The Wellington Golf & Country Club’s Summer Sports Camp is in full swing with plenty of campers enjoying several sports daily. Campers enjoy golf, tennis, swimming and arts and crafts. The Summer Sports Camp runs through Aug. 17.
Shown here, assistant golf pro Ryan Butterick helps Aiden Collier line up his putt.
STORY & MORE
PHOTOS, PAGE 25A
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
With no set topic on the agenda of County Commissioner Jess Santamaria’s monthly forum at the original Wellington Mall Wednesday, speakers voiced their views on a range of issues — and at the top of the list were the property tax reform measures passed last week by the Florida Legislature. Wellington resident Morley Alperstein urged listeners to vote against the tax relief measure, which will go to the voters in a referendum Jan. 29. Due to a late amendment, the bill legislators passed last week gives homeowners the option of keeping their present homestead exemption granted through the Save Our Homes Amendment, or taking a “super exemption” on 75 percent of the first $200,000 of their home’s value and 15 percent of a further $300,000.
Using published figures, Alperstein warned the audience not to give up their homestead exemptions under any circumstances, saying the super exemption would cost them more in the long run.
“I have been on the homestead plan for seven years,” Alperstein said. “My current assessed value is $350,000; my market value is $625,000. The super exemption plan promises savings for high-priced homes,
A
but in my case it is not true. In the first year of the plan, if I opted out of my homestead plan, my taxes would increase in 2008 by $2,200. Projecting that for 16 years, it would cost $160,000. It’s because the super exemption uses market value and not assessed value to compute my taxes.”
Owners of a home valued at $200,000 would pay less tax with a super exemption in the first seven years, Alperstein said, and enjoy cumulative savings on
taxes until the 13th year, but then the differences would even out and the homeowner would face much higher taxes.
“The more expensive your home is,” he said, “the more it is going to cost you if you go away from the homestead plan. On a $500,000 house, you will only save money for the first four years.”
Alperstein said the same homeowner could expect to pay $129,000 more in taxes by the
See TAXES, page 8A
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
The Wellington Village Council reviewed the local consequences of a state-mandated tax cut at a workshop meeting Thursday. The Florida Legislature approved the tax cut last week during a special session. The measure, which Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law this week, mandates that local governments reduce their property tax revenues.
Wellington will need to cut its budget by nine percent for the upcoming fiscal year to reflect a 0.4-mill reduction from its 2007 property tax assessment rate of 2.7 mills, a loss of about $3 million to village coffers.
Village Manager Charlie Lynn told council members during the workshop that the hit to the
village’s $20 million budget funded by property taxes will mostly be absorbed through cuts in operating costs because further cuts must be made in coming years, although the capital improvements budget will also be targeted. “We have to cut operations because they are the running annual expenses,” Lynn told the Town-Crier Council members at the workshop worked on prioritizing village expenditures, assigning them to four levels of necessity.
“No-Choice Core Businesses” essential to the village include community governance, planning the village’s future, mobility and transportation, drainage and flood protection, water, wastewater and solid waste.
“Choice Core Businesses”
Don’t
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
To comply with a new state statute, the Royal Palm Beach Village Council Thursday night approved a resolution that provides an inventory list by July 1 of village-owned properties which may be suitable for affordable housing, if such properties exist. Those last four words say it all, as far as the village is concerned.
According to Senior Planner Bradford O’Brien, there is no more land for affordable housing in Royal Palm Beach. “At this point, we could find no pieces of property that would lend themselves to affordable housing,” O’Brien told the council members.
The state statute requires that each municipality review its real property inventory list every three years.
“We believe we do not own any vacant parcels today that are not either earmarked for a future park or being used for some other public purpose,” Village Manager David Farber said. “Three years from now there might be a different issue, but right now we don’t believe we have any property that we could in good conscience recommend to the state be translated into affordable housing.”
Councilman Fred Pinto asked O’Brien for the state’s definition of “affordable housing.”
O’Brien responded that try as he might, he couldn’t find a definition of what the Florida State Legislature considers affordable housing.
“It’s to be determined, essentially,” O’Brien said. “I could only find an answer to the different categories of families that would be available to obtain the affordable housing.”
The waters become even muddier in terms of the statute’s guidance. Village Attorney Trela White told the council that there are no guidelines in place for compliance with the statute. In other words, the legislature now requires cities to provide an inventory list of real property, but there is no state agency that gets the list. Conceivably, if a city decided it did not want to comply with the statute, it would be breaking the law. But there is no agency in place that would enforce any kind of penalty.
“We’re doing it because we want to comply with the law,” White said.
In other business:
• With Vice Mayor David Swift chairing the meeting — Mayor David Lodwick was out of town — the council approved an application by Minto Communities for a 443-unit residential development on 250.59 acres located on the north side of Okeechobee Blvd., west of Target. It also approved an ap-
RPB, page 5A
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
The Wellington Village Council will likely review a request next month by Aquila Property Company to extend the deadline for the reopening of the Binks Forest Golf Course, Village Manager Charlie Lynn said.
Jupiter-based Aquila, which purchased the golf course last month, is bound by an amended developer’s agreement struck between the village and former owner Peninsula Bank
last year in which the course owner promises to have the course ready for play by Sept. 30 or face fines.
Florida’s ongoing drought, combined with water restrictions imposed by the South Florida Water Management District, have slowed the establishment of new greens at Binks Forest, and soon after acquiring the course, Aquila requested the village to allow them to push back the facility’s opening from Sept. 30 to mid-November.
Lynn said the council is ten-
tatively scheduled to review Aquila’s request for an extension July 10, and village staff will probably meet with company officials before then. “We’re still just evaluating it,” he said.
Lynn said he hopes Aquila will not face any more difficulties in opening the course. “I’m looking forward to them getting it back on line again,” he said. “I’ll be glad when they successfully complete the process.”
Aquila Managing Director Terry Strongin told the Town-
Crier Thursday that recent rains have helped green Binks Forest, but not enough to revise the midNovember timetable.
“The rain has helped the grass that’s already planted grow in a little bit faster,” he said. “As the grass stabilizes and gets grown in, we can back off the watering and move the watering allocation we have to new holes.”
Strongin said nine holes on the course have been planted.
“Some of the holes that were planted early on are probably around 60 percent coverage
right now, or even close to 70 percent,” he said. A timetable for planting grass on the remaining nine holes “is day by day,” Strongin said. “Whatever the weather allows,” he said. “The long-term schedule is that we’re still looking at the November timeframe for opening.”
Chicago-based KemperSports will manage Binks Forest, and sources familiar with the course said Aquila will name a general manager for the course next week.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
State Sen. Dave Aronberg used Monday’s meeting of the Mid-County Democratic Club to express his dissatisfaction
with one of the property tax reform measures passed by the Florida Legislature last week.
Aronberg, whose District 27 includes much of the western communities, slammed the proposal to allow homesteaded property owners to trade their current exemption for a “super exemption” on 75 percent of the first $200,000 of their home’s value and 15 percent of a further $300,000. The constitutional amendment will go to the voters in January and requires 60 percent support to become law.
Aronberg said the amendment does nothing to address the disparity between the tax bills of homesteaded and nonhomesteaded property owners.
“People who just moved into a community pay so much more,” he said. “People who
are not homesteaders pay so much more. Businesses pay so much more. You have this disparity, and the constitutional amendment we passed not only will not fix that disparity, it will make it worse.”
The fact that property owners would be allowed to opt out and retain their present homestead exemption and three-percent annual increase cap makes the legislature’s effort seem even more ineffectual, Aronberg said.
“Because some homeowners were concerned and didn’t want to lose the Save Our Homes tax cap, the Republicans added this amendment,” Aronberg said. “If you want to keep Save Our Homes, you can keep it. But if you keep Save Our Homes, we are back to the status quo, and essentially we did nothing.”
Aronberg said even the so-
called “super exemption” would not yield lower tax rates in the long run.
“When the home values go up 10 percent to 20 percent in Palm Beach County, you don’t get the three-percent cap any more. In the first four or five years, you will get a benefit. In the sixth year, if your home value is going to go up fast, your taxes would have exceeded what they would have been there under Save Our Homes. That’s what led the Republicans to say you can choose to keep the current system forever. You’re allowed to make that one irrevocable choice, but you’re left with the status quo with fewer firefighters, fewer police and an education system that is now 50th in the country.”
Still, Aronberg expressed doubt that the amendment would garner the votes it
needs to pass. “People say nobody will vote against a tax cut,” he said. “They will. They will because it’s confusing. The more they learn about this, the more they realize that people will not get a tax cut from this, they will get a tax increase.”
Instead, Aronberg said, the amendment will likely inspire organized opposition.
“You will have the police, fire, teachers, government officials and the unions against this,” he said. “The business community hates it. The homebuilders don’t want it. This is not an answer. This is not portability. The Realtors don’t like it. My prediction is that the more people know about this, the more people will oppose it. Watch how far the Republicans run from this when the word gets out. They won’t get the 60 percent they need.”
This week, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have eased federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. It was the third veto of his presidency, and the second which dealt with the stem cell issue. As he has in the past, Mr. Bush opposed the most recent bill on moral grounds, arguing that taxpayers should not subsidize the destruction of human embryos. However, while the president’s intentions seem grounded more in personal belief than politics — he won’t gain any popularity points with this one — those beliefs are more grounded in principle than reality.
While no one was surprised by the president’s decision, it’s another issue in which he is out of step with the majority of Americans. The promises offered by embryonic stem cell research are very real… and so are the scores of individuals who could possibly benefit from the research, such as victims of Parkinson’s disease or ALS. Unfortunately, Mr. Bush has decided that those lives are less important than the embryos that could help them, even if the vast majority of those embryos stand little chance of developing into human beings and are more likely destined to be destroyed.
Defending Mr. Bush, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow told the Associated Press the president does not believe in putting “an end to human life for research purposes.” The problem with this argument, however, is that
There are many critical issues that concern both businesses and residents of Palm Beach County: affordable housing, property taxes and controlling growth. There are other important issues, such as education of the workforce, runaway government spending, infrastructure needs and water conservation that are of special interest to the business community.
most of the stem cells used in research come from embryos left over from invitro fertilization procedures. If not used for research, they would be thrown away. This benefits no one. And from a moral standpoint, it is the least appealing scenario.
Mr. Bush said he plans to promote research in other areas, such as adult stem cells, which have shown promise as a less-controversial alternative. However, recent questions have risen regarding the accuracy of those studies. Overall, most research indicates that embryonic stem cells are more versatile.
We certainly appreciate the sensitivity of this issue, and we do not take lightly the risks involved with scientific research. And to anyone who would raise the issue of reproductive cloning: forget it. The likelihood of that slipping through Congress is zero. That argument is a straw man intended as a scare tactic, one which diverts attention away from the real debate about saving lives. But it hasn’t worked. Poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans support using embryonic stem cells for research. Even former first lady Nancy Reagan is a vocal proponent, proving that this is an issue that transcends political ideology. While the Democratic-controlled Congress doesn’t have enough Republican support to override Bush’s veto, research will continue, with or without federal funding. And all that could change after the next election.
I have had many conversations with political and business leaders in Palm Beach County on the pressing needs of our community, and used those opportunities to call attention to the magnitude of the healthcare industry in our county. Through my discussions, I found that the majority of the population recognizes tourism and agriculture — $2.2 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively — as the “two largest industries” in Palm Beach County. The fact is that the largest industry in our
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county is healthcare at $8 billion. Yes, healthcare!
Most leaders understand the importance of healthcare; however, they are often shocked to learn that Palm Beach County hospitals alone generate about $2.5 billion in collected revenues. It also surprises them to know that healthcare in Florida is a $100 billion-plus industry, and over $2 trillion nationwide. If more state, regional and county economic developmental agencies tracked healthcare businesses collectively and considered them separate from “services,” the public would realize the sheer size of this industry and its contribution to the general economic welfare of the county. Healthcare is not only today’s big issue; it is the biggest issue in society. It will become the titanic issue facing us as 78 million Baby Boomers begin to retire in 2012, at which time national healthcare expenditures are going to escalate even faster, doubling in real numbers over the next 10 years. I advocate that we have to see the “entire forest” before we can begin to manage “the trees.” In other words, before we can talk about the important subissues like covering the uninsured, a potential county public hospital, doctors leaving our county, staffing at local emergency rooms and controlling healthcare cost, we must tackle the major issue: awareness. We need to realize that hospitals, nursing homes, imaging centers therapy, lab services, pharmacies, medical office equipment suppliers, primary care/ specialty providers and more, collectively make up the healthcare industry. Only then will we be able to create a comprehensive solution to streamline healthcare and make it more efficient. We in business, political and civic groups need to spend the time to understand how healthcare affects this county, our residents, employees and our way of life.
Noel Guillama,
President The Quantum Group Inc. Wellington
Carlos Enriquez of the Acreage Landowners’ Association wrote two letters to the TownCrier in recent weeks slamming Dennis Lipp, new council member of the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. I must say I find Mr. Enriquez’s comments offensive and downright
ludicrous. First he complains that he feels our canals are not clean enough while he is cutting through Loxahatchee Groves on his daily trek through our community, headed from work to his home in The Acreage. In the same letter, he absurdly blames Councilman Lipp and asks why Mr. Lipp doesn’t take immediate action to clean up our Loxahatchee Groves canals. Is this the personal responsibility of Mr. Lipp? I think not. We have a water control district here in charge of canals and roads to which we all pay taxes. Our new town and its leaders have no jurisdiction over our canals at present. (But I’m confident Mr. Enriquez does not know this.)
It’s no secret that Mr. Enriquez openly supported the Callery-Judge project — whilst Mr. Lipp was opposed to this intense development so near to our rural community. Mr. Lipp and his wife Doreen [Baxter] spent a sizable amount of their own funds and a good deal of their time putting their money where their mouth is. They stood out in the hot sun on Okeechobee Blvd. for days and collected over 3,500 signatures opposing the project. The Callery-Judge project was ultimately not approved, and I do believe the Lipps’ efforts played a part in influencing this outcome. I suspect this is the true source of Mr. Enriquez’s angst. A trace of sour grapes. Again, this past week, I saw yet another letter to the TownCrier from Mr. Enriquez disparaging Mr. Lipp and his wife. And this time Mr. Enriquez questions Mr. Lipp’s patriotism and professionalism, invokes our troops who have given their lives, and brings up the fact that that his parents fled Cuba in 1960. Talk about spin! I ask you, Mr. Enriquez: whatever has this to do with the condition of our canals... or the price of rice in China for that matter? Seems to me more like the rantings of a man disappointed by the result of the failed Callery-Judge project for which you heartily campaigned. There were many reasons for this project’s failure. Not the least of which being in the wrong place and a bit before its time. Mr. Lipp was only a contributor in the big picture. He was not solely responsible. But I suppose some folks always feel they must have someone to blame. Psychologists call this transferred aggression. Mr. Enriquez would do well to focus his energy on issues in the
Acreage Landowners’Association instead of soap-boxing and venting. Maybe he should also use an alternate route to make his way home, instead of cutting through our community — since he is so offended by our canals and our elected representatives.
Cindy Lou Corum Loxahatchee Groves
I am writing in regard to the recent Enriquez/Lipp letters.
First, Mr. [Carlos] Enriquez’s letter [in the June 1 edition] was way out of line. First, Rosa Durando, Alex Larson and County Commissioner Jess Santamaria do not live in Loxahatchee Groves. Does he expect them to go around cleaning up all of the western communities? Ridiculous!
Second, Rosa Durando has donated thousands and thousands of hours over the last four decades protecting our environment.
Third, Alex Larson has donated thousands of hours also for our betterment.
Fourth, Mr. Santamaria has also donated thousands and thousands of hours, and significant amounts of his own money, for the betterment of the western communities and its people, over the past 33 years.
Everyone knows these things except Mr. Enriquez. He owes these gracious, long-dedicated volunteers an apology. Instead, he uses the time to submit another attack letter.
Please note, the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District maintains all the town’s canals. For inexperienced private individuals to try to negotiate the steep drops of the canals would not be wise, and could lead to personal injuries and liabilities.
Mr. [Dennis] Lipp did put his
The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number ( anonymously sent letters will not be published), to The TownCrier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to 793-6090; or you can email to letters@goTown Crier.com.
By Jules W. Rabin
The tarnished tale of Congressional “earmarks,” those sneaky provisions tucked into bills to bypass normal government review and bidding, are crash-landing all about us these days. From Alaska to Florida, and many points in between, sordid stories of who, what, where, when and how of the “earmark parade” continue to make our heads spin.
continued from page 4A money where his mouth is, as he noted in his June 9 letter. Ninety percent of Acreage residents who opposed CalleryJudge owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mr. Lipp and Ms. Doreen Baxter for being able to quickly mobilize and create the “green shirt effort,” and ascertain 3,500 petition signatures. Many future generations of Acreage residents will enjoy what we all came here for because of their efforts and dedication.
With regard to Mr. Enriquez’s June 10 letter, I personally would not call anyone with respect to letters to the editor. After reading his letter, I now know that if anyone did call me about a letter to the editor, I would abruptly and politely end the call, in order to avoid any potential “he said, she said” accusations.
The two “green shirts” that he refers to are a 26- and 27-year-old young man and woman who live in Lake Worth and have been very involved in the county against the proposed FPL West County Power Plant and urban sprawl, which is what they were protesting, via a good old-fashioned sit-in, when arrested. This is how these two young activists occasionally protest, as in the past. Just as Dr. Martin Luther King had been arrested many, many times. As Mr. Enriquez
Just recently the New York Times revealed another “winner.” Two decommissioned Coast Guard cutters were “earmarked” in 1999 to a California faith-based group called Canvasback Missions. The purpose: the ships were to be used only to provide medical service to islands in the South Pacific. Yet now, on the public record, the mission group sold them both, one almost im-
noted, America is based upon freedom of speech and expression.
Edward Zakrzewski, The Acreage
Thanks to the proposed property tax “cut,” we now know that the only employees of the county are police and firefighters. I suppose the other folks we see in county and city offices receive their sustenance directly from the Almighty. The press releases from local governments hinting at layoffs in law enforcement and fire-rescue are shameless fear-mongering. There is plenty of waste that can be addressed before any personnel cuts are considered. Still, if job cuts are necessary, logic dictates that non-essential positions should be the first to go. Surely reductions in areas such as DVM or the tax collector, etc., while always painful, are more tolerable than targeting our first responders. By the way, there was a report that the property tax cut endorsed by our legislators would amount to about $200. A couple of hundred dollars on a tax bill upward of $6,000? That is an insult to the taxpayers of Palm Beach County. Don’t waste our time.
R.S. Agullo, Loxahatchee
Are You Pleased With The State’s Recently Passed Tax Overhaul?
A. Yes! It is the type of change I was hoping for.
B. Yes. It will lower my taxes.
C. No. It will cut off local government services I count on.
D. No! It provides very little benefit. More change is needed.
Cast your vote by visiting www.goTownCrier.com and scrolling down to the poll question at the bottom left of the web page. It’s as easy as that!
Previous Question: What Route Should The SR 7 Extension Follow? A. FDOT’s current preferred route is good: 17 percent; B. It should follow the original range line route: 32 percent; C. None. Don’t build it at all: 19 percent; and D. I don’t care, just get it built ASAP: 32 percent.
mediately. One ship, the White Sage, brought Canvasback $85,000; the second, the White Holly, was bonanza income of $330,000. One ship is now used as a commercial ferry off Nicaragua, while the other brings its owners worthwhile bucks as they rent it for eco-tours and marine research. Canvasback Mission never bothered to tell the Coast Guard it had sold the boats and was not carrying out the intent of the “earmark.” Incidentally, the grant of the two cutters was one of almost 900 Congress has made to faith-based organizations. Anybody know that?
This specific “earmark” was drafted by the staff of former Representative Frank Riggs (R-CA). The staff included the warning… it would “raise concerns if the ships were not used as intended.”
Gee, that sure must have scared the Canvasback people. Interestingly, in March, Lynn Brown, the personal property man-
continued from page 1A considered very important but not absolutely vital include land use and development regulation, emergency management and environmental protection.
More vulnerable to cuts are “Quality of Life Services” such as multi-purpose and equestrian trails, parks and recreation facilities, and security and safety. Items most vulnerable to cuts are “Community Add-ons” such as leisure and culture, community beautification, community events and festivals.
Councilman Dr. Carmine Priore told the Town-Crier that while levels of service will probably be reduced, he did not foresee any programs being cut completely. “We will have to give each activity a priority,” he said. “We will cut the level of service, but the activity will still be there.”
Lynn said the council has time to review its options on where to cut the budget, and village staff will aim to offer at least $4 million in cuts for review during the budget process.
Questions also remain about future funding, especially if a proposed constitutional amendment passes. The amendment would give homeowners the option of keeping their existing Save Our Homes cap until they move, or transitioning to a new “super-sized” homestead exemption that ranges from $50,000 up to $195,000 based on an asyet-undefined “just value.”
The super exemption calculation is 75 percent of the first $200,000 in just value and 15 percent of the value between $200,000 and $500,000, with a minimum exemption of $100,000 for lowincome seniors. Under the formula, a homestead with a “just value” of $200,000 would have a taxable value of
ager in the Coast Guard’s decommissioning office, thought the ships were plying the waters of the South Pacific. She further confirmed that the Coast Guard had not known the ships were sold way back when by Canvasback.
Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group that rails against “earmarks” along with government waste and nonsense, calls the Canvasback gift “an utter indictment of earmarks.” That probably is one of the lesser criticisms making the rounds. Of course, “earmarks” for faithbased groups also involve extra special questions about the separation of church and state as well.
As has been said, the entire question of the value of “earmarks” remains an enigma wrapped in a conundrum bathed in special treatment for powerbrokers. The time for Congress to end this nefarious practice is now!
$50,000. A home valued at $500,000 would have a taxable value of $305,000, and one valued at $1 million would have a taxable value of $805,000.
There are 13,635 homesteaded properties in Wellington. Of those, 852 have an assessed value under $100,000 and only three have a market value of under $100,000; 8,913 have an assessed value between $100,000 and $300,000 and 4,343 have a market value in that range. Another 2,813 have an assessed value between $300,000 and $500,000 and 6,634 have a market value in that range, and 1,057 have an assessed value over $500,000 with 2,655 having a market value over $500,000.
If a homesteaded property has an assessed value close to or equal to market value, Lynn said, the homeowner can expect tax savings under the new plan for the first five to ten years.
continued from page 1A plication by Royal Daszkal LLC to develop a 4,998-square-foot carwash on 1.335 acres of land at the Anthony Groves Planned Commercial Development southwest of the intersection at Southern Blvd. and State Road 7.
• The council formally adopted an ordinance amending village bylaws to allow residents who owned limousines on or before April 12, 2005 to be exempt from regulations that limit their parking time in Royal Palm Beach. The exemption expires April 22, 2010.
• Councilwoman Barbara Isenberg, who in May announced her intention to resign her council seat and move to Indian River County, told the Town-Crier that July 19 will be her final meeting, although she has not yet submitted a formal letter of resignation.
By Jason Budjinski Town-Crier Staff Report
JUNE 17 — A man was arrested for drug possession last Sunday after a traffic stop on Okeechobee Blvd. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy from the Royal Palm Beach substation was patrolling the area of Okeechobee Blvd. and Partridge Lane at approximately 8:45 p.m. when he observed a black Mercury playing loud music. After conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, driven by 20-year-old Mark Mitchell of RPB, the
deputy noticed an odor of marijuana and asked Mitchell to exit the vehicle. Upon opening the driver’s-side door, the deputy discovered several bags containing marijuana, according to the PBSO report. Mitchell was arrested and also issued a citation for expired insurance and playing loud music.
JUNE 19 — The driver of a Ford Crown Victoria was pulled over Tuesday afternoon on Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington for playing loud music. According
to a PBSO report, a deputy from the Wellington substation conducted the traffic stop at approximately 12:55 p.m. Upon making contact with the driver, 22-year-old Liam Koji of Lake Worth, the deputy was given consent to search his vehicle. The deputy discovered drug paraphernalia with cannabis residue. Koji was arrested and taken to the county jail.
• • •
JUNE 13 — An improper lane change on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. last Wednesday led to the arrest of two men found in possession of drugs. According to
Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives:
• Boyd Knaack is a white male, 5’11” tall and weighing 165 lbs. with blond hair and blue eyes. His date of birth is 10/01/86. Knaack is wanted for failure to appear in court on the charge of resisting an officer with violence. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Widgeon Road in Wellington. Knaack is wanted as of 06/21/07.
• David Marchese, a.k.a. Jason Marchese, is a white male, 6’3” tall and weighing 195 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 04/17/70. He has tattoos on both arms and a scar on his left arm. Marchese is wanted for failure to appear in court on the charge of obtaining an identification card by fraud and violation of probation on convictions for felon in possession of a firearm, attempted trafficking of hydrocodone, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. His occupation is web site developer. His last known addresses were Barnstable Road in Wellington and Palomino Drive in Jupiter. Marchese is wanted as of 06/21/07. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crime stopperspbc.com.
THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BY CRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHICH IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.
a PBSO report, a deputy from the RPB substation was traveling on RPB Blvd. at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he conducted a traffic stop on a red pickup truck driven by 18-yearold Jimmy Almazon of RPB. While speaking to Almazon, the deputy gained consent to search his vehicle and found two clear baggies containing marijuana hidden underneath the center console. The deputy further gained consent to search passenger Timothy Saunier, 18 of RPB, who was found to be in possession of three hydrocodone pills, according to the PBSO report. Both were arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.
JUNE 15 — A traffic stop last Friday on Okeechobee Blvd. resulted in a drug arrest. According to a PBSO report, at approximately 6 p.m. a deputy from the RPB substation pulled over a Buick sedan after observing the driver run a stop sign and fail to use a turn signal. Upon making contact with the driver, 25-yearold Daniel Bertrand of The Acreage, the deputy noticed an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed Bertrand possessed a small amount of marijuana, as well as 18 empty drug baggies. He was issued a notice to appear in court, as well as a citation for an expired license plate.
last Thursday and 5:30 a.m. the following morning, unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked Honda Civic and stole the radio/CD player and a speaker box containing two 10inch speakers and an amplifier.
JUNE 17 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Royal Palm Beach was dispatched last Sunday to a home on Oliver Lane in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival the deputy met with the victim, who said he left an MP3 player and some CDs on his back porch at approximately 1:30 a.m. When he returned at approximately 9 a.m., the items were missing. No latent prints were obtained. The case is inactive pending further leads.
JUNE 17 — A deputy from the PBSO substation in Wellington responded last Sunday to a home on Wellington Trace regarding a burglary. According to the victim, he left his home for approximately an hour and returned to find his laptop computer missing. A sliding door was left unlocked, and there were no signs of forced entry, according to the PBSO report.
JUNE 20 — A man was arrested Wednesday after arguing with a Palm Tran driver outside the Mall at Wellington Green. According to a PBSO report, 30-year-old Anthony Moore of West Palm Beach was arguing with the driver at approximately 12:53 p.m. when he began making threats. A safety frisk of Moore revealed he was in possession of 15.3 grams of crack
JUNE 15 — A Paddock Park resident called the PBSO substation in Wellington last Friday regarding a vehicle burglary. According to the PBSO report, at some time between 6 p.m. See BLOTTER, page 8A
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council voted Tuesday to ask that the county hold off on widening Okeechobee Blvd. until Seminole Pratt Whitney Road has been widened.
The move came as Councilman Dennis Lipp gave fellow council members an update on proposed traffic-calming measures for Okeechobee Blvd.
In April, the council discussed ways of slowing traffic and improving safety on Okeechobee Blvd., and while county officials suggested widening the road to four lanes, council members expressed interest in roundabouts. The county officials agreed that roundabouts would be effective, but warned that they would also be expensive.
Lipp, who is the council’s liaison with Palm Beach County Traffic Division staff, told his fellow council members this week that construction of a roundabout at an Okeechobee Blvd. intersection would cost more than $1 million.
Lipp also said Palm Beach County Deputy Engineer Tanya McConnell had distributed information on the county’s five-year road plan at a recent Western Communities Council meeting.
“This deals with when Okeechobee is on the schedule to be funded and when we need to look at right-of-way issues and mediation,” Lipp said. “You see we are not on there until 2009 and 2010. I
would like us to send a resolution to county engineering to not spend money widening Okeechobee Blvd. until we find out whether Seminole Pratt Whitney is widened. It may be a better alternative, and it prevents people from cutting through Loxahatchee Groves.”
Councilman Dr. Bill Louda agreed and said Okeechobee should not be widened until improvements to Seminole Pratt Whitney Road are completed. Louda also said he suspected that work on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road would be tabled due to funding shortfalls within the county budget.
“You notice that they killed Seminole Pratt because of the tax issues coming up,” Louda said. “They said there is no way they can do these chunks of Seminole Pratt Whitney. They said, ‘we ain’t got it.’ This whole schedule is going to be changed. Also, on this resolution, I feel nothing should be done to Okeechobee unless it’s done in its entirety. Even though they may drop E Road and 140th, they still have the consideration of Folsom to E Road.”
Lipp made a motion to draft a resolution to be sent to the county’s Traffic and Engineering Department and the county commission requesting the county spend no money to widen Okeechobee Blvd. until Seminole Pratt Whitney Road is widened between Northlake and Southern boulevards as indicated in the five-year plan. Once that work is complete, Lipp
said, a study should be undertaken to see if the widening of Okeechobee is necessary.
Louda seconded the motion, which passed unanimously 40.
Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Supervisor John Ryan requested that the resolution be amended.
“There is a related issue that might be mentioned as a part of this resolution,” Ryan said. “The county engineering people had indicated to [LGWCD Administrator] Clete Saunier that if they did widen Okeechobee Blvd. to E Road, they would put in extra turn lanes and other safety considerations at the intersections, and then they backed away from that due to land acquisition costs. We need to add this to the resolution. The other reason is that the county has modified its position with providing safety improvements for B and F roads.”
Ryan also said Saunier has been trying to meet with County Commissioner Jess Santamaria and county engineering staff to discuss the issue. “It just seems ridiculous to ignore the safety considerations involved with four-laning a road,” he said. Lipp said he didn’t feel comfortable incorporating Ryan’s concerns into the resolution before getting further information on the issue. Interim Town Attorney David Tolces said he would like to see the documentation regarding the county’s discussions with the LGWCD, and he would put together something for the town council to review.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on Tuesday continued to discuss options for code enforcement duties in the new municipality.
Interim Town Attorney David Tolces told the council that continuing to allow Palm Beach County to conduct code enforcement work would allow the town time to consider whether to sustain the arrangement or form its own code compliance department.
“What you have is the same code enforcement process you had before you became a town, on an interim basis,” Tolces said.
“You would have a code enforcement officer who would respond to complaints and investigate them and issue warnings and citations. In the meantime, through adoption of new ordinances, you could revise what is currently in place and retain your own code enforcement officers and own services and enforce the ordinances you feel are appropriate as a town.”
An interlocal agreement with the county necessary to continue its services has not yet been finalized, Tolces said.
“After the last meeting, I went ahead and forwarded a draft copy of the interlocal to Code Enforcement Director Terry Verner and requested that they provide information about costs,” Tolces said. “I have not heard back from them. If I do hear something from him, I will try to get that information to you. Hopefully, we will have
further discussion at the next meeting.”
Tolces provided information on the county’s code enforcement process and fine schedule as well as that of the City of Lighthouse Point, and said those of other municipalities are available online for review as the town considers setting up its own code enforcement process.
“I know that was discussed at the budget meeting as well,” Tolces said. “It entails having someone issue the notices of violations and arrange for a special magistrate and attorney to hear the cases. Currently, the code of ordinances adopted through the county allows a citation process that goes directly to the court before a judge.”
Councilman Dr. Bill Louda said he expected hiring a special magistrate would be the most inexpensive and efficient option, but asked how the town would be involved in the process while the county does the work.
“Time-wise, the magistrate would probably be better,” Lou-
da said. “If it goes to the county and the courts, how does the town get involved with the process? How were we planning to get involved with it?”
Tolces said code violators have their cases heard before judges and the court system would claim a percentage of the fines collected, with the county charging a certain amount for their own employees and the town also claiming a percentage.
Councilman Dave Autrey said it was his understanding that the county system would serve during a transition period until the town develops its own codes and a plan to enforce them. Both he and Councilman Dennis Lipp said the council would have to weed through the county codes to see which ones are applicable in Loxahatchee Groves.
After some further discussion, the council directed Tolces to continue discussions with the county and other agencies regarding code enforcement. The council will discuss the issue again next month.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has recognized the South Florida Water Management District with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the agency’s 2007-08 annual budget. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and the highest honor bestowed by the GFOA.
In addition, for the first time in the agency’s history, the district received the GFOA’s Special Capital Recognition for demonstrating exceptional proficiency in integrating capital information into the operating budget. A certificate of recognition also was presented to SFWMD Budget Director Douglas Bergstrom for his role in spearheading the budget presentation.
The Acreage Athletic League has started a competitive cheerleading team. The team hopes to provide a positive, character-building experience while building the foundation for the future of competitive cheerleading in The Acreage. Fundraising is the key to accomplishing the team’s goals. The Acreage Athletic League is asking members of the community to sponsor the team at one of the following sponsorship levels:
• Gold Level: $750 or More — Name/logo on team banner, large team sponsor plaque, name on T-shirts, acknowledgement in all advertisements.
• Silver Level: $500 to $750 — Name/Logo on team banner, large team sponsor plaque, name on T-shirts.
• Bronze Level: $250 to $500 — Name/Logo on team banner, small team sponsor plaque, name on T-shirts.
• Spirit Level: up to $250 — Small team sponsor plaque and name on T-shirts.
If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the program, call Karen Keogh at (561) 602-6540 for info.
The Palms West Republican Club will meet on Wednesday, June 27 at the Players Club in Wellington. A meet-and-greet with snacks will start at 6 p.m., followed by the main meeting at 7 p.m. The guest speaker for the meeting will be Florida State Representative Gayle Harrell (R-District 81), a 2008 candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in District 16, the seat currently held by Democrat Tim Mahoney. Rep. Harrell will report on the 2007 Florida Legislature session with emphasis on insurance and property tax issues. For more info., call Charlie Fetscher at (561) 753-0084.
Back by popular demand, the Dog Days of Summer, presented by Armand Pest Control, is returning for a sixth season. Join dogs and their owners at a Minor League baseball game as the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals meet the competition at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. The first 100 dog owners receive a free Dog Days T-shirt. The Dog Days of Summer baseball game will be held Saturday, June 30 at 6:05 p.m. at Roger Dean Stadium, 4751 Main St., Jupiter. Tickets are $7.99 plus tax for owners. Dog passes are $5, which admits one dog. Proceeds will be donated directly to the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. For ticket and game information, call (561) 775-1818. The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is located at 3200 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 686-3663 or visit www.hspb.org.
continued from page 1A 16th year. “Not only does it make no sense to opt out of the homestead plan, it does not even make sense for new buyers to go into the super exemption plan, unless you plan to sell your house in ten years and move out of the state,” he said.
Alperstein said the legislators are dangling a carrot in front of voters, and chastised them for not enacting the real reforms and relief they promised.
“What about actually carrying forward our tax breaks when you sell your home? They didn’t do it,” Alperstein said. “What about tax relief for businesses, landlords and snowbirds? They didn’t do that either. This is a bad plan that benefits no one over time. It gives you a false sense that you are getting major tax relief when, in fact, in the short and long run, depending on the cost of your home, we will be worse off. This legislation should never pass. It is up to us to make sure it doesn’t.”
Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman agreed that the super exemption would not really benefit anyone, and it was not the tax fix this month’s special legislative session should have produced. The legislature ignored the plight of businesses and new homebuyers, he said. “There was a sense of anticipation throughout the entire session that the problem would be fixed,” Merriman said. “That was not the case. One thing the legislature could have done was [reexamine] the concept of ‘highest and best use’ for assessing commercial properties. They deferred that to next year. They could have dealt with it during the special session, and they didn’t.”
Merriman asserted that the legislature is allowing the disparity of tax burdens between homesteaded and other property owners to worsen.
“A substantial difference exists between the homesteaded and non-homesteaded and commercial properties who are assuming a disproportionate share of the tax burden,” Merriman said. “Ironically, the constitutional amendment they will put on the ballot in January will only deal with the homesteaded properties and will further increase the gap between those entities. This is an amendment that has a lot of inconsistencies in it.”
Merriman also addressed the new state law mandating optical scanner balloting to produce a paper trail. Palm Beach is one of 15 counties that must convert from a touch-screen system to an optical scanner system, and Merriman called it an unfunded mandate as the state would not be providing funds to print, distribute and store the paper ballots.
“We were promised that this new system would be paid for,” Merriman said. “You, the taxpayers, are going to pay the lions’ share of the bill not only up front with the equipment, but every time we have an election as time goes by.”
The issue is not touch-screen versus optical scan, Merriman said, it’s who will pay for the change.
“There are 15 counties in Florida that use touch-screen. We have contacted our contemporaries in the other large counties. They are saying the same thing,” he said. “When we talk about cutting the budget, and when we talk about the state imposing revenue caps on us like they have done with the left hand, and with the right hand they tell us you have to use this type of system and it will cost us extra money.”
Loxahatchee Groves Councilman Dr. Bill Louda said that there are arguments for both sides, but he is a firm believer in an accountable paper trial, which the optical scan system would provide.
Merriman said the touch-screen system actually does generate an “unofficial” paper trail that looks like a cash reg-
ister tape. He added that he was amazed at the number and variety of mistakes people made when they cast paper ballots. “I have participated in every election since 2000,” Merriman said. “We get 100,000 or so ballots for each election. I had been present when thousands of these ballots are sorted and counted in the elections office. The error rate for them on the part of the voter is incredible. People make mistakes. They scribble. They don’t complete the ballot properly. Based on what we have seen with the error rates for the ballots, it’s not good.”
Wellington resident Alan Medoff asked if the voters would receive an actual piece of paper saying they voted, and what sort of accountability would ensure that the person voted and did not under-vote by skipping certain races.
“The system will reject it if you have over-voted or if you put stray marks on it,” Merriman said. “You are allowed to under-vote. Different systems are programmable in different ways. There will be one of these scanners per precinct. If you get a precinct that has lots of people that has one jam in the machine, there will be a long line. It does not tell you who you voted for.”
continued from page 6A cocaine, 19 and a half hydrocodone pills, one Valium pill, seven Xanax pills and a crack pipe, according to the report.
JUNE 20 — A Juniper Place resident called the PBSO substation in Wellington on Wednesday regarding a residential burglary. According to the victim, at some time between 4 and 10 p.m. last Saturday, unknown suspect(s) entered his residence and stole two laptop computers, damaging a television set in the process. The deputy conducted a pawn shop check but found no results.
Morley Alperstein
All Palm Beach County residents are invited to give suggestions on a proposed Palm Beach County Public Shooting Park by filling out a comment form. The forms are due June 26. Results from the opinion survey will be analyzed to create a conceptual plan to be completed in August.
The proposed outdoor 83-acre public gun range will be located near 20Mile Bend. The conceptual plan, as well as the schedule for the design, construction and the operating approach of the park will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in the fall.
The survey can be accessed by visiting www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/ newsroom.
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Acreage Landowners’ Association members voted 27-17 Tuesday to change the Acreage Neighborhood Plan to allow the construction of a gas station in The Acreage.
The Publix supermarket chain has proposed to install gas pumps on the property of its store on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. But besides winning the approval of Palm Beach County, Publix must convince the ALA to change the Acreage Neighborhood Plan, which prohibits gas stations in the largely rural unincorporated area because of concerns they could contaminate well water.
Opponents of the project claimed the vote represented only a tiny percentage of the more than 800 ALA members and an even smaller fraction of all Acreage residents.
Resident Kristina Provinas was indignant.
“People will hear that the ALA supports the project and think that a lot of people are in favor when only a small number of people were even here,” she said.
ALA Vice President Ron Wagner chaired the meeting in the absence of President Robert Trepp. Wagner said the ALA’s board of directors had already voiced its opinion on the issue and asked if anyone in the audience wanted to speak. No one responded, and Wagner ordered the ballots counted.
Although the basic agenda of the meeting was very brief, an argument developed after former board member Fred Gordon accused Wagner and Trepp of using the ALA’s newsletter
as a forum for their own opinions.
“This newsletter is supposed to serve all our residents,” Gordon said, “and having those people who opposed Callery-Judge called ‘wack jobs’ is not appropriate.”
Fox Trail resident Nancy Gribble said an article by Trepp contained several errors.
“He wrote, for example, that there were no fire stations out here,” she said. “There’s one on Seminole-Pratt and one on Avocado Blvd.”
Acreage resident Alex Larson was angry at the use of the newsletter as well. “I hope the ALA has a good attorney,” she said.
ALA Board Member Winston Crosbie, an ALA member for two decades, urged everyone to stop infighting and work together on behalf of The Acreage.
“It took us years, back in the 1980s, to get ITID or the Palm Beach Post to even use the words ‘The Acreage’ when they talked about us,” he said. “We have to work in unison or we will get nowhere. If anyone joined the ALA for any reason other than to help this area, they should not be here.”
Acreage resident Patricia Curry said she was an ALA member in the early days.
“But I opposed the plans of some people to go around and check whether our neighbors were living up to standards,” Curry said. “So I left. And then the ALA backed Scripps, so I didn’t join. And then they backed CalleryJudge, so I didn’t join. But I do want to do what I can for the area. But I just may not agree on how to do it.”
After several more speakers criticized the newsletter, Wagner adjourned the meeting.
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves is open for business with its new office at 14579 Southern Blvd., Suite 2, in Palms West Plaza. The hours currently are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but will probably be expanded with the addition of the town manager and the town clerk. The office can be reached by phone at (561) 793-2418. (Above) Operations Manager Matt Lippman of New Community Strategies with Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Marge Herzog inside the new office. (Below) Another view of the office.
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
The Indian Trail Improvement District’s Planning Committee unanimously recommended construction of a roundabout Monday as a traffic-calming pilot project in The Acreage. The committee selected the intersection of 140th Avenue and Temple Blvd. as the location of the roundabout.
The committee heard a presentation from Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Nigel Baker and Sgt. Paul Vrchota of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division, and decided on a pilot project after the two warned against making big changes too quickly.
“Before you drain the pool,” Vrchota said, “you better decide what you want to do with the alligators.”
Vrchota noted that traffic circles are rare in the northern
part of the county and confused drivers might delay traffic more than stop signs. He was particularly vehement in arguing against multi-lane traffic circles. “Remember how the family in [National Lampoon’s ] European Vacation drove around a traffic circle for 12 hours?” he asked. “People have a lot of trouble with them. We have a multi-lane circle on Lake Worth Road near the high school that is the site of many accidents.”
ITID Vice President Mike Erickson, the board’s liaison to the committee, noted that multilane traffic circles would be unlikely in The Acreage, where most roads are just two lanes wide.
Vrchota listed the “three Es of traffic control” as enforcement, education and engineering, noting that his personnel could do a limited amount of enforcement in an area so large as The Acreage. “Also, there are some people
who will not learn that they have to be careful,” he said. “When we have someone speeding down a dirt road out here, it is almost certainly one of your neighbors. For some people, the speed limit is only a suggestion, not the law.”
Vrchota also noted that placing a traffic circle at an intersection that already has a fourway stop sign might cause more accidents.
Baker said traffic-calming devices slow down Fire-Rescue crews’ response times. “Every speed hump slows us down eight to 15 seconds,” he said. “And that doesn’t count time spent slowing down before we get there and speeding up afterward.”
Baker also said speed bumps would be not only uncomfortable for a patient strapped to a backboard in an ambulance, but also potentially dangerous. He said speed bumps often inflict damage on heavy and very ex-
pensive rescue equipment. “I don’t approve of them,” he said, “but I understand the reasons people want them.”
Both Vrchota and Baker said any traffic-calming device would pose problems for their services, but traffic circles would be less of a problem than speed humps, which in turn would be better than the steeper speed bumps.
“We can move through more readily,” Baker said, “but a lot depends on the engineering and design.”
ITID Engineer Jay Foy said the cost of building a roundabout at an intersection like that at 140th Avenue North and Citrus Grove Blvd. would be approximately $24,000, although he said $10,000 of that would be a contingency in case of additional expenses. Foy said landscaping on the circles would be necessary to make them far more visible to drivers.
Erickson added that there
might be some site-specific extra costs if the district must purchase easements to make sure lines of sight stay clear.
The committee discussed a variety of sites to determine which would be most useful, finally deciding on the 140th Ave. North and Temple Blvd. intersection.
Committee Chairman Bryan Vasser summed up the reasons.
“Traffic moves through all the way from Orange to Northlake. Also, south of Orange, the average speed of cars is 51 miles per hour. This is the closest major through road to Coconut Blvd., the one more cars might divert to. And there are more parks and schools on this road than any other.”
Committee Member David Snowden made a motion recommending the site, which was approved unanimously.
The ITID supervisors are expected to review site selection at their meeting July 11.
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report
With little discussion, the Palm Beach County Commission approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Loxahatchee Groves Tuesday to provide construction permitting and inspection services for the town.
Before the municipality was formed, incorporation activists touted leaving permitting and related inspections with the county in the interest of keeping the town bureaucracy small.
Mayor Dave Browning, who acted as the liaison with county representatives in executing the agreement, said that sentiment is still strong. “We were never interested in doing it ourselves,” he told the Town-Crier Wednesday. “The county is not going to increase prices. They will keep what they collect, and it takes care of itself.”
County staff had recommended approval of the agreement because there is no cost to the county and no additional
staff is needed. Permit fees will pay for the full cost of services.
The agreement is in effect until Sept. 30 and automatically renews unless either party notifies the other in writing of its desire to terminate all or part of the agreement.
The county’s Planning, Zoning & Building Department currently provides permitting and inspection services for the Town of Gulfstream and has provided services in the past to municipalities such as Welling-
ton, Juno Beach and Ocean Ridge. Loxahatchee Groves residents in need of construction permits should go to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department located in the Vista Building at 2300 N. Jog Road.
County Building Department Director Rebecca Caldwell told the Town-Crier Wednesday that an interlocal agreement for commercial zoning services has not yet been finalized and some applications might be delayed. She said the zoning agreement approval is set for July 10.
Some items that require special scrutiny or variances might be sent to the town for approval that under county jurisdiction would have been reviewed by county engineering and other county agencies, she said.
“Generally, for single-family and accessory structures there should be no problem,” she said.
Loxahatchee Groves residents with code questions should call the county at (561) 233-5108 and (561) 233-5120 for general permitting.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council has set a July 24 date for a workshop on manure dumping.
The council intends to craft an ordinance to regulate the dumping of horse manure. Illegal dumping of the waste has been a problem in the rural community for years.
On Tuesday, council members also discussed inviting various professionals to provide input at the workshop.
Councilman Dr. Bill Louda and Vice Mayor Marge Herzog said they would like to have engineers Jay Foy and Dan Shalloway in attendance, while Councilman Dennis Lipp said former Palm Beach Horse Industry Council president Dan Coffman had provided some written information for their review.
Louda, an environmental chemistry professor at Florida Atlantic University, said he would also make a presentation himself. He gave council members copies of a St. Petersburg Times editorial addressing the manure issue and advocating that horse owners take responsibility for the problem themselves, but also cautioned that the town should consider conforming to federal environmental regulations.
“It should come down to the horse owners taking care of it themselves, which is true,” Louda said. “But we have to start thinking down the road about how towns come into compliance with the National Discharge Elimination System.”
Loxahatchee Groves equestrian Chris Gilman reminded council members of the economic importance of the horse industry in the area and said it would be unfair to cast blame on it.
“I think it’s helpful to find solutions
and not point fingers,” Gilman said. “The horse people bring money to this community. I wanted to remind you of that.”
In other business, the council held off on more strident efforts to curb littering. Lipp asked fellow council members, having studied the state’s littering law, if they would like to craft an ordinance including a provision to reward people who witness or photograph others littering along the community’s roads.
“We don’t have enough eyes on a police officer that we may be able to hire,” Lipp said. “I think it’s a good idea.”
Interim Town Attorney David Tolces said he could research the issue and learn whether it would be appropriate to use municipal funds as reward money.
Lipp also said he wanted to know if there was a way to track people intentionally leaving litter or garbage on Loxahatchee Groves roads, but Councilman Dave Autrey suggested it would be a difficult matter and best left to law enforcement. “You can have all the laws in the land,” Autrey said, “but how do you get fingerprints from a can flying off a truck?”
Tolces said law enforcement personnel must actually witness an incident taking place, otherwise there is not much they can do. “Unless you see someone dumping a load of roof shingles and tires on a piece of property and you get a deputy out there,” he said, “it’s next to impossible to track down the truck.”
Autrey also said a State of Florida litter study hundreds of pages long reached the conclusion that communities are better off encouraging volunteer methods of picking up litter
rather than formally adopting laws and enforcing them. That would probably cost too much money and too much time, he said.
“It’s a huge problem,” Autrey said. “That’s why we have Adopt-a-Road and Adopt-a-Canal. It’s more effective to pick it up.”
E Road resident Bill Gurney concurred but also suggested posting “no littering” signs. “They may help a bit,” he said. “Whether we will back it up or not is beside the point.”
Tolces said he would research the issue further and come back with more information. The council agreed by consensus to take no action on the littering issue as yet.
Also Tuesday, the council directed management firm New Community Strategies to seek proposals for a consultant on land planning issues, since the firm itself isn’t able to supply someone with the background.
Tolces said selecting the consultant, who would provide expertise on zoning decisions, would likely take six to nine months and delay zoning work. “You may be able to extend the timeframe a bit longer,” he said, “but any longer than that, a judge may raise his eyebrows.”
Lipp said he supported seeking a
land planning consultant, but wanted to make sure that the issue of a preferred density of one unit in five acres remains at the forefront.
“Before the referendum on incorporation, we were trying to get the county commission to support one in five since it has been there since 1996,” Lipp said. “I talked to all the county commissioners. They all agreed to put it on. At a remote meeting somewhere, [thencommissioner] Tony Masilotti killed it. The question I would like to ask you is we have a couple of bites of the apple. We could do this by just adopting an amendment and sending it off to the Department of Community Affairs for comments. Those transmittals are done twice a year.”
Tolces called it a good question and best directed to the incoming land planning consultant.
Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Supervisor John Ryan said most candidates who campaigned for council seats supported the one-in-five density ratio, and urged the council to submit a resolution on the density to the DCA.
“One in five made sense to everyone,” Ryan said. “In terms of economic and appropriate development, my understanding of this process is that until we adopt a comprehensive plan, we are under the county’s comprehensive plan. As such if we have the ability to seek on a formal basis the one in five, it seems to make sense to proceed to do so unless there is a reason not to. If we got into an extended moratorium and got bogged down in the process, it would be completely ridiculous. If we could proceed with one of the two annual submittals, to have the approval or at least get comments, I would like to get it done.”
Send news items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. Fax: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: news@goTownCrier.com.
The leadership team of Royal Palm Covenant Church has met with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and teachers/counselors at Royal Palm Beach High School to discuss plans for the church’s annual Youth Explosion.
This community-based event is scheduled to take place July 11, 12 and 13 with an array of activities geared to stimulate youth in a positive manner.
Royal Palm Covenant Church has been an integral part of the community for more than 40 years with a primary focus of helping meet the needs of the
people in RPB. The church has accomplished this mission with its food pantry ministry as well as other outreach-based ministries. The leaders of the church feel that there is still a need to join with community leaders and address the many issues plaguing young people today.
This year’s Youth Explosion events will kick off with an open forum on July 11 starting at 7 p.m. to provide youth with an opportunity to speak their minds, ask questions, get answers and share insights. Day two will explore issues raised during the previous night’s open forum. Facilitators will be there to listen
and work with youth to identify viable solutions and positive resolutions.
The underlying message that the church wants to send its youth is that it is there to work with them and to foster relationships to help them through difficult stages in life.
The three-day event will conclude on Friday, July 13 with a free open-air concert featuring some of the top names in the South Florida gospel music arena, such as Jimmy Hicks and the Voices of Integrity and soloist Dahlia Ashley. The concert will also feature national and international recording artists, such as
Royal Priesthood and Caribbean gospelreggae rapper Goddy Goddy. The High Voltage Band from Grace Fellowship is another popular participant, along with dance troupes from other congregations.
The three-day event is free to the public. All are welcome to come and join in encouraging youth in a loving and positive atmosphere. Refreshments will be served free of charge on the first two days of the event. Food and beverages will be on sale at the gospel concert.
Royal Palm Covenant Church is located at 660 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Call (561)793-1077 for more info.
With hurricane season already underway, Palms West Hospital encourages patients and the community to be prepared by developing a health and medical hurricane preparedness plan. The following pointers, provided by the Palm Beach County Medical Society, will aid in creating such a plan.
Patients should consult with their physician and medical supply vendors to make sure they are adequately prepared in the event of a hurricane. Certain medical conditions require special provisions to avoid complications that can be brought on by the destruction of a hurricane. Examples of this include:
• Oxygen-dependent patients backup electrical power for concentrators or backup oxygen cylinders will be needed. Patients should ask vendors how they plan to replenish oxygen supplies after the storm.
•Insulin-dependent patients backup electrical power to keep insulin refrigerated will be needed.
• Pregnant women — high-risk or 36 weeks or beyond should consult with their physician.
• Bedridden or immobile patients — should make sure that their caregiver
will be with them during the storm.
• Medication-dependent patients must maintain at least a two-week supply of critical medication in the event retail pharmacies or physician offices are closed for an extended period.
• Dialysis patients — will need to receive dialysis just prior to the storm and pre-schedule an appointment for poststorm dialysis.
During a hurricane, patients must prepare for a worst-case scenario. Any or all of the following disruptions may occur:
•Pharmacies will begin closing 24 hours prior to landfall.
•There might be widespread loss of power throughout the county for up to two weeks or longer.
•Most dialysis centers have made arrangements for emergency services. Patients should check with their case worker or physician regarding their particular center’s capabilities and seek instructions from them for continuity of care should a storm impact the center.
•Many physician offices could be closed as a result of damage or lack of power.
• Medical supply vendors will stop de-
livering oxygen cylinders prior to threatening weather.
•Ambulance services will stop responding once conditions outside become threatening and winds reach 45 mph.
Palms West Hospital asks residents to keep these important things in mind regarding hospitals should a hurricane hit this season:
•Hospitals are not an option for general sheltering during a hurricane.
Come to Sport Clips Haircuts on Saturday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to get a haircut and all proceeds will go to Royal Palm Beach High School’s 2008 Project Graduation.
Sport Clips has created the perfect place for a guy to get great service and a great haircut. Its mission is to create a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports environment.
Sport Clips is located at 11081 Southern Blvd. in the new Southern Palm
• Hospitals are reserved as the place to treat life-threatening situations.
•Hospitals will continue to accept emergency patients.
•Hospitals are not able to dispense medication to the public, so people must have at least a two-week supply on hand through their retail pharmacy.
Call (561) 753-4247 or stop by Palms West Hospital for a brochure created by the County Medical Society titled “Hurricane Preparedness for Patients.”
Crossing plaza, near Starbucks and GameStop.
Loxahatchee Groves
FCAT Scores Available
The Florida Department of Education did not deliver individual student FCAT scores until after the last day of school. Parents of fourth and fifth graders at Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School are welcome to stop by and pick up their child’s scores Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Principal Richard Myerson. For more info., call (561)795-4961.
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Business After Hours Mixer on Tuesday, June 19 at Tipsy Salon & Spa in Wellington. As they do every month, chamber members were busy networking, socializing and having a general good time. Tipsy opened last December and is located at 1037 State Road 7, Suite 112 in the Wellington Reserve. To schedule an appointment, call (561) 333-0413. For more information about the chamber, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palmswest.com.
New York — London — Paris — Rome — Kansas City? While the first four locations on that list may spring readily to mind as great places to get a “new look,” I have chosen the fifth — Kansas City — in which to get my hair done. I’d never thought Missouri hairdressers to be on a par with those of the great fashion capitals, but then again I’d never had a daughter living in “KCMO” before. And now that this daughter is a bride-to-be who has chosen me as her “mom of honor,” a new look is definitely in order. Out with the hair that has been growing unaided and unfettered on my head for most of my life. In with a kicky new hairstyle! What will that hairstyle be? I have no earthly idea. I only know that I am flying all the way to KCMO so that my daughter and I can spend “quality time” together and that this “quality time” is going to include a radical change in our appearances.
I for one am not looking forward to it. With my stodgy old approach to life, I like looking in the mirror in the morning and seeing the same old face with the same old hair around it. But weddings require that we put our best feet forward, even if those feet are on our head. Jenny tells me she knows exactly what I want, and in that she is correct. I want whatever will make Jenny happy. It’s her wedding, it only comes along once (OK, twice if you screwed up the first time), and we’re going to make this event memorable even if I have to look like a poodle to do it. I did tell Jen I would need her to hold my hand start to finish. The last time I did something radical to my hair, I was nine months pregnant and decided to “treat myself” by going to a Palm Beach salon. Big mistake. In the first place, being the “first customer of the morning” in a town that thrives on nightlife is not smart. In the second place,
being big as a house does not inspire anyone to do their best work on you. In the third place, when someone asks, “do you like a lot of hair on your face?” be advised that those thick rich bangs are going to be pulled from somewhere else and that you will leave there looking vaguely like a palm tree.
Our hair is not the only thing Jen and I will change. In one week, we plan to get thin, get tan, get buff, get beautiful. We are pooling our paltry cosmetics collections to try to come up with viable alternatives to our natural looks which, although they have spurred at least two men to ask us to marry them, are no longer good enough. Plus, the wedding isn’t until September. Our thinking is that if we mess up, we have time to fix things. On the other hand, on the off chance things go well, we will spend the following 12 weeks trying to maintain that look against all odds.
So I’m pretty much doomed either way, but Jen’s enthusiastic, so I’m off to the airport. As added encouragement at the hair salon, she’s bringing another hip chick along to guide us. I really like this girl, even though I just found out that in her free time she manages a death metal band. I get a little shaky when I mentally superimpose the “death metal look” onto participants in a Sunset at the Horse Farm wedding, but life is nothing if not an adventure, so… see you on the dark side.
This summer is a season for sequels, almost all of which will (or have) proven to be disappointments. We have already had Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean and Ocean’s 13. None of them were bad. Happily, they were not stinkers. But thrills were in short supply.
There is a reason most sequels do not work. We could paraphrase Luigi Pirandello’s play Six Characters in Search of an Author. Instead we see familiar characters desperately searching for an intelligent story. The reason: there is a built-in audience. All the films do good business, although they disappoint in the long run.
The first time through on SpiderMan, we saw a totally new universe with a new cinema hero. The second one was actually better because it was not really a sequel; it dealt with a new
story — Spidey’s acceptance of himself and his willingness to accept MJ’s love. The third time around was pretty tame. Several new super-villains and some new computer-generated special effects. We knew he would survive and the villains would not. So we just relaxed and watched and never got excited.
Ocean’s 13 is similar. We know George and Brad and Matt and the rest of the gang. We know they are going to pull off a complicated heist. We know there will be twists and turns along the way along with a lot of wisecracks. As a result, nothing really grabs us. The big supposed twist at the end turned out to be a dud, in my humble opinion.
Shrek is similar. We know the big guy, and we know the wise-cracking donkey. We know Shrek loves the swamp and his wife. He wants to avoid being
king of Far Far Away so he goes after Artie (real name: Arthur Pendragon, a nice in-joke for fans of King Arthur), a dorky loser. We know how it will come out. The best joke in the film is the feminist twist as Fiona and a host of fairytale princesses go ninja. Then it drowns in a rush of sentimentality as Artie talks about how even bad guys don’t always have to be bad guys.
The latest Pirates of the Caribbean is, again, about Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). The main character does not even come on screen for the first half hour of the movie. Most of the other characters are either so boring that no one really cares who they are or so made up that no one recognizes them. Lots of computer-generated fuss to keep the movie going and ensure the audience does not really notice that the plot is rather obvious. The movie is so long it
By Leonard Wechsler
might be rated in bathroom breaks instead of stars.
One thing inherent in all of these movies is a wave of in-jokes. Peter Parker does a swinger act that essentially mocks his own character and actually is just a nasty way to get at his girlfriend. Most of the audience obviously did not like that side of him.
There are lots of these toss-off bits in Ocean’s 13. Clooney and Pitt talk regu-
See WECHSLER, page 29A
“Jungle Safari,” an event to benefit the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, will be held on March 1, 2008 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.
The benefit will be unlike any other and will top last year’s event, “Diabetes Carnivale, Australian Outback.” The event will again be chaired by Wellington residents Ashley and Joe Maguire. The planning group includes Karen and Bob Cavanagh as chairmen emeritus, Marie and Michael Bianchini, Ginny and Paul Farber, and Debbie and Mark Plaxen as vice chairmen. Amy Rockwerk returns as the event’s creative director and will design all of the event’s print media, as well as the event mascot, which will be revealed shortly.
“We are thrilled to be involved with a local diabetes fundraiser for the second year,” Joe Maguire said. “This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever and will benefit a very deserving organization. I am convinced that when a cure for diabetes is found, the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation will be the organization that discovered it.”
Maguire was pleased to have so many great volunteers working with him on the project.
“The Bianchinis have a son who has Type 1 diabetes, and they were involved in raising significant money for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation last year. Ginny and Paul Farber were our irreplaceable ‘right hands’ in the planning of Diabetes Carnivale, and the Plaxens have brought their entire enthusiastic planning committee from a previous fundraising gala to the Diabetes Safari. These volunteers, along with many others, comprise an all-star planning team that is like none other that has ever been put together before for a local fundraising gala.”
Karen and Bob Cavanagh chaired the first diabetes fundraiser in Wellington five years ago and passed the reins to the Maguires last year. However, their initial involvement was spurred by the fact that Bob Cavanagh has been a Type 1 diabetic for 27 years.
“Instead of wishing and praying for a cure, we felt we had to do something to help it along,” Karen Cavanagh said. “We wanted all the money we raised to go toward research. Now, working with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is really a dream come true because they do phenomenal work, and I truly believe they will find a cure for diabetes sooner than later.”
As for this year’s benefit, Cavanagh said, “I would really like for people to know what the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation does and support it, because diabetes is becoming an epidemic in this country — everyone knows someone who has it. If we all work together to raise money, we will have a cure.”
Ginny Farber, who first became involved with Diabetes Carnivale last year, noted that she was impressed with the enormous advances the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation has made in finding a cure for diabetes. She said her goal this year is to “raise enough money for a cure.”
The Plaxen family has a history of diabetes, and their lives were touched by the disease last year when a close family friend passed away with the underlying cause of death being a diabetes-related illness.
“It’s such an amazing organization. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is on the cutting edge, and it’s something we wanted to be part of. We’re thrilled to be involved,” Debbie Plaxen said. “There are millions of people afflicted by diabetes these days, and
if we can eradicate it, so many lives would change.”
The Maguires contribute to many charitable and civic causes, both local and national. Their local community support extends not only to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, but also the Palm Beach Zoo, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Little Smiles and more. Joe Maguire is president of the Rosen Group, a national real estate developer and commercial property manager based in New York City with a regional headquarters in Boca Raton.
For more information about the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, visit www.diabetesresearch.org.
Dancers Prepare For Recital — The dancers from Kelly’s Dance Dance Dance have been working hard preparing for their eighth annual recital “Dance for All Seasons,” which will be held at Royal Palm Beach High School on Saturday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets are still available. Auditions for the 2007-08 Powerhouse Dance Company will be held in August at the studio in the Shops at Ibis, 10130 Northlake Blvd. Call (561) 627-2580 for details. All levels of dancers are welcome to audition.
What’s next after you’ve already become the largest summer inland boat show in the entire eastern United States?
“You go into deeper waters,” said Dave Wansac, president of National Events Management Group, presenter of the upcoming and Sixth Annual Palm Beach County Boat Show. The popular and ever-expanding nautical extravaganza returns to the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center this weekend.
Last year’s show generated a boatload of sales — a record $23 million from boat sales and various nautical displays. Attendance was also up by 11 percent.
“Several exhibitors reported phenomenal sales,” Wansac said. “Local dealers keep coming back because this show generates not only a chunk of sales the week of the show, but it creates leads for weeks
to follow. As a result, the renewal rate of dealers is very strong, and we’re attracting new business. This show is geared to local, year-round residents and families who are either ready to make a first purchase or step up into more sophisticated brands.”
More than 750 boats will make the South Florida Expo Center port of call. The Palm Beach County Boat Show traditionally comes near the end of the boat model year, so terrific bargains are out there. Even so, some new product lines will be making their South Florida debut. Aside from family bow riders, family cruisers, sport fishing boats and flat fishing boats utilized for inshore areas and bays, the Palm Beach County Boat Show offers a huge wave of boat accessories ranging from insurance, electronics and dock
builders to clothing, nautical jewelry and shoes.
The new “Meet the Fishing Pros” showcases more than two dozen of the state’s leading professional fishermen. The rotating meet-and-greet will be at the Florida Fishing Weekly stage where attendees can also win one of thousands of great fishing products including line, hooks, bait samples, tackle boxes, fishing hats and rod-andreel combos.
Admission to the Palm Beach County Boat show is $10 for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is free. The show is open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The South Florida Expo Center is located at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Enter gates 3, 8 or 12. For more information, call (561) 383-7734 or visit www. palmbeachcountyboatshow.com.
The Okeeheelee Nature Center hosted Dipnetting with Dad last Saturday. John Welch, a naturalist in charge of marine life at the center, led the group wading into the pond to see what creatures their nets could find lurking beneath the surface. Fish, snails, shrimp and larvae were all captured in the nets and placed into a petri dish, where kids got a closer look using magnifying glasses and microscopes. Afterward all pond dwellers were returned to the water alive. The Okeeheelee Nature Center is located at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., just east of Florida’s Turnpike. For more information, call (561) 233-1400.
Michael Springthorpe of RPB looks through the microscope. Brent Deviney and daughter Kate check their net.Jeff Burger looks at small fish and shrimp in the catch basin.
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
Winter or summer, coaches are always looking for victories. Wellington High School girls basketball coach Vic Navarro isn’t any different, but Navarro feels it’s just as important during summer league play that the Lady Wolverines learn from their mistakes so they won’t be repeated once the regular season begins in November.
“It’s all correctable stuff,” said Navarro, who will begin his second season as WHS coach this fall. “Part of the problem is the girls haven’t played together very much.”
That’s another reason why Navarro has the Lady Wolverines playing summer games against other area schools, including district rival Palm Beach Central High School, as well as competing against teams from
as far away as Miami-Dade County. WHS will field a 200708 team composed primarily of sophomores and juniors, led by sophomore-to-be Katy Applegate, who was a starter her freshman year.
Applegate, who averaged nearly 10 points per game last season, has played in several of the Lady Wolverines’ games this summer, as has Stephanie Weiss, another incoming sophomore. Weiss, who spent most of her freshman year on the junior varsity team, is (like Applegate) an outstanding three-point shooter. Along with senior Samantha McGee, another deadly three-point shooter, WHS should have a potent perimeter offense if Navarro can find a point guard to replace Jordan Hamilton. The graduate was the
team’s best athlete and a player very adept at seeing the entire floor.
The Lady Wolverines have won only twice so far this summer season, but have often played with a small roster because of scheduling conflicts. The team has played most of the summer without incoming senior Bianca Cunningham, who injured her right ankle in a game shortly after the summer season began, or 6’1” incoming sophomore Kelsi Minor, who is recovering from knee surgery and hasn’t played this summer. Navarro said the summer season will help the team tremendously by offering experience in more than 20 games before the regular season begins. The emphasis won’t be on wins and losses, he said, but on seeing how the team members play together and for younger players to get a
taste of varsity-level competition. “It’s mostly for our younger players,” Navarro said. “Katy, Sam and Bianca each know it. So once school starts and the team is all assembled
and practicing every day, we’re going to be better.”
The Lady Wolverines played Spanish River High School Thursday, but results were not available at press time.
By Lisa Keeney Town-Crier Staff Report
The Wellington Golf & Country Club’s Summer Sports Camp is in full swing with plenty of campers enjoying several sports daily.
Campers start each day with a rotating schedule of golf, tennis, and arts and crafts for 45 minutes each. The campers, whose ages range from five to 12 years old, then enjoy a lunch provided by the club’s chef before hitting the pool for an afternoon of swimming until 2
p.m., when it’s time for snacks.
After snack time, campers have their choice of returning to any of the morning’s three activities, weather permitting. Afternoon showers sometimes drive the campers into the game room until 3:30 p.m. when camp ends for the day.
The Summer Sports Camp runs now through Aug. 17 with a week off during the first week of July. Space is still available in weekly increments. For more information, call camp director Donna Masucci at (561) 7953501, ext. 0.
PHOTOS BY LISA KEENEY/TOWN-CRIER FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT WWW.WELLINGTONIMAGES.COM.
Big Win — The Royal Palm Beach Mustang 10A All-Star team won the Palm Beach County Pony Baseball District Tournament last weekend at Olympia Park in Wellington. The team will continue in the Pony State Tournament in Royal Palm Beach June 22-26. Pictured here, the Red Raiders are (L-R) Adam Anzalone, Kyle Leaver, Jason Aponte, Sean Ljongquist, Petey Ackerman, Kevin Cherestal, Sean Malynn, Devon Worthington, Brandon Houk, Tyler Murley, coach Kirk Ljongquist, manager Darrin Malynn and coach Scott Houk. Not pictured: Tyler Frank, Gregory Hill and Nick Johnson.
Tournament Champs — The Wellington Warriors 9U travel baseball team was crowned tournament champions of the Father’s Day “On the Road to Nationals” Tournament held in Lake Worth. By outscoring their opponents 5015, the Warriors claimed the championship for the second consecutive year. Shown here are (L-R) A.J. Gallicchio, Chandler Miles, Jorgie Ramos, Neil Brown, Adam Bilkis, Logan Rogers, Armando Rodriguez, Matthew Hendel, Tanner Brown and Johnny Giordano. Not pictured: James Tietjen.
Contenders — The Royal Palm Beach Mustangs nine- and 10-year old “B” baseball team won the district championships in West Boca the weekend of June 9. The team placed second in the “A” district championships in Wellington and will play in the state championships this weekend in RPB. Shown here are manager John Lyons, coaches Roger Mills and Bruce Fernandez, and players Matthew Melnick, J.P. Dufresne, Jason Rosen, Liam Lyons, Ryan Rodriguez, Chase Morrell, Brady Rentschler, Nathan Gooch, Nick Fernandez, Adrian Perez-Vargas, Nick Martinez and Colin Smith.
Moroso Motorsports Park will be the site for Drag Racers Against Gangs Inc.’s gang awareness month, featuring their new hot rod on Fridays from 6 to 11 p.m. DRAG will also host Dan Calloway and a group of Riviera Beach youths. DRAG was started by Harold “Whitey” White, a dozer operator who has been drag racing as a hobby since 1967. He presented the idea to the National Hot Rod Association. As a result, DRAG has been invited to participate on Fridays through June 29 with “Pimpin’ Pappy Racing” at the Moroso Motorsports Park. For more information, call White at (561) 254-1823.
The Royal Gemz All-Star organization will host several cheerleading camps during the months of June and July.
The camps include cheerleading, tumbling, stunting, dance, group activities, arts and crafts, movie time, game time and other fun surprises. A pizza party is given every Friday for lunch. Each camper receives a free T-shirt.
Camps are held Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and costs $110 per week. No early dropoff or late pick-up is available. For more information, visit www. royalgemz.com.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
Royal Palm Beach resident Daphne Markey will compete for the first time in the Walt Disney World Triathlon in September to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training sponsors marathons, half-marathons and triathlons nationwide to raise money for the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
The 20-year-old Markey will swim, bike and run through Walt Disney World Sept. 23 and is seeking sponsors and supporters to help her raise money. Markey’s goal is to raise $2,800.
The event consists of a 1.5k swim, a 58k bike ride and a 10k run. The swim is in a freshwater lake with white sandy beaches, while the bike ride is on a gently rolling course on rural roads off the resort property. The race wraps up with a run on a two-loop course that winds through Disney’s Epcot Center.
Markey, an avid athlete and equestrian, is facing her first foray into stamina-testing endurance events, although competition in triathlons and marathons has been on her mind a long time.
“I always thought about it,” Markey said. “When I was little I ran track, and my coach was a former Olympian. Anyone can run with proper motivation. With a triathlon, you can mix a bunch
of things. I also was never able to train myself.”
Markey said she is getting training support from her friends, fellow students at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. “I recruited a couple of friends,” she said. “They are my workout partners, and they help me run at FAU.”
A decision on tackling more endurance events will wait until the September triathlon is over, Markey said.
“Right now I want to get through this one,” Markey said. “If you’re involved with any kind of sport, you eventually become addicted to it. People who never have trained before for a marathon easily become addicted to it.”
Markey said she has had a long habit of contributing her time and efforts to worthy causes such as the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee Groves, and running for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is no exception.
“It’s for a good cause,” she said. “It’s a good cause for me to help lives, and it keeps me
healthy. I don’t have any special connection to anyone with leukemia and lymphoma, but I’ve always been active with charities. I always volunteered with Vinceremos. Cancer touches everyone’s lives. I’m lucky not to have anyone in the family with those diseases.”
Markey trains six days a week for the triathlon. “On certain days we do certain things,” she said. “On Monday we run. Tuesdays and Thursdays, we swim. On Fridays we’re off. On Wednesdays we bike. We swim and run on Saturdays. We bike on Sundays.”
Markey enrolled at FAU after graduating from Royal Palm Beach High School, majoring in multimedia journalism. Markey said her family, former owners of the Town-Crier newspaper, has turned its interest mostly to real estate. As the daughter and granddaughter of men with careers in the journalism business, she said her choice of major raised a few eyebrows, but she always enjoyed photography growing up.
“I swore I was never going
to follow in my parents’ footsteps,” she laughed. “I guess I’m continuing the journalistic legacies we have.”
Markey said she shares with her fellow triathlon competitors the fact that they are carving time out of their schedules to prepare for the event.
“It’s all about priorities,” Markey said. “Someone could be the busiest person in the world. They could make it happen. The
race is mostly composed of adults. They have to go to work and come home and train. I really want to do it. Even if it means going out at 7 p.m. and running. I will do it.”
Those who want to support Markey can make donations via the Internet at www.active. com/donate/tntpb/dmarkey. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training web site is www.teamintraining.org.
Plans are underway for the 16th Annual Big O Hike. This year the hike begins at the north end of the Pahokee Marina at 8 a.m. on Nov. 17 and ends back at the marina on Nov. 25. From the original group of eight hike finishers in 1992, two people are still going strong. Gordon Johnson and Paul Cummings (shown right) have circled the lake every year for the past 15 years and are primed for the 2007 hike. The hike is a series of nine day walks to complete the 110mile circumference of Lake Okeechobee. For more information, call Paul Cummings at (561) 963-9906.
continued from page 18A larly about bad luck with women. At the end, Clooney tells Pitt to get married and have a few kids (wow, how clever!). Many of the plot twists go nowhere and most of the cast just shows up to make appearances. There are a couple of clever bits in Shrek the Third. Snow White does a bit with birds and animals that comes right from her Disney movie until it goes berserk; there is a bit of homage to The Wizard of Oz. Prince Charming is an idiot and his step-sister is strange. I think that one might be the first transgendered
character in a cartoon for children. Or maybe not.
Since many critics thought Jack Sparrow was a takeoff on Keith Richards, the old rocker turns up in this new film for no other reason than to be an in-joke.
Those “creative” types who are convinced we all are thrilled to see our old movie friends again ought to think about planning real stories so we are all enthralled. Instead, we get nice films that keep us out of the sun for a couple of hours, are not really unpleasant, and are totally forgettable. I may not even buy any of the DVDs of these films until they hit the really cheap bin at Wal-Mart.
Last week, New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington hosted Camp Invention, where everyday items are broken down and used to create new toys and gadgets. Teachers from schools throughout the western communities, as well as local youngsters, served as camp counselors.
Inventions in the making.
Contents Prepared by the Town-Crier Marketing Dept
• DANCE ARTS CONSERVATORY DANCE CAMP — We are in a great location for your summer fun! This summer dance camp is conveniently located in the heart of Wellington at the Wellington Marketplace, right next to the movie theater, just behind the fountain. Our camp program promises to be fun filled with huge hits such as hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, acro, drama, arts & crafts, fun and games and musical theater. To compliment your family’s busy summer schedule, we are offering affordable and flexible half-day, full day and weekly sessions. The Dance Arts Conservatory is a family owned and operated studio with the mission to be a positive presence in each of our student’s lives. Please join us this summer as we come together for a great vacation celebration! Sessions from June 4 through Aug. 17. For more information about our program, check us out on the web at www.danceartsconservatory.com or contact Rocky Duvall, our artistic director at (561) 296-1880.
Wellington Presbyterian Church held its Vacation Bible School last week with the pioneer theme “Avalanche Ranch.” The church is located at 1000 Wellington Trace. For more information, call (561) 793-1007. (Top) Group shot of kids and counselors at the camp. (Above left) Some of the counselors, dressed in pioneer garb, lead the kids in prayer. (Above right) Counselors help the kids make some crafts. (Right) Kelsey Ballard and Lane Parmar enjoy a kid-size table.
PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER
Work Day
In support of a nationwide campaign by the American Prostate Cancer Initiative to raise public awareness of prostate cancer, Wellington Regional Medical Center hosted Sneakers at Work Day on Friday, June 15.
The goal of Sneakers at Work Day is to encourage early detection of prostate cancer, a disease that has become the number-two cancer killer among men. In this country alone, over 230,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. It is hoped that through education and advocacy, the course of the disease will be changed, thereby reducing suffering and fatalities.
WRMC employees were encouraged to take part in the event by wearing sneakers to work on June 15. In exchange for making a small donation to the American Prostate Cancer Initiative, each participant received a pair of blue shoelaces. The shoelaces were sold in the lobby for a two-week period prior to June 15 thanks to the work of Prostate
Cancer Support Group facilitator Jesse Seligman, who coordinated the event. Special thanks to support group volunteers Alexis Adams, Lois Cautilli, Harvey Finkelstein, Wally Gress, Joel Grossman, Joe Lutin and Darlene Tintori.
The Prostate Cancer Support Group at Wellington meets on the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m. in the café. Seligman invites physician lecturers to speak to the group about the latest treatment options for prostate cancer. Family members are always welcome.
All money raised through Sneakers at Work Day will benefit the American Prostate Cancer Initiative and US TOO International. Both non-profits support prostate cancer awareness, patient education and research programs. “Without public awareness, prostate cancer will remain life-threatening when it doesn’t have to be,” Seligman said.
For more information about WRMC’s Prostate Cancer Support Group, call (561) 963-3412.
The Wellington Garden Club joined other area garden clubs for the Westgate Village Habitat for Humanity Park Dedication on June 7. Each colorful individual container garden was given to a Habitat family by club members with the support of www.perfectlysimplegiving.com. (Above) Garden club members, HFH staff and homeowners admire and select the container gardens. (Below) Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County President Michael Sabatello, Florida Federation of Garden Clubs HFH Chair Kitty Cashman, HFH of Palm Beach County Executive Director Bernard Godek, National Garden Week Chair Barbara Horan and Wellington Garden Club President Linda Leemon.
Michael Burdo of Royal Palm Beach recently was presented with a journalism award from the United States Achievement Academy.
The academy recognizes less than 10 percent of American high school students for this award. Michael, who attends the Bak Middle School of the Arts, was nominated for the award by his teacher Jessica Kutz. His name will appear in the United States Achievement Academy’s official yearbook, which is published nationally.
“Recognizing and supporting our youth is more important than ever before in America’s history,” said Dr. George Stevens, founder of the academy. “Certainly, United States Achieve-
ment Academy winners should be congratulated and appreciated for their dedication to excellence and achievement.”
The academy selects USAA winners upon the exclusive recommendation of teachers, coaches, counselors and other qualified sponsors and upon the standards of selection set forth by the academy. The criteria for selection are a student’s academic performance, interest and aptitude, leadership qualities, responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation to learn and improve citizenship, attitude and cooperative spirit and dependability.
Michael is the son of Vincent and Rita Burdo of Royal Palm Beach and the grandson of May Sego of Royal Palm Beach.
Four members of the Wildcat Dancers Dance Team and Tapazz Dance Troupe, both based at Royal Palm Beach High School, were the entertainment highlight at the Florida Alliance for the Arts 2007 Summit on June 15 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The dancers performed a mini show (four excerpts) from their traveling show for the participants of this year’s summit. Shown here are Dance Director Michele Blecher and performers Jessica Ngo, Alexa Blecher, Allyssa Durivou and Samantha Scalpi.
The Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) gave student assistance awards to four students recently: Jay Pantone, Jordan Pelfrey, Renee Hayes and Enjoli Saddler.
Pantone is the son of David and Amanda Pantone and a member of CAFCI’s Scout Troop 111. Jay graduated from Suncoast High School and plans to attend the University of Florida. In her recommendation for Pantone, mathematics instructor Suzanne Martin said, “In my 21 years of teaching experience, I have taught and gotten to know some fabulous students. Jay ranks at the very top of those students in performance, character and intelligence. In a school full of strong and talented students, I was most impressed by his performance. It was evident from the beginning that he was more than a strong and talented student.”
Pelfrey, son of Dale and Marie Pelfrey, is a 2007 graduate of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Pelfrey has been accepted at Belmont University in Nashville as a commercial music vocal performance student. Since he was a freshman, Pelfrey has been selected every year at Dreyfoos to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honors Choir in Florida. Pelfrey was selected for the Multicultural Honors Choir for the ACDA in Miami. Last summer, he was one of only 21 soloists selected to attend Florida State Solo-Vocal Honor Camp. Pelfrey put in more than 150 hours in design-
ing lesson plans and conducting vocal classes for underprivileged children. He was the vocal teacher last summer for an arts camp at Dreyfoos. Pelfrey has been involved with CAFCI in numerous talent shows and has sung for the past four years at CAFCI’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration, as well as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Hayes is described as a true leader by Royal Palm Beach High School world history teacher Elliott Days. “I have known Renee for four years, and she is extremely hard working and a reliable young lady,” Days said. “Renee has many strengths, which include her work ethic and her ability to persist through challenging times. She has a dynamic personality and motivation beyond her years. Without a doubt, she has the respect of her peers as well as myself. Renee has demonstrated that she can balance academics with her personal life, being an officer in Future Business Leaders of
America for three years, Emerald & Onyx, debate, student council, soccer and flag football.”
Saddler is the daughter of Robin Smith and stepfather Elvis Roach. She is a 2007 graduate of RPBHS and has been accepted at the Florida A&M University School of Business and In-
Jordan Pelfrey
dustry. Saddler plans to pursue a business degree because she aspires to being self employed by owning her own cosmetology business. “Growing up with Caribbean influence,” Saddler said, “it was expected of me to set high standards for my life. So my whole life I wanted to live up to those expectations if only to make my parents proud.” She credits her stepfather from Barbados with encouraging and demanding that she strive for high standards. Having visited Barbados several times, she experienced life from a different perspective, she said, placing value on that which is vital rather than superficial.
Rotarian Awarded — Dr. Wes Boughner, district matching grants chair and member of the Wellington Rotary Club, was awarded the Lou Phoebus Award at a luncheon last week in Vero Beach. It is the highest award in Rotary District 6930, which covers 51 Rotary clubs from Fort Lauderdale to Titusville. Boughner was honored for his work reorganizing the district’s humanitarian matching grants program and distributing district grant money. Shown here, District Governor Larry and Maureen Labadie present the award to Boughner.
Kristen Ullman, daughter of Keith and Debbie Ullman of Wellington, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on May 25.
Ullman received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with a specialization in aeronautical engineering. She also received her commission as an officer in the United States Navy with the rank of ensign and has been selected to be a navy pilot.
Leading up to graduation, Ullman was awarded the prestigious Lt. Gen. Robert C.
Taber (USA Ret.) Award as the most outstanding first-class midshipman in the Command, Seamanship, Navigation Training Squadron (CSNTS).
Ullman was the skipper of an all-midshipman crew on a 44foot sloop for three weeks, responsible for the training of a ten-member crew, and their performance and safety while sailing from Newport, RI to Annapolis, MD. Ullman and her crew weathered severe thunderstorms and 60-knot winds during transit. Ullman’s boat performed flawlessly
Christopher Smith, a ninthgrade student at Seminole Ridge High School, has earned a position on the Florida High School Rodeo Team and will travel with teammates to Springfield, IL July 22-28 to compete at the 59th Annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR). Smith will compete in the bareback riding category and will be alternate for the saddlebronc competition. Featuring more than 1,500 contestants from 40 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia, the National High School Finals is the world’s largest rodeo. Contestants vie for over $200,000 in prizes and more than $325,000 in scholarships. There are numerous social and academic activities taking place during the rodeo.
through their cruise as part of a six-boat fleet. Ullman was even called upon to assist another boat with engine problems. She was recognized for her leadership and overall capability as the top-performing midshipman throughout the entire training period consisting of over 600 midshipmen.
The Taber Award is a permanent award that is displayed at the Robert Crown Sailing Center at the U.S. Naval Academy. Ullman was a member of the academy’s coed varsity sailing team. She recently represented
the U.S. Naval Academy at the 10th International Nautical Competition in Turkey and helped her team to a third place showing among naval academies around the world. As a navy pilot, Ullman will report to Pensacola in September for flight school. During the summer, Ullman will be stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy teaching sailing to the incoming plebes, the Class of 2011. Kristen Ullman is a 2003 graduate of Suncoast High School in the Math, Science and Engineering Program.
Kelly Nichole Mueller graduated from the Stetson University College of Law on May 12. An honor roll student, she received the Hearne Environmental Law Award, was the president of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and on the champion flag football team for three years. Mueller is a 1998 graduate of Wellington High School. Mueller furthered her education by graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2003. While attending UCF, Mueller was a member of the Trial Team and the Crew Team. Her parents are Henry and Dora
Kelly Nichole Mueller Bauer of Wellington. Mueller’s grandparents are Dorothy Leppert and the late Samuel Ivan Leppert Jr. of Saginaw, Michigan.
Army Pvt. Derek Piper has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Piper’s nine weeks of training and study included learning the Army mission, history, tradition and core values. Piper is the son of Mary Piper of Wellington and grandson of Raymond Miller of Woodstock, Virginia.
Solid Gold Strutters Baton Twirling Corps is a twirling, pom and flag team based out of Royal Palm Beach High School, Seminole Ridge High School and Royal Palm Beach Elementary School. The Solid Gold Strutters hold many national, regional, state and county titles and recently qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics in Knoxville, Tenn.
Solid Gold has been a part of the western communities for more than 20 years. The team includes girls and boys ages three to 19 and is directed by Debbey Cramer and coached by Lisa Gabler and Chelsea Chilcutt. The team is working hard to be able to travel to Tennessee July 30 to Aug. 3. The bus cost is estimated at $6,000 and entries for the team
are $15 per routine per child; approximately $6,000 in team entries not counting the cost for the children that also qualified for individual routines. The team is looking for sponsors in the local community. Donations over $300 will be considered a sponsorship and those donors will be recognized at all performances.
Breannah Annalease Dermody daughter of Anjanie and Michael Dermody of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 4.
Camden Daniel Saunders — son of Jenna and Adam Saunders of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on June 8.
Katrina Kashif — daughter of Mehwish Kashif and Kashif Chughtai of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 9.
Shana Sankarappan — daughter of Ponnila and Srinivasan Sankarappan of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on June 10.
Savannah Love Mazzeo — daughter of Cristal Love and Joseph Andrew Mazzeo of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 10.
Isaiah Rhodes — son of Whitney Fulton and Leon Rhodes of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 11.
Alina Christine Ramirez — daughter of Christine and Mario Ramirez of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on June 12.
Analeya Shekanah Madeus daughter of Ananise Nozifort and Odner Madeus of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 12.
For more information, contact Debbey Cramer at (561) 793-0292, Lisa Gabler at (561) 719-0448 or Chelsea Chilcutt at (561) 452-0534, or e-mail twirlchelseacai @bellsouth.net.
Checks should be made out to Solid Gold Strutters and mailed to Solid Gold, c/o Debbey Cramer, 455 Folsom Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470.
Gina Paolo — daughter of Lisa and Joe Paolo of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 12.
Tyler Garret Lee Hatfield — son of Heather Flory and Harlan Garret Lee Hatfield of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 12.
Gabriela Garza — daughter of Yuneika Rodriguez and Jose Garza of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on June 13.
Chelsea Jordan Dindal — daughter of Amy and James Dindal of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on June 13.
Isaac Frederick — son of Marie Myrka and Abraham Frederick of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 13.
Rickysha Senatus — daughter of Paula Chery and Rico Senatus was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 13.
Zyia Paris McDaniel — daughter of Bianca Nicole and Dexter Todd McDaniel of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on June 15.
Mallory Dawn Oland — daughter of Heather and Todd Eric Oland of Loxahatchee was born at Palms West Hospital on June 15.
The fabulous Addison restaurant has the “it factor.” Whether you’re in the mood for casual chic dining or a memorable evening out, the Banyan Bar & Grill at the Addison offers the perfect blend of elegance and style with a relaxed atmosphere for every occasion. With impeccable service, unparalleled menu selections and ambience unmatched anywhere in Palm Beach County, this is Boca Raton’s premier destination for dinner.
It’s the place for elegant dining in the exquisite historic 1930s, 60,000-square-foot former Addison Mizner mansion. Dine beneath the stars in the romantic courtyard amidst the spectacular giant Banyan trees… Such grandeur is reminiscent of the finest European eateries. It’s the place for nightlife and a magnet for some of the most beautiful people anywhere to gather, meet, seen or be seen like no other… It’s the ultimate in sophistication… It’s where European finery comes together with you! It has two inviting inside bars, one which overlooks an intimate dining room while the other is a glass-enclosed gathering place overlooking the magnificent courtyard. It is where nightlife begins.
The Addison’s dishes are as elegant to the taste as the venue looks. Specializing in classic American cuisine with global additions and comfort food like lobster shepherd’s pie, grilled lollipop lamb chops, barbecue short ribs, or the house favorite miso-glazed Chilean sea bass — if presentation is half the meal, you’re in for a real treat!
We started with jumbo lump crab cake ($15) with mustard cayenne butter and organic greens as well as Gulf shrimp bruschetta ($15), an incomparable treat highlighted with garlic, fennel, roasted tomato, cannelloni beans, arugula, white wine and feta cheese… Very different from the norm. From here we moved on to warm crusted
goat cheese & spinach salad ($13) loaded with pear, roasted beets, red onion pancetta & balsamic vinaigrette. Other appetizers include mussels in garlic and white wine sauce, buttermilk calamari and portobello carpaccio with arugula. Two items not to be missed by seafood lovers are miso-glazed Chilean sea bass ($35) with sesame scallion risotto cake, sprout slaw & ginger vinaigrette… You should take a moment to breath in the aroma of this house special, it’s so good. The lobster “shepherd’s pie” ($36) is another incredible taste with a combo of roasted mushrooms, leeks, spinach, corn & whipped potatoes, an excellent version. The menu reads like a “Who’s Who” from top restaurants with selections that include: olive oil poached halibut, blackened mahi-mahi, filet mignon “Oscar,” Dijon herb-crusted rack of lamb and a 40-ounce porterhouse steak for two.
It’s now time for dessert ($8-$9): flourless chocolate torte, key lime tartlet, caramel mascarpone mousse, chocolate bread pudding, fresh fruit tart or for the ultimate selection, “trio of desserts:” Chocolate Oblivion with framboise, cassis creme caramel and strawberry shortcake.
All the above would not be possible without the culinary team headed by Executive Chef Jeff Sacks, who hails from New Jersey and who follows an “against the grain” mantra. He is predominantly self-taught and a proverbial natural. Jeff started his culinary career in 1987 at New York’s famous Hotel Pierre where he specialized in classic French cuisine and displayed a raw talent for gastronomic excellence. He then traveled throughout France and Italy to perfect his talent. Upon his return to Florida, he became the executive chef at Boca Raton’s critically acclaimed Prezzo. Then went on to become executive chef at Max’s Grill Boca Raton, considered one the best restaurants in Boca Raton during his tenure… and now he is executive chef of the Addison.
Perhaps the best indicators of Jeff’s superlative talents are provided by his loyal
customers, who have followed his every move. We had a wonderful dining experience with great food, impeccable service on a beautiful cool summer evening under the stars and nice light entertainment, which all adds up for a night to remember.
The Addison is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Besides dinner, the Addison is one of the best night spots. Check out Ladies’ Night on Tuesday and “Club 400” for the elite parties every Wednesday. Call the Addison at (561) 395-9335… and tell them that Joe & Kathryn, the Phantoms, highly recommended you call!
Joe & Kathryn, the Phantoms, are featured writers for the Town-Crier newspaper and Seabreeze Publications. Comments and recommendations are welcome. Contact them at thephantomdiners@aol.com or call (561) 309-4406.
The Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee held its annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Saturday, June 16 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Keynote speakers included Congressmen Ron Klein and Tim Mahoney, Democratic strategist James Carville and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. The master of ceremonies for the evening was Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee State Committeeman Jay Weitz. The event was also sponsored by JFK Medical Center, Palms West Hospital and Columbia Hospital. For more information about the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, call (561) 433-1112 or visit www.pbcdemocraticparty.org.
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
Hospice of Palm Beach County’s Resale Shop West, located in the Wellington Marketplace, has long been an important component of the hospice’s operation.
“We are a key part of the hospice,” resale shop manager Judith Dieker said. “Hospice provides all of its services to the people of the county regardless of whether or not they can afford them, whether or not they have insurance, and we help by raising money for them.”
Hospice of Palm Beach County helps those at the end of life, providing pain control and assistance with a variety of related symptoms. It is a non-profit organization that provides a spectrum of services including bereavement groups for survivors and a camp for children who are suffering because of loss.
The resale shop raises money by selling a wide variety of donated goods. “A lot of people think that we only have clothes here,” Dieker said, “but we have furniture, jewelry, books and magazines, even small appliances.”
Dieker is the only paid full-
time employee at the shop. “We have about 25 wonderful volunteers,” she said. “We have two or three here every day, and of course we could use even more people helping us.”
The Hospice Resale Shop is no garden-variety thrift store.
“We make sure that what we sell is good quality,” Dieker said. “Our volunteers wash a lot of the clothes and even iron anything that is wrinkled.”
Dieker said the store is in real need of more furniture. “We have free pickup for furniture,” Dieker said, “but we ask those who want to donate to make sure the furniture is not in need of repair. We don’t have the facilities to repair furniture.”
The shop also has great bargains on books. “We have current magazines that often sell for $3 or $4, and people get them for $1,” she said. “You can buy a shopping bag of books for $5 for the entire bag.”
Up next at the Hospice resale shop is its popular Christmasin-July sale.
“We are holding the Christmas-in-July sale beginning July 9,” Dieker said. “We will give a 20-percent reduction in cost to anyone who spends at least $25 as a way of thanking shoppers for their support.”
The sale continues until July 28. Dieker said those who want to support the work of Hospice of Palm Beach County should donate what they can to the resale shop, and to buy there as well.
“The work we are doing is so important for so many people,” she said.
The Hospice of Palm Beach County Resale Shop West is located in the Wellington Marketplace at 13873 Wellington
Trace, Suite B-3 and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., accepting donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is closed Sundays. For more information, call (561) 798-5227.
By Steve Pike Town-Crier Staff Report
A taste of Chicago is coming to Royal Palm Beach via Boston and Brooklyn. An explanation: Brooklyn-born Bob Swigonski, along with Boca Raton plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Dardano, has acquired the Palm Beach County franchise rights for Uno Chicago Grill, a popular national restaurant chain that specializes in Chicago-style deep dish pizza.
The Boston connection? Although Uno Chicago Grill began as Pizzeria Uno at Ohio and Wabash Streets in Chicago in 1943, the company’s headquarters is now in Boston.
The restaurant is still in the permitting process, but Swigon-
ski, who owned Bennigan’s and Denny’s franchises in New York State, said he plans to open his Uno Chicago Grill in October or November in the Anthony Groves shopping complex on State Road 7.
When it opens, the restaurant will be only the fourth Uno Chicago Grill in Florida. The others are in Melbourne, Orlando and Fort Myers. The Royal Palm Beach restaurant, Swigonski said, will be approximately 6,000 square feet and seat 210 customers.
Swigonski, a graduate of Manhattan Community College, migrated south 11 months ago to escape the harsh Northeast winters. He, his wife Peggy and son Blake lived for several years in Syracuse.
“This is a great location,” said Swigonski, a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm. “My family and I love the area, and we can’t wait to get the restaurant open. I think it’s going to be a great addition to the area.”
Uno Restaurant Corporation owns more than 125 restaurants and began franchising three years ago. It currently franchises approximately 85 restaurants in 30 states, each serving the deepdish pizza that founder Ike Sewell made popular in his Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due restaurants in Chicago.
In addition to the deep-dish pizza, Uno Chicago Grill has a menu that includes steaks, ribs, pasta, salads and desserts.
The administration of Wellington Regional Medical Center and its parent company Universal Health Services recently announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Bishop to the position of medical director at the hospital.
Dr. Bishop, long affiliated with Western Communities Family Practice, is a well-known and highly respected family physician who has served his patients with care and compassion for more than two decades.
“We are excited to bring such a recognized figure in the community to this important leadership role,” WRMC CEO Kevin DiLallo said. “Dr. Bishop’s
wealth of experience, both as a clinician and manager, will be very beneficial in his new position as medical director.”
Over the years, Dr. Bishop has held various positions at WRMC, including Family Practice Department chair, as well as vice chief, chief of staff and program director for the Family Residency Program. He has also served as chair of the hospital’s board of governors. Bishop continues to serve as a clinical professor for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a diplomat of the National Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons and
is member of many professional organizations, including the Florida Academy of Osteopathy, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Florida Society of the American College of General Practitioners, the American Osteopathic Association and others. As hospital medical director, Bishop will provide leadership and direction in the formulation of overall medical policy governing treatment, utilization and development of medical quality assurance programs. He will foster the relationship among the hospital’s medical staff, providing centralized support services in credentialing and continuing
medical education. He will also assume the role of director of medical education overseeing the Family Practice Residency Program which encompasses the family practice, ER and dermatology residencies.
“I am excited to assume this position as one of Wellington Regional Medical Center’s leaders at such an exciting time of growth and development and hope to serve as a liaison between physicians, the community and hospital administrators,” Bishop said. “I will work closely with the board of governors and administrators on issues that impact quality of care.”
By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report
People in the western communities have been going to Van Dell Jewelers for good jewelry pretty much as long as the western communities have existed. Few businesses anywhere have the reputation for care and high value enjoyed by Jack Van Dell.
After building his reputation in Wellington for more than 25 years, Van Dell recently added a store in the new Southern Palm Crossing plaza in Royal Palm Beach. Van Dell also operates a store in Palm Beach Gardens.
“We lack nothing you can get in downtown New York City in the diamond district,” said Van Dell, who is particularly known for his equestrian jewelry. “My family is from Boston, and we all learned early on that we have to be able to serve customers properly. When people come to our store, they want the best of care, and they expect good service. And we go out of our way to give it to them.”
The Royal Palm Beach store will specialize in bridal jewelry, particularly wedding and engagements rings. “We make many of our own pieces,” Van Dell said. “We import much of our jewelry from Italy and have several exclusive designers there.”
Van Dell said the Royal Palm Beach store is staffed by Wellington store veterans Joyce Brito and Dwight Huntoon along with his son Alexander Van Dell to make certain that people have
a good experience when they come in to buy.
“People who can afford fine jewelry deserve to be treated well,” Brito said. “When they come in, they are happy to discover that there is no hard sell here. We want them to be happy.”
Brito quickly added that all customers are treated well regardless of their means. “We treat everyone with respect,” she said. “Everyone deserves good treatment.”
Huntoon agreed. “I had a young man in here today who spent $450 on a present,” he said. “That money for him was perhaps the same percent of income as a $50,000 purchase might be for a wealthy customer. The jewelry business is a balancing act.”
Van Dell, who opened the Royal Palm Beach store last week, is well known for the design work and creativity in his stores. “People bring in pictures they want turned into jewelry,” he said. “It can be a design, but quite often it is a favorite horse or dog. We do wax carving here, which allows us to cast our work in 14- or 18-karat gold, either white or yellow, or in platinum and silver.”
Van Dell said his company has the largest workshops of any retail jeweler in South Florida, and with their computer-assisted design and manufacturing or CAD/CAM apparatus, they can do all of the work on site.
The stores also feature quick repairs. “We try to complete work as quickly as possible,” Van Dell said. “On average it
takes two to three days. If you need the work done while you wait, we can generally accommodate.”
Van Dell is proud to own a true family business. “We need to keep our quality up so that people want to continue buying from us,” he said. “This business was handed down from grandfather to son to grandson. If we don’t do our work well,
we won’t have anything to hand down. Because of the good work, we only use a soft sell; most customers sell themselves on very high quality merchandise.”
The store also provides a variety of related services. They buy and sell pre-owned Rolex watches as well as buying, trading and selling jewelry. Van Dell also performs insurance apprais-
als and does laser engraving for jewelry and trophies.
Van Dell Jewelers in Royal Palm Beach is located in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza at 11051 Southern Blvd., Suite 120 and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed Sundays. For more info., call (561) 784-5220.
By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report
On Thursday, June 7, local dignitaries joined Office Depot staff to celebrate the opening of the company’s newest store, located at 6285 Lantana Road in suburban Lake Worth.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Office Depot made $500 contributions and donated children’s backpacks to three local nonprofit organizations: the Hispanic Human Resources Council, the ELLES School and the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County.
The backpack donations are part of the Office Depot National Backpack Program, through which the company aims to dis-
tribute 300,000 new backpacks this year to nonprofit organizations and schools serving at-risk children in the United States and Canada.
The new Office Depot store employs approximately 20 fulltime and part-time associates. It houses more than 7,500 technology, furniture and supply products as well as design, print and ship services in 19,940 square feet of customer space. Hours for the new suburban Lake Worth store are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (561) 433-1414 or visit www. officedepot.com.
business partners and Office Depot representatives
during opening comments.
Dean Anthony’s Express — The Palms West Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribboncutting ceremony at the new location of Dean Anthony’s Express Pizza & More. The popular eatery is now located at 2335 State Road 7 in the Plaza at Wellington Green. Owner Joseph Polimeni recently moved and upgraded his restaurant from a smaller location around the corner. Dean Anthony’s Express Pizza & More is open for both lunch and dinner; catering is available for your next party; and delivery is available. Call (561) 422-3393 for more information. Pictured here is owner Joseph Polimeni with Pellier Blanc, Stacy Lienhart, Joey Leate and Palms West Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.
Tanism — Located at 10160 W. Forest Hill Blvd., next door to L.A. Fitness in the Pointe at Wellington Green, Tanism offers a variety of package plans guaranteed to achieve your tanning goals. Tanism features four levels of tanning and also carries a variety of skin care products to enhance your bronzed look and leave your skin feeling supple, smooth and rejuvenated. For more info., call (561) 333-3644 or visit www.tanism.com. Pictured here are owners John and Melissa Varvarigos with chamber ambassadors.
The law firm of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith recently announced that attorneys Joseph Landy and Michael Smith were named by Lawdragon magazine to the publication’s Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America. Smith lives in Wellington with his wife Elizabeth. Landy lives in Lake Worth with his wife Ina and children Tyler and Sasha.
The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America is the first to offer a comprehensive look at those lawyers who represent individuals in cases ranging from medical malpractice to securities class actions, often with multi-million-dollar results. It is composed of lawyers from a wide range of practices and features a never-before-seen picture of the role plaintiffs’ lawyers play in America. Landy and Smith were nominated by their peers and the Lawdragon editorial staff.
“Joe Landy and Mickey Smith are the two finest trial lawyers I know,” said Gary Lesser, the firm’s managing partner. “They work very hard for their cli-
ents, and I am proud to see them honored by being selected by Lawdragon as two of the 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers for this country.”
The Lawdragon 500 were selected from a group of more than 10,000 attorneys across the country based on a proprietary system that takes into account dozens of qualifications.
Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith is one of South Florida’s oldest law firms. It has offices in Palm Beach, Stuart and Boca Raton. For more info., call (561) 655-2028.
The Bainbridge Companies in Wellington recently added three new members to its team of professionals: Lauran Guastalli, Daniel Ng and Denise Lewis.
Guastalli joins Bainbridge as a training director. Previously she was a software operations training manager with Archstone-Smith in Fort Lauderdale. Guastalli has a Florida community association management license.
NgLewis Guastalli
manager with WCI Communities Inc. in Palm Beach Gardens.
Ng joins the company’s finance division as an associate. Previously he was an associate with Crocker Partners in Boca Raton. Ng has a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Lewis joins Bainbridge Construction as a pre-construction administrative assistant. Previously she was a budget
Bainbridge is a fully integrated real estate company engaged in the development, construction, management, acquisition of commercial and residential real estate. The firm owns commercial and residential real estate in high growth areas of Florida. The firm is located at 12765 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 1307. Call (561) 333-3669 or visit www. bainbridgecompanies.com for more information.
As part of its Summer Business Series, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will feature guest speaker Ted Kramer on Friday, June 29 at 8 a.m. at the Lake Wellington Professional Center (12230 W. Forest Hill Blvd.).
Kramer is associate director and certified business analyst at the Florida Atlantic University Small Business Development Center. He will cover such topics as starting a new business, surviving the summer season in South Florida, marketing to a desired demographic, tracking sales, and knowing
your customer and your competitor. There will be a question-and-answer session at the conclusion of the seminar.
Kramer has taught small business startup and management courses at the university level and is a certified instructor in Fast Trac and NxLevel entrepreneurial programs. In his spare time, he has served as a mentor to inner-city small business owners.
The lecture is free for chamber members and $25 for non-members. RSVP to (561) 792-6525.
The Palms West Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking volunteers to help plan for its newest event, SalsaFest. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 27 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the chamber office (13901 Southern Blvd., Loxahatchee Groves). SalsaFest will be a one-day festival held on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Greenacres Community Park, located at the corner of Jog Road and Constitution Way. The meeting will be an opportunity to network with other chamber members as they put together a fun festival of food, dance and live musical entertainment. Anyone interested in volunteering should call (561) 790-6200 or e-mail info@palmswest.com
At its June 11 meeting, the Quantum Group Board of Directors unanimously approved its expansion from seven to 11 members. Elected to the new open positions were Alberto Del Valle, Jose de la Torre, Lawrence Fisher and Gregg Steinberg.
Del Valle has a Miami-based private practice specializing in small business advisory and financial services. De la Torre is a well-known international scholar and valued board member of numerous organizations. Fisher is among the nation’s top IPO attorneys. A securities specialist, he has more than 35 years of experience serving as counsel on hundreds of public offerings. Steinberg, president of International Profit Associates and affiliated companies, is charged with managing the operations for the companies and their growth objectives.
The board further approved the following restructuring of its committees. The Audit Committee includes Del Valle (chair), Fisher and Mark Haggerty; the Compensation and Options Committee is de la Torre (chair) and Steinberg; the
Nomination and Governance Committee is Steinberg (chair), de la Torre and Fisher; the Executive Committee is Noel Guillama (chair), Donald Cohen, James Baker and Del Valle.
Based in Wellington, the Quantum Group is one of Florida’s largest community-based healthcare provider systems. In conjunction with its subsidiary companies, including Renaissance Health System of Florida, Quantum provides administrative and support services to the Florida managed care industry as well as to the physicians of Florida. For more information, call (561) 798-9800 or visit www.quantummd.com.
Dr. Craig Selinger is actively participating in the National Headache Foundation’s nationwide efforts to bring headache awareness, education and relief to millions of Americans who suffer daily from the pain of debilitating headaches.
“Between 70 and 80 percent of all Americans experience chronic headache pain at least once per week, and a large body of research indicates that poor posture and spinal misalignment may be responsible,” Dr. Selinger said. “Yet many people fail to recognize the connection between healthy cervical spinal alignment and headaches.”
The following are a few headache pain symptoms for which chiropractic treatment is not only appropriate, but also high effective: headache that causes difficulty in thinking or memory; sudden first-time onset of severe headaches; headache accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound; sudden vision problems associated with a headache; elevated blood pressure in conjunction with a headache; and changes in pulse rate or respiration associated with a headache.
Chiropractic care has a strong track record of success in treating most forms of benign headaches. It has even proven
successful in treating and eliminating debilitating migraine pain. Unlike many prescription or over-the-counter medications, chiropractic causes no adverse or allergic reactions, no potential drug interaction and no drug-induced drowsiness.
Selinger Chiropractic & Acupuncture is located at 7749 Lake Worth Road, just east of Florida’s Turnpike. To learn more about the National Headache Foundation and the most current natural headache pain relief information, call Dr. Selinger at (561) 434-9949 or visit www.selinger chiropractic.com.
Melissa Cohn, president and CEO of the Manhattan Mortgage Company, was recently featured by WVVH-TV (Hamptons TV) in New York as part of a profile series on individuals who make great strides in both business and charitable activities.
Cohn has homes in both Wellington and the Hamptons and is actively involved in charitable organizations in both locations. The station filmed a 30-minute segment with Cohn, focusing on her recent awards, business practices and philanthropy. WVVH-TV is the most-viewed station in the Hamptons and is also the official station for the Hampton Classic Horse Show.
Cohn was named Top Mortgage Originator for 11 years in a row by the editors of Mortgage Originator magazine and is also the recipient of the Ernst & Young 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Financial Services category in the New York metro area.
In May, Cohn was honored with the Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope for her extensive charitable work. Some of her causes include Volunteers of America, Lighthouse International, Habitat for Humanity, the Child Development Center of the Hamptons, the American Cancer Society, March of
Dimes and the Retreat.
This winter, she also received a Stevie Award for Women in Business, which honors female executives, entrepreneurs and their companies worldwide and have been touted as the Oscars of the business world, recognizing outstanding performance in business. In addition to being a world-class businesswoman, Cohn is also an avid equestrian and competes at some of the biggest horse shows in the country, including the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Hampton Classic.
For more information about the Manhattan Mortgage Company, visit www. manhattanmortgage.com.
Snyder and Harding
Local chiropractor Dr. Scott Snyder recently had the opportunity to rub elbows with Miss Fitness USA Sarah Harding at the Masters Circle Conference in Santa Clara, California.
Snyder met Harding as a contributing member of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. Harding is an outstanding spokesperson for the chiropractic profession. As a young child with dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast, her doctors told her that only surgery could correct her lower back problem. Harding ultimately sought chiropractic care and earned All-American status at Stanford University. She has subsequently earned the title of Miss Fitness USA twice and is presently performing nightly with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
Dr. Snyder’s office is located at 11328 Okeechobee Blvd., Royal Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 798-8899.
On Thursday, June 14, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County celebrated its 12th anniversary with the installation dinner “Champagne & Roses” at the Breakers West Country Club. The installation included music courtesy of soloist Megan Clancy of Cardinal Newman High School and pianist Gay Dedo, as well as an invocation by Rev. Mimi Howard of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. The officers were installed by Circuit Court Judge Karen Miller. Sponsors of the event included BankUnited and the YWCA of Palm Beach County. For more information about the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, call (561) 253-0326 or visit www.womenschamber.biz.
War — what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Whenever I hear the words of that song, I start wondering about Iraq. I keep asking myself, why are we there? I then ask myself what this war has done for us? And of course the answer is, absolutely nothing.
This country did a great job in World War II. We showed the rest of the world how to fight and win a war. World War II was fought and won by the greatest generation of Americans this country has ever produced, and 12.3 million of them served during the conflict. I am sorry to report that less than 3.5 million of these veterans are alive today. Almost a thousand of these brave warriors die every day.
After World War II, we engaged in a “police action” called the Korean War. Many brave Americans died in this war. To this day the Korean War is not over. We still have 40,000 troops in South Korea on the DMZ.
After the Korean War came Vietnam. Over 58,000 brave Americans died in this conflict. A couple of million Americans served in Vietnam (myself included), and to this day I still don’t know why we were there.
With Ernie Zimmerman
Today a lot of Americans are paying a price for being in Vietnam. If you go to a VA hospital, it is packed with Vietnam vets. Well, maybe we are just getting old. After all, that face I see in the mirror every morning can’t really be mine. It looks like my father looking back at me.
After Vietnam, a country called Iraq came into our lives. It attacked Kuwait and for some reason President George Bush I decided we couldn’t allow that to happen. Something about oil and money. So we sent our troops to rid Kuwait of Iraq. We had a real-life
Desert Storm. Our fighting machine did what it does best. It looked like the fighting machine we had in World War II. We sent Iraq home in defeat.
Then after 9/11, 2001, President Bush II decided it was time to take out Iraq. Of course, if his father had finished the job the first time, there may not of been a need for us to go back. But about four years ago, go back we did. So far, more than 3,520 troops have been killed in Iraq and more than 25,950 wounded. And all the president keeps doing is sending more troops. Can you say “Vietnam all over again”?
I think it is time to bring the troops home. They should be placed on our borders and stop the real invasion that is happening in this country. Everyday hundreds if not thousands of illegal immigrants are sneaking into our country. This has to stop. This scares me more than anything Iraq can do to us.
Please bring the troops home and protect our borders, and then I can stop singing to myself “war — what is it good for? Absolutely nothing,” and hopefully a good night’s sleep is in my future.
If you have a small tree with empty lower branches, you may want to consider it as a place to hang attractive planted baskets. Of course, you can also hang baskets inside a porch or screen room if you have suitable areas. Many types of foliage and even fruiting plants can be grown in decorative hanging baskets to lend a very nice visual enhancement to your living area.
Most types of plants found in hanging baskets are vines in nature, but in hanging baskets they can cascade down several feet to give a very beautiful visual effect, almost like a skirt. You can select flowering or non-flowering plants for hanging baskets depending on your personal preference, and of course many of our annual flowers and even perennial plants that bloom over a long period can be used as hanging basket specimens.
Depending on the type of plant, you
can use baskets as small as four to six inches, or if you really want a big display, put them in large baskets anywhere from 14 to 18 inches. Often larger baskets need a more secure place to hang because of their weight.
If you’re collecting various types of hanging baskets from different nurseries, remember that nurseries often use different kinds of potting media, and this means the plants may dry out at different rates even though they may be in containers of the same size. Because of that, you may not be able to water everything at the same time. If you have the time, it’s best to water plants in hanging baskets on an as-needed basis, because some types of plants can go a week or more without water, while others, especially annual plants, might require more frequent irrigation.
Fertilizing is necessary for plants in hanging baskets because regular water-
ing tends to leach out soluble nutrients. Most garden centers have soluble fertilizers that can be mixed with water and applied according to label directions.
If you don’t want to worry about mixing fertilizers, there are dry slow-release fertilizers and granular products that feed for several weeks, or in some cases several months, depending on the type.
Plants in hanging baskets will outgrow their containers over time and must either be repotted into larger containers or reduced in size by selective pruning. Most people choose to prune back rather than repot. The bigger the plant, the more water and fertilizer it will need to stay happy.
Check hanging baskets regularly for mealybugs, spider mites and other common pests. They’re usually not lifethreatening if caught early, and control measures can be as simple as rinsing the pest off the plant with a strong stream
of water from a garden hose or using insecticidal soaps or other safe products. Some hanging basket plants are sensitive to cold, so if you live far inland, watch them carefully on nights when frost or freeze is expected. You may want to take them inside until the cold weather passes.
If you have questions about hanging baskets or the plants suitable for them, you can get some valuable free advice from the Palm Beach County Extension office by calling (561) 233-1750.
$18-$25/HR — Teachers/Tutors P/T. All subjects PreK to Adult. Certification/Experience required. Palm Beach County Areas Fax 561-828-8128 or E-mail Tutorking@adelphia.net
HELP WANTED/BOOKKEEPER EXPERIENCED; Familiar with QUICKBOOKS - Full-Time position. Pay commensurate with experience. Fax resume to A. Silver - 561-432-2825
CLEANERS RESIDENTIAL FT — Car required, Pd. Training. North and West Palm Beach Cty. Up to $10/hr Start. 561-756-2282
RECEPTIONIST — For Lawyer and Accounting Office. Fax resume to 561793-1470
NEEDED: Experienced home care providers for a 65-year old woman with health problems. Flexible part-or-fulltime/9AM--5PM. Must have references and driver’s license. Spanish-speaking preferred but not required. Wellington 561-793-2903
HELP WANTED
Earn $800 - $3200 Monthly to drive brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.AdCarDrive.com
WORK FROM HOME NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED Let your home computer work for you! Your House. Your Business. Our proven system.Free personal coaching earn up to $500 - $5,000 PT/FT visit our website www.kmm.Theonlinebusiness.com
HELP WANTED IRRIGATION FOREMAN — Great Pay/Full Time. 7 years experience minimum. Residential/Commercial Clean Class D Drivers. Lic. Drug Free (561) 436-3621 OR (772) 260-3691
PART-TIME-WEEKEND CASHIER PINCH A PENNY - WELLINGTONResponsible Individual - Pool & Spa Retail Store. No Nights - apply in person. 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. - Wellington. Town Square Center @South Shore & Forest Hill Blvd.
PET SITTER — PT schedule includes weekends & holidays. Must have reliable transportation with clean driving record. 561-969-3011
ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORYSeeking NIOSH asbestos microscript. PT/FT growth opportunity 561-792-9190
PT/FT ENVIRONMENTAL LAB - Office Girl Friday/Research Assistant. $8-$10/hr. 561-792-9190
FT/PT DANCE INSTRUCTOR - Experience required in Tap, Jazz, Ballet & Modern. Call 561-795-9992 or Fax Resume to 561-795-9994
DOUBLE NICHE IN ROYAL PALM MEMORIAL GARDENS MAUSOLEUM — Includes 2 openings & closings. Current price $2,800 asking $1,995 OBO. 772219-8153
22 FT. 1980 CATALINA SAILBOAT — with swing keel on trailer 2006 4 horse power outboard Yamaha, sleeps 5, portable head, gallery and radio. Asking $2500. Call 561-385-3606
MATTRESSES QUEEN/KING $189. Call 561-848-8765 brand new in the plastic.
MARBLE DINING ROOM TABLE - with marble base and 6 chairs. Bunk Bed, full size bottoms/twin size top (WOOD) Best Offer. 561-204-1776
HURRICANE SHUTTERS - all sizes $10 each 27" Televisions $50/Each. Microwave $100. 561-784-2991
LOXAHATCHEE 1 BD/1 BA APT W/FULL KITCHEN — 1st & Security Deposit. Includes all utilities plus satellite. No Pets. No Smoking. $750/mo. 561-373-3534 561-333-4718
LARGE 4/3 ON 2 1/2 ACRES — 5 Stalls, 3 paddocks. Owners would like to stay on as groundskeepers in the In-laws house. $595,000. 561-767-0731
WELLINGTON LAKES — 4/2 1/2/2CG cul-de-sac home on canal. Leading into Lake Wellington 2400 Sq. Ft. New tile on 1st Floor, all new appliance. Wrap around screened patio. Excellent Condition! Low HOA. FOR SALE BY OWNER. $349,900. Call 561-795-5154
MOVING SALE RAIN OR SHINE THIS
SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 7:00 A.M. - 11
A.M. - 11775 Balsam Dr. (Off of Southern & RPB Blvd)
1/1 ½ Condo furnished in Century Village, over 55 Community. Corner unit, Central Air. Has been remodeled. Beautiful Clubhouse with many activities, pool, gated community. $650 Mo. 561791-0699 or 459-9558
WELLINGTON 3BD/21/2BA/3CGAR HOME UPSTAIRS LOFT — gated golf community. Lakefield West, unfurnished with Washer/Dryer. Large Master with walk-in closet, double vanity in master bath. Screened patio. $2,500/MO. Available 08-01-07 904-669-2477
WELLINGTON 3/2 ½ TOWNHOUSE IN BRIER PATCH - Corner unit on canal. Recently refurbished with many upgrades. $1,450 MO. Pets OK. 561-6023765 \
Roommate Wanted at Wellington Condo — Private room & bath. All utilities included. Quiet Neighborhood. Available for immediate occupancy. $650/mo. Call Pam at 561-827-8458 Wellington — Fully furnished studio apartment in Palm Beach Polo Club, gated, pool/Jacuzzi. Summer or shorter rental available. 561-281-0632.
ROYAL PALM BEACH - Furnished bedroom with use of living & dining rooms & kitchen. Washer/Dryer & Pool. Will share bathroom with one person. Senior only. 561-795-2342 or 561-876-6871
2 rooms, both with private baths. Available for rent. Full house access. Includes Pool, Jacuzzi, cable. All utilities included. Female only. 561-234-6128 CASH NOW FOR YOUR HOME! Any condition, Any Reason. Always fast closing, we solve your problems. Call Doug 561-543-1165
LOWEST PRICES! — Nobody beats our Price! Free Est. Complete A/C units from $1,150. Repair Specialists. Lic./ins. 561-795-1130 toll free 888-981-9815
Air Conditioning Special — REDUCE
ELECTRIC BILL!! ALL POINT TUNE-UP
Including: Freon, Relay, Air Flow, Voltage & Ampage Draws, Cooling Loss, Condenser Coil, Drain Lines, Calibrate Thermostat. FREE Reusable Filter. BEAT THE HEAT CALL NOW! 561-333-7274. AIR CONDITIONING Repairs • Installation • Immediate Services. Mazella Mechanical Inc. Lic. #CMC1249709 AIR CONTROL SERVICES - Air Conditioning. Commercial/Residential. TUNEUP SPECIAL $59.95. Call Chaz Aprile 561-427-8844
JOHN C. HUNTON AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION, INC. - Service & new installation FPL independent participating contractor. Lic. CAC 057272 Ins. "We are proud supporters of the Seminole Ridge Hawks" 561-798-3225. Family Owned & Operated since 1996.
EVERGREEN LANDSCAPING INC. Let us take care. Residential &
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS – Roof painting. Carpentry. License #U9 865. 9675580. BD
COMPLETE AUTO SHOP LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF LOXAHATCHEE!!Services provided; Brakes, Steering and Suspension, Belts and Hoses, Complete Engine Repair, Oil and Filters, Motor Tune Ups, Custom Exhaust Systems, A/C Repair, And Much More!!! Pick-up/Deliver Mark Hamilton Auto Repair "ASE Certified" Office: 561-793-1010 o Cell: 954-605-8416 MV#62390 Visa/MC/Amex accepted.
Learn Quickbooks One-on-One. Have a small business & need to learn Quickbooks? I will teach you: Stacy 561383-5661
HOUSE CLEANING AVAILABLE — Over 13 yrs. experience. Great references. Very Dependable. Karen. 561-632-2271
HOUSE CLEANING — Available flexible hours/No Job too Big or Too Small. References upon Request. Please call Dina 561-951-2770
HOUSE CLEANING/PET SITTING (YOUR HOME) - Reliable, owner operated excellent references. Charlene 561572-1782
HOUSECLEANING - Reliable & Dependable. Ask for Julie 561-603-3697
MAURILIA - CLEANING SERVICE - 561985-4137 Houses, new & used. Also stalls cleaned. Dependable & Honest. References Available.
CLUTTER FREE CLOSETS — For all your organizing needs. Custom closets. NOW OFFERING THE AMAZING BOOKSHELF BI-FOLD CLOSET DOOR. Robert Powell/Owner. FREE ESTIMATES. 561-422-7999 Lic. & Ins.
D.J. COMPUTER — Home & office, Spyware removal, websites, networks, repairs, upgrades, virus removal, tutoring. Call Jeff 561-333-9433 or Cell 561252-1186 Lic’d- Well. & Palm Beach MOBILE -TEC ON-SITE COMPUTER SERVICE — The computer experts that come to you! Hardware/Software setup, support & troubleshooting www.mobiletec.net 561-248-2611 $25 Off Labor Home & Office e-Masque InteractiveHas your computer gotten slow? Do you get unwanted Pop-Ups? Does your
hour min/$40 Per Hr. rate without operator $65 Per Hr. with operator. Pump w/fuel meter for greater ease. Box blade available. 561-7840933. Leave Message. JB Cell 561-3157751
SPECIALITY FENCE & GATE, LLC — LIC. #U-20555 All types of fence, alum, PVC, chain link, wood, pool fence, emergency repairs. Free Estimates. Call 561629-6637
GUARDSMAN FURNITURE PRO — For all your furniture repair needs including finish repairs, structural repairs, upholstery services, chair regluing, antique repairs, kitchen cabinet refurbishing. 753-8689
HOME STANDBY GENERATORS — Complete packages including fueled system - Best Prices & reliable new Generator systems installed from 15 to 200KW “More Practical and much quieter” Maintenance & Service for all types of generators. Factory Authorized Dealer. 561-707-0575 Palm Beach. Tropical Power Systems, Inc.
CAN FIX IT — build it, move it, plant it, and more. Call Bruce, 793-2494. TFN BILLY’S HOME REPAIRS, INC. — Interior Trim, crown molding, rottenwood repair, door installation, minor drywall, kitchens/cabinets/countertops, remodeling, wood flooring. Bonded/Insured U#19699. 561-791-9900
I’M A HANDYMAN — Rent me hourly/ job. Slightly used craftsman practicing all trades while designing & constructing own home. Any job from hanging a fan to remodeling.Textured walls, painting, flooring, cabinets/vanities etc. Make your repair honey-do-list, free estimates, Greg. 561-531-3141
"I'LL DO IT HANDYMAN SERVICES — All interior/exterior. Repairs and renovations. Painting & Plumbing. Affordable & professional. 561-452-5033.
ANMAR CO. –James’ All Around Handyman Service. Excellent craftman Old time values. Once you’ve had me! You’ll have me back! Lic. Ins. Certified Residential Contractor CRC 1327426 561-248-8528
ATLANTIC SHORE HOME IMPROVEMENT — Kitchen & Bathrooms/Remodel, Ceramic & Wood Floors, Carpentry & Handyman Services, Doors & Windows. References upon request. 561-756-0428 Anthony Palermo Lic. #CGC057252 Ins.
MCA CUSTOM WOODWORKING, INC. — “Make your home standout from the rest” Call us for all your home improvement needs. Kitchen & bathroom remodeling, custom wall units, design your home office, cabinetry, tile & drywall repair. Lic. #U-19564. Bonded & Ins. 561-723-5836
QUALITY HOME IMPROVEMENTS Affordable Prices — Painting Interior & Exterior, Drywall, Knockdown Texture, Fire & Water Rest., Crown Moldings, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Tile & Marble. AND MUCH MORE... 10% OFF with this ad! One Stop Shop. Creative Concepts Construction 561-471-7874 Lic. & Bonded Home repair. Quality Work. Free estimates. Fast on time service. "For all your home improvement needs" Lic. & Ins. 561-685-5360 561-308-6677.
LITL AUDIO/VIDEO SERVICE — specializing in Home Theatre Installation Satellite Services and communications. “I will Beat Retailer’s cost & Installation fees”! Call George for immediate service at 954-263-4189 561-784-4858 Office. Res./Comm. Lic. & Ins.
COMPLETE IRRIGATION — PVC/PIPE supplies.Citrus ,Vegetables, Power units. Water Wheels, design services, Fairways Polo fields, Pumps/Engines mowing of all types. 1-863-675-6333. UNIVERSAL IRRIGATION SERVICE & INSTALLATION — New Installations sprinkler repair pumps/Time Clocks. We Service all brands. Monthly Maintenance. Fast Response. Lic. #U-10740 Bonded Insured. 561-795-9735
FRANK’S BUSHHOG SERVICE — Lot mowing, Lawn Maintenance, Landscaping, Lot cleaning and TREE TRIMMING, reasonable rates. 722-4403 Lic.& Ins. TNT LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE 561-644-8683 — Lic. & Ins. Landscape
ARMENTO PAINTING & SONS, INC. ––Painting, Interior, Exterior. Pressure cleaning. Custom painting, faux art. Lic. No. U14736. 798-8978. BD JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. ––– Interior/Exterior, artistic faux finishing, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair, & roof painting/cleaning. Free est. Call 798-4964. Lic.#U18473
LARRY’S PAINTING & WALLPAPER — Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Interior/ Exterior painting. 561-309-2845. Wallpaper - Luanne 561-801-2018 Painting • Residential • Commercial • Historical Restoration • Faux Finishing • Stucco Repair • Roof Painting • and Pressure Cleaning • Sand Blasting • Mold Removal. FLEISCHER’S PAINTING • 561833-6661.
LET US AD A LITTLE COLOR TO YOUR LIFE — Residential/Commercial. Licensed • Bonded • Insured. Owner/Operator. Ask for Paul 561-309-8290. COLORS BY CORO, INC. — Interior/ Exterior, residential painting, over 20 years exp. Small Jobs welcome. Free estimates - Insured. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident. RJA PAINTING & DECORATING — interior, exterior, custom colors, faux artwork, all work guaranteed. Lic. Bonded & Insured. 561-616-2255
MMP PAINTING - Pressure Cleaning, Interior/Exterior Painting, Paver Sealers, Driveways, Ins.&Bonded. Lic. #U-18263. Office 561-790-4026 Cell 561-719-0516 Exterior Savings Call For More Details.
Personal Assistant - Shopping , errands, pet sitting, light housekeeping. References, Please Leave Message. 561-6938761
561-601-4707 THE DOG NANNY — Wellington and individualized pampering for Wellington & Western Communities. Dogs at their Home & Office surrounding. Dog walks, Doggie Moi Play Sessions & sleepovers. American Red Cross Pet CPR/FIRST Aid Certified. “You dealt with the
SHAKE ROOF SPECIALISTS –– New roofs, repairs, preservation. License #CC025465. Shake Masters, Shake Chem. Members of Shake Bureau. 4396668 BD
ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOFING ––Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded, insured. Lic. #U-11006.790-0763 or 641-4592. BD
ROOFING REPAIRS REROOFING ALL TYPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and reliable. Serving Palm Beach County for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bonded. CGC023773 RC-0067207 BD
A ROOFING REPAIR SPECIALISTS INC. — All work guaranteed. 40 years exp. Family owned & operated. Radio dispatched 791-8855 BD
HORIZON ROOFING INCORPORATED — Quality Work & Service. Free estimates. NO DEPOSITS/Pay upon completion reliable & on time. Written warranty/credit cards accepted, residential/commercial. Reroofing, State cert. Roofing contractor. 15 yrs. Serv. So. Florida. 561-842-6120. Lic. #ccc1325633
JOHN’S SCREEN SERVICE –– Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight, wrinklefree, guaranteed!Lic.#9001390.7983132.
ROLL DOWN SHUTTERS — Accordion
shutters, storm panels and rolling shutters...prices that can’t be beat. All shutters Systems, Inc. 863-0955 AFFORDABLE HURRICANE PROTECTION — 2 - 4 wks. Installed Guaranteed! 10% deposit . Will get you started. All products, Dade County approved. We manufacture our own product. 561-5686099, 772-342-8705 Lic. & Ins. CGC 1511213
NEED HELP DEALING WITH THE IRS?
— IRS Tax Mediation Services, specializing in all collection matters. Including liens, levy, installment agreements and offers-in-compromise. Business or Personal 561-313-3955 Free Initial Consultation. Authorized to practice before the IRS.
PROFESSIONAL TILE AND GROUT SERVICE — Cleaning, Sealing, Grout coloring. Old fashion customer service. Western Community resident. HOME BEAUTIFUL INC. Lic. CBC087928 INS. 561-543-1582
TGK TILE & GROUT — Get rid of dirty grout lines forever! Tile and Grout experts. Tile Cleaning & Sealing, Grout Cleaning, restoration, color sealing & repairs. Res. & Comm. Free Estimate & Demo. TGK The Grout King. 561-2677524
ANTHONY’S CAR SERVICE — Doctor’s appointments and Grocery Shopping, Airport Service - Great Rates. Discounted Rates for Senior Citizens. 561-358-0497
ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING YOUR HOME • OUR CENTER. All Subjects • Pre-K-Adult • Test Prep • Home school…ACADEMIC CAMP July – August Reading Comp. Math • Study Skills Club Z TUTORING.COM 333-1980. America’s Largest In-Home Tutoring Co.
PAPERHANGING & PAINTING BY DEBI –– Experienced in all phases of installation, removal and repair. Quality work with a Womans touch. Lic. Insured. References. 561-795-5263
EXCEL WATER SYSTEMS — monthly maintenance service; Chemical free odor removal, pumps & Pressure tanks, Iron Removal, Reverse Osmosis, Factory Authorized Dealer. Equipment builtin Florida for Florida conditions. SalesService - Repair - Supplies. All Brands. 10% Off new equipment purchase. MC/ VISA. Financing Available. FWQA Member. Lic.#07-00021982 Ins. Visit website excelpurewater.com or call us at 561968-9864 BROKEN WHEELBARROW? Axle mounts for Ames, True-Temper, Jackson, and Dual Wheel Wheelbarrows. Credit Cards Accepted. Visit www.wingedfabrications.com
