected and that those agreements will be honored,” he said. “If I felt for an instant that there was an ulterior motive to evict the Wellington Chamber, I wouldn’t support this. But I’m

Special Transmittal Process For Minto West Later in October, commissioners unanimously approved a special transmittal process for the proposed Minto West project — a decision that county planners said would actually allow more time for review. County staff recommended approval of the request, explaining that the state now allows an unlimited number of large-scale amendment rounds to be processed each year. Planning Director Lorenzo Aghemo said the approval would give staff more time to review the proposed amendment. Residential developer Minto recently purchased the 3,800-acre Callery-Judge Grove property for $51 million. The land, off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, has a future land-use approval for up to 2,996 dwelling units and up to 235,000 square feet of nonresidential uses. Minto requested an additional amendment round to allow for the other components of their development proposal, which asks for up to 6,500 homes and about 1.4 million square feet of workplace and community-serving commercial uses.

Taylor New County Mayor The Palm Beach County Commission chose Priscilla Taylor as its new mayor Nov. 19, replacing Commissioner Steven Abrams, who became the county’s first mayor after the commissioners changed the title of the presiding officer last year. The decision to change the title was controversial, but Abrams said he thought the moniker had expanded his role in the county and statewide. Abrams had argued that the title “commission chairman” raised confusion as to his status, since the positions in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are called “mayor.”

Page 8

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

CAFCI To Host New Year’s Party

Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) will host its 24th annual New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). Dinner will be served at 9 p.m. This event will feature a 50/50 raffle, door prize, midnight champagne toast and entertainment in the usual CAFCI manner. Guests will dance the night away to music by Top Ranking Sound. Tickets are $45 a person. For more info., call Dennis Wright at (561) 653-1586, Alvin Nembhard at (561) 333-8891, Junette Powell at (561) 346-2353, Lawrence Logan at (561) 791-0162 or the CAFCI Hotline at (561) 790-4002, or e-mail cafci@pbc.org.

National Mag Honors WRMC

Wellington Regional Medical Center is prominently featured in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2014, highlighting quality achievement rankings

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NEWS BRIEFS of the nation’s most outstanding hospitals. WRMC achieved Gold Plus status for treating heart failure patients according to guidelines of care in key measures recommended by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. The hospital also qualified for Stroke Honor Roll status. This year’s Best Hospitals showcases more than 720 of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals. Wellington Regional Medical Center is an acute-care medical center that has served central Palm Beach County since 1986. A thriving community hospital, WRMC offers the advanced technologies of a big-city hospital with the personalized care of a hometown provider. For more info., call (561) 798-8500.

Teen Finance Workshop Jan. 6

The Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service will offer another session of its “On Your Own Financial Literacy Workshop” on Monday, Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Service (559 N.

Dr. Steven M. Miller Your Home Town Dentist

AESTHETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY OF WELLINGTON

Military Trail, West Palm Beach). In this hands-on class, youth ages 12 to 18 will learn survival skills for the future. Participants will learn how to understand and manage finances in a simulated real-world environment. Activities will include taking a personality test; discovering careers that match personality type; learning about salary, payroll and taxes; learning how to write checks; developing a budget in a chosen career and family situation; and shopping at the “4-H City” for housing, transportation, food, child care, clothing, entertainment, insurance and utilities while staying in a budget. Membership in 4-H is not required, however pre-registration and well-developed reading and calculator skills are required. The deadline to register is Jan. 3. Register online at www.pbcgov. com/coextension/4h. For more info., e-mail fourh@pbcgov.org or call (561) 233-1731.

Garden Club To Meet Jan. 6

The Wellington Garden Club will feature “The Magical World of Butterflies and Butterfly Gar-

dening” with Jan Everett on Monday, Jan. 6. The Wellington Garden Club meets on the first Monday of the month at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd). A business meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 11:30 and the program by Jan Everett at 12:30 p.m. Everett has been an avid butterfly gardener since 1996. As a member of the National Butterfly Association and a trained master gardener, she will introduce the magical world of butterflies and the ways in which anyone can invite them to take up residence. Everett has helped both the Wellington Landings Middle School and Equestrian Trails Elementary School environmental clubs establish their own butterfly gardens. Butterfly gardening has become one of the most popular ways to connect with nature in suburbia, and even in small plots, butterflies can find refuge and nourishment with a little bit of help from gardeners who understand their basic needs. Guests are welcome to attend the free event, but seating is limited. To reserve a seat, call Carol Coleman (561) 792-2290.

Auditions For ‘Les Miserables’

The Wellington Children’s Theatre is currently hosting auditions for Les Miserables. The theater is seeking singers and actors ages 10 to 19. Rehearsals begin Jan. 7 with performances in April. Auditions are by appointment only through Dec. 30. Call (561) 223-1928 to arrange an audition.

Wellington Idol Seeks Contestants

The popular Wellington Idol competition will return in February with more cash prizes up for grabs. Participants will have a chance to win the $500 grand prize, or one of three $250 prizes for the runners up. Contestants must be individual singers at least 8 years old as of Feb. 1, must reside in Wellington or attend a Wellington school and cannot be a professional performer. All previous grand prize winners from Wellington Idol or Wellington Talent Search are ineligible to compete. Contestants will be

divided into three age groups: ages 8 to 12, ages 13 to 17 and age 18 and up. To register, each contestant must submit an application form, proof of age, one head shot and a short biography, along with a non-refundable fee of $25 payable to the Village of Wellington. Contestants must also submit a YouTube link of their performance to Cultural Programs & Facilities Manager Joe Piconcelli at jpiconcelli@wellingtonfl.gov. Wellington will also accept non-returnable CDs or DVDs of a maximum three minutes in length instead of a YouTube entry. Label discs with name, age group, title of the piece and phone number. Registration can be completed at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The deadline to register is Jan. 30. Complete official rules and the application form can be found online at www. wellingtonfl.gov or picked up from the Wellington Community Center. For more information, contact Piconcelli at (561) 791-4756 or jpiconcelli@wellingtonfl.gov.

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FREE Events

at the Wellington Amphitheater January 04 09 10 11 11 16 16 18 18 23 25 25 26 30

Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM Epic (PG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM KISS Alive Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM Gathering Time Folk Music Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ABBA Girlz Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ArtFest on the Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ArtFest on the Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM

February 01 06 07 08 08 13 21 22 22

Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM The Wolverine (PG-13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Screaming Orphans in Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM Food Truck Invasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM Tribute Music & Food Truck Festival . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM Green Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Tribute Music & Food Truck Festival . . . . . . . 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM 12100 Forest Hill Blvd | (561) 753-2484 For more information on FREE Amphitheater events scan the QR code to the left or visit wellingtonfl.gov.

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Page 9

Santa ClauS anD “My BrotherS/SiSterS KeeperS” provide lots of toys to all the Children of “the lord’s place”, and try to give “Joy and piece” on earth to our Children, our Future — “protect our Future!”

PHOTOS COURTESY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER AND GERRI GARTON

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WE ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS’/SISTERS’ KEEPER! “The strong and the fortunate have an obligation to protect and assist the weak and less fortunate until they are able to help themselves” - motto of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Members

Mr. & Mrs. Claus Are Ready For The Children.

“We Are All One Family of Brothers and Sisters” Announced Diane Stanley, Executive Director of The Lord’s Place and Jess Santamaria, Founder of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper at the Start of the 5th Annual Holiday Event. The board members of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Charitable Trust were joined by volunteers and community leaders in hosting the annual year end party for the Lord’s Place clients and staff on Sunday, December 15 in the center court of the original Wellington Mall. The celebration included a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings prepared by the Bull McCabe’s Restaurant, the singing of holiday songs, and a visit by Mr. & Mrs. Santa and assistant’s. Over 100 children received two gifts each from Santa especially selected for them. Members of Boy Scout Troop 111 were among those who assisted Santa Claus in distributing the presents. MBSK board members and community volunteers hosted the year end party as part of their ongoing support for the Lord’s Place and its efforts to end homelessness in Palm Beach County. “We are grateful to My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper board members and other community supporters for the enormous care and generosity they expressed over the years” Lord’s Place Executive Director Diana Stanley said. “To see the smile on the face of a child at Christmas whose family has experienced homelessness in the past year lets us know that all of our work is making a difference for the precious families and individuals we serve. It is partners such as these, through their generous giving of time and treasure, who enable the Lord’s Place to end the cycle of homelessness, one life and one family at a time.” Jess Santamaria concluded by saying, “My wish for you is that the new year 2014 will be the year that you will all reach the maximum potential of your God-given talents! In the vast universe, our earth is merely a speck with only one race — The human race, and we are all Brothers and Sisters.” PHOTOS COURTESY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER AND GERRI GARTON

Santa’s Assistants — Boy Scout (Troop 111).

Partial Group Of Brothers & Sisters At The Conclusion Of Another Expression Of Love And Joy!

The Bull McCabes Restaurant Staff Ready To serve.

The Lord’s Place Staff, My Brothers’/Sisters’ Board And Volunteers.

Lots Of Festive Food For Everyone.

“Were Ready Now For Seconds.”

Santamaria’s Give Santa Their Christmas Wish List.

Wellington Mayor and Friends Volunteer To Help.

Page 10 December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014 Page 11

WE ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS’/SISTERS’ KEEPER! “The strong and the fortunate have an obligation to protect and assist the weak and less fortunate until they are able to help themselves” - motto of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Members

Mr. & Mrs. Claus Are Ready For The Children.

“We Are All One Family of Brothers and Sisters” Announced Diane Stanley, Executive Director of The Lord’s Place and Jess Santamaria, Founder of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper at the Start of the 5th Annual Holiday Event. The board members of My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Charitable Trust were joined by volunteers and community leaders in hosting the annual year end party for the Lord’s Place clients and staff on Sunday, December 15 in the center court of the original Wellington Mall. The celebration included a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings prepared by the Bull McCabe’s Restaurant, the singing of holiday songs, and a visit by Mr. & Mrs. Santa and assistant’s. Over 100 children received two gifts each from Santa especially selected for them. Members of Boy Scout Troop 111 were among those who assisted Santa Claus in distributing the presents. MBSK board members and community volunteers hosted the year end party as part of their ongoing support for the Lord’s Place and its efforts to end homelessness in Palm Beach County. “We are grateful to My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper board members and other community supporters for the enormous care and generosity they expressed over the years” Lord’s Place Executive Director Diana Stanley said. “To see the smile on the face of a child at Christmas whose family has experienced homelessness in the past year lets us know that all of our work is making a difference for the precious families and individuals we serve. It is partners such as these, through their generous giving of time and treasure, who enable the Lord’s Place to end the cycle of homelessness, one life and one family at a time.” Jess Santamaria concluded by saying, “My wish for you is that the new year 2014 will be the year that you will all reach the maximum potential of your God-given talents! In the vast universe, our earth is merely a speck with only one race — The human race, and we are all Brothers and Sisters.” PHOTOS COURTESY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER AND GERRI GARTON

Santa’s Assistants — Boy Scout (Troop 111).

Partial Group Of Brothers & Sisters At The Conclusion Of Another Expression Of Love And Joy!

The Bull McCabes Restaurant Staff Ready To serve.

The Lord’s Place Staff, My Brothers’/Sisters’ Board And Volunteers.

Lots Of Festive Food For Everyone.

“Were Ready Now For Seconds.”

Santamaria’s Give Santa Their Christmas Wish List.

Wellington Mayor and Friends Volunteer To Help.

Page 12

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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NEWS

KIDS CANCER FOUNDATION HOSTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT FAIRGROUNDS

The sixth annual Kids Cancer Foundation Breakfast with Santa was held Saturday, Dec. 21 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The breakfast is a chance for the kids with cancer and cancer survivors to reunite. There were crafts, raffles, breakfast, a magician and more. Children got a toy and a stuffed animal from Santa, and those in treatment also got a bag of toys from their wish list. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Maris Proscia helps magician David McGehe perform a trick.

Kids Cancer Foundation board and advisory council members.

Kids Cancer Advisory board member Kristy Prince with Bryan Sevilla and his raffle prize.

Nicholas and William Figueroa work on a Home Depot project.

Alyssa and Teresa Sosa with Santa and his elves.

Guests and volunteers gather by the firetruck.

SANTA CLAUS BRINGS HOLIDAY JOY TO CHIMPS AT LION COUNTRY SAFARI

Santa Claus stopped by Lion Country Safari to deliver presents to the chimps on Thursday, Dec. 19. Santa and staff delivered wrapped presents, including treats, stuffed animals, clothes and enrichment toys for the chimps. The event is the only opportunity for observers to get out of their vehicles and watch the animals while in the preserve. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Volunteers help Santa bring gifts to chimp island.

Little Mama (left) opens her Christmas stocking while Orbit (right) takes his gift to a high perch.

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ChimpanZoo observers Barbara Duncan, Liz White, Donna Peters, Terry Minda and Olivine Young.

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PALMS WEST PEOPLE

Two Palm Beach County Volunteers Receive Department Of Ed Awards

The Florida Department of Education recently announced the 2013-14 winners for the Outstanding School Volunteer Awards. Harrison Harward (youth) and Lenore Hodges (adult) were both selected, making Palm Beach County the only district in the state with two winners. Harward, a Royal Palm Beach resident who is a senior at Suncoast High School, has volunteered since she was in elementary school. Her contributions include making newsletters for various schools; working on projects such as feeding the homeless; working with the American Cancer Society and with Green Day events; letter-writing campaigns; and peer student support. At her brother’s school, H.L. Johnson Elementary School, Harward created a news program that is shown at lunch each day. The program includes school news and various topics of interest, including astronomy pictures and facts, the day in history, weird science facts and a math problem of the day. Through her ingenuity, Harward founded Communiteenz, a web site that has brought together a close-knit group of nearly 300 teen volunteers. Through Communiteenz, students can find out where a volunteer is needed, sign up for events and log their hours. The program spans multiple social

media sites and is connected to various schools and organizations within Palm Beach County. Hodges has volunteered in schools for 32 years and in eight different Palm Beach County schools for 17 years. She has tutored students in reading and created an aid that helped increase test scores. As a veteran volunteer, Hodges led a campaign to see that students ate healthy meals and helped underserved students obtain scholarships, home computers and Internet access. Her contributions include assisting in the media center, and working at fun fairs, field days, book fairs, photo days, dances, productions and appreciation events. Her fundraising skills have brought in more than $40,000 to Palm Beach County schools. She has prepared the Five Star School Award portfolio for two different schools. Last year, when Hodges had to take some time off, six people were needed to cover all her responsibilities. One youth, adult and senior school volunteer is selected annually from the five regions of Florida for Outstanding School Volunteer of the Year honors. The criteria for selection is based on the number of service hours, years of service, type of contribution and uniqueness of services rendered.

Harrison Harward

Lenore Hodges

Region V consists of Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. “We currently have approximately 34,000 volunteers in our schools and each one is invaluable,” School District Volunteer Program Coordinator Debi Elfen said. “It is thrilling when I am able to provide extra recognition for those who are

truly outstanding. Harrison and Lenore are super stars, and we are fortunate to have them.” The winners will receive a plaque from the Department of Education at the Volunteer and Business Partnerships Awards Breakfast to be held May 9 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 13

DONNA TUCCI’S DANCERS PERFORM AT WELLINGTON EDGE

Donna Tucci’s School of Dance performed at the Wellington Edge annual holiday party on Sunday, Dec. 8. Shown here are Tucci and the talented young dancers with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

MATTY MATTIOLI HOSTS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

Trey Rawls Completes Army Training Army Pvt. Trey M. Rawls has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship qualification, bayonet combat, chemical

warfare, field training and tactical exercises, marches, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions and core values. Rawls is the son of Chandra Johnson of Wellington. He is a 2012 graduate of Santaluces High School.

Amanda Ng Organizing Local Pageant Amanda Ng of Royal Palm Beach traveled to Orlando recently to volunteer in a Holly Jolly pageant to benefit Toys for Tots. Holly Garfield of Crestwood

(Above) Holly Garfield. (Left) Emma Buscemi, Charisma Tran, Amanda Ng, Ashlynn Diaz, Kayla Esquivel, Tristen Marcic and USA Ambassador Director Kristin Thurston with a U.S. Marine.

Middle School took first runner up for the pre-teen division. The USA Ambassador Queens all took part and donated more than 200 toys to the Toys for Tots program. Ng is now looking to hold a pageant of her own in Royal Palm Beach to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network and would appreciate any businesses, organizations or professionals who wish to participate or sponsor the pageant. Ng has been involved in community service pageants for the past two years. She is currently the Children’s Miracle Network pageant ambassador and would like to take another participant from Palm Beach County with her next year to bring the title back. Contact Sandi Ng at Sanding112@aol.com if you are interested in helping.

Royal Palm Beach Mayor Matty Mattioli held his campaign kickoff event at Hilary’s Restaurant on Tuesday, Dec. 17. (Above) Mattioli (center) with Elaine Tomchin, Sheila Wahl, Al Wahl, Ron Tomchin and Frank Morelli (standing). (Below) Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara, Mattioli and Dan Splain.

Page 14

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

FRONTIER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DONATE TOYS

The Frontier Elementary School Student Council sponsored a week-long toy drive Dec. 9-13. A total of 24 classes participated in this year’s toy drive, with Jennifer Eddy’s class collecting the most new, unwrapped toy donations. Student Council sponsor Marisa Hopkins was proud to donate more than 50 toys to local charities just in time for Christmas. Shown here, student council representatives Ally Keane and Reuel Belizaire help collect the toy donations.

MATTISYN SCHOOL TEACHERS GIVE BACK

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SCHOOL NEWS

PPMS Students Donate Toys To Hospital In order to give back to the Wellington community, the Polo Park Middle School National Junior Honor Society recently held “Operation Toys for Smiles,” a toy drive where students donated new toys, which were collected, wrapped and handed out at the Children’s Hospital at Palms West. The students at Polo Park donated more than 100 toys for the event. On Friday, Dec. 13, the NJHS students took all the toys to the hospital and spent the day giving out presents, reading stories, putting puzzles together and doing arts and crafts projects with the children in the hospital. Going room to room, the students were able to brighten the day of the young patients with gifts for everyone, ranging from race cars to footballs, stuffed animals and princess dolls. “It was obvious how much

the gifts and time spent meant to the kids in the hospital,” NJHS co-sponsor Craig Kaliser said. ”But what really struck me was how much spending time with those kids meant to our NJHS students. It was nearly impossible to get our students to leave the hospital. They just wanted to stay and spend as much time as they could with those kids. To be honest, I’m not so sure that the positive outlook and bright smiles of those kids in the hospital didn’t have a bigger impact on our students than we had on them. I know our NJHS students really will remember this day for a long time.” Prior to going to Palms West, the NJHS students raised awareness of the event by creating posters, encouraging parents and speaking to the entire student body. Once the toys were collected, the NJHS students used their impressive wrapping skills

Polo Park NJHS students bring toys to Palms West Hospital. to wrap all the toys. Even though contributed by donating their every student was not able to time to ensure that each kid had deliver the toys, many of them a present to open.

Rosarian Students Help Needy Children

Giving is definitely better than receiving. That’s the lifelong message that the Rosarian Academy hopes to teach each of its students through service opportunities offered throughout the year. But there’s an even greater focus on serving and giving during the holiday season in preparation for Christmas Day. For more than 10 years, the seventh-grade class has led the school-wide effort to collect unwrapped toys for needy children who may not otherwise receive anything for Christmas. After spending two weeks collecting toys, on Monday, Dec. 16,

Rosarian students loaded a Palm Beach County Health Department truck with toys that will make more than 500 children happy this Christmas. Norma Williams, volunteer services coordinator for the Palm Beach County Health Department, expressed her gratitude to Rosarian students. “Without these donations, some children may never receive a toy,” she said. “We are so grateful for Rosarian’s generosity.” The Health Department distributes the toys to children in Palm Beach County who are currently benefiting from their services.

Kate Driscoll, Christopher Curtis, and Nikki Giordano help load truck full of toys for needy children.

RPBHS SADD Club Promotes Car Safety

Teachers at the Mattisyn School volunteered their time in an effort to promote the holiday spirit of giving back and demonstrating community service to the children. The teachers volunteered their time for a parents’ night out to allow parents time to shop for the holidays, spend a couple hours of alone time with each other, or use their time whatever way they chose, in effort to give back to the parents and demonstrate appreciation, all in an effort to spread the holiday spirit of giving. Shown here, students and parents meet Santa.

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The Royal Palm Beach High School Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club is working on an event to award safe drivers. Last year, the club focused on their campaign of “No Texting, I’m Driving” and distributed more than 800 cell phone storage boxes to adults and students. This year, the club has arranged for students who can prove that they’ve been accident and ticket free for at least a year to have a chance to win a belt that looks just like a seatbelt.

The belt was advertised in a SADD commercial that the club aired on the school news broadcast and can be found on YouTube. In the video, SADD members show the belts with pride while dancing to an original song that recognizes the safety measures SADD wants to promote within the high school and within Royal Palm Beach. SADD members like to live by the slogan: “Buckle up, that’s what’s up!” The video can be found by visiting the Florida SADD page on YouTube.

RPBHS SADD students and sponsors show off the prized belt.

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SCHOOL NEWS

Golden Grove Wins Model School Award

“Florida’s Positive Behavior Support Project: A Multi-Tiered Support System for Behavior” at the University of South Florida recently announced its final determination of 2013 Model Schools, and Golden Grove Elementary School in The Acreage was named a Bronze Model School. Bronze Model School status entails implementation of a comprehensive system of support at the core (Tier 1) level that ultimately improves student outcomes. This is evident through the framework of Golden Grove’s Universal Guidelines — Gators ROCK (“R” for Respect and Re-

sponsibility, “O” for Ownership, “C” for Citizenship and “K” for Kindness). “Having a set of universal expectations that everyone embraces has made such a positive impact on our school culture,” School Counselor Lori Bednarek said. The theme is infused throughout the school by expectations taught and posted around campus for all staff members. Teachers implement classroom management systems directly tied with the Universal Guidelines. “For me, ROCK means that I have to respect others, own my actions for everything that I do, be

a good citizen by treating others the way I would want to be treated and be kind to everyone that I know. I also need to be a good listener so that I can follow the directions that the teacher gives to me,” said Jake Ryan, a fifthgrade student. At Golden Grove, students are recognized for being a “Rock Star” with “Rockin’ Good News” postcards that are mailed home, among a menu of items from their continuum of procedures for encouraging expected behaviors. “Focusing on the positive makes such a difference in a school environment,” Assistant Principal

Philip Preddy said. “When you are always looking for the good, the students aspire to be recognized, and therefore strive to do the right thing. Our Gators ROCK at Golden Grove!” The school will receive a banner and a certificate from Florida’s Positive Behavior Support Project in addition to being listed on the FLPBS web site. Golden Grove may serve as a demonstration site for other schools looking to implement a multi-tiered system of support for behavior, not to mention its potential contribution to the field through the development of resources.

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 15

NEW HORIZONS CONTINGENT MARCHES IN HOLIDAY PARADE

RPBHS Debaters Win At Princeton Classic

The Royal Palm Beach High School Wildcat Speech & Debate team competed at the Princeton Classic Invitational High School Speech and Debate Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. The Wildcat Team demonstrated that not only they are among

the top-placing schools in Palm Beach County, but also in the country. The following students received awards: Delisa Stephenson, first place in Dramatic Interpretation; Nikita Grant and Delisa Stephenson, first place in Duo Interpretation; and Alaa Kaki

and Denisha Colin, second place in Duo Interpretation. The Princeton Classic combines Princeton’s tradition of excellence in debate with the opportunity for high school students and coaches to compete among the nation’s best debaters and orators. The tournament is

considered one of the biggest in the country, with more than 1,000 participants from more than 100 schools. For additional information about the speech and debate program at RPBHS, contact Eric Jeraci at eric.jeraci@palmbeach schools.org.

Close to 100 students, parents and staff members participated in the Wellington Holiday Parade representing New Horizons Elementary School on Sunday, Dec. 9. They marched behind a covered wagon depicting the school’s motto, “On the Trail to Excellence.” Pictured here are New Horizons’ parade revelers.

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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FEATURES

My Exciting, Unique Double Life Always Keeps Me On The Move

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to lead a double life — not as a spy or anything, just so I could fit in everything I wanted to do. I played the oboe and clarinet, but I wanted to learn drums. I majored in early childhood education, but I also wanted a degree in fine arts. I worked part time in a millinery department, but I also wanted to be an au pair. I needed to earn a living, but I also love shopping, especially for junk. I moved to Florida, but I also love the Midwest. Things work out. When, as a teen, I got braces on my teeth, the band director moved me out of woodwinds and into the percussion section. At college, I minored in fine arts. I have four grandsons I am pretty sure I am welcome to au pair all I want. I opened up an antiques shop (which

Deborah Welky is

The Sonic BOOMER I need to keep fully stocked with junk), and in Florida, I learned about something called a “snowbird.” Snowbirds have the best of both worlds. When it’s cold, they’re down south. When it’s hot, they’re up north. Friends are constantly welcoming them “upon their return” because, at least twice a year, they’re returning. It’s a double life at its best!

I’m not quite a snowbird yet, but I’m working on it. I’m in the Midwest a good deal of the time. That said, I enjoyed one of my more interesting double-life weeks this week. Here’s the gist of it: On Sunday, I was in Kansas City helping my son-in-law Greg put together a holiday party for his staff. On Monday, I bought a house. On Tuesday, I packed antiques into my trailer. Wednesday was Christmas. On Thursday, I drove said antiques to Florida. On Friday (today), I will read my book to kids at the library and, over the weekend, I will unload the contents of the trailer into my store. Sunday was hectic because of the party. It started at 6 p.m., but Greg didn’t get home from his Christmas shopping until 5:45. He poked his head in the door of

the kitchen and hollered, “I need some food for this thing if anybody can help!” then dashed outside to string lights in the greenhouse, where the party was being held. My daughter and I looked at each other and zipped into action. By 6 p.m., we had three plates of cute sausage-andcheese canapés on plates, pigs-in-blankets in the oven and Christmas cookies (with the icing still drying) on a tray. Monday was exciting because of the house purchase. We hadn’t intended to buy a house but, three weeks ago, Greg met a neighbor who needed money by the end of the year and was selling his 5-bedroom, 3-bath home to “the first one with $50,000 cash.” Some house-flippers had offered him $45,000 and some other neighbors wanted to do financing, but the guy was firm at $50,000 cash. The house was great,

except for the parts he’d “remodeled.” The hard part was finding $50,000 three weeks before Christmas. But we did it. The house is ours, and we already have a renter lined up. Packing the trailer on Tuesday was hard, only because it was 20 degrees and snowing in Kansas City. Wednesday was fun, as Christmas always is. Thursday meant 20 hours strapped into a seat belt but it was worth it because of Friday at the library. (I have always wanted to read something that I wrote at a real library. Writers revere libraries.) By the time you read this, I will be in shorts, happily unpacking still-cold merchandise from my trailer while enjoying the balmy Florida weather. Ahhhhh. Leading a double life? I highly recommend it!

‘Anchorman’ Sequel A Terrible Movie, Missing Original’s Charm

Anchorman 2 is one of those sequels that should never have been made. This past summer, I predicted After Earth might be the worst movie of the year. Well, this one provides real competition. Sequels can be good at times. Comedy sequels, though, tend to die. The problem is that if something works, Hollywood repeats itself. A lot of this movie is simply the first one, maybe a bit bigger, but not nearly as funny. I recall an old line saying that telling a good joke is a sign of wit. Repeating it makes you a half wit, and so on. And just as the Hangover movies went downhill after the first, this one pretty much crashes as well. Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is a kind of cultural touchstone. The first movie, shot nearly 10 years ago, satirized the

‘I’ On CULTURE By Leonard Wechsler over-produced, imbecilic nature of some news people. It was fun; many in the news business actually claimed to know people like Ron and his “classy” team. Of course, The Mary Tyler Moore Show had Ted Baxter years ago, but the first Anchorman movie presented a really crass picture. A funny one, though. There was very little fun in this sequel.

It begins with Ron and his wife Veronica (Christina Applegate) working out of New York as a husband-wife weekend news team in 1980, raising an overly sweet son, Walter (Judah Nelson). Harrison Ford in a cameo is an old newsman who selects Veronica to replace him and fires Ron, who walks away from his wife when she takes the promotion. A few months later, drunken Ron, now working at SeaWorld, is picked to be part of a new idea, a 24-hour-a-day news channel. Far too much time is taken as he recruits the old team: sports guy Champ Kind (David Koechner), who knows nothing about sports and is serving bat at his fried chicken place, investigative reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), doing photos of kittens, and incredibly stupid weatherman

Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) as, well, supposedly dead. Although they are ridiculous, they set the whole news business on its ear by ignoring what is really news in order to show what they want. One night, after ego-filled Ron tells his team to go away, he follows a police car chasing down a driver and gets huge ratings. The third best line of the night has his competition being Veronica interviewing Yasser Arafat, and after Veronica yells when her own network shifts to the coverage, “I’ve got Arafat here. Who cares about a car chase?” Arafat admits he wants to watch it. The movie takes a dismal turn after that. Superstar Ron does a bit more or less copied from the first film where he plays the flute, this time on skates, and his main

competition Jack Lime (James Marsden) sabotages him, causing an accident that makes him blind. Veronica and Walter come to help him in a long, unfunny stretch. Then he gets his vision back and winds up choosing to see his son’s recital instead of covering a ridiculous story that combines the best of our current teen superstars with Lorena Bobbitt. This leads to a replay, super-sized with a lot of cameos, of the news team battle from the first movie. Second best line: Kanye West playing the leader of the MTV group sees Harrison Ford change into a werewolf and says, “I gotta tell Michael Jackson about this.” But, still, just a repeat. At the end, Ron goes out to hug a shark, and his dog, who rescues him, does the See WECHSLER, page 18

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 17

Indulge

Are you reAdy To

yourself?

Wellington The Magazine Is going to be selecting one lucky reader each month to enjoy a day of luxury at a local spa. Can you use a distraction from your daily grind or know someone who can use some “me� time? If so, enter this ongoing contest today. All you have to do is fill out this form and mail it to Wellington The Magazine. Please include a photo of yourself or the individual you are nominating along with a short note as to why we should choose you or your nominee.

Wellington The Magazine Indulge Contest

Nominee Name: _________________________________

Nominee Contact Number: _____________________________ Nominee Email: ______________________________________ Submitted By: ______________________________________ Contact Number: ______________________________________ Mail to: Wellington The Magazine Indulge Yourself Contest, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., #31, Wellington, FL 33414

Contest Rules: You must be 18 years or older to participate. We choose the spa and the date of the Spa Experience. Contest entrants must be available to take a weekday off from work. No one may win the contest more than once in 12 months. The decision of the selection committee is final. Employees of Wellington The Magazine, all affiliated companies and their family members are not eligible to enter. Accepting your Spa Experience package includes the agreement that we make use of your image, take photos of you at the spa and publish information about your Spa Experience in Wellington The Magazine.

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Lox Groves

Yohe Takes Over LGWCD

continued from page 1 merit raise after a year if the board gives a satisfactory performance rating, as well as other benefits including a $400 car allowance, $100 phone allowance, health insurance, retirement plan, vacation and sick time. Yohe had been director of engineering for the Community Learning Outreach Center since June 2010, where he also wrote the charter school application and several grant applications. Before that, he was senior project manager and engineer for O’Dell Land Development Consultants, where he designed and handled permitting for water, sewer, paving and drainage projects. Yohe also worked for many years with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where he was director of engineering and later deputy director of Florida operations. He earned his degree from the University of Florida in 1976. Petition Against PBSC Campus Rejected In a 4-1 decision March 19, the town council agreed with Town Clerk Susan Eichhorn that a petition calling for a referendum over the planned Palm Beach State College campus on Southern Blvd. failed to meet legal requirements. An initiative committee circulated the petition calling for the repeal of two ordinances allowing the campus, gathering more than 250 signatures.

Wellington

Controversy, Compromise

continued from page 1 in some parts of the community. The community also celebrated the opening of the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club, giving the treasured organization a larger home in Wellington. A New Village Attorney At the end of 2012, Wellington was left without legal representation after council members voted to fire longtime attorney Jeff Kurtz. Finding a new attorney was top priority for the council in 2013, but first it had to decide whether to stay with a contracted attorney or create an in-house legal department. Council members hired an independent firm to evaluate the costs of both options, and in late February, the firm released a report pointing to in-house legal counsel as the less expensive long-term option for Wellington. In March, council members voted to bring the position in-house, and the search for a new village attorney began. After negotiations with council members’ first choice, Don Dufresne, broke down over salary and benefits, council members turned to former Councilwoman Laurie Cohen as the top choice. She was hired with a starting salary of $150,000, but the decision caused Councilman John Greene to storm out of a meeting on the issue. In November, the council agreed to hire an assistant attorney to

Royal Palm

New Park Popular

continued from page 1 goods and more. The market launched Oct. 20 and has been open each Sunday since, offering a popular new event for residents. Though Royal Palm Beach has enjoyed its new facility, plans began forming in 2013 to expand the park further. In the summer, discussion of adding a flying disc course to the park began. In July, council members gave priority to a dog park over the flying disc course, shifting budgeted money toward the project. But then disc golf fans showed up to push for their project. Council members assured residents that both projects would be included in the park, but noted that the dog park had to be bigger than originally planned. In December, residents had a chance to provide input on the dog park, offering suggestions for the 4.15-acre site. Skate Park Arrives At the behest of local skateboarders, council members approved the creation of a skate park near the Royal Palm Beach Recreational Center at an underused roller hockey rink. Early in the year, skaters got the chance to help design the park with the equipment they’d like to see. The park opened in the fall, with skaters able to use the site freely if they registered or had a parent register with the village. The $100,000 project allows skaters to enjoy their hobby without bothering local shopping plazas.

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NEWS The clerk found two grounds for insufficiency: that the petition did not have the text of the ordinances attached; and that the affidavit indicated that the text was available to the individuals who signed the petition. Eichhorn said she had received what was supposed to be a complete package by the committee, but did not see the full text of the ordinance attached in the package that was delivered. She also did not see language that indicated that the text of the ordinance had been attached. While opponents are still fighting the campus in court, PBSC officials voted in October to spend up to $4 million for architectural design, infrastructure and site work on the project. Jim Rockett Wins New Term Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Jim Rockett won a narrow reelection victory March 12, defeating challenger Todd McLendon in the race for Seat 2 on the council. Rockett beat McLendon by just 30 votes in a race with a total turnout of 594 voters, just over 25 percent of those eligible. McLendon’s campaign had emphasized what he called the council’s non-responsiveness to the public. He is one of the leaders of the group demanding a referendum on PBSC’s planned Loxahatchee Groves campus. The bitter campaign included accusations from both sides that their opponents were spreading misinformation. Seat 4 challenger L.W. Lucas pulled out of the race, leaving the Seat 4 incumbent, Mayor Dave Browning, unchallenged. aid Cohen, expanding its legal department. Village Manager Under Fire In June, Councilman Matt Willhite proposed that council members discuss whether to continue with Paul Schofield as village manager. They agreed to table the item and hire a management consultant to evaluate the issue. The discussion led to an outcry of support for Schofield from members of the community, who showed up at the next council meeting to oppose any plan to fire Schofield. The consultant met with employees, management and council members and determined that lack of trust and communication has led to division in Wellington. He released his report in August, and council members met that same month to hash out specific issues. The meeting brought to light several concerns from council members, especially Willhite. Chief among them was a blunder made by an unnamed employee that forced Wellington to pay $183,000 in taxes on its K-Park property because an agricultural exemption was not filed. Cohen vowed in October to fight to correct the mistake and get the village’s money back. Another issue was a scathing response from an independent auditing team hired in 2012 to evaluate Wellington’s books for waste and mismanagement. The firm spoke at a meeting June 4 and chastised village staff for obstructing the process of the audit, causing difficulties. However, the auditors did not accuse Schofield Election 2013: Swift In, Webster Out Councilman Fred Pinto and Councilwoman Martha Webster were challenged in the March 2013 election. Webster saw a challenger in former Councilman David Swift, who served more than 20 years on the council before stepping down two years ago. Meanwhile, Pinto faced a challenge from teacher Justin Sallenbach. When the votes were cast on March 12, Swift unseated Webster with more than 62 percent of the vote, while Pinto retained his seat, taking more than 66 percent of the vote. Already, the 2014 election has kicked off with Mayor Matty Mattioli facing a challenge from community activist Felicia Matula, who lost to Mattioli in 2012. In 2013, no candidate forum was held, and council members sought to find an independent organization to host the forums in the future. Council members debated allowing the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters and the Town-Crier newspaper to host the event, ultimately settling on the Town-Crier to run the 2014 forum. Progress On Major Projects The village saw advancement and, in some cases, completion on some long-awaited projects. In September, the Aldi grocery chain broke ground on its planned distribution center on State Road 7. The site is expected to be developed and opened next year, providing much-needed employment opportunities. In August, the Renaissance Charter School at Palms West

Minto Battle Plan Undertaken Loxahatchee Groves council members took steps Nov. 19 to oppose the development of Minto West, formerly Callery-Judge Grove. Council members said the developers had been cherry-picking communities within a 5-mile radius to which to compare its proposed 6,500-home development, painting an unrealistic picture of what the area is like. Minto recently purchased the 3,800-acre Callery-Judge Grove property for $51 million and is preparing to ask for up to 6,500 homes and about 1.4 million square feet of workplace and communityserving commercial uses. The land currently has a future land-use approval for up to 2,996 dwelling units and up to 235,000 square feet of non-residential uses. Former Councilman Dennis Lipp, who was recently appointed to the Palm Beach County Planning Commission, suggested that the council seek an opinion from the Florida Attorney General’s Office for a definition of “surrounding” communities, explaining that Minto West had skipped over the adjacent Loxahatchee Groves and Acreage communities to developments such as Madison Green in Royal Palm Beach for references to compatible neighborhoods. Lox Council OKs Commercial Plans At Southern And B The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council granted approval in November to long-anticipated zoning changes to commercial use for two properties at the northern corners of Southern Blvd. and B Road. The parcels are the 21.73-acre of being part of the obstruction. The consultant ultimately brought in Schofield to hash out some of the issues with council members, who opted not to fire him in the end. Equestrian Village Plans Perhaps the most controversial issue of 2013 continued to be the Equestrian Village dressage site. While Wellington was embroiled in legal battles for much of the year, the village opted to disassociate itself from property owners Wellington Equestrian Partners, moving a February Palm Beach County League of Cities luncheon from the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, owned by Wellington Equestrian Partners, to another venue. In May, a divided council agreed to allow the property owners to refile necessary applications for the Equestrian Village site. In June, Wellington Equestrian Partners representatives agreed to halt litigation and go through the approval process again. In the meantime, council members approved a special-use permit for the Global Dressage Festival while more permanent plans for the site were being made. The new approvals were heard in the fall by the Equestrian Preserve Committee, the Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board and, finally, the Wellington Village Council. Council members approved plans for the site in October, and a settlement was finalized at the council’s Nov. 12 meeting, freeing Wellington from its lawsuit woes. The decision allowed Wellington Equestrian Partners to request the opened its doors to students after setbacks prevented the school from being completed in 2012. The school opened on Aug. 19 with more than 800 students in its first year. The school took over the site of the old Albertsons supermarket on Southern Blvd. Crafting The Future In January, council members announced they would seek resident input on the village’s strategic plan discussed in 2012. The plan lays out Royal Palm Beach’s goals for the next five, 10 and 15 years. In April, more than 40 residents participated in the workshop and were able to provide input for the future of their community. In April, council members also came to a decision on a use for the former wastewater treatment plant site at the village’s north end, quelling residents’ concerns. Decisions on what to do with the site — which prompted formation of a task force in 2011 — plagued the village for years, with residents pushing for little to no commercial uses on the site. At an April 18 meeting, council members decided to change the 150-acre site to low-intensity, single-family residential use. RIP, Temple Beth Zion In February, leaders of Temple Beth Zion announced that the Jewish congregation would be merging with Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach after 32 years in Royal Palm Beach. The decision prompted much discussion about what to do with the temple building, which is adjacent to Royal Palm Beach Village Hall. At a meeting March 7, council

site at the northwest corner known as Loxahatchee Groves Commons and the 90.33-acre site on the northeast corner known as Groves Town Center. The zoning for both properties was changed from the town’s zoning designation of agricultural residential to multiple land uses that will allow for low-intensity commercial, office, institutional and residential uses. LGWCD Budget Includes Assessment Increase The LGWCD gave final approval to its 2014 budget at a meeting Sept. 11. The new budget increases assessments by $15 per acre to help pay for clearing canals and improving drainage. The increase would raise the district’s assessment to between $107 and $113 per acre, depending on the property. The cost is higher for those along unpaved roads because of grading and dust watering. The LGWCD’s 2014 budget totals $1.611 million, slightly more than the current year’s $1.607 million.

said they had outgrown their existing animal rescue shelter behind the Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse at the intersection of State Road 7 and Southern Blvd. The town’s Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the amendment with conditions that the minimum lot size be no less than 10 acres and that animal boarding and vet care services be allowed as accessory uses only on collector roads such as Okeechobee or Southern. Big Dog representatives said its present location is not ideal for what they want, and were looking at a $3 million development of new facilities for the dogs. The current facility was designed for rescued wildlife other than dogs. Although the land-use code allowed animal rescue operations anywhere in the agricultural residential district, representatives said Big Dog needed approval for veterinary care and dog boarding.

Big Dog Gets OK For Groves Location The council approved the final reading of an ordinance in June amending the land-use code that will allow Big Dog Ranch Rescue to locate in the community with accessory uses that include veterinary care and dog boarding. Big Dog had not selected a specific site, but the conditions of the ordinance will restrict their operation to locations on Southern or Okeechobee boulevards through a special exception. Representatives of the nonprofit

LGWCD Rejects Paying Land Company For Road Title On June 10, the LGWCD board countered a request by Southern States Land & Timber for $200,000 in exchange for quitclaim title to the district’s road easements by inviting its representatives to visit, so they’ll see the liabilities they could face by trying to retain those claims. The district is working to transfer title of its recently paved roads to Loxahatchee Groves, and it had asked Southern States to give up any claims it might have to the rights-of-way in order to give the town clear title. Southern States’ claimed titles date back 100 years, to a period

opening of the site’s Pierson Road access, and, later that month, council members agreed to open up that access for trailers and competitors, but only with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies to control traffic. In 2012, Wellington Equestrian Partners backed out of the application process to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games, citing disagreements with the council. However, with improved relations, the decision was made to reconsider an application.

without a proper signal at that intersection. When a medical office in Palomino Park asked to expand, council members tied paying for the light to the approval, drawing opposition from the Palomino Park Property Owners’ Association. At its March 26 meeting, council members agreed to settle for $51,000 toward the light. The council also approved medical use on the nearby Wellington Parc site in July, as well as a daycare center at the charter school.

SR 7 Corridor, K-Park Council members began to carve out plans for Wellington’s future with several approvals largely concerning the State Road 7 corridor and K-Park, but also in its town center. At a meeting March 12, council members discussed several proposals for the K-Park site, including a horse park with a hotel and other commercial aspects. In June, council members agreed to an exclusive consideration of the Palm Beach Horse Park for the site and entered into a letter of intent to not discuss selling the site to any other organization. Although the letter of intent was set to expire on Dec. 16, council members voted at the Dec. 10 meeting to extend the exclusivity until its Jan. 14 meeting, giving organizers enough time to review and finalize several documents. There was also much discussion in 2013 over a proposed stoplight at SR 7 and Palomino Drive. After approving a charter school nearby last year, council members worried traffic might become dangerous

New Boys & Girls Club At long last, the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club opened its doors in late April, with a VIP grand opening followed by a public celebration. The community came out to support the beloved organization as it expanded its space to help more local children. The club moved from its old home on South Shore Blvd. to its larger, new home on Wellington Trace.

members were divided on a decision to pay $1,500 for an appraisal of the property. But in April, after the cost of an appraisal came back higher than expected, the council voted to abandon plans to acquire the property. The site found new owners in the fall, when Chabad of Royal Palm Beach purchased the site, moving its fledgling congregation from an office suite where it had been operating for several years. Garage Sale Rules Loosened At the request of residents, Royal Palm Beach loosened some of its restrictions on yard sales early in 2013. At a Jan. 17 meeting, council members agreed to allow four yard sales a year (one per quarter), allow a maximum of four signs and allow posting of the sales on the village web site. The request was made in 2012 by a resident looking to loosen the regulations. Weeds Draw Ire From Residents Royal Palm Beach had to deal with complaints from residents in the summer of 2013 about weeds proliferating in local canals. Though a village’s contractor had put herbicide in the canals to combat weeds, the dying plants made the canals impassable. Council members requested that the issue be taken care of, and after months of discussion and continued complaints, the contractor announced in October that the problem was largely under control. Council members demanded progress reports every other month from the contractor to make sure the issue remains under control.

when the company owned much of the land in central Palm Beach County. During the supervisors’ discussion, however, it was unclear whether the company actually had any claim remaining at all. LGWCD Administrator Stephen Yohe said his staff had sent a letter asking for the quit claim, and that Harry Smith, the firm’s vice president, sent a letter dated May 14 offering to provide a quitclaim deed for the roads subject to the 1918 right-of-way agreement between Southern States and the LGWCD for a payment of $200,000. Yohe sent a letter June 3 declining the offer and inviting Smith to visit the subject roads and canals so he would recognize the benefits to his company if it would quit claiming any interest to those tracts. Delegation Approves Two Easement Bills The Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation approved two local bills Dec. 17 that would transfer control of road and canal easements from the LGWCD to the town. Lobbyist David Ramba, representing both governments, said the first bill is similar to a previous one that transferred newly paved portions of A, C and D roads from the district to the town. The second bill would allow for the dedication and use of canal maintenance easements for horse trails, noting that the town’s comprehensive plan, when it was created, provided for connections between different locations and that the routes have been used for years as horse trails. The bills now head to Tallahassee for approval. jacent to the Wellington Community Center. The site would make Wellington a landlord to the many tenants in the center, but the village could choose to use the site for a different purpose in years to come. At a special meeting Dec. 20, council members voted to approve purchasing the property, and it was expected to close by the end of the year.

Tennis Center Move After agreeing last year to rebuild the Wellington Community Center, council members gave more input on what they’d like to see at the site. At a Jan. 11 workshop, council members agreed that the Wellington Tennis Center should have a space separate from the community center. At its Jan. 22 meeting, the council voted to move the tennis center to a new location, freeing up space in the town center. Residents were invited to speak on the issue at workshops in March, and players largely favored keeping the tennis center in its current location. But at a May 14 meeting, a divided council chose to move the center to a vacant piece of land outside the Village Walk community on Lyons Road. Late in the year, council members were presented the opportunity to buy the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, located ad-

Policies Fine-Tuned Following direction from the Palm Beach County Office of the Inspector General, council members set a policy on what purchases constitute a “public purpose” at an Oct. 8 meeting. The new policy allows spending on meals and refreshments for certain events, or under certain circumstances with approval by the village manager. Council members also debated Wellington’s business hour rules for businesses located near residential areas. After months of discussion, council members agreed in May to allow businesses to open at 5 a.m. and stay open until midnight with outdoor activities allowed only between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Any deviations would go before the council for approval. Plans for changes to allow recreational vehicles in parts of the Equestrian Preserve were sent back to the drawing board by council members in April after they decided the regulations could allow for proliferation of the vehicles. Wellington also decided to seek opinions from the Florida Attorney General’s Office as well as an election attorney on whether the village can reimburse the legal fees of candidates. The issue stemmed from the 2012 election when Mayor Bob Margolis and Councilman John Greene sought legal representation. They are now seeking to have their fees reimbursed, but council members asked for an outside opinion at a Dec. 10 meeting.

continued from page 6 PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation was called to the mall after the juvenile was observed purchasing food in the food court. The juvenile had been trespassed from the facility in October because of a shoplifting incident. According to the report, the deputy made contact with the juvenile and, during a search, discovered a plastic marijuana pipe with marijuana residue. The juvenile was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. DEC. 21 — A resident of Country Golf Drive called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Saturday to report a theft. According to a PBSO report, sometime between 6 a.m. Saturday, Dec.

14 and 3:45 p.m. last Saturday, someone stole the victim’s irrigation pump. The pump was valued at approximately $650. There were no suspects or witnesses at the time of the report. DEC. 21 — A juvenile was arrested last Saturday evening on charges of trespassing at the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, a deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington was dispatched to the mall after a security officer spotted the male juvenile, who was given a trespass warning last month. According to the report, the security guard approached him, and the juvenile ran through the mall before being caught. He was arrested and given a notice to appear in court.

Blotter

Wechsler

Avoid ‘Anchorman’ Sequel

continued from page 16 best line (in subtitles), “I need to rethink this relationship.” Not funny, but a perfect descriptor of how I feel about the movie. There was far too much copied from the first film and not much at all that was funny. None of the so-called comedians was funny; note that an

Arafat lookalike, a cameo Kanye West and the dog had the best lines. Carell and Kristen Wiig had a strange relationship that was supposed to be funny, but no one ever laughed. Ferrell runs an Internet channel called “Funny or Die.” Based on this film, he just had a massacre. Best bet with this film would be to watch the original movie again and, maybe, wait until it comes on television. Paying more than pennies is a waste of money at a time when there are lots of good films out.

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 19

NEWS

WELLINGTON CHILDREN’S FISHING CLASSIC RETURNS TO LAKE WELLINGTON

The Wellington Children’s Fishing Classic was held Saturday, Dec. 21 on the shores of Lake Wellington. Families enjoyed a day together fishing, with awards for the top catches. Many young community anglers came together and competed to catch the biggest fish.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Brooke and Chris Weber get ready to fish.

Wyatt Manley fishes off the dock.

Colton, Noelle and Curtis Pride.

Marissa and Stefanie Margolies fish together.

Mia Coble waits for a nibble.

Lucas and Katherine Roldan.

VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON TOY DRIVE BRINGS CHEER TO PALMS WEST HOSPITAL Members of the Wellington Village Council, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and Wellington’s Interfaith Group visited Palms West Hospital’s pediatric unit on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and delivered toys. The toys were collected through the Village of Wellington as part of its Hometown Holiday Toy Drive. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Representatives from the Village of Wellington, the PBCFR, the PBSO and Wellington’s Interfaith Group with toys for donation.

Councilwoman Anne Gerwig and Marina Saucedo.

Councilman John Greene gives Gerard Gates at gift.

Jahcaiah and Paige Asprilla with Councilwoman Anne Gerwig, Councilman John Greene and the PBCFR’s Mike Arena.

Page 20

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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The Perfect Match Polo and Brunch

Experience the energy of world-class polo and brunch at the International Polo Club. Delicious food, champagne, celebrity sightings, music, fashion and, of course, polo. Every Sunday at 3 p.m. through April 20 The Pavilion opens at 2 p.m.

Join us at The Pavilion for the after-party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For ticket options, please visit InternationalPoloClub.com or call 561.204.5687.

3667 120th Avenue South Wellington, Florida 33414

Photography by LILA PHOTO

56216_IPC_TownCrier_FP_AD.indd 1

12/9/13 8:32 AM

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Vets Open House At Karen’s Equine Intervention

The weather was overcast, yet the atmosphere at Karen’s Equine Intervention was upbeat and sunny, smiles all around as volunteers rushed to finish up last-minute touches for a special open house on the Saturday of Veterans Day weekend. Ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 23

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 21

Wellington Girls Soccer Defeats Suncoast 6-2

The Wellington High School girls varsity soccer team traveled to Riviera Beach on Friday, Dec. 20 to take on Suncoast High School, defeating the Chargers 6-2. The Lady Wolverines (9-42) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the non-district matchup. Page 29

Shopping Spree A Town-Crier Publication

inside

Business

WRMC Supports Angel Tree Program

Wellington Regional Medical Center helped make Christmas a little brighter for Palm Beach County children in need this holiday season. The hospital donated more than 100 gifts, helping 75 angels as part of the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree program. On Dec. 10, employees and senior administration gathered in front of the hospital’s Christmas tree and loaded gifts onto a Salvation Army truck. Page 25

Was Your Christmas Gift The Wrong Size? • Ring Sizing • Watch Band Sizing

Sports

• Chain Shortening

Seminole Ridge Basketball Boys Fall To P.B. Gardens 74-53

• All Types of Repairs

The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity basketball team hosted Palm Beach Gardens High School on Dec. 20 and lost 74-53. The Hawks looked to get their first win of the season but fell short. Seminole Ridge played well defensively, limiting the Gators on offense. However, the Hawks had difficulty maintaining consistency. Page 29

THIS WEEK’S index Tails from the Trails............................. 23 BUSINESS NEWS....................................24-25 COMMUNITY CALENDAR............................. 28 SPORTS & RECREATION.........................29-31 CLASSIFIEDS..........................................31-35

Both Stores All The Time SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE

JEWELERS

Wellington Courtyard Shoppes

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Page 22

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER

January 10 - March 28, 2014 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival

World-Class Musical Freestyle Dressage & Entertainment for the whole family. FREE GENERAL ADMISSION For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com or call 561-793-5867 The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 13500 South Shore Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414

EquestrianSportProdFNS_PWTW12_27_13.indd 1

12/17/13 3:31 PM

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 23

Open House For Vets At Karen’s Equine Intervention

The weather was overcast, yet the atmosphere at Karen’s Equine Intervention was upbeat and sunny, smiles all around as volunteers rushed to finish up last-minute touches — horses brushed, platters of cookies out on the table, the sign and balloons tied to the street sign out on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. They were preparing for the open house on the Saturday of Veterans Day weekend in November. Located on East Calder Drive in Royal Ascot Estates, Karen’s Equine Intervention is a therapeutic riding and educational center, and also offers a Horses for Heroes program to assist members of the military and their families. Indeed, this open house was geared especially toward members of the military, their families, as well as first responders, both active and retired. “We held it this weekend in honor of Veterans Day,” explained owner and founder Nora Janssen. “Today’s open house, as well as our Horses for Heroes program, are designed to help people deal with stress, to give them an outlet where they can get away from problems. Being around horses is therapeutic. Our programs help people find alternate ways of dealing with the pressures of everyday life. Today’s get-together should be a relaxing and fun day for these wonderful men and women Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/HorseTalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

Tales From The Trails By Ellen Rosenberg and their families, a chance for them to connect and kick back.” Unfortunately, the main group of military personnel who’d been coming out to ride at Karen’s had gotten deployed just before the weekend. They were off for a year of service, the first three months at Fort Hood, the next nine in Afghanistan. But 30 to 40 people did show up. There was a special musical dressage freestyle presentation put on by Olympian rider Bent Jensen, as well as other equestrian exhibits and a view of how the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department canines perform. The first 25 families who arrived received Secretariat movie posters. Since Thoroughbred rescue is a secondary goal of the organization, visiting children got the chance to ride a former race winner or another pony. A treasure hunt and other surprises delighted the kids. Snacks and refreshments were provided. Many local businesses donated wonderful raffle items with proceeds benefiting the horses. Karen’s Equine Intervention is a relatively

(Left to right) Kaylee Manchester, Nora Janssen and Marley Cannon with horse Silver. small group. They currently have six horses and ponies and 15 volunteers. They serve 20 clients, ages 12 to 60, who typically visit the facility up to three times weekly. “We help people deal with a whole host of problems,” Janssen explained, “long-term

problems related to chronic illnesses as well as transient, temporary ones like grief caused by the loss of a loved one. We also offer a nurse advocacy program to help people understand treatment options. We design individualized See ROSENBERG, page 30

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Page 24

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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Business News

Area Photographers Snap Smiles While Giving Back

Help Portrait came to the Quantum House on Saturday, Dec. 7 to capture some smiles from the families currently residing in the house. Jason Myers photographed families of critically ill children, who often do not have the opportunity or luxury of a professional portrait. Help Portrait is a day for photographers to give back to the community by donating their time and talent, as well as a beautiful portrait.

“As always, it is my pleasure to use my talents to help those who I know appreciate it. Knowing I was able to distract the kids and families from the real challenges going on in their lives is rewarding,” said Jason Myers, a freelance photographer based in West Palm Beach. “Using Quantum House as the host site was an easy decision for me when I thought about the families who were staying there or nearby during the

holidays and were displaced from their own homes and families.” Hair and makeup was provided to make sure each person found their way to the lens feeling great. Girl Scout Troop 20957 baked fresh cookies and cupcakes for the families to enjoy. A special visit from Santa Claus rounded out the day’s events with gifts for the Quantum House residents. The event was underwritten by the Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches, whose members volunteered their time during the Help Portrait to work with the families and provide sweet

treats for the families to snack on. “The Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches wanted to give back to those facing health and medical issues during the holidays and help to create a happy memory together as a family. We support Quantum House and will always help them when needed,” club representative Mark Skelton said. Help Portrait is a community of photographers who come together once a year to use their photography skills to give back. Founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help Portrait is now a

global movement in more than 1,000 locations in 54 countries. The Quantum House is a caring and supportive home that reduces the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment in Palm Beach County for a serious medical condition. The 10-suite hospital hospitality house provides lodging, meals, care and compassion to more than 500 family members each year. For more than 12 years, it has been the only facility of its kind between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. For more info., visit www. quantumhouse.org.

SWA: Recycle Your Old Electronics

Photographer Jason Meyers coaches Quantum House guests Loch and Cheri Carswell on how to add a little fun to their portrait.

Electronics have made our lives more convenient and enjoyable. But after they have outlived their usefulness, or new ones have been bought, they can also cause harm to the environment if not properly thrown away. Instead of putting old electronics in a drawer or box in the garage, or, worse yet, throwing them away so they end up in the landfill, make a New Year’s Resolution to recycle them at the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Residents can bring any of these

old or outdated electronics to one of seven Solid Waste Authority Home Chemical & Recycling Centers to be recycled: audio/visual equipment, such as VCRs, stereos and more; computer CPUs; computer monitors; computer peripherals, such as printers, scanners and more; televisions; and telecommunications equipment, such as phones and fax machines. Collected items are sorted by SWA staff and hauled away by a private contractor. Any useful components are recovered and reused when

possible. Everything else is shredded and sorted into base materials, such as plastics, metals and glass to be recycled into new products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, for every 1 million recycled cell phones, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. Help keep metals and other harmful materials out of the landfill. For more info., visit www.swa.org/ electronics or call (561) 697-2700.

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Business News

Page 25

WRMC Supports Angel Tree Program

Wellington Regional Medical Center helped make Christmas a little brighter for Palm Beach County children in need this holiday season. The hospital donated more than 100 gifts, helping 75 angels as part of the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree program. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, employees and senior administration gathered in front of the hospital’s Christmas tree and

loaded gifts onto the Salvation Army truck for delivery to the Salvation Army West Palm Beach center. Chief Operating Officer Michael Patterson, along with Chief Financial Officer Joseph Paul helped Salvation Army volunteers load all of the gifts for distribution. “Every child deserves to open a gift waiting for them under the tree on Christmas morning,” Patterson said.

“Giving back to the community is really important at Wellington Regional Medical Center, especially around the holidays. There is something very heartwarming about giving gifts to children who would otherwise go without Christmas presents.” Wellington Regional Medical Center has supported the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program since 2007. For more information

about WRMC, call (561) 798-8500. (Right) Administrative Director of Business Development Beth Mourelatos, Assistant Administrator Brian Connor, Chief Operating Officer Michael Patterson, Chief Financial Officer Joseph Paul and Risk Management Director Brenda Atkins with the Angel Tree donations.

Revolutions Bowling And Bar Now Open At CityPlace

A new concept in entertainment opened Friday, Dec. 20, at CityPlace. Revolutions Bowling, Bar and Grille features 20 bowling lanes, with six enclosed in a private, VIP area. The 35,000-square-foot venue, owned and operated by Frank Entertainment Companies, is one of the largest tenants at CityPlace. It offers large projection screens for viewing sports, a full-service restaurant, two bars, including a private outdoor patio, two billiards tables and live entertainment on weekends. A special reception was held Dec.

20 that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live entertainment. Proceeds from the event supported Little Smiles, an organization that provides toys, computers, special events, tickets and celebrity appearances to children in local hospitals, hospices and shelters. Revolutions also offers the versatility of family entertainment during the day and early evening, and switches to a thriving nightlife scene after 10 p.m. with a 21-andover clientele. “CityPlace has the best mix in this market of interesting, high quality restaurants and nightlife,

and Revolutions fits perfectly into our line-up. There has been a lot of anticipation for Revolutions,” said R. Webber Hudson, executive vice president of Related Urban, a division of the Related Companies responsible for leasing, management and marketing at CityPlace. Located on the north end of Rosemary Avenue, Revolutions’ full-service restaurant and outdoor patio serves classic American cuisine, including smoky barbeque, gourmet pizzas, Italian pasta dishes, burgers and gourmet sandwiches, freshly tossed salads and more. Both bars offer an array of signa-

ture cocktails, martinis and more than 24 handcrafted draft beers and premium liquors. Frank Entertainment Companies is one of the nation’s leading innovators and providers in the entertainment, recreation and hospitality industries. The company has owned, operated, developed and managed over 150 entertainment venues, including movie theaters, arcades, restaurants, nightclubs, bowling centers, game centers and family entertainment centers. “We are so happy to anchor the north end of CityPlace, and feel like

this is an ideal venue for this product,” said Bruce S. Frank, chairman and CEO of Frank Entertainment Companies. Revolutions Bowling, Bar and Grille’s hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Corporate meetings, events and celebrations are available. For more information, call (561) 203-6188 or e-mail cityplace@ revolutionsentertainment.com. For more about CityPlace, call (561) 366-1000 or visit www.city place.com.

Page 26

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Saturday, Dec. 28 • The Wellington Green Market will take place Saturday, Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wellington Municipal Complex. Call (561) 2835856 for more info. • The West Palm Beach Green Market returns for its 19th season Saturday, Dec. 28. Held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market offers a variety of farm fresh fruits and vegetables, tropical plants, artisan foods and more on the waterfront at the east end of Clematis Street. Free parking is available in the Banyan Garage until 1 p.m. For more info., call (561) 822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org/greenmarket. • Moksha Yoga Studio (3340 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 5, Wellington) will host a special donation-only class Saturday, Dec. 28 to benefit Take Stock in Children in place of the studio’s regular 4 p.m. community class. For more info., visit www.mokshayogastudio.com. Sunday, Dec.29 • Hot Shots Paintball (16169 Southern Blvd.) will host Paintball for a Purpose on Sunday, Dec. 29. Come anytime between 8 a.m. and dark and Hot Shots will donate a percentage of the profits from the day’s sales to the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED). For more info., visit www.hotshotsflorida.com. For more information about APFED, visit www.apfed.org. • The Royal Palm Beach Green Market & Bazaar will take place Sunday, Dec. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park (11600 Poinciana Blvd.). For more info., visit www.rpbgreenmarket.com. • The Acreage Green Market will take place Sunday, Dec. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Acreage Community Park (6701 140th Ave. North). Buy locally grown produce, organic goods and locally made crafts. For more info., visit www. shopgreenmarkets.com or call (561) 929-0237. Monday, Dec. 30 • Circus Arts and Sports Day Camp for ages 7

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community calendar

to 15 will be held Monday, Dec. 30 through Saturday, Jan. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Village Park (11700 Pierson Road, Wellington). Camp will culminate in a live circus performance for family and friends on Jan. 4. The cost is $225 for Wellington residents and $245 for non-residents. For more info., visit www.aerialtrapezeacademy. com or call (561) 345-3217. • Video Game Design Camp for teens will be offered Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 30 and 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wellington Community Center (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Students will learn how to design video game environments with a detailed introduction of UDK, the award winning 3D game engine and professional toolset used in video game development, 3D rendering and digital films. The cost is $120 for Wellington residents and $150 for non-residents. For more info., call Michelle Carta at (561) 602-4442 or e-mail michi1157@gmail.com. • Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host Kid’s Cooking Experience: Holiday Vacation Camp on Monday, Dec. 30 through Friday, Jan. 3, excluding Wednesday, Jan. 1. The cost is $180 per child. Pre-register at www.cookingexperienceclub.org. • On Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 30 and 31, Chick-fil-A at the Mall at Wellington Green will host Receipt Day to thank its guests. Purchase anything, including catering trays, on Dec. 30 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. and/or Dec. 31 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., save your color-coded receipt(s) and bring them back any day before Feb. 28 to receive everything on your receipt absolutely free. For more information, or to place catering orders, call Angela Bloom at (561) 271-0940. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Wii Gaming for ages 7 to 12 on Monday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. Enjoy playing Wii games with others. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

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• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Pajama Story Time: A Gingerbread Mystery for ages 3 to 6 and siblings Monday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. Someone has taken the gingerbread man from the cookie jar. Figure out who did it. Enjoy yummy stories, sing and dance to silly songs, and make a life-size, paper gingerbread man. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. Tuesday, Dec. 31 • Caribbean Americans for Community Involvement will hold its 24th annual New Year’s Eve Gala on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The $45 per person admission includes a buffet and champagne toast. The dress is semi-formal; bring your own beverage. RSVP to (561) 790-4002. • Bring in the New Year at Bar Louie on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. A $45 package includes premium open bar from 9 p.m. to midnight, with a champagne toast at midnight and breakfast buffet from midnight to 2 a.m. For more info., call (561) 228-5220 or visit www. barlouieamerica.com. • Roxy’s rooftop bar Sky309 (309 Clematis St., West Palm Beach) is a great place to watch fireworks and ring in the new year. For more info., visit www.roxyspub.com or call (561) 296-7699. • World of Beer (2465 State Road 7, Wellington) will host New Beers Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. Call (561) 383-6115 for more info. Thursday, Jan. 2 • The Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.) will host Story Time for ages 2 to 5 on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 10 a.m. Introduce little ones to Mother Nature through nature-based stories. The cost is $2 per child. Visit www.pbcparks.com/ nature for more info. • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Art Jam on Thursday, Jan. 2 for ages

The Town-Crier 6 to 16 at 1:30 p.m. Combine odds and ends from past crafts with the library’s art supplies to create new artwork. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. Friday, Jan. 3 • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Wii Gaming for ages 7 to 12 on Friday, Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy playing the Wii and check out new graphic novels. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. Saturday, Jan. 4 • The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Acoustic Java Jam for adults Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. Experience a caffeinated collection of local talent or bring your acoustic instruments and jam out. Coffee will be provided. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register. • The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Anime Club for ages 12 to 17 Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. Watch anime and check out the new manga titles. Snacks will be provided. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register. Sunday, Jan. 5 • The International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Avenue South, Wellington) will open its 2014 season Sunday, Jan. 5 with the Herbie Pennell Cup. For tickets, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com or call (561) 204-5687. • Donald Trump and Equestrian Sport Productions will team up again to present the second annual $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix on Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Mar-a-Lago Club, with equestrian show jumping featuring 35 of the world’s top riders, along with cocktails, musical entertainment and an auction of luxury items. Proceeds benefit the 2014 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge. Visit www.equestriansport. com for more info. Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@ gotowncrier.com.

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December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Sports & Recreation

Page 29

Wellington Girls Soccer Defeats Suncoast Chargers 6-2

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington High School girls varsity soccer team traveled to Riviera Beach on Friday, Dec. 20 to take on Suncoast High School, defeating the Chargers 6-2. The Lady Wolverines (9-4-2) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the non-district matchup with back-to-back goals by Anna Garcia. Wellington’s Samantha Grebinar struck just prior to the water break

to give Wellington a 3-0 advantage. Suncoast managed to find the back of the net just before the end of the first half to close the gap 3-1. Wellington came out playing aggressively in the second half, pressuring the Chargers’ keeper. Grebinar scored again up the center. She took a line-drive pass through a hole in the Charger defense from defender Amanda Nardi. Grebinar drove the ball into the left side of the net past the Charger keeper. Sun-

Wellington striker Samantha Grebinar takes a pass toward the goal. Photos by Gene Nardi/Town-Crier

coast narrowed the gap with their second goal, making the score 4-2. However, the relentless Wellington offensive attack tallied two more goals from Grebinar to end the match with the 6-2 win. Grebinar totaled 4 goals on the night, Garcia is credited with two scores and Nardi recorded one assist. Wellington will have a break for the holidays and return Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Palm Beach Lakes High School for senior night.

Wellington midfielder Kassidy Hannum battles for the ball.

Forward Alex Bonadies takes a shot on goal.

Seminole Ridge Basketball Boys Fall To Gardens 74-53

By Gene Nardi Town-Crier Staff Report The Seminole Ridge High School boys varsity basketball team hosted Palm Beach Gardens High School on Friday, Dec. 20 and lost 74-53. The Hawks (0-9) looked to get their first win of the season but fell short. Seminole Ridge played well defensively, limiting the Gators on offense early.

The Hawks had difficulty maintaining consistency, while Palm Beach Gardens took advantage, slowly increasing the lead. Going into the fourth quarter, the Gators mounted a 17-point lead 5639. The Hawks would battle back, but fell too far behind and could not catch up. Not winning the rebounds under the net late in the game cost the

Corey Sands takes the ball up court.

Photos by Gene Nardi/Town-Crier

Hawks. The Gators finished with a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to take the win. Nickolas Ryan put up 16 points for the Hawks, while Miguel

Dominguez tallied 12 points. Seminole Ridge will return to the court Friday, Dec. 27 when the team travels to Spanish River High School in search of an elusive win.

Roosevelt Spruill tries to score.

Miguel Dominguez scores for the Hawks.

Page 30

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

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sports & recreation

Oxbridge Academy Football Stars Earn All-Conference

The Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches’ football team celebrated its first-year success with 14 players named to the Gulf Atlantic Football Conference All-Atlantic Division Team. The special honor comes on the heels of the team’s 8-2 season and win of the inaugural Gulf Atlantic Football Conference Championship.

Representing Oxbridge Academy on the team will be Steven DeMeo, senior quarterback; Tre Gabriel, junior utility player; Deondre Brinson, senior defensive back; Shawn Block, sophomore offensive line; Dori Scwartz, sophomore offensive line; Austin Griffin, sophomore tight end; Travis Homer, sophomore running back; Noah Singer, sophomore placekicker; Nick Buompadre,

senior defensive line; Colin Hayek, sophomore linebacker; Kentavious Bell, sophomore linebacker; Mike Beets, sophomore linebacker; Traionn Jones, sophomore defensive back; and Derek McDonald, sophomore defensive utility player. In addition to being named to the All-Atlantic Division Team, senior Steven DeMeo was named to the Senior All-Academic Team, junior

Karen’s Equine

excited about the open house. Barbara Manchester and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaylee, were on hand to help out. “We’ve only been coming for two weeks, every Saturday,” Barbara said. “We help out with the horses, and eventually we hope to help with the clients. This is an awesome facility. Everyone’s very friendly and welcoming.” “I don’t get to ride yet, but I will soon,” Kaylee added. “I’m pretty excited about that. Coming here’s really fun. I love horses and enjoy learning about how to care for them and groom them and everything. And they have other animals too, like chickens, goats, the pig and a turkey. Being here gets your mind off other things. It makes you smile.” Marley Cannon, 12, was another volunteer on hand.

“I’ve been coming out since June,” she said. “I had zero horse experience. I’ve learned a lot, both caring for horses and riding. I’m learning how to post now. I love being around animals, especially horses. When I grow up, I want to do something with animals.” And so, despite the weather and the just-deployed troops, the open house was a success. The rain mostly held off, and all the guests and volunteers had a good time. “We met some new people, possible volunteers and prospective clients,” Janssen said. “Everyone enjoyed the day. We plan to hold more open houses in the future so people can come out to visit and see what we’re all about.” For more information, call Karen’s Equine Intervention at (561) 318-8043.

Rosenberg

continued from page 23 programs for each of our clients, tailored to their specific needs.” The group’s goal is to utilize horses in an individualized approach to therapeutically assist persons suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief or any similar condition. It’s affiliated with Horses 4 Heroes, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people by enriching their lives through recreational, instructional and morale-boosting health and wellness programs that emphasize fun and safe activities with horses. The facility’s volunteers were

Tre Gabriel was awarded Offensive Player of the Year, and senior Deondre Brinson received Defensive Player of the Year.

For more information about the Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches, visit www.oapb.org or call (561) 972-9600.

Frontier Football Club

Frontier Elementary School physical education teacher Brian Brophy started the Frontier Football Club six years ago. It is one of the most popular clubs offered at Frontier, with 30 boys and girls from fourth and fifth grades participating. “The goal of the Frontier Football Club, first and foremost is learning sportsmanship,” Brophy said. “We also work on passing and catching, as well as the basic rules of flag football. We also practice passing routes and learning how to run under the pass.” Shown here is Brophy with club members.

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sports & recreation

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014

Page 31

Free Softball Camp Set For Jan 4. At Okeeheelee Park

The Palm Beach Pride will be opening its fields at Okeeheelee Park for a free softball camp on Saturday, Jan. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring Ron Mobilia, an area girls softball coach who has successfully led teams to be Florida state champions for the last two years. Mobilia, who has coached for the Wellington Wild Travel Softball program in the past, took his knowledge of the game to a team he formed with the Palm Beach Pride. His Palm Beach Pride “Xtreme” 12 & Under team just completed its inaugural fall season and is ranked second in Florida. “I am excited to announce an

event that will promote the game of softball and provide expert softball skills training for our area’s young ladies,” Mobilia said. “We have some outstanding people and organizations volunteering their time and resources for this event, including University of Florida Hall of Fame pitcher Jenny Gladding and Athlete’s Advantage, a local indoor personal training facility, among numerous others. We are still hard at work obtaining commitments from other expert coaches and local sports celebrities. This will certainly be a day of fun, exercise and good times for everyone involved.” This winter and spring, Palm

Beach Pride will also have teams that compete in younger age divisions, as well as Mobilia’s 12 & Under “Xtreme” team. All of the teams have openings available for talented players, and the coaches will be on site on Jan. 4 to provide more information about Palm Beach Pride for those who have an interest in taking their game to the next level. Official tryouts for this season’s Palm Beach Pride teams will be held on Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, For more info., visit www.mobiliacpa.com/pride camp or e-mail wellingtonsoftball @outlook.com. Find the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ pbpridextreme.

Ninjas Reach Next Level At Genbu-Kai

Three Ninja students from Genbu-Kai Karate in Wellington recently tested and were promoted to their first and second level belts. All three are from the Wellington and Royal Palm Beach areas. The 16-month Ninja program is specifically designed for children ages 4 to 6. Emphasis is placed on improving fine and gross motor skills, while teaching focus, teamwork, control, balance, memory, discipline, fitness and coordination. The Ninjas also learn goal setting by

testing and advancing through nine rank levels. Ultimately, the Ninja program prepares students who wish to continue and advance into the junior karate program. For more information on the classes, call (561) 804-1002 or visit www.floridagenbukai.com.

(Right) J.J. Armstrong, Caine Pradines and Hunter Pradines with Assistant Instructor Brent Bedwell.

PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S

Fall 2013 Palm Beach Pride Xtreme — (Front row) Carolina Vallejo, Jordyn Maybrown, Rachel Triola, Aubrey Hockett and Rosie Tomas; (middle row) Alexis Mobilia, Kayla Bruno, Abby Klan, Ashley Flynn and Isabella Marshall; (back row) coaches Ron Mobilia, Frank Tomas, Adam Marshall and Rick Klan. Photo Courtesy BellaMia Portrait Studio

Learn To Row Jan. 10 At Florida Rowing Center

On Friday, Jan. 10 from 4 to 5 p.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m., the Florida Rowing Center is offering introductory rowing classes on Lake Wellington, behind the Wel-

lington Community Center. Rowing classes are limited to five students each. For more information, call Gordon Hamilton at (617) 335-7956.

WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

New Location! New Showroom!

CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE!

561-333-2306 TOLL FREE: 855-808-8555

WE DO NOT SELL CHEAP FLOORING CHEAPER

WE SELL THE BEST FOR LESS! 766 Pike Road • West Palm Beach, FL 33411 (Between Southern Blvd. & Belvedere)

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS FOR AS LOW AS $21 A WEEK*

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PALMS WESTTHIS WEEK’S

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WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS FOR AS LOW AS $21 A WEEK*

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HERE’S MY CARD

Don’t Fret...

Call Hi-Tech Plumbing Residential & Commercial

Lic & Insured CFC057392

561.203.6205

hitechplumbingservices.com

35 years experience ● Same Day Service Up front pricing ● Emergency Services 24/7 Unsurpassed Quality ● 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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HERE’S MY CARD

Dr. Richard Sabates, C.M.E. - CLS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

P: 561.204.5858 F: 561.204.5877

www.eclipsesalonwellington.com Lawn Maintenance • Landscape Design • Stump Removal

3975 ISLES VIEW DRIVE • WELLINGTON, FL 33414

FREE ESTIMATES

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES A/C AND REFRIGERATION JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC.—Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. “We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks” 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996. Credit Cards Accepted

CLEANING - HOME/OFFICE WE CLEAN OFFICES & PRIVATE HOMES — Licensed & Insured. Call for an estimate and to schedule your apartment. Discount for Central Palm Beach County Chamber members and to all new clients for first cleaning. 561-385-8243 Lic. #2012-252779

COMPUTER REPAIR D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-1923 Cell 561-252-1186 Lic’d Well. & Palm Beach. We accept major credit cards.

DRIVEWAY REPAIR D R I V E W AY S — F r e e e s t i m a t e s A & M ASPHALT SEAL COATING commercial and residential. Patching potholes, striping, repair existing asphalt & save money all work guaranteed. L i c.& In s. 1 0 0 0 4 5 0 6 2 5 61-667-7716

FLOORING BUY IT HERE FLOORING — Tile,wood, porcelain, marble, travertine, ceramic, wall mosaics and more! Free estimate! 561-333-2306. Located 766 Pike Road,West Palm Beach 33411

HANDYMAN THE MASTER HANDYMAN — All Types of Home Repairs & Improvements. No job too big or small done right the first time every time 40 yrs of satisfied customers. See me on Angies List. Tom (561) 801-2010 or (954) 444-3178 Serving Palm Beach and Broward Counties. BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS INC. REMODEL & REPAIRS — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall,kitchens/cabinets/countertops, wood flooring. Bonded and Insured U#19699. Call 791-9900 or 628-9215

HOME IMPROVEMENTS ANMAR CO.—James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC1327426 561-248-8528

HURRICANE SHUTTERS HURRICANE SHUTTERS P&M CONTRACTORS — ACCORDION SHUTTERS Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

PAINTING J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit ourwebsite at www. jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint specialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof painting. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473 COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Int./Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident TRIPLE QUALITY PAINTING, INC. — The finest materials, service & price. Painting Exterior & Interior, Pressure Cleaning, Roof, & Patios, Roof Cleaning, Wood Repair & Faux Finishes Lic. # U21140 7 5 4 - 2 4 5 - 0 8 5 9 o r 5 6 1 - 5 5 7 - 3 11 3

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

December 27, 2013 - January 2, 2014 Page 35

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE

PLUMBING

FOR RENT - GREENACRES

JEREMY JAMES PLUMBING — Licensed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-601-6458

ROOMMATE TO SHARE — 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment - Purdy & Jog Road. $550 per month. Lookingfor under 35 years old. 954-296-3748

FOR SALE FINE CHINA & SILVERWARE WITH CHEST — Service for 12. Really beautiful. Best offer 561-790-5653

PRESSURE CLEANING J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certified pressure cleaning & painti n g c o n t r a c t o r. L i c . # U 2 1 5 5 2 C a l l Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at www. jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com D R I V E W AY C L E A N I N G — S t a r t i n g at$59. $50 Off House Exterior Wash, Free Sidewalk Cleaning (up to 50 Ft.) with roof cleaning.Pressure Pros of Palm Beach, Inc. 561-718-9851 Lic. & Insured.

ROOFING MINOR ROOF REPAIRS Don Hartmann R oofing — R o o f p a i n t ing, Carpentry. Lic. #U13677 967-5580 ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763. ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC-023773 RC-0067207

SECURITY SECURITY — American owned local security company in business 30 plus years. Protection by officers drug tested. 40 hour course. Licensed & Insured. 561-848-2600

SCREENING JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SERVICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaranteed! CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

SHUTTERS/PANELS ACCORDION SHUTTERS — Gutters, screen enclosures, siding, soffits, aluminum roofs, Serving the Western Communities. Since 1985. U-17189 561-791-9777

HOUSE FOR SALE - WEST PALM BEACH HOUSE FOR SALE BREAKERS WEST — 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 3 car garage. Pool. Gated upscale - Golf Country Club. Available $895,000 by owner. 561-795-0533

COSTA RICA RENTALS ENCHANTMENT OF COSTA RICA — is less than 3 hours away. Home, Villa’s & Condo Rentals in Popular beachside area’s. f o r i n f o v i s i t w w w. b a h i a c u l e b r a . c o m email:info@bahiaculebra.com . Local agent number 561.628.7177

OFFICE SPACE LAW OFFICE TO SHARE: — Royal Palm/ Wellington. Two furnished executive offices plus two secretarial work stations, use of conference room, reception, kitchen. Utilities included. $1,450 month. 561-793-1200, ext. 1 or 561-386-7307

EMPLOYMENT BOOKKEEPER NEEDED — part-time, experienced in QuickBooks, flexible hours. Please fax resume to 561-791-0952 HUNINGTON LEARNING CENTER IN WELLINGTON — Now hiring certified teachers.$10-$15/hour. Call 561-594-1920 E-mail: MarleneGiraud@hlcwellington.com WELLINGTON TOWNCAR DRIVERS & DISPATCHERS — retirees welcome. Call 561-333-0181. Full-Time Part-Time. DRIVERS: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! — Great pay! Consistent Freight, Great Miles on this Regional Account. Werner Enterprises: 1-855-517-2488

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

F/T HELP NEEDED — 40 Hours plus. Produce Market/Garden Center. Must be physically fit and good with people. 561329-5000

AQUATIC SPRINKLER, LLC — Complete repair of all types of systems. Owner Operated. Michael 561-964-6004Lic.#U17871 Bonded & Ins. Serving the Western Communities Since 1990

PLACE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AD HERE CALL 793-3576 TODAY FOR MORE INFO

TILE / CERAMICS SPECIALIZING IN BATHROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980. Quality you expect, service you deserve. Lic. bonded & Ins. U21006 561-662-9258

TREE SERVICE TREES TRIMMED AND REMOVED — 561-798-0412 D.M. YOUNG TREE SERVICE. Family Owned & Operated Lic. & Insured 1992-12121 Visit our website at dmyoungtreeservice.com

WALLPAPERING PAPERHANGING BY DEBI — Professional Installation,Removal. Repair of Paper. Neat, Clean & Reliable. Quality work with a woman’s touch. 30 years experience. No Job too big or too small. Lic. & Ins. References available. 561-795-5263

TOWN-CRIER CLASSIFIEDS

GET RESULTS CALL 561-793-7606 TODAY

AUTOMOBILES 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD DELUXE — Aqua, Convertible/Hardtop, 17K miles, Mint Condition, Always Garaged,$20,500. Please call 518-495-1329

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