Town-Crier Newspaper January 23, 2026

WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE • WESTLAKE

Record-Breaking Season Underway

ANNUAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB WELLINGTON

Isla Carroll Project Advances, But Council Remains Skeptical

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Developers and supporters adorned with stickers with the words “Isla Carroll Forever” tried once again to convince Wellington officials to approve the redevelopment of a property with two polo fields adjacent to the National Polo Center into a luxury polo neighborhood at a Wellington Village Council meeting Monday, Jan. 12.

‘Leisure Area’ At New Wellington Aquatics Center Has Quickly Developed A Following

The new Wellington Aquatics Center has been open for business since Jan. 3, and based on the number of daily visitors, it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational outlets in Wellington — particularly the half of the complex that appeals to families and noncompetitive swimmers who just enjoy being in a pool. Page 21

A sharply divided council voted to rezone the Isla Carroll property to a planned unit development on its first reading. However, developers still need a second rezoning approval and the approval of a master plan. Several council members said that they do not have much hope that the project could move forward as currently proposed.

Representatives from McCourt Partners and Discovery Land Company have proposed building 40 multi-million-dollar homes and a clubhouse with luxury amenities on the west side of the 79-acre property. The eastern polo field

would be maintained and used for equestrian activities.

Billionaire Frank McCourt, founder of McCourt Partners, explained that the project is allowed under the village’s codes and encouraged the council to approve the rezoning request.

“When I bought Isla Carroll, I had no idea what I was going to do with it,” McCourt said. “What I did know is that I did not want to see another soulless subdivision in my community — a development that wouldn’t benefit the equestrian sport.”

If allowed to move forward entirely, the United States Polo Association (USPA) will enter into a 45-year agreement with the developers, where the organization will maintain and use the field for polo.

The USPA will host regular polo matches on the east field during the season, with residents being able to use the field in a limited capacity.

Stewart Armstrong, chairman of the USPA, said that Wellington is losing polo fields rapidly, and the

proposed project would not only preserve a field near the National Polo Center, but also help the organization continue to promote the sport in the future.

“Approving this project is not simply a land-use decision; it is a statement about the village’s commitment to preserving polo as a core part of Wellington’s future,” Armstrong said. “If Wellington does not work to preserve polo fields going forward, the number of fields inside the preserve will continue to decline.”

Before going before the council, developers revised the planned development multiple times. The multi-million-dollar homes and some related equestrian amenities remained fixtures of the project.

After withdrawing early proposals, the applicants came back with a new plan that would preserve one of the property’s two historic polo fields, which were originally both going to be demolished.

Late last year, Wellington’s

Sharps Secures A New Term On Royal Palm Beach Council

By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report

Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps secured a new two-year term on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week when her opponent dropped out of the race.

Candidate Steve Avila, who Sharps narrowly defeated last year, withdrew his candidacy for the Group 3 seat on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Therefore, the race will not appear on the Tuesday, March 10 municipal election ballot.

The Town-Crier newspaper will host a televised Royal Palm Beach candidate forum on Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Royal Palm Beach Village Council chambers featuring the one remaining seat on the ballot.

In the Group 1 race, Councilman Adam Miller is being chal-

By Patrick Sherry

Staff Report

to address issues faced by the village. Seat 2 is one of two seats on the March 10 ballot. The other is a four-way race for Seat 3 between Lauren Brody, Stephen Levin,

Santana and Joshua Zillmer. Both seats are for four-year terms. The two incumbents, Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind and Councilman John McGovern, are stepping down due to term limits. Johnny Meier — Meier is hop-

lenged by former Councilwoman Selena Samios. All residents are invited to attend the forum. For those who cannot make it in person, the forum will be broadcast on the village’s Channel 18 and streamed live on the village’s web site and YouTube channel. It will later be available on demand.

Since joining the council last year, Sharps said that she is most proud of the village’s new youth leadership program.

“We presented it at Royal Palm Beach High School. We had 102 students show up, and 37 seniors from that group signed up,” Sharps said. “They are learning about what we do as council members.”

The students are also attending government meetings and visiting each village department to learn what they do. “They will receive

a special cord at graduation and be eligible to apply for a scholarship,” Sharps said.

She is also excited about her ability to work in collaboration with her fellow council members, sometimes disagreeing, but always getting along. Sharps added that she is proud of working with the village and La Mancha residents to fix road problems in that community.

Over the next two years, Sharps said that she will continue listening and responding to resident concerns, while supporting programs that tamp down on speeding and aggressive driving. She noted that a pilot program is underway to help control speeding on Crestwood Blvd.

“I have also been tasked by the

See SHARPS, page 3

Nearby Residents Eager For Promised Town Hall Meeting On ‘Project

By Louis Hillary Park

site and most of the county west of State Road 7.

However, Arden residents are not happy about the delay.

“We were surprised,” said Raymond Penuela, the recently elected president of the Arden Homeowners’ Association. “From our point of view, the sooner the better. It seems like they’re buying time to give us less time to respond.” The proposal came up as part of a no-discussion-required consent agenda at the commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, but it was moved to the regular agenda for discussion. With dozens of opposed Arden residents packing the meeting room, commissioners voted 7-0 to postpone a decision on the project until a meeting on April 23. Penuela said the town hall “should have happened before the project came up in December.”

PBA Holdings

MLK DAY CELEBRATION IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

and the Village

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

The two candidates competing for Seat 5 on the Loxahatchee Groves

the

ing to bring his diverse business experience to the council to not only promote local businesses but to improve efficiency when using residents’ tax dollars. He supports this experience with knowledge of the community through being a member of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board and the Wellington Rotary Club. Meier is also a former president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Air Force veteran owns multiple businesses, including a pharmacy, a sterile pharmacy, a CBD company and a real estate company. He said that running these businesses has given him the knowledge on how to best

See SEAT 2, page 14

ITID Removing Some Speed Cushions From District Roads

By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report

There soon will be less thumpthump from the rubberized bumpbumps that have been the focus of complaints to Indian Trail Improvement District officials for months.

“ITID made the decision to remove the speed cushions from Avocado and Persimmon [boulevards] after a request was made by Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and hearing concerns from our residents,” ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson said Wednesday.

The removal began the week of Jan. 12 with four of the rubberized, mat-like tables being pried up along Avocado and two on Persimmon. The cushions, which cost several thousand dollars each, will be used elsewhere on lower-traffic roads where residents request them. Nineteen of the rubberized tables remain in various locations.

“This has been in the works for months,” ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said. “If you hit them too hard, you get bounced around, plus they’re slowing down firerescue.”

Because of the area’s many dead-end and dirt roads, and the distance between fire stations, PBCFR response times have been consistently higher than the countywide average, and the addition of speed bumps on Avocado Blvd. near Fire Station 26 was not helpful, according to Accomando and Supervisor Richard Vassalotti, a former PBCFR captain who for years commanded the station.

“They slowed us down,” Vassalotti said this week. “They added minutes to our response time.”

The fire-rescue ambulances “can’t straddle the bumps,” Accomando pointed out.

“Imagine being in the back of one of those, hitting a bump while trying to work on a sick or injured person,” she said.

The first of the so-called “speed cushions” — which cover approximately half of each lane — were installed in early 2024 as a traffic-calming pilot program on high-traffic roads where speeding was an issue, according to ITID records. Supervisors opted for the rubberized cushions over construction of more costly asphalt tables across the entire roadway.

Supervisor Betty Argue said the modified speed tables were always seen as an experiment, and “if we didn’t feel they were effective, we’d replace them with asphalt tables.”

According to a statement released on the district’s Facebook page, there are contingency plans to install the larger, wider asphalt cushions at some of the locations where the bumps are being removed.

“The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has assured [us] it will increase speed enforcement along Avocado and Persimmon boulevards following the removal,” Hanson said.

“If we see speeding is still a problem on those roads, we’ll put in the asphalt cushions,” Accomando explained. “But I hope not.”

ITID board members have been looking for years at ways to address speeding and cutthrough traffic on the district’s long, straight roads. Town-Crier articles dating back decades cite the need for traffic calming as an issue of concern for district officials and residents.

“You have to look at the whole big picture,” Argue said of the inconvenience of the bumps and other traffic-calming measures.

“This is about the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, walkers, runners — and drivers.”

Over the past decade, ITID has worked with county and regional planners to solve the problems, which could be more easily and successfully addressed with the introduction of more stop signs, Accomando, Argue and Vassalotti agreed.

“We’ve been working since 2014 to get more stop signs out here,” Argue said. Vassalotti ran for his first elected position in 2024 focusing on traffic

safety issues in the district. “As a former fire-rescue captain, I don’t like any of the speed bumps,” he said. “If we can get more stop signs, maybe we can get rid of them.”

ITID officials cannot direct installation of stop signs on their own at locations they choose because that is considered a policing power, which the district does not have. As an unincorporated section of the county, county approval is needed.

Vassalotti said recently that he has been working behind the scenes to push the stop sign issue with the county and hopes to see a decision soon.

He has successfully advocated for the installation of LED-powered stop signs with flashing red lights at many existing two-way intersections that are particularly dangerous.

“We’ve been asking the county for more four-way stop signs that would help avoid some of the horrible T-bone crashes we see,” Accomando said. “If the county stopped stalling and allowed us to put stop signs in certain places that we need them, we wouldn’t need speed cushions.”

Changes Will Make Palm Tran’s BusLink Program More Expensive

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Palm Tran’s BusLink pilot program, providing cash vouchers for ride-share trips to bus stops, is taking a new route. Officials are set to implement changes with reduced service and higher out-ofpocket costs.

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council was presented with an update on the program at a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15. Riders can expect the changes on Feb. 1.

The public transportation agency, in partnership with Uber and local taxi services, launched the program in August 2024. Earlier in the year, Route 52, which served parts of Royal Palm Beach, was discontinued, along with two other routes in nearby municipalities.

The BusLink program was meant to offer a solution to help riders reach bus stops in these impacted areas.

“In order to do the BusLink pilot [program], we did have to eliminate service within the Royal Palm Beach area,” said Ira Brewster,

director of transit planning at Palm Tran. “This BusLink service was essentially a supplement to provide customers the option to still get to where they needed to go.”

Through the program, riders were able to use up to four rideshare trips per day with $8 off per ride with a voucher. Those with disabilities could also receive increased voucher amounts if they need to go to bus routes that have vehicles with ramps or lifts. So far, this has been successful, with nearly 200,000 rides being completed in a year, and about eight percent of those coming from Royal Palm Beach.

Officials from Palm Tran are now looking to expand the program by adding BusLink zones for The Acreage and Westlake. However, the expansion is coming with a cost. The program will now only provide two ride-share trips per day and a $5 voucher. Brewster explained to the council that the agency was advised by the Palm Beach County Commission to come up with options to

extend the service to other areas.

To do so required them to reduce costs by decreasing the number of ride-share trips and lowering voucher savings.

“In order to do that, we had to take a look at the program, scale back and see what would be feasible to do that,” Brewster said. The extension will come with another six-month trial period to gather new data and make any adjustments. The program will also enable the cross between different zones, like in Royal Palm Beach, to allow for more personalized, efficient travel for users.

Council members raised concerns about how the changes and expansion seemed to disproportionately impact Royal Palm Beach residents, particularly because they accounted for a small portion of total rides.

“I’m trying to understand, as a representative here in Royal Palm Beach, who pays county taxes, why… our residents are now basically being forced to get less service under this program, which

seems to have been successful,” Vice Mayor Richard Valuntas said. Brewster told the council that the savings from the changes were allocated to high-performing routes. However, Brewster reiterated that they recognize the needs of the community, and they are looking into ways to offset some of the effects of the change. One of these solutions could be increasing the voucher amount specifically for Royal Palm Beach.

“We don’t want to paint the picture that out here doesn’t matter,” Brewster said. “We are looking at multiple options to better serve you guys.”

While the agency is looking to continue to expand this service to more municipalities, they do not intend to decrease the vouchers any further, and potential service changes could further decrease costs for customers.

Looking ahead, Palm Tran Executive Director Ivan Maldonado explained that the Palm Beach Countywide Transportation Master Plan will also guide where they

will be expanding next. “Our plan is to get to that level where every single municipality in the county has the services that the citizens need and demand,” Maldonado said. “That is our ultimate goal, as we’re planning our transit system.”

Learn more about Palm Tran services at www.palmtran.org.

Sharps

New Term

continued from page 1 mayor to meet with new business owners coming to Royal Palm Beach and listen to any concerns they may have,” Sharps said, adding that she has been sharing information about new businesses on social media. “I am also concerned about property tax issues and the cost of property insurance for residents. I am communicating these concerns with our representatives in Tallahassee.” Avila told the Town-Crier that he decided to drop out of the race

In other business, the council unanimously passed the second reading of an ordinance that targets problematic animal nuisances that affect other residents. Residents who habitually create situations where animals cause damage, safety hazards or unsanitary conditions will receive a civil citation and potentially fined up to $500.

due to some family concerns.

“After spending the holidays with my family, I made the personal decision to withdraw my candidacy,” he said. “Royal Palm Beach is my home because my family is here, and right now my priority is being present for them. Both of my grandmothers are facing health challenges, and I want to spend this time close to them.” He thanked the people who supported him in his campaign.

“I’m deeply grateful for the encouragement and kindness I’ve received from neighbors and supporters, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding,” Avila said.

Lox Groves Council Agrees To Terminate Contract, But PBSO Unlikely To Accept

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

Overdue payments and the possibility of a lawsuit are not deterring the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council. They agreed to move forward this week with an attempt to mutually terminate their contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), but the agency is unlikely to sign off.

The council passed a motion at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20, to approve a recently drafted mutual termination and release agreement intended to end the town’s ongoing contract dispute with the PBSO. This comes after they postponed consideration of the matter earlier this month.

Town Attorney Jeff Kurtz presented the council with an updated agreement. If signed by both parties, it would release the town from its payment obligations and prevent officials from the PBSO from suing. But Kurtz said lawyers representing the countywide agency have advised them not to accept the offer.

“They indicated that they would be unlikely to approve the mutual termination and release agreement,” Kurtz said. “They stated in their correspondence that they believe that the town is in breach of the contract because of the non-payment.”

Last December, the council

decided not to pay the PBSO as required by a contract signed in 2024. Since then, the town has accumulated an outstanding balance of $113,337.84. The amount owed is set to increase, with a payment of $56,668.92 due by Jan. 25. Deputies have responded to the alleged breach of contract by withdrawing a number of law enforcement services from Loxahatchee Groves. According to the agency, deputies now treat the town as a zone and will respond to needs based on priorities and resources available. Town officials have interpreted this as residents receiving law enforcement services similar to those in unincorporated areas of the county.

With the dispute potentially leading to a lawsuit, Kurtz went through what could happen. If officials from the PBSO decide to sue, they likely would not be entitled to attorneys’ fees if they succeed. The contract does not have any provisions that would allow them to do so.

However, whether the town will have to pay for the months deputies did not provide services if they lose a lawsuit is unclear. In a letter addressed to Kurtz and Town Manager Francine Ramaglia, lawyers representing the PBSO indicated that as of Jan. 13, deputies will withdraw service to the town.

Kurtz explained that statements by other senior officials and to the

press by the PBSO might contradict this. As such, there may be an argument that can be made that they should not pay them for those months.

“If there were litigation, we would certainly assert, as an affirmative defense, that the way the contract was drafted, the pay was for additional services,” Kurtz said. “In the absence of additional services, no payments would be due.”

Councilman Paul Coleman pushed back on reports that the town cannot afford to pay the PBSO. He pointed out how they do have the funds, but they believe the money can be better spent in other areas, like infrastructure.

“It’s not that we have the inability to pay,” Coleman said. “We do have the ability to pay. It’s a matter of fact that we don’t agree that we should be paying for this premium service.”

Councilman Todd McLendon supported Coleman’s position. He emphasized that there are infrastructure projects that need to be done, and the council does not want to increase taxes to do so.

“We’ve got to figure out where we need to spend our money and where it’s more wisely spent,” McLendon said. “This premium service contract is not a priority when we have major infrastructure issues here.”

If the council decided to pay the

outstanding balance, there would be no late fee. The contract also includes a provision allowing the town to give notice of termination by March 31, 2026. If that occurred, the agreement for enhanced law enforcement services would end on Oct. 1.

Councilwoman Lisa El-Ramey was interested in reinstating payments for the contract. She, along with Coleman, supported a failed motion to restart paying the PBSO, negotiate if the town has to pay for when deputies do not provide enhanced law enforcement services to the town, and plan to terminate the contract as stipulated in it.

“There are a lot of pots that this money could go into,” El-Ramey said. “But I believe, legally, we have that obligation.”

The council then passed a motion 3-2 to approve the mutual termination and release agreement and continue to not pay the PBSO. Kurtz will forward the agreement to the agency and return to the council with their official response.

In a related update, during the council’s last meeting, McLendon told residents that he received an e-mail from the PBSO that assured him that deputies would continue to provide services needed by the community. He clarified at Tuesday’s meeting that the statement he received was a press release through a public records request.

Wellington Village Council Supports Annexation Of Artistry Lakes Parcel

By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington wants to expand its borders through another annexation. Future residents of the planned Artistry Lakes community will likely have Wellington included in their addresses after the Wellington Village Council approved proceeding with annexing the land into the village earlier this month.

The council passed an ordinance to move forward with the annexation of the site at a meeting Monday, Jan. 12. The vacant land, located east of Arden on the north side of Southern Blvd., is one of several potential areas of interest for the village to annex.

“At one of the visioning sessions, there was discussion about future annexation areas, and we presented three areas: the south, northeast and northwest as potential areas for annexation,” Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Building Director Tim Stillings said. “Direction was given to pursue those as the timing presented itself.”

Village staff members have been in contact with property owners in those areas, with Artistry Lakes being in favor of annexation. Currently, the property is owned by Kolter Homes. In a letter sent to Stillings, the owners explained that they do not object to being incorporated into Wellington.

Isla Carroll Concerns Remain

continued from page 1

Equestrian Preserve Committee and Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board both voted not to recommend approval of the project. Members of the advisory boards had concerns over the project’s apparent lack of an internal equestrian focus, issues over the agreement with the USPA and the inclusion of a luxury clubhouse that seemed unrelated to the preservation of the polo field.

With this feedback, the development team presented the council with an updated plan with a concrete agreement with the USPA and doubled down on equestrian-related amenities offered to residents.

“Our team has integrated polo into the project so thoroughly that it literally permeates from the pores of the project,” said Ed Divita, a partner at Discovery Land Company.

Neil Schiller, a lawyer representing the applicant, explained to the council that the proposal aligns with Wellington’s Land Develop-

In 2024, Palm Beach County officials approved the land for a planned unit development (PUD) consisting of 480 single-family homes, 54 multi-family workforce housing units, eight acres for commercial use and approximately nine acres for civic use. Because the property does not have any registered voters, village officials are initiating an involuntary annexation process. No referendum will be held, and it would only require approval by the council.

In a letter to Village Manager Jim Barnes, officials from Palm Beach County expressed their opposition to the annexation. The letter indicated the county’s assertion that moving forward violates Florida statutes that require annexed areas to be developed for urban purposes, and they must be able to fully associate and trade with the existing community.

Village staff pushed back on this assertion and told the council that the site is already approved for development, and there are no barriers that prevent future residents from being isolated from the rest of the village.

Wellington resident Elizabeth Pandich, who is running for a council seat in the upcoming municipal election, spoke at the meeting about the proposed annexation. She was concerned about how a controversial pro-

ment Regulations (LDRs). They specifically referred to codes that encourage developments in the Equestrian Preserve Area that maintain the area’s equestrian lifestyle.

Not approving the current proposal could lead them to move forward with an administrative plan that would not guarantee any equestrian focus, preserve the east field or require public approval, he said.

“The [administrative plan] does nothing… to further the goals and ideas of your comprehensive plan and LDRs,” Schiller said. “Under the proposed polo plan, we preserve a field in perpetuity.”

Numerous supporters and critics gave public comments. Multiple members of the advisory boards who voted against recommending approval reaffirmed to the council that the project does not belong in the equestrian preserve.

“It appears their goal is to maximize profit,” said Sarah Goos, who sits on the Equestrian Preserve Committee. “What they are proposing is a non-equestrian country club, which does not meet the criteria of the LDRs… Wellington cannot be sold for a polo field.”

Supporters of the project echoed

posed AI data center to the west of Arden, near Artistry Lakes, could impact Wellington. The plan, called Project Tango, has received backlash from the community over potential negative health effects and utility rate increases if it were to be built.

“My only concern would be the upcoming Project Tango,” Pandich said. “If that could present, down the line, any undue infrastructure issues with having a data center that close to what would now be, or what could potentially be, Wellington land.”

Even with the county’s opposition, council members unanimously passed the ordinance to annex the property. No information has been released on when consideration of the annexation’s second reading will take place. Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board was set to review the land use, zoning and master plan for Artistry Lakes at a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 21.

In 2024, Wellington annexed 258 acres on the north side of Southern Blvd. near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The county objected to that annexation as well, but it did not take further action to stop it.

In other business:

• Applicants of the Lotis Wellington project requested to postpone consideration of an amendment to their master plan. The item

developers’ claims that the proposed plan will not only benefit the sport but also the equestrian community.

“[The project] strengthens the polo ecosystem, reinforces Wellington’s global reputation and secures the future of polo here in Wellington,” said Avery-Anna Hogan, who works in real estate. “Supporting this project supports the entire equestrian community. Thoughtful land use like this protects what makes Wellington so special.”

After hearing the range of opinions from the public, several on the council were still apprehensive about the project. Similar to previous advisory boards, some did not believe that the development was truly equestrian-related.

Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri and Councilwoman Maria Antuña agreed that the proposal did not seem equestrian in nature.

“If we approve a project like this, I believe it would change the essence of Wellington forever,” Silvestri said. “Based on the evidence I heard tonight, I will not be able to support this project.”

Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind was one of the few on the dais who had some support for the project.

Moody Visits PBSC In Lox Groves On Senate Anniversary

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, the one-year anniversary of her swearing-in to the United States Senate, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Florida) visited the Loxahatchee Groves campus of Palm Beach State College to highlight the work she has been doing over the past year.

Previously Florida’s attorney general, Moody was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the U.S. Senate last year to replace Marco Rubio, when he became secretary of state.

Speaking at the PBSC campus, Moody touted the legislative victories that she secured during the first session of the 119th Congress and shared her vision for how she will

continue working to make Florida stronger and safer for generations to come.

“Government works best when it works for the people, and Florida has shown that prosperity is possible when we prioritize commonsense conservative policies,” Moody said. Also at the event, Moody saluted Riviera Beach Police Officer Andrew Hinds and presented him with a Florida’s Finest award, which she announced on the floor of the U.S. Senate last November. In October, Hinds quickly responded to a vehicle fire outside of a residence, waking the family inside and saving their lives.

was moved to the council’s Feb. 24 meeting.

• The council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance aimed at allowing longer stays for recreational vehicles (RVs) in the western Wellington enclave of Rustic Ranches. The area off Flying Cow Ranch Road was excluded from changes made in 2019 that allowed RVs to remain on a property for six months, if the property has at least five acres of land. The ordinance is designed to help meet the changing needs of that community.

• At the meeting, Councilwoman Maria Antuña suggested extending Barnes’ contract. The manager’s current contract is set to expire in December of this year. At the meeting, Barnes also gave notice that he would like his contract to be renewed.

“The knowledge Mr. Barnes has of 23-plus years, and his experience, are definitely needed as we move forward with the success of Wellington,” Antuña said. “To disrupt what we have now would probably not be a benefit for our future with all that’s at stake for our success.”

The council appointed Councilman John McGovern to negotiate the manager’s contract.

Barnes was promoted to manager in January 2021. He was previously Wellington’s deputy village manager.

However, she said that she would still like to see more changes.

“This project could be a real complement to Wellington, and it could continue to grow the sport of polo in Wellington,” Siskind said. “I don’t like to kill anything on first reading, but I would also like to see some more changes to this.”

Mayor Michael Napoleone did not believe that the proposed development met Wellington’s codes for the equestrian preserve. However, he wanted to give the developers another opportunity to revise the plan. He was not confident it would win final approval without significant changes.

“I don’t know how you save what I see as a fundamental problem to this project,” Napoleone said. “If I vote yes, I put everyone through another hearing on this issue, and you guys spend a lot of time, money and effort to try to address all of the concerns that we have, that candidly, I don’t know you can fix on a second reading.”

The council passed a motion approving the rezoning request 3-2, with Silvestri and Antuña dissenting. The council will decide whether to approve the site’s master plan when the project returns for its second reading.

Data Center Town Hall Now Feb. 25

continued from page 1

an Atlanta firm owns the land where the data center is to be built, on Nov. 19 contributed $10,000 to Friends of Sara Baxter, a political action committee based in Tallahassee. Also, on Dec. 4, Related Southeast LLC, which is controlled by billionaire real estate investor Stephen Ross, donated $25,000 to the fund. The Related donation is the largest to the campaign organization by far in 2025, according to Florida Department of State records. Ross does not have direct ties to Project Tango. However, he has framed large-scale digital infrastructure — including AI-capable computing — as essential to his vision of turning Palm Beach County into a major East Coast technology center. “Mr. Ross has never once mentioned to me that he needs a data center in Palm Beach County,” said Baxter, who is running this year for a second four-year term on the commission. Baxter faces a Republican primary challenge from Indian Trail Improvement District President Elizabeth Accomando. Democrats Mohammad Junaid Akther and Rudolph Tinker have also filed to run.

In reference to the PBA Holdings donation, Baxter bristles at the notion that she might be influenced by such a contribution. “I cannot be bought,” she said. “Just because someone donates to my campaign does not mean I’m automatically going to vote the way they want. I was elected to represent the residents of my district, and that’s what I intend to do.”

Baxter previously said she would not support Project Tango if Arden and District 6 residents continue to oppose it. This week, she said she is standing by that pledge.

An online petition opposing the project started by Arden resident Corey Kanterman at www.change. org had 8,297 signatures as of Wednesday, Jan. 21. Kanterman describes Project

Tango as “a massive AI data center that plans to cover over 200 acres with buildings reaching up to seven stories high. The sheer scale of this project, which will encompass [a total of] nearly 4 million square feet of building space, poses a substantial threat to the health, safety and well-being of residents like me and the countless others in our community.”

He calls the close proximity of the development to Arden’s 2,000-plus homes and Saddle View Elementary School “deeply concerning.”

“The potential negative impacts on our mental and physical health cannot be overstated,” Kanterman added.

Meanwhile, at least two bills are making their way through the current session of the Florida Legislature that could have an impact on Project Tango and all proposed data centers within the state.

House Bill 1007 would establish hyperscale data centers as a distinct category of development that triggers specific land-use prohibitions and procedures including:

• Prohibiting such data centers in specified land-use categories within unincorporated areas after a specified date.

• Require that local governments conduct hearings before approving construction or operation of these facilities.

• Set additional constraints on where they can be sited and how they are regulated under local comprehensive planning.

Senate Bill 484 would create regulatory definitions and requirements specifically aimed at managing the impacts of major data-center developments, including those built to support artificial intelligence workload. The so-called “AI Bill Rights” championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis does not focus on land use or infrastructure, and does not regulate where or how AI data centers are built. Instead, it focuses on consumer and civil protections. It would require transparency when Floridians interact with AI; strengthen protections for personal data, likeness and children; and limit certain uses of AI deemed deceptive or harmful.

38TH

On

Great Charity Challenge Returns Jan. 31 With The Theme ‘Rhyme Without Reason’

By Hilary Moore Hebert Town-Crier Staff Report

The Great Charity Challenge (GCC), one of Palm Beach County’s most anticipated philanthropic events, returns to Wellington International on Saturday, Jan. 31, bringing creativity, community spirit and charitable impact to the Winter Equestrian Festival’s popular Saturday Night Lights.

Now in its 17th year, the equestrian relay-style fundraiser is expected to raise and distribute more than $2 million to local nonprofit organizations.

Presented by Fidelity Investments, this year’s event carries the playful theme “Rhyme Without Reason,” inviting costumed teams to combine imagination with athleticism in a fast-paced relay where, as the rules state, “the jumps stay up and the costumes rhyme.” Thirty teams, each representing a Palm Beach County nonprofit, will compete for the chance to win $100,000 for their randomly paired charity.

“We look forward to celebrating community, creativity and impact at this year’s Great Charity Challenge, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, featuring the crowdfavorite ‘Rhyme Without Reason’ theme,” said Anne Caroline Valtin, executive director of the Great Charity Challenge. “Teams will ride in imaginative rhyming trios, all while distributing $2-plus-

million in critical funds for Palm Beach County’s nonprofits. We hope you will join us for a night where joy, whimsy and generosity rhyme perfectly.”

Since its founding, the Great Charity Challenge has distributed more than $24 million to 370 local nonprofits, with 100 percent of donations going directly back into the community. Wellington International covers all eventrelated expenses, ensuring that every dollar raised benefits Palm Beach County organizations.

The first 30 participating nonprofits have already been announced and represent a wide cross-section of community needs, including education, housing, veterans’ services, arts, animal welfare and youth development.

Among them are the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, Dress for Success Palm Beaches, the Els for Autism Foundation, Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast, Palm Beach Dramaworks, the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, the Urban League of Palm Beach County, Place of Hope, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County and many more. Event organizers anticipate that an additional four or five nonprofits will be added prior to the competition. For participating organizations, the Great Charity Challenge represents more than financial support

“Teams will ride in imaginative rhyming trios, all while distributing $2-plus-million in critical funds for Palm Beach County’s nonprofits,” said Anne Caroline Valtin, executive director of the GCC.

— it reflects a shared investment in the future of the community.

“The Great Charity Challenge represents the very best of our community: collaboration, generosity and a shared commitment to empowering young people,” said Maria Pumarejo, vice president of development for Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast. “For Junior Achievement, participating means more than vital support for our mission; it’s about coming together with partners who believe in preparing students for a successful future through financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship. The impact of this event helps us reach more students and strengthen the workforce of tomorrow.”

Beyond the main relay, funding opportunities extend well beyond the arena. Four major drawings and 10 additional grants were randomly selected during a Dec. 17 drawing, while smaller grants will continue to be distributed throughout the early weeks of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival. This layered approach ensures that dozens of organizations receive meaningful support, regardless of how teams place on the night of the event.

One of the event’s most impactful community initiatives is the annual Volunteer Initiative, which aims to strengthen civic engagement and encourage hands-on involvement. Thanks to a $20,000 donation from Dana Murphy of Keller Williams Wellington, along with additional funding from the GCC, up to 20 organizations will each receive $4,000 grants. The initiative provides critical operational support while encouraging

collaboration and volunteerism throughout Palm Beach County.

“Thank you to the Great Charity Challenge for selecting us as a recipient of the Volunteer Initiative grant of $4,000,” said Claudia Campbell, executive director of Delmar Farm Sanctuary. “We love our volunteers and wouldn’t survive without them.”

Organizers emphasize that this type of funding can significantly enhance a nonprofit’s ability to deliver services, expand programming and engage the community, reinforcing the GCC’s broader mission to strengthen local organizations while fostering a culture of generosity and involvement.

Admission to the Great Charity Challenge is free, and no tickets are required. Gates open at 6 p.m., rain or shine, though attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as it will likely be one of the busiest nights of the season. Off-site parking is available at the Equestrian Village facility with complimentary shuttles beginning at 5 p.m.

On-site parking is available for $25 per car, while handicap parking is free.

Guests are welcome to stroll the Wellington International showgrounds prior to the start of competition, enjoying the festive atmosphere that has become a hallmark of Saturday Night Lights. The event typically concludes at approximately 9 p.m.

In addition to the equestrian action, the evening offers a wide array of family-friendly entertainment. The Family Festive area features face painting, circus performers, dance contests, T-shirt tosses, petting zoos, free rides on the Venetian carousel and live mu-

sic. Food vendors will be available throughout the venue, making the event a full evening of entertainment for all ages.

Attendees are also encouraged to visit Wellington International’s iconic bridge to view this year’s community art installation, Rhyme Without Reason: Surreal Visions. Created by students from Wellington public schools in partnership with Resource Depot, the installation reflects the event’s theme while highlighting the creativity of local youth. Those unable to attend in person can still participate by donating

online or becoming a sponsor. With every contribution directly benefiting local nonprofits, the Great Charity Challenge continues to demonstrate the powerful intersection of sport, creativity and community generosity. As Wellington prepares to welcome thousands of spectators, volunteers, riders and nonprofit representatives, the 2026 Great Charity Challenge promises once again to be a night where imagination runs free — and meaningful impact follows. Learn more at www.wellingtoninternational. com/great-charity-challenge.

Nashville Songwriters Night At The Vinceremos Arena On March 8

On Sunday, March 8, the heart of Nashville will meet the soul of South Florida as Nashville Songwriters Night returns to the iconic Vinceremos Arena in Loxahatchee Groves for an intimate, one-nightonly charity concert experience.

Set beneath the covered arena at the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, this special evening blends chart-topping songwriting, southern hospitality and meaningful philanthropy — all in support of a mission that has been changing lives for more than four decades.

Unlike a traditional concert, Nashville Songwriters Night invites guests behind the music. As the writers take the stage, they’ll share the personal stories, inspirations and moments behind some of country music’s most beloved hits, creating a rare, authentic connec-

tion between artist and audience.

This year’s lineup features an extraordinary group of hitmakers:

• Marv Green, the Grammynominated songwriter behind legendary songs recorded by George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Lonestar, Eric Church and more — including the recordbreaking hit “Amazed.”

• Dean Alexander, Grammynominated Americana songwriter whose raw, roots-driven work has been featured alongside artists like Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and on the hit TV series Nashville

• Terry McBride, Texas and Nashville music icon, frontman of McBride & The Ride and 2024 Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, whose four-decade career includes multiple hits and timeless country classics.

Together, these artists promise a powerful, unforgettable two-hour performance that feels more like a living room jam session than a stadium show.

Guests will enjoy an open bar, family-style dinner service and the opportunity to visit the stable.

VIP ticket holders and sponsors are welcomed early at 5:30 p.m. with an exclusive cocktail reception and raffle preview. General admission doors open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner service and open bar included.

The concert begins promptly at 8 p.m., under the lights of the arena. Boots and flats are encouraged for this relaxed, elegant country evening.

All proceeds from Nashville Songwriters Night directly benefit the Vinceremos Therapeutic Rid-

ing Center, a nonprofit that has provided equine-assisted services to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities since 1982.

Located on 15 acres in Loxahatchee Groves and home to 20 remarkable therapy horses, Vinceremos serves up to 250 clients each week during peak season, helping individuals conquer challenges, build confidence and experience freedom through the power of the horse.

For businesses and community partners, Nashville Songwriters Night offers more than visibility — it offers meaningful alignment with a respected nonprofit and a highly engaged audience. Sponsorship opportunities range from presenting and dinner sponsors to bar, valet and table sponsorships,

Wellington Historical Society To Feature Bestselling Author Michael Tougias At Lunch & Learn On Jan. 28

Florida is a mere 90 miles from Cuba. More than 1.8 million Cuban Americans call Florida home, including many who settled in Wellington. But the state’s entanglements with the island nation were never so intriguing as during 13 days in 1962 now known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Join the Wellington Historical Society on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wellington National Golf Club for a presentation on Florida’s role in that harrowing period in history. New York Times bestselling author and historian Michael Tougias will present “Florida and the Untold Story of the Cuban Missile Crisis” at the Lunch & Learn event benefiting the Wellington Historical Society. It is sponsored by Seacoast Bank.

“Many of us remember distinctly that period in history, or certainly have studied what many believe is the closest the world ever came to seeing nuclear weapons launched upon the United States. This presentation takes us behind the scenes to what was happening and Florida’s role in it,” said Sue Bierer, president of

Dad’s Support Group For Autism Families

In Wellington Spectrum 360, a local nonprofit organization supporting families of children on the autism spectrum across Palm Beach and Broward counties, will host a free Dad’s Support Group on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Wellington. The group meeting was created specifically for dads raising children with autism — a population that often struggles in silence. The meeting will be led by Clayton Werries, a behavior specialist at the Learning Center, who is also the brother of an individual with autism, offering both professional

the Wellington Historical Society.

Using declassified information, Tougias co-authored Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America’s Most Dangerous Cold War Spy Mission with Casey Sherman, which focuses on the Cuban Missile Crisis. The story emphasizes the role of the U-2 pilots who flew from Orlando to Cuba to secure proof of nuclear missiles.

Tougias is the author and coauthor of 30 books for adults and six books for young adults. He is best known for his nonfiction narratives of survival and rescue. He speaks to groups across the country about his work.

“When I learned that a U.S. Air Force pilot was shot down and killed over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I was totally surprised and thought to myself that this is a story that needs to be told,” Tougias said. “The project that ultimately became the book Above and Beyond morphed into much more than the pilot’s story. I learned there were three other lesser-known incidents that almost triggered nuclear war.”

Tougias was assisted in his research by the audio tapes that President John F. Kennedy secretly made of every meeting he had on the crisis.

“It was amazing to hear the arguments, but also how JFK’s opinion on what to do gradually changed as his emotion and adrenaline subsided after first learning about the missiles,” Tougias said.

The book changed the course of his writing career, leading him to three more history books, two about World War II U-boat attacks along the U.S. coast.

“More recently, I returned to my writing roots and have a new book about a 2022 survival story in the Gulf of Mexico titled In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival and Courage,” Tougias said. “I just love researching these lesser-known stories.”

Founded in 2018, the Wellington Historical Society preserves Wellington’s past through a number of programs and initiatives. In addition to hosting the Lunch & Learn series, the Wellington Historical Society has an archive of items and documents representa-

NEWS BRIEFS

and lived experience. The goal is simple: to make sure no dad feels alone on this journey. Event details and free registration are available at https://givebutter.com/SPA22126.

Amber’s Animal Outreach Puppy Bowl Feb. 1

Amber’s Animal Outreach will hold its ninth annual Puppy Bowl at O’Hana Pet Resort, located at 2617 N. Australian Ave in West Palm Beach on Sunday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with music, vendors, food and puppies playing football with the best referee to help score a touchdown. Sponsors are invited to help support the nonprofit dog rescue

organization. Sponsors pick a puppy they would like to sponsor, promote it to help get it adopted. Vendor spaces are also available. E-mail ambersanimaloutreach@ gmail.com or visit www.aaodog. org to learn more.

Garden Club

Shredding Event Fundraiser Set For Jan. 24

The Wellington Garden Club will hold a document shredding fundraising event on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at Wellington Village Hall (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The shredding of documents will be performed for a per-box

Michael Tougias

tive of Wellington’s history. It has created an educational program taught in Wellington’s elementary schools and has compiled oral histories from many of Wellington’s early pioneers and leaders. Tickets for the event are $45 for members and $50 for nonmembers. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www. wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

donation of $5 for a box no larger than 15 inches by 12 inches

each offering premium seating, brand recognition and exclusive meet-and-greet access with the songwriters . Sponsors enjoy year-round recognition within the Vinceremos Arena, as well as prominent exposure through marketing, social media and event-night signage, making this an ideal platform for brands that value community impact, storytelling and authentic experiences.

With limited seating and an atmosphere unlike any other, Nashville Songwriters Night is expected to sell out. Whether you’re a country music fan, a supporter of Vinceremos or a business looking to make a meaningful difference, this is an evening not to miss. Tickets, VIP tables and sponsorship opportunities are available now at https://nashvillesongwritersnightforvinceremos.eventbrite. com.

FDOT To Host Construction Open House Feb. 3 For Project At State Road 7 And Lake Worth Road

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will host a Construction Open House, both in person and virtually, for the State Road 7 at Lake Worth Road resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation project. The virtual public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 6 p.m. Use the link https://tinyurl.com/35y65d74 to register. You may also call (562) 247-8422 with the access code 139-507-823. Questions and comments from the public will follow a brief presentation. The in-person construction open house is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the FDOT Palm Beach Operations Center Auditorium at 7900 Forest Hill Blvd. It will feature an informal open house format. FDOT staff and consultant staff members will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. The project improvements consist of milling and resurfacing the roadway throughout the project limits to enhance infrastructure resilience and safety for the community; widening to provide a dedicated northbound to east -

The Wellington Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2 at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). The meeting will feature a presentation on “ethnobotany” by Scott Davis. Ethnobotany is the study of how people can use plants in their daily life. It connects the sciences of anthropology and botany together. Davis will discuss how South Florida is an ethnobotanical hot spot for wild edible and medicinal plants. Davis is a professional botanist and the director of the Milkweed Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to plant preservation and sustainability. He is a native of South Florida, but currently calls Apalachicola and Lake Placid his homes. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in plant ecology and field biology. He holds degrees in environmental science and philosophy from Florida State University.

The public is invited to join the club for coffee and a plant raffle beginning at 9:30 a.m. Visitors are asked to check in at the desk

bound right-turn lane to alleviate congestion on SR 7 at Lake Worth Road; constructing a sidewalk along the east side of SR 7 and upgrading ADA curb ramps along the existing sidewalk to enhance pedestrian safety; upgrading signing and pavement markings by adding high-emphasis crosswalks and upgrading to steel strain poles with LED lighting at the signalized intersection to enhance visibility and safety; upgrading signalization to improve traffic operations; and modifying the existing guardrail along the east side of SR 7 for enhanced safety. Construction will begin in February 2026 at an estimated cost of $3.4 million and is anticipated to be completed in late 2026. FDOT works with the public to balance their community vision with the community’s transportation needs. This is routine on all projects to ensure that Florida’s infrastructure is safe, resilient and efficient for many years into the future. For more information, contact FDOT Project Manager Joel Jara at (561) 978-5084 or e-mail joel. jara@dot.state.fl.us.

upon arrival. Reserving a spot at the meeting is recommended by contacting Membership Chair Anne Hlasnicek via e-mail

Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ On Stage At

Veterans Park In RPB Feb. 12-15

“Something wicked this way comes” this Valentine’s Day weekend when the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival presents the Shakespeare by the Palms VI production of Macbeth. Come celebrate the holiday with the couple who shows that those who “slay” together, stay together.

Presented by the Village of Royal Palm Beach, performances will take place Thursday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 15, in a new location at the Veterans Park Amphitheater, from 7 to 9 p.m. each night. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 per person. The Veterans Park Amphitheater is located at 1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Bring a beach chair or blanket, a picnic basket, or enjoy

on-site concessions during this outdoor event.

In one of Shakespeare’s most haunting tragedies, Macbeth takes audiences to a dark realm of ambition, prophecy and betrayal. When three witches predict that Macbeth will become king, a tragic chain of events begins. At the heart of the play is the intense and fateful bond of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their relationship fuels a rise to power, leading to a downward spiral into madness and disaster, revealing the destruction of unchecked ambition.

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s season will then continue with the Shakespeare by the Sea XXXVI world premiere of Falstaff on July 9-19, Thursdays through Sundays at the Seabreeze

Amphitheater in Jupiter’s Carlin Park, in partnership with Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation.

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s productions are made possible thanks to generous support from the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Gary & Katherine Parr and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. Additional funding is provided by Frank Cona and Lisa Calberg.

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival is a nonprofit professional theater company dedicated to enhancing the accessibility and appreciation for Shakespearean, classic and contemporary theater for all ages and socioeconomic levels. For more information about the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, visit www.pbshakespeare.org.

POST 390 HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE AT THE WELLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER

Area Girl Scouts Aim To Donate

In honor of those who serve, the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida has launched the 18th annual Cookies for the Military program, inviting the community to donate boxes or cases of Girl Scout cookies that will be sent to service members stationed in the U.S. or overseas.

This year’s goal is to donate 50,000. During the 2025 campaign, the community contributed 44,947 boxes to service members. Since the program began in 2009, the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida has shipped more than 858,000

boxes to the military through partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide care packages and support to service members and their families, including Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Operation Homefront, the American Legion and Soldiers’ Angels.

“Cookies for the Military is a meaningful way for our Girl Scouts and the community to express appreciation for the men and women who serve our country,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “For our service members, these

cookies represent more than a familiar treat, they’re a reminder that they are supported, valued and remembered, no matter where they are stationed.” The community can contribute by purchasing a box for $6 or a case for $72 through any local Girl Scout or by visiting www. cookiesforthemilitary.org. Contributions also support the efforts of the Girl Scouts to foster essential financial literacy and leadership skills, including budgeting, customer service and goal-setting.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Voter Registration Book Closing for the March 10, 2026, municipal election is 5:00 p.m., February 9, 2026. Voter registration forms are available in the Village Clerk's office or online at www.votepalmbeach.gov

If you think you may have been removed from the active voters list for any reason whatsoever, contact the Supervisor of Elections office at 561-656-6200 for confirmation of your voting status in Palm Beach County.

Noticed by Diane DiSanto, MMC, Village Clerk

El cierre del Libro de Registración de Votantes para la Elección Municipal del 10 de Marzo, 2026 será el 9 de Febrero, 2026, a las 5:00 p.m. Los formularios para registro de votantes están disponibles en la Oficina de la Secretaria Municipal o en el sitio web” www.votepalmbeach.gov.

Si usted piensa que usted pudo haber sido removido de la lista de votantes activos por alguna razón, contactar a la oficina de Supervisor de Elecciones al 561-6566200 para confirmar su estatus de votante en el Condado de Palm Beach

Aviso dado por Diane DiSanto, MMC, Village Clerk A V I S O P Ú B L I C O

Record-Breaking Season Underway At Wellington International

By Fiona Slusarev Town-Crier Staff Report

Wellington International promises an exciting 2026 season for the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. More than 31,000 athletes from around the world are estimated to compete over the 13-week season.

At a Thursday, Jan. 8 press conference, Wellington International CEO Murray Kessler, a former president of the United States Equestrian Federation and an accomplished businessman, said that he has been working behind the scenes with AGDF Director

of Sport Thomas Baur and others to create an atmosphere that draws the top athletes in each discipline and invites spectators to appreciate equestrian sports. Kessler has been revamping Wellington International since its ownership changed hands just over a year ago in October 2024. “Elevating the sport is one component; elevating the experience is another,” Kessler said. “We want to do that across every discipline.”

Physical upgrades to the WEF facilities include a total renovation to the FEI barns, new footing for the International Arena and

accompanying schooling arena, improvements for the Pony Island rings and new bathrooms, and updates to the Grand Hunter Ring. At the Global Dressage Festival grounds, spectators can now enjoy shade from the hot sun or shelter from the rain in the newly covered stands.

Prize money is at a record high this season with a grand total of $16.55 million across all the competitions. Two additional $500,000 Grand Prix events have been added to the previous season’s single $500,000 Grand Prix, for an astonishing three chances to win the hefty prize. Additionally, the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* returns with a tremendous $1 million prize.

Kessler said he wants to keep the top competitors coming to WEF each season, and top prize money is one way to attract them.

One of those top competitors is Laura Kraut, a four-time U.S. Olympian, 2024 U.S. team silver medalist and the current seventh top rider in the world, who has been a fixture in Wellington since 1978. WEF functions as a vital training ground for her, her horses and the U.S. Equestrian Team.

“It is crucial to us preparing and trying to have our horses up

to the level we need for international competition,” Kraut said.

“The U.S. Equestrian Team has a fantastic record, and a lot of that is due to the fact that we compete at this facility under the best circumstances, with the best competition, great jumps, great course designs and now a lot of prize money.”

WEF is also a key proving ground for hunter riders. Sometimes playing second-fiddle to show jumping, the hunters are highlighted with an array of extremely competitive classes and derbies to enter into, including the $150,000 USHJA WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at Saturday Night Lights on Feb. 14.

Liza Towell Boyd, the 2025 winner of the Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular and co-owner of Finally Farm, explained that Wellington’s World Champion Hunter Rider class is akin to the jumper and dressage rider’s FEI World Cups.

“The Saturday Night Lights classes are special for us hunter riders to be able to compete under the lights with the energy and the atmosphere,” Boyd said. “It also sets our horses up really well for our derby finals [the USHJA International Hunter Derby Cham-

pionship], which is sort of like our Olympics.”

Hunter riding isn’t the only division that enjoys time in the spotlight. Wellington International is making a considerable effort to bring attention to dressage at the Global Dressage Festival.

Along with Kessler’s plans to relocate dressage to what will be Wellington International’s south showgrounds in coming years, Wellington International already launched its new web site in late 2025, bringing WEF and AGDF together on one site.

“We care about every discipline, whether it’s hunters, dressage, ponies or para [dressage],” Kessler said.

The Global Dressage Festival is also being highlighted with new theme nights for Friday Night Stars and a masterclass. With these improvements, Baur’s intention is clear: “Come over, watch dressage. See horses dance.”

This season provides crucial opportunities to qualify for the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage World Championships, as well as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.

“Normally, if people see dressage, they think, ‘OK, we’re just seeing horses riding around in circles in the arena.’ But when they come to Friday Night Stars, you can really see horses dancing at the highest level. And to witness that power in person, I don’t think there’s really much like that,” Ebeling explained.

If 2025 is any indicator, WEF is in for a bustling season. With competitors calling Wellington home for four or five months of the year, and a growing number of spectators in attendance, Wellington is truly the world’s winter equestrian capital.

“Last year, the Winter Equestrian Festival — not counting dressage, not counting the other seasons — was the biggest sporting event in South Florida, surpassing Formula One for the first time in our history,” Kessler announced. What keeps the competitors returning every year isn’t just the high-level competition and amenities, it is the community that has developed. People like Boyd have shown at WEF since childhood. Kessler’s own daughter, Reed Kessler, started in short stirrup at See HORSE SHOWS, page 14

Ben Ebeling, winner of the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final, lauded AGDF as a grand stage to experience dressage for spectators and competitors alike.

Seat 2 Three Candidates

In The Race

continued from page 1 allocate resources to accomplish goals while limiting waste.

“I understand ins and outs, costs, and receivables,” Meier said. “I understand how to make sure to squeeze every single cent out of a dollar.”

Meier supports streamlining bureaucratic processes and eliminating unnecessary regulations. He hopes this will make it easier for residents and contractors to get work done. He explained that the permitting process, in particular, is long and difficult, which discourages people from doing business in Wellington or doing construction on their property.

“To get a permit to do anything on your property, it requires like an act of Congress,” Meier said.

Part of these changes would also include ways to find waste and reduce costs, he added.

“What I would like to do is have an exercise for all department heads to come to me with 20 percent of waste that they can cut out, or things that they can do without,” Meier said.

To complement these improvements, he would like to create tax incentives to encourage more small businesses to open in the village. This will help create jobs and strengthen the local economy, Meier said. Meier is interested in lowering the village’s millage rate. He also wants to find ways to lower utility costs and would go through service contracts to find potential savings.

“I will not allow the people of influence to sway my decision for what’s best for Wellington,” Meier said. “What you see is what you get with me. I’m honest to a fault, and I have no reason other than to make sure that the Village of Wellington retains the premium

Lox Seat 5

McLendon

Vs. Sood

continued from page 1 order. Throughout his current time in office, he has helped support the council in making decisions that will reduce spending.

“The budget for the town has almost doubled since I was there previously,” McLendon said.

“Spending has gotten out of control, and I think we can reduce the spending and get things done.”

Recently, he has been advocating for the town to end its service contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO). He believes that the town is paying too much for the contract and would like them to revert to the same levels of service that residents received before incorporating as a town.

With the contract dispute ongoing, McLendon has suggested potential alternative law enforcement services. In the past, he has directed town staff to look into getting into a contract with the

Horse Shows

WEF & AGDF

Underway

continued from page 13

WEF and went on to become a U.S. Olympic competitor.

“Other horse shows are where champions meet. Maybe 200 or 300 riders meet for five days,” Kessler said. “But at Wellington, it’s where champions are made.” This is possible because of Wellington International’s variety of options. Small Children’s Pony

lifestyle that people are looking for.”

Other than plans to improve government operations, Meier said he will take a hardline approach to development. He supports placing a moratorium that restricts housing development for at least five years. He explained that village services are already stretched, and there is not enough infrastructure to support an influx of new residents.

“I believe that we’re already overdeveloped… and we’re at our capacity, as far as the amount of residents that we can take care of in the village,” Meier said.

This hardline approach applies to development in Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Area. He wants to protect the area and would only support proposals that are equestrian-related. “I think that the Equestrian Preserve Area is our future,” Meier said. “If you allow people to continue to take land out of the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District and the equestrian preserve, and you allow people to keep developing in those, then we lose the uniqueness of Wellington.”

Meier emphasized that his business ties to the village and community involvement make him the ideal candidate.

“Not only am I the right person for the job, but I’m invested because I have three businesses [in the village],” Meier said. “I have the most skin in the game; I have the most to lose; and I have the most to gain if things are beneficial for everyone.”

Other areas of interest for Meier are to expand recreation facilities for other athletic sports while also implementing smarter traffic solutions to reduce congestion and roadway safety.

Learn more about Meier at www.johnnyforwellington.com.

Elizabeth Pandich — Pandich is prioritizing bringing consistency and greater public input into local government decisions. An equestrian, she is looking to improve community engagement from

Florida Highway Patrol or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

McLendon said that the town will have to make tough decisions to fix its financial problems. He wants to eliminate health insurance for employees and instead pay them a stipend, where they can get their own insurance. He would also like to withdraw the town from the Florida Retirement System and implement 401(k) retirement plans for employees.

Besides fiscal responsibility, McLendon wants to maintain the rural nature of the community. He opposes overdevelopment and would like to strengthen town rules to prevent this from happening.

“I’ve been fighting for decades… and I want to continue fighting for that goal of remaining unique and rural,” McLendon said.

Another area of importance for him is code enforcement. McLendon explained that the town needs to do a better job addressing illegal industrial operations.

Similarly, he wants better oversight of infrastructure projects to make sure they get done properly.

can be in full swing on Pony Island, while a 1.50m jump off can be happening in the International Arena. Everyone has a division. This season is also seeing an impact on Palm Beach County’s economy. It is expected that Wellington International this year will have more than a $530 million effect on the county and support 4,000 jobs.

During the 2025 Rolex Grand Prix alone, more than 10,000 people were recorded in attendance. ESPN will be providing additional coverage this season.

the dais by implementing clearer agendas, earlier outreach, an updated village web site and better use of public forums so residents can be more involved.

“My top priority in general is restoring that confidence in the process and making sure decisions are data-driven, clearly explained and focused on the long-term quality of life,” Pandich said.

She believes that the council should take a systematic approach to determining the impacts of projects or decisions. Through this, Pandich would like to make sure that current proposals already approved get done before there is consideration of any additional development.

She added that any new developments would also need to respect existing neighborhoods. She said that she is not anti-development; she is pro-planning.

“I would like to bring measured consistency because I think good governance doesn’t need to be loud — it needs to be consistent and fair,” Pandich said. “I want to provide solutions and not surprises.”

Pandich supports protecting the village’s Equestrian Preserve Area. “It should be protected at all costs,” she said. “It is a very unique part of our community identity.”

She believes that part of the importance of the preserve is the need for open space and environmental stewardship. Not only will maintaining the equestrian industry maintain the identity of the area, but it will also act as a buffer against costly environmental and infrastructure mistakes, she said.

“I understand the importance of protecting and improving our open space and our resources because conservation is about avoiding costly mistakes that residents end up paying for,” Pandich said. “A lot of the equestrian preserve creates a bit of a buffer in that.”

As an equestrian, Pandich said she understands that protecting the preserve is necessary for the safety and performance of horses.

Specifically, he is in favor of more drainage projects instead of continuing to repave roads. Drainage needs to be corrected before pavement is put down, he said.

McLendon points to his experience in the town, which he said gives him the knowledge on how to best approach problems and not repeat mistakes.

“I’ve been very involved with the town since incorporation,” McLendon said. “I know a lot of the issues and intricacies of correcting those issues, where we can learn from past mistakes, and try not to make those mistakes again.”

McLendon emphasized that his record speaks for itself. If returned to the council, he wants to continue to under promise and overdeliver.

“I’m proud of my record on fulfilling my promises to people,” McLendon said. “A lot of candidates will go out, and they’ll promise the world, and they don’t deliver. I do the opposite — I under promise and overdeliver continuously.”

Manish Sood — Sood has lived in Loxahatchee Groves for almost five years and owns a small farm

With the growth of Wellington International over the past year, it is easy to understand why competitors return and spectator numbers are increasing.

“You come here for a five-star event on a Saturday night, the lights go out, and it’s like Madison Square Garden. The videos come on, the laser light shows, all kinds of fun things in store,” Kessler said.

Learn more about WEF, AGDF and Wellington International at www.wellingtoninternational. com.

Rotary is looking to add a few good spokes to our Rotary Wheel.

Wellington Rotary Meets Thursdays - 12:15 p.m.

The Wanderer’s Club

For additional information call Chris Warren, 561-350-7247

Royal Palm Beach Rotary Meets Tuesdays - 7:30 a.m.

Hilary’s

For additional information call Andre Blackwood 772-631-1716 Make

fellowship.

“Equestrians need space. Horses need space in order to perform well,” Pandich said. “In order to protect real horsemen and competitors who want to come here for an extended period of time for the circuit… it needs to be an environment that’s horse-friendly.”

Pandich supports having more clearly defined language for what is considered an equestrian use. She said the current language is vague and needs to be updated.

“Importantly for both developers and residents who are passionate, clearly defined rules make it fair for everyone,” Pandich said. “Making the standards more fleshed out in a way that everyone understands where the goalposts are is the right way to go about it.”

Other than wanting to bring more public engagement and protect the village’s equestrian identity, she is interested in reinvestment in existing infrastructure and neighborhoods. Pandich believes that Wellington needs more smart, sustainable development, especially with infrastructure tied to quality of life.

Through her dedication to Wellington’s values and commitment to supporting families, she said she has a vision to help lead the village into a thriving, family-oriented and equestrian-friendly future.

“What I bring to the table is common sense,” Pandich said. “I bring a balanced perspective… I bring transparency, and my hope is to bring more trust in the process with the residents.”

Learn more about Pandich at www.pandich2026.com.

Tatiana Yaques — An attorney and small business owner, Yaques heavily emphasizes that her legal background in land use planning makes her the ideal candidate to best approach development in Wellington. She also pointed to her position on the village’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board, which has given her an appreciation for how important local government processes are.

“I’m the candidate who has

business. He currently chairs the town’s Finance Advisory & Audit Committee and previously served on the Agritourism Committee.

Sood said that he has unique private and public expertise, along with a master’s degree in engineering, that gives him the perspective to understand the town in multiple important areas. With this experience, he believes he can make “transformational change.”

“I have 25-plus years of senior-level, public and private experience that helps me in making financial, regulatory, rules owning and other sorts of agritourism, equestrian business-friendly decisions that our town needs,” Sood said.

Similar to McLendon, Sood wants to address what he sees as “financial mismanagement” in the town. He believes that there is excessive spending. If elected, he will prioritize cutting waste and abuse to reduce overall costs.

“Right now, our town is breaking down financially,” Sood said. “My immediate priority would be making the financials of our town transparent, so that everybody can easily understand what’s going on.”

He wants to remove all vendors that have no bid contractors and stop using consulting and lobbying firms that add no value to the town.

To make the town’s finances more transparent, he plans to publish all employee salaries and other data to restore public trust in decision-making.

Sood opposes how the council has approached the PBSO contract standoff so far. He wants to restore the contract by paying the agency and giving back pay. By mending the town’s relationship,

relationships throughout all of Wellington and truly understands deeply all of our different communities and how they intersect and form important parts of Wellington, which have to be considered when these important decisions are made,” Yaques said.

She would take a comprehensive approach to determine if a specific development fits the needs and goals of the village. Part of her plans are to focus on redevelopment that can promote small businesses and increase affordable residential areas. Through redevelopment and strategic planning, there will be more opportunities for people to live in Wellington at all stages of life, she said.

Similarly, Yaques wants to offer support services to encourage people to open small businesses in commercial areas. She would like the village to act as an incubator that fosters growth and promotes businesses that meet the needs of residents.

“We have to be very thoughtful in any new proposed development, and we have to pay close attention to what the potential impacts would be — both good and bad,” Yaques said. “We need to make informed decisions so that any new projects that are proposed can be assessed for how they would affect our community. Determine if it’s something that will fit in well with our community character and our community of values.”

Apart from her stance on development, she heavily supports protecting Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve Area. Yaques has lived in the village for more than 20 years and currently resides in the equestrian preserve. She said this experience with the equestrian lifestyle and living in Wellington for so long has shown her the importance of the local horse industry.

“The Equestrian Preserve Area is the most unique part of Wellington,” Yaques said.

She explained that the council should continue to take steps to maintain regulations in the pre-

officials will be able to re-enter into negotiations with those at the agency. This would provide more opportunities to engage in discussions to ensure that officials from the PBSO understand the town’s needs and figure out a way to come to a better agreement.

“Who wants to buy a house when you hear the headlines that our town doesn’t have the money to pay the police, or our town doesn’t have the money to fix overloads or drainage,” Sood said. “So, all these bad decisions are now happening and creating major consequences.”

On development, Sood supports maintaining the town’s rural character. With the town’s diverse natural and agricultural resources, he wants to promote growth and make Loxahatchee Groves a leader among rural communities.

“My vision is, which I believe is the vision of every single resident, to be the number one rural town in the USA,” Sood said.

To support this growth, he would like to see improvements to drainage and roads. Sood explained that part of the town’s

serve. Proposed developments in it would need to align with the village’s equestrian lifestyle, she said. Maintaining this character is essential to sustaining the prosperity of the overall equestrian community.

“We need to continue making sure that we have regulations in place that protect that character, that protect that lifestyle, that protect our industry, and that we keep a balance of that as much as possible so that those things are not eroded in the future,” Yaques said. On village amenities, Yaques supports continuing to invest in services that benefit residents. This includes public schools and recreation. She said one of the best examples of this purposeful investment is Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department. Through providing these amenities, residents have become active members of the community. “We are extremely fortunate in the Village of Wellington to have the amenities that we have,” Yaques said. Importantly, Yaques highlighted that communication is essential to achieve these goals. She supports increasing communication by village officials to ensure that Wellington residents understand decisions and to resolve any issues quickly. Part of her plan is to take a multifaceted approach to use all communication channels available to reach the largest number of people. “I’ve always believed that communication can be the key to resolving and preventing problems and conflict,” Yaques said. With her deep roots in the community and expertise, Yaques believes that she best understands what is important to the people of the village and wants to protect their interests.

“I’m running because I love Wellington,” Yaques said. “I love my community, and I know that I will put my heart into serving Wellington and making the best decisions going forward.” Learn more about Yaques at www.votetatianayaques.com.

infrastructure problems is because of a lack of funding. Through strategic planning and in-depth research, the town could address longstanding infrastructure problems. He hopes that better-planned projects will be able to help rebuild public trust with residents.

“I have seen our town deteriorating significantly,” Sood said. “Our roads and drainage are falling apart. I’ve been talking about this since the beginning, that we have a structural issue, and we have a spending problem. We don’t have a revenue problem.” With increasing transparency being a key part of his campaign, Sood would also like to expand public input on decisions. He emphasized that he understands that residents are frustrated with the government, but he encouraged them not to lose hope.

“Vote on March 10, do your own research, to make a decision on who will take this town in the right direction and make real, transformational changes,” Sood said. “I am the right candidate at this time to take our town in a new direction.”

Dreams To Action: Wellington Hosts MLK Day Of Remembrance

By Mark Caracciolo Town-Crier Staff Report

On Monday, Jan. 19, the Village of Wellington hosted “From Dreams to Action” at the Wellington Community Center. The morning event was designed to recognize and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event started with breakfast provided by Skillets. A violin trio played while the guests gathered inside. The program started with remarks by members of the Wellington Village Council and the

Crowned Pearls of Wellington, as well as a performance of “Lift Every Voice” by Jasmine Wilson. Next, there were a number of student presentations, many of whom were from the BLAST programs at Wellington High School and Palm Beach Central High School, as well as from the local Boys & Girls Club. The program culminated with a sit-down interview, moderated by WPBF’s Yasmine Julmisse with keynote speaker Clarence Anthony, the CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities.

Ken & Elaine Langone Unveil New ‘Patriot Pet Lodge’ At Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Big Dog Ranch Rescue celebrated the grand opening of its new 18,000-square-foot Patriot Pet Lodge on Monday, Jan. 19, unveiled by board members and longtime supporters Ken and Elaine Langone, marking a major expansion of the organization’s veteran-focused initiatives.

The state-of-the-art facility significantly increases the rescue’s capacity to serve veterans and deployed service members by offering free dog boarding in 80 private rooms, accommodating up to 160 dogs, while also tripling the organization’s Veteran Dog Training Programs. The ceremony was joined by Lauree Simmons, founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, along with board members, supporters, veterans and service dogs graduates. Director of Training Evan Fried highlighted the life-changing impact that service dogs continue to have on veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

“The Patriot Pet Lodge reflects our unwavering commitment to the men and women who have served our country,” Simmons said. “By removing the burden of pet care during deployment or times of need, we’re able to support veterans while ensuring that their dogs are safe, loved and cared for.”

The new lodge further strengthens Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s mission to combine animal welfare with meaningful community service.

Founded in 2008, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest cagefree, no-kill dog rescue in the United States and has saved the lives of more than 85,000 dogs. For more information, visit www.bdrr.org.

The Veteran Service Dog Training Program has now trained more than 230 service dogs, all provided free of charge to veterans in need.

This MonTh’s WellingTon hisTory spoTlighT

John Herring

Early Resident And Community Leader In Wellington

John Herring moved to Wellington in 1977. Having recently opened A-1 Industries of Florida Inc. — formerly known as A-1-Roof Trusses — in Mangonia Park, he was looking to settle in an area that was undergoing a lot of development. Wellington was the perfect fit.

Gould Florida, an early Wellington developer, needed roof trusses for the new homes being built in Wellington, and Herring had the supply. Gould became Herring’s customer, and Herring quickly developed relationships with community founders Roger Wellington, Bink Glisson, Guerry Stribling and Bill Ylvisaker.

Herring was quickly pressed into service for his new community, serving on various state and local boards, including on the Operations Committee of the Acme Improvement District and the Wellington Rotary Club.

As the community was developing, Herring noticed that there were no parks, recreational facilities or schools being built. When he asked Stribling about the lack of youth facilities, he was told that Wellington was expected to be a community for mostly retirees.

However, by the early 1980s, it was clear that that was not the reality. The reality was that young families were flocking to the developing area, and parks and schools were needed to meet the increasing demand.

Herring decided to form an organization called Youth Activities of Wellington to focus on providing recreational opportunities for Wellington’s growing youth population. When Corepoint Inc. and the Vadia family — Wellington’s final master developer — purchased Gould’s remaining acreage in Wellington, Herring began campaigning for Corepoint to construct a building for the kids.

He worked with Corepoint to convince the Palm Beach County Commission to convey the 17-acre civic site locat-

ed on South Shore Blvd. south of Pierson Road to the Acme Improvement District. He then worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County to construct the original Wellington Boys & Girls Club at what was then called Wellington Community Park.

Although the building was originally contemplated to be about 2,000 square feet, it ended up being approximately 3,500 square feet. The Vadia family graciously agreed to fund the budget shortfall.

A grand opening for the new Boys & Girls Club of Wellington was held on April 18, 1987, bringing the community its first full-fledged recreational facility — the first of many to follow. The Boys & Girls Club moved to a new, larger facility on Wellington Trace in 2013. The old site was redeveloped into what is now called South Shore Park.

Herring was also interested in flying and flew many times with Glisson and Stribling to various places and events. He decided to buy his own plane and asked if he could keep the plane at one of the model homes in the Aero Club. As the area was being developed, Herring noticed that the plans called for an elementary school to be built right at the end of the Aero Club runway, next to The Little Place Too preschool, now known as Neighborhood Kids.

Realizing that a school in that location would not be ideal, he met with the Vadias and convinced them to move the future elementary school to its current location off Binks Forest Drive. The location where the school was originally intended to be built is now the Wellington Dog Park at Greenbriar Park. Herring eventually moved to the Aero Club, where he continues to enjoy flying and living in Wellington.

To learn more about community pioneer John Herring and his many contributions to Wellington, watch his Oral History video available at www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org/oral-histories.

The Wellington Art Society held a reception on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the Wellington Community Center and Wellington Village Hall for its current juried art exhibition “Luminescence.”

The event included an awards ceremony, live music, docent tours and a gift boutique. Honorees included Elaine Weber (first place), Lou Ann LaBohn (second place), Dinah Mirson (third place), and Kim Bailey and Sue Slick Carlson (honorable mentions). Learn more at www.wellingtonartsociety.org.

The Village Council of the Village of Royal Palm Beach is proud to announce they are awarding eleven (11) $1,000.00 scholarships to high school seniors residing in the Village of Royal Palm Beach. Graduating seniors (Class of 2026) can download the application from the Village website at www.royalpalmbeachfl.gov. The completed application must be postmarked or emailed no later than Friday, February 20, 2026 or may be hand-delivered to the Clerk’s Office at Village Hall located at 1050 Royal Palm Beach Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026. Finalists must be available for interviews on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The scholarship committee of the Education Advisory Board will make the final determination. Winners will be announced in May and the scholarships will be awarded at the Village Council meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026. If you have questions, please call 790-5101.

The public is invited to attend the Royal Palm Beach Municipal Election Candidates Forum moderated by the Town-Crier at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026 in the Village Council Chambers. Candidates participating have qualified for the March 10, 2026 election. Question(s) may be submitted that evening or in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential/Candidate Forum” and dropped off at the Village Clerk’s office prior to 5:00 p.m. on January 26, 2026.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION HELD IN ROYAL PALM BEACH

LUNCH & LEARN

FLORIDA AND THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

MICHAEL TOUGIAS

New York Times bestselling author and historian Exclusive opportunity to learn about Florida’s remarkable role in the Cuban Missile Crisis from one of the nation’s leading historical authors

Benefiting the Wellington Historical Society

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 I 11:30 am

Wellington National Golf Club 400 Binks Forest Drive | Wellington, FL

$45/WHS Member | $5O/Non-Members Includes Lunch and Admission to the Presentation

January 30, 2026

7-10 PM | VIP Entry 6 PM

Sip, savor, and raise a gla ss at this premier cockt ail and culinary experience in Welling ton. S ample a variet y of expertly crafted cockt ails and gourmet food pairing s from local S outh Florida chef s and rest aurant s, while enjoying a vibrant outdoor atmosphere with music and entert ainment .

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‘Leisure Area’ At Wellington Aquatics Center Quickly Developing A Following

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The new Wellington Aquatics Center has been open for business since Jan. 3, and based on the number of daily visitors, it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational outlets in Wellington.

While half of the aquatics center has an official Olympic-sized pool, which caters to competitive swimmers in the western communities, a big part of the value of the facility is the other half of the complex, which appeals to families and non-competitive swimmers who just enjoy being in a pool.

According to Aquatics Supervisor Ryan Harris, the family friendly section is known as the Leisure Area, which features a vertical, platform-based structure with two short slides, one flume ride and a number of miniature water can-

nons. At the top of the structure is a large bucket, which is filled with water and dumps dozens of gallons every two minutes onto swimmers and people standing below.

This entire structure, made by a company called Splashtacular, is naturally appealing to children. The vertical structure is surrounded by a six-inch “moat,” which is technically called a zerodepth-entry recreation pool. It also has six vertical waterspouts, which have been placed along the perimeter of that pool. Once you enter the area, you will get wet — and you will stay wet. The other half of the Leisure Area has a shallow lap pool featuring six 25-yard lanes. Hanging above the six lanes is an official NinjaCross obstacle course, which features a series of hoops, bars and rings, which you can grab as you move the length of the pool,

slightly above the surface of the water. It’s the only one of its kind in Florida.

Swimmer safety is of paramount concern at the Wellington Aquatics Center. The Leisure Area is overseen by six lifeguards and one lifeguard roaming on foot in the zero-depth-entry recreation pool. For novice swimmers, there is complimentary access to life jackets.

“The lifejackets are free to all guests, and they are encouraged to use them,” Harris said.

Throughout the year, the water temperature in the Leisure Area will be kept at 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition to the chance to enjoy the Leisure Area, this part of the Aquatics Center has nearly 140 lounge chairs, 10 big umbrellas scattered around the pool deck, six cabanas, five lifeguard stands,

four changing rooms, four water fountains, two outdoor showers, and separate locker rooms for men and women.

According to Harris, the cabanas are for rent.

“It is $75 for four hours for [Wellington] residents, and $100 for four hours for non-residents,” he explained.

If you are hungry, a concession stand, operated by Professional Concessions Inc., sells snacks, cold drinks, and sandwiches such as hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken and cheese quesadillas, chicken tenders, chicken salad sandwiches, pizza, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The chicken quesadillas and pizza are the most popular items.

The bathing load for the Leisure Area is capped at 285 people. To keep the water clean, Harris noted that it is chlorinated every day.

“We average about two to twoand-a-half 50-pound pails of chlorine briquettes per day,” Harris estimated.

The Wellington Aquatics Center will be open seven days a week. From now until Memorial Day, the operating hours will be Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. From Memorial Day until Labor Day, the hours will be Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The admission charges vary by age and residence. For Wellington residents, adults age 18 and over pay $7, children age 3 to 17 pay $5, and residents age 55-plus pay $4. For non-Wellington residents, the fees are slightly higher: adults pay $10, children pay $8 and those age 55-plus pay $7.

The Wellington Aquatics Center is located at 3410 120th Avenue South near the southwestern entrance to Village Park. Learn more at www.wellingtonfl.gov/aquatics.

TKA Girls Basketball Team Focused On Daily Improvement

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

The King’s Academy girls varsity basketball team’s current season has been filled with more downs than ups — but hope springs eternal.

In recent years, the TKA team has had a series of deep postseason runs, largely due to the play and leadership of three seniors from last year’s team who are now playing college basketball.

“There is no replacing the trio of Jade Jones, Brielle George and Julia Vazquez,” said head coach Adam Lusk, in his first year as the head coach at TKA.

Jones is now playing basketball at the University of Houston, George is playing at Belmont Abbey College and Vasquez is on the women’s basketball team at Mineral Area College.

After 17 games this season, TKA is 7-10, but Lusk is confident that his squad can rally in late January, which will create momentum for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 3A postseason, which gets underway in February.

This season, Lusk’s squad is young and enthusiastic. All season, Lusk has been relying on the leadership of his two seniors, Madelyn Buccilli and Sofia Rathbun, to bring consistency to the team.

“Madelyn and Sofia have been great leaders this season and are taking the younger girls under their wings. Everything we do is a

team effort,” Lusk said. “They lead every drill, push the other girls and are also taking time out to teach the younger players. They lead us in almost every statistical category. You couldn’t ask for more from your only two seniors.”

Buccilli is the only returning full-time starter from last year’s team. She is currently leading the team in scoring (15.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 rebounds per game).

Like nearly every high school basketball team, the key to success is how a team responds to setbacks.

“We’ve been battling injuries, sickness and all the other challenges you can imagine, but we’ve still been competing in every game and putting out a good brand of basketball,” Lusk said. “I do love our young team this season, and they all get along so well. We have a ton of fun together, and we’re learning how to compete and improve.”

Like many teams, TKA has learned more about its potential after losing a tough game.

“I think that our best game to date was against Jupiter in the second game of the season, even though we came up short,” Lusk said. “We were down pretty good at halftime. We were able to fight back and cut it to two points late in the fourth quarter. A few young, inexperienced mistakes cost us that game, but we never gave up. We learned from it and have im-

proved each week since.”

According to Lusk, each of his players make contributions to the team’s play in games.

Freshman Anna Birmingham knows how to score points. “Anna is a streaky shooter, and when she gets hot — watch out,” Lusk said.

Freshman Wren Vance is focused on stopping the opposition when she’s in the game. “Wren is a rebounder and an enforcer,” Lusk said. “She will be a good player in the future.”

Junior Ephrosyni Esopakis is determined to do the grunt work to help the team succeed. “Ephrosyni has been forced to play center for us,” Lusk said. “She is a good rebounder, a good teammate and a team leader.”

Eighth-grader Emerson Champion has a strong work ethic. “Emerson is a good rebounder and a tough defender,” Lusk said.

Freshman Jaelyn Tillett brings athleticism to the team. “Jaelyn is long, athletic and a good defender,” Lusk said. “She loves the game and has a ton of potential for the future.”

Junior Lalah Lyon has a tremendous mindset. “Lalah has a great attitude and really represents the kind of people we want representing our team,” Lusk said.

Freshman Kayla Charles is a true student of the game. “Kayla is long, athletic, learning the game and getting better each day,” Lusk said.

Eighth-grader Annabelle Bach-

man is a multi-dimensional player.

“Annabelle is very skilled, can score and rebound,” Lusk said.

“She is going to be a name to know soon.”

Sophomore Nora Barco is a very talented all-around player. “Nora gives us high energy on defense and is an additional ball handler,” Lusk said.

are

her

is a practice player, who doesn’t get in the game much, but she has a good attitude,” Lusk said. The team begins its postseason journey in early February when the Lions compete in the FHSAA Class 3A, District 11 tournament. The other teams in that tournament

and Somerset

Canyons. For TKA’s season to continue well into February and into the state tournament, a very strong showing will be necessary in the District 11 tournament.

Lillie Keenan Wins With Highway TN Under The Lights At WEF

Under the bright beams of Saturday Night Lights at Wellington International on Wednesday, Jan. 17, Lillie Keenan and Highway TN made a stunning debut by winning the $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix during Week 2 of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival. Keenan took over the ride on Highway TN, owned by Team Nijhof, for the 2026 competition season and lived up to expectations during their first Grand Prix outing.

“I’m incredibly blessed that I got this opportunity,” said Keenan of her recent lease of the 14-yearold Dutch Warmblood stallion, previously ridden by Dutch Olympian Willem Greve. “The relationship that he and Willem have — I can’t replicate that — but he educated the horse so beautifully.

I know there’s nothing I’ll do that he hasn’t already done. Tonight, I wanted to get to know him and start to develop our own partnership.”

With Greve, Highway TN won the Rolex Grand Prix at the 2024 Dutch Masters and competed at the 2025 FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland.

“I’ve always admired the horse’s ferocity,” said Keenan after years of watching the stallion compete. “He’s very different than my other horses, and I think he’s going to make me a better rider. When the potential opportunity presented itself to have the ride, it was a no-brainer.”

Keenan topped Saturday night’s podium with a quick time of 36.676 seconds across course designer Catsy Cruz’s challenging track.

Spain’s Jaun Manuel Gallego aboard Chuflay, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, took second with 39.587 seconds on the clock for owner Loero Horse Sales.

Rounding out the podium, Mckayla Langmeier and Riesling van de Gaathoeve, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Rafferty Farm, placed third with 40.373 seconds.

After placing top five in the qualifier — their first-ever competition together — Keenan made the decision to tackle her and Highway TN’s first Grand Prix.

“It was bold to go straight into a Grand Prix, but the horse knows his job,” she said. “If I’m any kind of professional, I should be able to do it, and we pulled it off.” Keenan, who has further deepened her string ahead of bids for the 2026 World Championships in

Aachen and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, concluded by saying, “Team Nijhof has placed huge trust in me. In a career, you only get so many opportunities with horses that truly love their job, and I can tell just by this horse’s expression that he really loves his job. I’m making the most of the moment.”

Saturday, Jan. 17 was Family Night at Wellington International, and a special presentation honored the Caristo family with the Family Legacy Award, a new award at WEF. Ralph and Holly Caristo, along with their daughter Heather and her husband Jesse Williams, accepted the award. With 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 at Wellington International. Learn more at www. wellingtoninternational.com.

Newly Established RPB Volleyball Opens Season With AAU Wins

Volleyball LLC, a newly established girls volleyball club founded in November, officially opened its first competitive season earlier this month at the AAU South Florida Season Opener. The club serves athletes ages 13 through 18 and is made up of families transitioning from a previ-

ous local program, as well as new athletes joining from other clubs throughout the area. Despite being in its inaugural season, RPB Volleyball delivered a strong overall performance across multiple age divisions. Competing against well-established regional programs, the club’s teams

demonstrated competitive play, depth and composure throughout the weekend.

The club’s 13U team, Spark, captured first place in the gold division, marking RPB Volleyball’s first tournament championship as an organization. Additional notable finishes included: Thunder-

Storm (18U) with multiple match wins and fourth place overall in gold; Flash (15U) with a thirdplace finish; and Surge (14U) with a sixth-place finish.

Across all divisions, teams showed steady execution, resilience and strong teamwork, reflecting the club’s emphasis on

Berean Girls Soccer Chasing School History

By

deepest postseason run in school history. At the end of the recently completed regular season, Berean had compiled an impressive 12-4

record. Of those 12 victories, six were shutouts, thanks to a defense anchored by senior and Palm Beach Atlantic University commit Ellie Schartner.

According to head coach Jon Iverson, other key players on the roster include three juniors — Maddie Stutzman, Katharina Jochem and Kira Schartner, who is Ellie’s younger sister.

“Maddie is the best crosser of the ball that we have ever had, Kira does a great job of controlling the midfield and Cat scores goals when she’s on target with her shots,” said Iverson, now in his 15th year as Berean’s varsity girls soccer coach.

One of the big reasons for Berean’s success in girls soccer is the experience factor. “A number of our players are playing travel ball, and many of them play travel ball on the same team,” Iverson explained. “We also have a number of players with unique skill sets.”

The next match on the sched-

ule was the final of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A, District 13 tournament. The match was played on Thursday, Jan. 22 against Glades Day School. The game was a rematch of a Dec. 11 encounter when Berean prevailed 2-0. The result of the district match was not available at press time.

Win or lose, Berean will receive a bid into the FHSAA’s Class 1A state tournament, based on the team’s strong ranking. Going into the game against Glades Day, Berean was sixth in the latest Class 1A Florida rankings. There is a very strong chance that because of the ranking, the Bulldogs will host each of the three regional games in February.

If Berean can sweep all three regional games, they will punch their ticket to the FHSAA’s Class 1A state final four, which will be held in Auburndale at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21.

development, accountability and positive competition.

As the season continues, RPB Volleyball will compete in a full slate of regional tournaments, national qualifiers and national championship events, while also participating in local one-day tournaments throughout South Florida. These local competitions will take place in partnership with area clubs at venues ranging from Jupiter to Pompano Beach, providing frequent, accessible opportunities for athletes to compete and develop.

RPB

Tendonall Equine Defeats BTA In Joe Barry Polo Action At NPC

On Sunday, Jan. 18, the Joe Barry Memorial tournament continued at the National Polo Center in Wellington. The featured match pit BTA against Tendonall Equine on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. Undefeated BTA made its 2026 NPC debut in its final bracket game of tournament play, carrying a 2-0 record. Tendonall Equine entered the game

Local Teen Has Great Memories From The CFP Championship Game In Miami

By Mike May Town-Crier Staff Report

Of the 67,227 people in attendance at the Monday, Jan. 19 championship game of the College Football Playoffs at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, one of them was a high school basketball player from the western communities who was attending her first-ever college football game.

Berean Christian School sophomore Amirah Benjamin plays on the school’s girls varsity basketball team.

While she was cheering for the University of Miami, which lost the game to Indiana University by the score of 27-21, she truly enjoyed the chance to be present at one of the nation’s premier sporting events.

“Both teams played well, espe-

cially the two defenses,” said Benjamin, 16, who was accompanied at the game by her father, a music producer known as Big Easy. Benjamin was impressed by the setting.

“The grass was green, the stadium is amazing and both marching bands were brilliant,” Benjamin added. “And all the fans were loud and proud throughout the whole game.”

While the Hoosiers from Indiana University prevailed in the end, Benjamin was not surprised. “I knew that Indiana was the better team, but I was hoping that Miami would be able to pull out a victory. It didn’t happen,” said Benjamin, who enjoyed a halftime snack of a hot dog, French fries and a Sprite.

For Benjamin, it was a late night, but she made it to school on time Tuesday morning. “I didn’t get to bed on Monday night until nearly 1 a.m., but I was

on Tuesday morning for school,” Benjamin said. She said that she slept well on Tuesday night.

Justin Hicks Wins PGA Senior Professional Player Of The Year Award

PGA of America recently announced its 2025 Players of the Year awards, presented by Rolex. Justin Hicks of Wellington was named Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year, Hicks enjoyed a standout 2025 as the PGA teaching professional at Stonebridge Country Club in Boca Raton, and claimed his first Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year honor.

The South Florida PGA member totaled 845.83 points, narrowly finishing ahead of Bob Sowards of Ohio, who finished second with 734.30 points. Mick Smith of Wisconsin was third with 522.30 points, followed by Alan Morin of Royal Palm Beach in fourth with 431.50 points.

“It’s certainly a tremendous honor because there’s not many times in your life where you’re able to be in that type of position, no matter who you are competing against,” Hicks said. “There are so many good players out there. I think our section is definitely a very competitive section, and having to beat the young guys down here year round in an effort to win our points race, it pushes me all the more. Our section is a big part of that. I’ve got a 14-year-old son, Owen, who is trying to chase me down, so that’s a big part of my motivation, too.”

The 51-year-old Hicks recorded a T-9 finish at the PGA Professional Championship in April en route to a spot in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club as a member of the Corebridge Financial Team. After competing in the U.S.

Open at Oakmont in June, Hicks won the Senior PGA Professional Championship in October at the PGA Golf Club, where he shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to finish at 8-under-par 280 and win by one.

Hicks collected his second consecutive South Florida PGA Player of the Year title after posting top-10 finishes in all four Section majors. “I’ve got a really good network of people I work with,” Hicks said. “I’m always trying to think that my best golf is ahead of me. I’m looking forward to the chance at qualifying for majors again this year. I’m looking forward to playing my first senior major at the Senior PGA. There are so many firsts that are still coming. It’s a very exciting time because I’m playing more golf than ever.”

Wellington 9-Year-Old To Launch Book At Loggerhead Marinelife Center

A 9-year-old Wellington student has turned a science fair project into a published children’s book and is hosting a launch event at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in March.

After turning a science fair frustration into a published book, young author Emiliana Fuger is celebrating with a public launch event at one of South Florida’s most iconic marine education centers.

The book launch for Anatomy Under the Sea: The Adventures of Luna the Loggerhead will take place at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach on Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. The event is open to the public and families.

Emiliana, a Wellington native, began this journey while working on her 2024 Wavemakers science

Sarah Wells Of RPB On Geneva College Dean’s List

Geneva College in Pennsylvania recently announced the Dean’s List of undergraduate students for the fall 2025 semester. Among those named is Sarah Wells of Royal Palm Beach, who is a sophomore.

To be eligible for this recognition, students in traditional programs must earn a GPA of at least 3.6 while passing 12 credit hours or more.

Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering more than 195 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online degree programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva’s programs are recognized for their high quality. Learn more at www.geneva.edu.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison recently recognized students named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year. Among the honorees are Wellington residents Julia Govier (School of Education) and Skye Schneider (College of Letters and Science). Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own GPA requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction. Learn more about the University of Wisconsin-Madison at www.wisc.edu.

Lu Borgia, a junior from Wellington, has been named to the President’s List at Mercer University for the fall 2025 semester. Inclusion requires students to meet rigorous GPA standards specific to the college or school within the university. Founded in 1833, Mer-

cer University in Macon, Georgia, is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The university enrolls more than 9,000 students in 12 schools and colleges. Learn more at www. mercer.edu.

project. Her goal was to build a physical model showing the internal anatomy of a sea turtle. While researching, she noticed something surprising. There were plenty of children’s books about sea turtles, yet none that clearly showed how their bodies work on the inside.

“When I couldn’t find a book that showed the inside of a sea turtle,” Emiliana said, “I decided to write one myself so kids could understand it more easily.”

To make sure the science was accurate, Emiliana interviewed local marine scientists and studied how sea turtles compare anatomically to other sea animals found in South Florida waters. She

partnered with professional illustrator Jess Burbank to transform complex scientific concepts into bright, kid-friendly visuals. The result is Anatomy Under the Sea, a children’s book that blends storytelling with real marine biology. Through side-by-side comparisons of ocean animals, the book introduces young readers to anatomy, conservation and scientific curiosity in an approachable way.

Emiliana’s work has already earned meaningful recognition. She won the 2025 Wavemakers Competition and received praise from renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. She was also named a 2025 Go Blue Award nominee, highlighting the edu-

cational impact of her project.

Beyond the book, Emiliana gives “Turtle Talks” at local schools and nonprofit organizations to continue sharing her love of marine science with other kids.

The March 7 launch event will include a live book reading and discussion with Emiliana Fuger, book signings and opportunities to learn more about sea turtles and marine conservation.

Anatomy Under the Sea: The Adventures of Luna the Loggerhead is available at www. lunatheloggerhead.com, through major retailers, and at select local gift shops, including at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Manatee Lagoon.

Equestrians Rally To Honor Brianne Goutal-Marteau

The Equus Foundation will honor equestrian Brianne Goutal-Marteau as the recipient of its Spirit Award on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Wanderers Club. The Spirit Award is presented to equestrians who have significantly elevated the image and desirability of horses.

As a young rider, Goutal-Marteau became a household name and an inspiration to horse lovers when she was featured on Animal

Planet’s successful series, “The Road to the Maclay,” allowing viewers the opportunity to watch her train and compete for the coveted and prestigious national award for junior riders.

Not only did she win the Maclay, she also still holds the record of winning all four equitation finals — earning her instant rock star status. Goutal-Marteau continues to win major show jumping events and is also a highly sought after equestrian trainer. Throughout her career, she has leveraged her reputation to speak out for horse welfare, help find homes for adoptable horses and has herself adopted horses.

“We are thrilled that so many iconic equestrians and Equus Foundation supporters signed on as committee members to rally event attendance to recognize

NWRA FL Chapter Honors 2025 Legislative Champions

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Florida Chapter recently announced its 2025 Legislative Champions during the organization’s annual Legislative Fly-In. Legislative Champion awards were presented to individuals promoting legislation in support of the waste and recycling industry during Florida’s 2025 legislative session.

Local award winners included State Rep. Meg Weinberger and State Sen. Lori Berman.

Berman (D-District 26) was honored for her proposed legislation on recycling. The State of Florida has a statutory 75 percent recycling goal that Florida Department of Environmental Protection has acknowledged will not be met. The legislation directs the FDEP to conduct a study and create a plan on how to increase recycling. NWRA FL Chapter supports new, realistic recycling goals that are environmentally and economically sustainable.

Weinberger (R-District 94) received an award for her leadership

on legislation related to incinerator siting. In the final week of session, she stood firm in rejecting late-filed amendments that had not been heard in committee and would have negatively impacted the solid waste and recycling industry.

Other honorees included:

• State Sen. Stan McClain of Ocala and State Rep. Richard Gentry of DeBary, who were presented with a legislative award for their leadership in filing battery-safety legislation.

• State Sen. Nick DiCeglie of St. Petersburg and State Rep. Fiona McFarland of Sarasota were honored for passing legislation that clarifies that private solid waste and debris management service providers are not required to collect storm-generated yard trash, debris or waste.

• State Sen. Bryan Avila of Hialeah Gardens and Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville were presented with a legislative award for their leadership in re-enacting the sales

tax exemption for natural gas fuel.

“Our Legislative Champions always love their unique awards featuring a garbage truck,” said Keyna Cory, NWRA’s government affairs representative in Florida. “This year’s awards were made in the USA of recycled materials and represent our member companies’ commitments provid-

ing safe, sustainable waste and recycling services.”

The National Waste & Recycling Association is the leading organization providing leadership, advocacy, research, education and safety expertise for the waste and recycling industries. For more information, visit www.wasterecycling.org.

WELLINGTON ELEMENTARY FIELD DAY A SUCCESS

Wellington Elementary School recently held its annual Field Day. Kindergarten through fifth grade participated in many fun-filled activities. The grades got together, and physical education coach Jason Versage explained the rules of the games and races. Staff members and administration participated. Parents came out and volunteered. The children enjoyed getting together with other classes in their grades. Versage did a great job organizing the Field Day event. Shown here, the students take part in various Field Day activities.

Community Invited To Hearts & Hands Gala

Connections Education Center

of the Palm Beaches and Connections High School and Vocational Center are proud to announce their annual Hearts & Hands Gala, taking place Friday, Feb. 28 at the National Croquet Center. This inspiring event supports the autism community and celebrates those who give their time, talents and generosity to empower individuals with special needs to learn, grow and thrive.

This year’s gala theme, “Building the Future Together,” reflects Connections’ commitment to expand its comprehensive educational, therapeutic and life-skills programs for individuals with autism. Plans are underway for campus growth that includes new classrooms, enhanced programming and state-of-the-art resources. This vision — centered on innovation, inclusion and long-

term impact — is only possible through the continued support of families, donors and community partners.

This year’s gala will honor four outstanding partners whose dedication has made a lasting impact on Connections students and programs:

• Mike and Ruth Menor Ruth, of the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, and Mike, owner of Growing Together Farm, exemplify compassion and inclusion through their continuous support of students’ growth and vocational learning experiences.

• The City of Palm Beach Gardens — Palm Beach Gardens has been a steadfast partner, helping Connections launch its first group home and supporting one of its signature fundraising event, the annual Fire Truck Pull.

• John and Christina Kuchar

— Their generosity extends far beyond donations. They have provided bikes, performed countless repairs and maintained the school’s beloved bike program, helping students build independence and confidence.

• Jeff Wood and Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law — Since the school’s founding, the firm and Wood have provided invaluable legal guidance, advocacy and friendship, helping to shape the foundation on which the organization stands today.

The evening promises a warm celebration of community, connection and achievement, with dinner, dancing and opportunities to support programs that make a difference in the lives of individuals with unique abilities. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at www.connectedpb. com.

Palm Beach County Property

Appraiser Dorothy Jacks recently announced that the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office is now accepting applications for its 33rd annual scholarships.

Six college scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to graduating Palm Beach County high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited higher-education institution full time, regardless of intended major or field of study.

Each scholarship recipient will also be offered the opportunity to participate in a paid summer

internship with the Property Appraiser’s Office.

“These scholarships are funded entirely through voluntary employee donations, which makes this program especially meaningful,” Jacks said. “It reflects the generosity of our staff and their shared commitment to investing in the future of Palm Beach County.”

To be eligible, applicants must be Palm Beach County residents, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and plan to attend an accredited college or university. The application deadline is March 31.

“The paid internship component allows students to gain hands-on experience and learn more about public service and property valuation,” Jacks added. “It’s an opportunity to explore a professional field that plays an important role in every community.”

Since 1994, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office has awarded $188,000 in college scholarships to local students. For more info., call (561) 3553230, e-mail pa-myscholarship@ pbcpao.gov or visit www.pbcpao. gov/scholarship-awards.htm.

American Heritage Schools To Host Virtual Spring Open Houses

American Heritage Schools, named the top Private K-12 School in Florida by Niche, is hosting live virtual spring open house events for prospective families interested in enrolling children at its Broward or Palm Beach campuses. Each open house offers parents and children an opportunity to meet with the American Heritage Schools team, including the admissions directors, teachers, program directors and principals. The Palm Beach Campus will host its open houses on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. for grades PK3 to 5, and on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. for grades 6 to 12.

The spring open house events will start with a brief introduction from school administrators, then participants will have the opportunity to hear about American Heritage Schools’ extensive curriculum and electives from the educators.

The school’s goal is to introduce guests to the campus and its highly qualified team of directors, teachers and principals, as well as the curriculum, philosophy and culture so they can learn what makes American Heritage Schools one of the best college preparatory schools in the nation. This marks the 16th consecutive year that American Heritage Schools have had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists in Florida. For 12 consecutive years, American Heritage has been the No. 1 or No. 2 private school in the nation with the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists. If families are unable to attend one of the virtual spring open houses and/or would prefer a one-on-one virtual tour, call the ad-

missions office directly. The Palm Beach Campus can be reached at (561) 495-7272, ext. 1, or e-mail admissions.palmbeach@ahschool. com.

For more information, and to reserve a spot, visit www.ahschool.com/open-house. Spaces will be limited, so RSVP as soon as possible.

American Heritage Schools is a college-preparatory day school for students in grades PK3 through 12, known for academic excellence and top rankings across multiple disciplines. With two 40-acre campuses, one in Broward County and another in Palm Beach County, American Heritage provides a diverse and inclusive environment for almost 5,000 students from more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.ahschool. com.

Sponsor U.S. Polo Assn. Welcomes Start Of 2026 Season At NPC

U.S. Polo Assn., the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), welcomes the start of the 2026 highgoal polo season at the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) in Wellington, where the brand returns as the official sponsor of one of the world’s premier destinations for the sport of polo.

The 2026 winter polo season at NPC features an elite lineup of high-profile tournaments, beginning with the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, followed by the first and second legs of the three-part Gauntlet of Polo series, the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup, all showcasing the world’s top professional polo players, polo ponies and teams competing at the highest level.

The high-goal polo season reaches its pinnacle with the U.S.

Open Polo Championship, the most prestigious and coveted title in American polo. Beginning April 1 and culminating with the championship final on April 26, the tournament will once again captivate live audiences at NPC and millions of national and international viewers on ESPN platforms, Star Sports in India and beIN Sports.

U.S. Polo Assn. continues to hold exclusive naming rights to Field One as U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium Field, along with prominent branding on the game scoreboard, Field Two signage and outfitting all NPC staff in U.S. Polo Assn. apparel. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious facilities for the sport, with immaculately groomed fields and premium hospitality, NPC will welcome thousands of fans from around the world throughout the

season to experience world-class competition in an elevated, immersive environment.

Unique to the 2026 season, NPC will be celebrating 250 years of American spirit, honoring the United States’ milestone anniversary in U.S. Polo Assn. red, white and blue Americana style. Through thoughtfully curated activations, storytelling moments and fan experiences, the 2026 high-goal season at NPC will remain grounded in U.S. Polo Assn.’s authentic American heritage dating back to 1890, and its deep connection to the sport of polo, while honoring the roots of the country.

“U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to continue elevating the fan experience, honoring the traditions of the game, and welcoming both longtime supporters and new au-

diences to experience the sport of polo at its very best in Wellington every Sunday from now through April,” said J. Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “The 2026 season is especially meaningful as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, a milestone that aligns perfectly with U.S. Polo Assn.’s deep American heritage and authentic roots in the sport of polo.”

Throughout the season, NPC guests can watch action-packed games from the sidelines, in stadium boxes, tailgate tents, the grandstands or from the U.S. Polo Assn. MVP Lounge. Located in the Pavilion, MVP Lounge guests will enjoy first-class dining, chilled champagne and exclusive U.S. Polo Assn. branded gifts.

Dress For Success Palm Beaches To Honor Stacy London With 2026 Style Icon Award

Stacy London — the fashion stylist best known as the co-host of the popular TLC show What Not to Wear and currently an outspoken advocate for women’s midlife health and understanding menopause — will be accepting the 2026 Style Icon Award when its presented Friday, March 13 at the Style for Hope Fundraising Luncheon benefiting Dress for Success Palm Beaches (DFSPB). Her appearance will include an onstage sit-down interview led by WPTV news anchor Hollani Davis, who also will serve as the afternoon’s emcee. The event will be preceded by a reception and silent auction taking place at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. and the official program getting underway at noon. Individual seats are $250, or $400 for added entry to an exclusive meet-and-greet reception with London. Ticket availability and additional information can be found at https://bit. ly/2026StyleforHope.

“The empowerment of women is the ethos of Dress for Success, and Stacy London has been a voice for the empowerment of women her entire career,” said Wendy Tannenbaum, co-chair of the Style for Hope event. “Like those who preceded her in receiving the award… she’s an inspiring role model for women as they strive

to achieve stability, relevance and economic mobility.”

According to Virginia “Ginger” Marchetti, a DFSPB board member and event co-chair, the fundraising luncheon is now in its 12th year, with the Style Icon Award added as a highlight in 2019.

“Last year, we netted $350,000, and it has been critical in helping to fund our job readiness programs, expansion of our outreach in Broward County, and the build-out and relocation to our new, larger headquarters in Greenacres,” Marchetti said. “This past year, we touched the lives of more than 1,100 women with our services.”

Upon being named for the prize, London said, “It is my great honor to be receiving the 2026 Style Icon Award from Dress for Success. The organization has always been so close to my heart, as our philosophies about style and getting dressed are so closely aligned. For me, style encompasses so much more than clothing. It is a gateway to a greater sense of confidence and self-esteem, and that has always been my goal as a stylist, a women’s advocate, and as a friend and human.”

Makeup mogul Bobbi Brown is the luncheon’s honorary chair, and DFS Worldwide CEO Joanie Bily will be making a special appearance, delivering welcoming remarks. Additionally, guests will

hear from a DFSPB client who has significantly benefited from the nonprofit’s services.

DFSPB is one of 130 global network members for Dress for Success in some 15 countries. A valued career resource, DFSPB not only offers the attire for job interviews and subsequent em-

ployment, but its programs include the kinds of courses, career coaching, one-on-one mentoring and professional networking that help a woman prepare for the workplace, be presentable, feel unshakably confident and realize her self-worth. For more information, visit www.dressforsuccesspb.org.

“In this historic year for our country, the USPA is proud to present a 2026 season that reflects the excellence, tradition and competitive spirit that have defined the sport of polo in the United States for generations,” said Stewart Armstrong, chair of the United States Polo Association. “From the opening match of the season to the final chukker of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the high-goal season promises world-class polo at one of the finest facilities in the sport.” U.S. Polo Assn. is a

HCI College has entered into an articulation agreement with Nightingale College to expand education pathways for nursing in Florida. The partnership creates a simple transfer route for HCI students who wish to continue their studies and pursue a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN). Together, the colleges share a goal of strengthening Florida’s nurse workforce to meet the growing demand. Through the agreement, eligible HCI College graduates can transfer specified coursework into Nightingale College’s programs. This will allow students to continue their education without duplication of completed requirements. Eligible graduates can transfer up to 48 semester credits directly into Nightingale’s RN-to-BSN program.

“HCI College is always working to create new learning opportunities for our students. Our agreement with Nightingale College expands options for our graduates and gives them more flexibility to continue their nursing education,” said David Shelpman, group campus president and chief

operating officer of HCI College. Nightingale College, based in Salt Lake City, operates a blended-distance education model across its broader nursing programs. While some programs combine online coursework with designated clinical experiences, the RN-to-BSN available to HCI College graduates is structured as a fully online program track. Through this agreement, eligible learners will complete all coursework online, supported by community or workplace-based projects that meet the program’s experiential requirements. The agreement with Nightingale College marks the latest expansion in HCI College’s growing network of higher education partners. HCI College also partners with Chamberlain University, Grand Canyon University, Parker University, Post University, South University, Walden University, Florida National University and St. Thomas University, among others. HCI College has locations in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.hci.edu/programs.

A Day Of Trading Became A Competition For My Grandkids

There’s a scouting event out in the middle of a field in nowhere, Kansas, that my two Missourian grandchildren look forward to each year. Kids from troops for miles around pack up anything they think they can trade with other scouts, then run around like loons from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., making their best deals.

There are a lot of bones and pelts, some items germane to scouting, a bunch of holiday gifts gone wrong and whatever else the kids think they can pawn off on another family.

This year, it was 15 degrees out there with a wind chill factor that made it feel like 4, but, no matter, the place was crawling with excited little kids. And Orion and

Tess said it was like “a sauna” compared to previous years. Last year, thinking like a scout, Orion’s father brilliantly went online and bought a passel of penknives from the airport TSA. Orion was successfully able to bargain for anything he wanted.

This year, hoping for a repeat performance, both Orion and Tess came loaded down with knives, but Tess rounded out her selection to include a few bracelets, some plush animals and a rubber chicken. Both children did very well, or at least better than the child whose parents watched in horror as he traded a set of stainless-steel police handcuffs (with key) for an old car tire. “Remember to take all your trades home with you!” the scout leader quickly cautioned.

Overall, things went swimmingly but, by 3:30, both kids were bored. They were roaming around the field when they decided to challenge each other: With a

deadline of 4 p.m., who could get the best deal for... a rock?

Each carefully chose the most desirable-looking rock they could find, and the race was on.

Tess took an early lead by immediately trading her rock for a sticker. Orion was in hot pursuit, trading his rock for a packet of fruit punch flavoring, to be added to water (not included).

Tess traded her sticker for a Frisbee; Orion traded his packet for a fidget spinner.

Tess went from Frisbee to a wallet to “dinosaur” bone, cresting at 3:50 p.m. with a football-sized 3D-printed dragon, which she wanted to keep.

Orion traded his fidget spinner for a Santa shirt (size XXL), which came with a free bourbon flask. Even though Orion wanted to call it quits right there, his mother made him trade the

“I don’t know, Tess,” I said. “Orion might have won this. Batteries are pretty expensive, if they work.”

“Oh, I don’t

‘Wake Up Dead Man’ On Netflix A Fascinating Murder Mystery

Perhaps the most interesting drama I saw in 2025 was a Netflix film. Wake up

Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the third in the Knives Out series and the most thought-provoking. The films revolve around the work of master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and feature an all-star cast of possible murder suspects to ensure that you will not base any guesses on the status of the performers. The first of the movies by director/writer Rian Johnson was exceptional. The second, not in the same class but not bad. The new one is excellent and deals not only with murder but with morality.

‘I’ On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a priest who was once a boxer, is assigned as assistant pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, after punching out one of his deacons. That parish is led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), whose grandfather forced his mother to stay at the church while pregnant because he promised she would receive his inheritance. That inheritance, said to be a fortune, disappeared, and she ransacked the church looking for it, destroying its crucifix. Talk about symbolism! So, the monsignor preaches fire and brimstone, driving away all but a handful of followers, while Father Jud tries to preach love. Then Wicks is murdered, and Jud is suspected by Police Chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis), who calls on Blanc to investigate. Then they look at the key members of the congregation,

all of whom were present at the time. That includes lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington) and her adopted son Cy (Daryl McCormack); aspiring filmmaker Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), an alcoholic doctor miserable because his wife left him; former hit author, now a failure, Lee Ross (Andrew Scott); wheelchair-bound cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), who prays for a miracle cure; church lady and secretary Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close); and groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church).

All the suspects, it turns out, have reasons to kill — and all have secrets. The real fun comes as twists and turns lead to revelations. This is one of the rare times when there can be lots of doubt, as we watch secrets revealed and more than a few betrayals.

One of the best things about the cast is that they are all great at “chewing up the scenery.” That means creating really

meaty characters and really going all out. This is a great group of weird characters. Craig overplays Blanc slightly, but less so than in the earlier films. Brolin, fresh off killing half the living beings in the whole Avengers universe, does have the charisma to carry the role of hypocritical moralist. And no one in the known universe can probably chew up scenery like Close... and there isn’t a boiled bunny in sight. Haden Church was very strong as her lover with a twist or two in there. Renner also knows how to hit the mark as the twisted-up doctor. Washington and McCormack have a really strange relationship, one even more twisted than either realized at first. Scott is excellent at being tormented and ambitious. Spaeny brings just the right amount of pathos and repressed anger. O’Connor plays it far straighter, which helps set him up as a real moral force against the crazies here. There should also be a shout-out to Bridgett Everett in a short role that is hysterical and sets off the ending. One of the things I really liked about the film is that it not only dealt with a murder, as well as several other deadly sins, but also with morality. Father Jud is deeply religious and very aware of his responsibility as a shepherd to his flock, while Blanc is an atheist who comes to realize that he often faces the same kind of choices while solving cases. The relationship between the two men is a key element of the film. There is a marvelous focus on what is right beyond the usual identifying a killer. A moral question as much as a “who done it.”

Although the movie did run for a short time in the theaters, it follows the general Netflix rule of showing up on that streaming service 17 days after release. Which means that if you have Netflix, you can watch it with no extra charge. It’s long, but certainly worth watching.

Limited English Proficiency Coordinator at 850-245-2118 or LEP@FloridaDEP.gov. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice). NOTICE

until further order of the Department. Because the administrative hearing process is designed to formulate final agency action, the hearing process may result in a modification of the agency action or even denial of the application. Petition for Administrative Hearing A person whose substantial interests are affected by the Department’s action may petition for an administrative proceeding (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S. Pursuant to Rules 28-106.201 and 28-106.301, F.A.C., a petition for an administrative hearing must contain the following information:

(a) The name and address of each agency affected and each agency’s file or identification number, if known;

(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner; the name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s representative, if any, which shall be the address for service purposes during the course of the proceeding; and an explanation of how the petitioner’s substantial interests are or will be affected by the agency determination;

(c) A statement of when and how the petitioner received notice of the agency decision;

(d) A statement of all disputed issues of material fact. If there are none, the petition must so indicate;

(e) A concise statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including the specific facts that the petitioner contends warrant reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action;

(f) A statement of the specific rules or statutes that the petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the agency’s proposed action, including an explanation of how the alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes; and

(g) A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, stating precisely the action that the petitioner wishes the agency to take with respect to the agency’s proposed action.

The petition must be filed (received by the Clerk) in the Office of General Counsel of the Department at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000, or via electronic correspondence at Agency_Clerk@dep.state.fl.us. Also, a copy of the petition

shall be mailed to the applicant at the address indicated above at the time of filing.

Time Period for Filing a Petition

In accordance with Rule 62-110.106(3), F.A.C., petitions for an administrative hearing by the applicant and persons entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of receipt of this written notice. Petitions filed by any persons other than the applicant, and other than those entitled to written notice under Section 120.60(3), F.S., must be filed within 14 days of publication of the notice or within 14 days of receipt of the written notice, whichever occurs first. The failure to file a petition within the appropriate time period shall constitute a waiver of that person's right to request an administrative determination (hearing) under Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or to intervene in this proceeding and participate as a party to it. Any subsequent intervention (in a proceeding initiated by another party) will be only at the discretion of the presiding officer upon the filing of a motion in compliance with Rule 28-106.205, F.A.C. Extension of Time Under Rule 62-110.106(4),

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