Town-Crier Newspaper May 30, 2008

13TH ANNUAL MY

Opinion

as executive officers, the board of directors and local government partners. Page 28

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KEEPER SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

A POPPY ON MEMORIAL DAY

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 26 at Veterans Park. The observance was led by members of the American Legion Post 367 Honor Guard, ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary 367, Boy Scout Troop 111, Cub Scout Pack 120, Brownie Troop 515 and local dignitaries. Pictured here, Julie Peirce buys a poppy from Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor and American Legion Auxiliary #367 President Marge Herzog. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 23

More SR 7 Retail Irks Council

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

The Wellington Village Council approved a site plan and rezoning for a mixed-use commercial project on State Road 7 near the Mall at Wellington Green on Tuesday, but not before criticizing the project’s emphasis on retail rather than office space.

The 16-acre site on the west side of SR 7 at the corner of Pierson Road, between the mall and the village’s “K-Park” property, is set to become a development called the Village Green Center, containing both office and commercial uses including retail and a restaurant.

The village is requiring the developer to build no more than 182,952 square feet of commercial and office uses, at least 45,738 square feet of general office uses, a maximum of 137,214 square feet of commer-

cial/retail uses and at least three acres of open space.

The master plan outlines two phases of development, with a maximum 27,000 square feet of office and a maximum 75,000 square feet of commercial in the first phase. The second phase would involve 18,738 additional square feet of office space and 62,214 square feet of commercial space if a requested Constrained Roadway at a Lower Level of Service or CRALLS designation is approved for that portion of State Road 7.

Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto expressed frustration at what she felt was an insufficient proportion of office space in the project, in favor of retail space.

“When we saw this the last time, I voiced these concerns, and continue to have them,” she said. “We really don’t have a void in regard to retail development. Would it not be better to

have that development focused on office more so than commercial? We are talking about KPark and the parcel adjacent to it. All we keep saying is office space, office space, and we are being presented with something that could add another Wellington mall.”

Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore concurred with Benacquisto and noted that the Palms West Corridor Study had focused on creating employment along State Road 7. “The encouragement of more office and more employment centers is what we have been trying to drive the development of that corridor to be,” he said.

Developer’s agent Brian Cheguis of Cotleur & Hearing said that the developer had already lowered the amount of retail and increased the office component in accordance with

See SR7 PROJECT, page 7

Village Officials: Drop In Tax Value Was Expected

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Although new figures show municipal tax revenues declining with property values, officials in both Royal Palm Beach and Wellington said Thursday the situation is well within their expectations.

Palm Beach County Property

Appraiser Gary Nikolits released the 2008 Estimate of Taxable Value on Thursday, offering preliminary estimates of the aggregate appraised value of property in Palm Beach County and its 38 municipalities. Not surprisingly, the figures show a steep overall decline due to both a reduction in property value and the doubling of the homestead tax exemption approved by voters in January.

Wellington took an 8.6 percent hit in total taxable value and Royal Palm Beach was down 10.6 percent, but officials say they are prepared to deal with the shortfall.

Royal Palm Beach Mayor David Lodwick said there were no surprises in the village’s reduction in anticipated taxes.

“It’s very much in line with what staff thought it would be,” Lodwick told the Town-Crier Thursday. “Staff had actually run through about three different scenarios. It’s a significant number, and we will make the changes that we need to make. But we will get through this and be OK.” Lodwick said the reduction was greater for Royal Palm Beach than in Wellington due to the homestead exemption increase. Royal Palm Beach has a greater percentage of moderately priced homes, he explained.

“When you look at the effect of Amendment 1, the more affluent the community, the less impact it has on them,” he said. “If you look at Palm Beach or places like that, their percentage is probably even lower, but when you look at us or maybe Greenacres, the effect of that double homestead is really going to hit.”

According to the property appraiser’s figures, the total taxable value for Palm Beach actually increased 6.2 percent this year. Greenacres’ total taxable value was down almost 15 percent.

“We have more units to get to our value,” Lodwick said, taking solace that homeowners are benefiting in less taxes from the double homestead exemption.

“We’ll be fine,” he said. “Staff was working on two or three different numbers and, in all honesty, this is about mid-range with where they thought it would be.”

The total taxable value for Royal Palm Beach in 2008 is $2.55 billion, down about $300 million from $2.85 billion in 2007.

Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield said the new figures carried no surprises. “The number that came in was $7.1 billion,” he said. “The number last year was $7.7 [billion], so we’re down about $600 million. The number is a little bit lower than we had hoped for, but it is not as bad as our worst-case scenario.” Without Amendment 1, Wellington would have been valued at about $7.48 billion, he said. “At 7.1, we’re down about $300 million from what we thought it would be, and that equates to something like $600,000 [less in ad valorem tax revenue]. This figure is still preliminary. The final figure could go up or down. I’m not finalizing my budget based on this number, but it is within the range that we thought it would be. I do not think it will materially affect the budget that we are going to present to the council.”

Schofield said he is still waiting to see the final numbers on other revenue shortfalls, including revenue sharing, interest income, and gas and sales tax revenues. “We do not have our revenuesharing numbers as of this date,” he said. “Gas taxes are paid by the gallon, not by the price. The lowest price I saw today for gas was about $4.05. People buy less gas at $4 than they do at $3, so we’re going to get less gas tax. Interest rates are going down — we had made assumptions that all those revenue sources were going to produce less money than they did last year.”

Schofield said he doubted the $7.1 billion valuation would change his intention of presenting the council with a millage rate at or below last year’s rate. “Based on what I’m seeing, I will not be asking for an increase in the millage rate,” he said. Schofield said he was impressed that his financial staff hit the mark as accurately as they did. “We did several estimates, a worst and best case,” he said.

See TAX VALUES, page 7

Patriotic Themes As Wellington Marks Memorial Day

By Carol Porter

Town-Crier Staff Report

The Village of Wellington’s Memorial Day ceremony took place Monday morning at the Wellington Veterans’ Memorial at the intersection of South Shore Blvd. and Forest Hill Blvd. The ceremony was preceded by a parade of veterans, scout troops, residents, village officials and visiting dignitaries from the Wellington Community Center to the memorial.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg (DDistrict 27) told attendees it was an honor to commemorate a day in which Americans of all political stripes could put down their differences and come together. “All of us, regardless of political party, respect the institutions we have set up because we are a government by the people and for the people,” he said. “So even in a time of bitter partisanship, we all sit here together, Democrats and Republicans. The only label that matters today is that we are all Americans, united for the cause of freedom and liberty, and united for the respect for the most revered institutions in our country. We are united to express our profound gratitude for the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so we can be free. There is no partisanship on this day, only patriotism.” Noting that only a fraction of Americans have stood up to provide the protection that allows

the rest to enjoy their freedoms, Aronberg said their sacrifices deserve more recognition than they receive. “Twice a year is not enough to adequately pay tribute to them,” he said. “We need to take a few moments each day to reflect upon those currently serving in uniform. George Washington said our independence was and still is at the price of their blood. That’s why I stand here today to pay tribute to our brave men and women who cannot be thanked enough.”

State Sen. Jeff Atwater (RDistrict 25) noted that President Benjamin Harrison had said he didn’t feel it appropriate to see a flag at half-mast to honor the nation’s war dead, but felt that they would be honored to see it raised to the peak. “Let them be honored today in joy and thankfulness, those who exerted all the best they had for us,” Atwater said. “I see young families and young children. Take note of those around you, and their caps and shirts and the ribbons they wear. Those who are not with us gave all.”

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria said he knows firsthand how precious freedom is. “Liberty and freedom has a special meaning for me,” he said.

“I lost liberty and freedom for three years when I was a small young boy during the occupation of the Philippines by Japan.

I know what it means to have

lost the freedom of speech and the freedom of coming and going as you please, wherever and whenever you want to go. I know what it means to not be able to gather together when you want to gather with friends. I still remember even today the fear in my parents’ faces and the faces of the elders in my family because they feared their loss of freedom.”

Former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham, a Korean War veteran, asked everyone gathered that day to honor those who paid the ultimate.

“For over 230 years, from the Revolutionary War and to the global war on terror,” Wenham said, “our soldiers, our sailors and marines have fought and died on the battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedom and the way of life we enjoy. By honoring the nation’s dead, we preserve their memory, service and sacrifice.”

Wellington Councilman Matt Willhite, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said his mother had reminded him that he was the fourth generation to serve his country. His great-grandfather served in World War I, his grandfather in World War II and his father in Vietnam. He urged his fellow veterans to share their experiences so they would not be forgotten.

“I know it’s hard for veterans to talk about what they have See MEMORIAL, page 20

Wenham Committee Assignment Has New Mayor Concerned

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Former Wellington mayor Tom Wenham, no longer an elected official, told the TownCrier this week that he applied for a seat on one of Wellington’s advisory committees because he felt it was the right thing to do.

But Wenham’s recent appointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board has created friction with newly elected Mayor Darell Bowen, who said Wenham’s stature in the community might intimidate other committee members.

“For someone that has served the community as mayor and councilman as long as Tom has, there’s a more important role for him than to serve on one of our committees,” Bowen said. “I think Tom has a more important role to play in this community as a goodwill ambassador than to get involved in a committee that could end up tarnishing his image.”

Bowen, who unseated Wenham in the March election, noted that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will be involved in a number of controversial issues in the coming year, including the possibility of locating a Palm Beach Community College campus on the 63acre K-Park site, which is currently designated for athletic fields.

“Anytime when there are a lot of things on your plate, there are lots of areas for dissent,” Bowen said. “I just don’t think someone who has served the community for as long as he has in the positions he’s been in should be in the trenches battling these battles now. I’m trying to mend fences. I’m not trying to be critical of him.”

Wenham said he applied for an advisory committee position because he wanted to stay active in the community. “This is our home,” he said. “Regis and I have lived here 27 years, and I want to stay involved. I’m just a regular citizen now. I went and filled out the form. I want to continue giving back to the community. This is my way of being involved.”

Wenham was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board by newly elected Councilman Matt Willhite. Each member of the council gets to choose two members for the board. The former mayor said the fact that both he and Willhite work for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue did not influence Willhite’s decision to appoint him.

“I don’t think that counted,” Wenham said. “He appointed Steve Delai [another PBCFR employee] back to the Planning,

Zoning & Adjustment Board. I’ve supported Matt. I’ve known Matt for a number of years. I thought he could do a good job.” Wenham said he intends to find other ways of being involved in the community and noted that Bowen and Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Ivy Rosenberg asked for his participation in this week’s Memorial Day ceremony.

“I’m busy at Fire-Rescue, but I will stay involved in the community,” Wenham said. “I will continue to help.” Wenham added that he and Bowen had spoken about serving on the Charter Review Committee, which is scheduled to convene and submit recommendations to the council by July 8. Willhite also appointed Wenham to serve on that committee.

The former mayor said the current mayor’s concerns are not warranted.

“What’s wrong with being in the trenches?” Wenham asked.

“A lot of people don’t want to be involved. Serving on an advisory committee doesn’t diminish anything as far as I’m concerned. I understand the words, but I don’t go along with it. If you’re working to make a better community, that’s what you do. Yes, I’ve been mayor eight years and a councilman for 12. Should I still contribute to the community? I think so. I don’t think it’s diminishing at all to serve on an advisory committee.”

Wenham said he feels the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board is a good fit for him, having served on the Acme Improvement District Parks & Recreation Committee from 1986 to 1989 before Wellington incorporated and the recreation program was in its formative stages.

While Wenham’s posting may have been the most highprofile selection, council members approved a host of advisory committee appointments at their meeting May 23: Architectural Review Board — Kenneth Jacobsen, Richard Logan, Doug Henry, Robert Camerlinck and Karyl Silver. Construction Board — Whit Warlow, Daniel Dragone, Damon Robling, Jeff Taylor and Karen Brandon.

Education Committee — Ted Miloch, Mike Drahos, Theresa Ventriglio, Terri Priore, Melissa Fritsch, Peter Inniss, Ann Jacob, Matthew Kurit, Marcia Hayden and Dawn Ramos.

Equestrian Preserve Committee — Brad Scherer, Michael Whitlow, Scott Swerdlin, John Walsh, Myles Tashman, Robert Harvey, Victoria Mc-

See COMMITTEES, page 7

Ideal School

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Royal Palm Beach’s Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved an application Tuesday for awnings and a sign by the Ideal School located in Royal Commerce Park.

The school plans to install black vinyl awnings over the entrances of its two buildings and place signage for its Dream Middle School on Seminole Palms Drive, formerly known as Camellia Park Drive.

The Ideal School, located at 400 Royal Commerce Road, moved its Dream Middle School into the 300 Royal Commerce Road building in January as part of a two-phase expansion project.

School co-owner Dr. Kris Soderman said he is enthusiastic about having the two schools side by side. “Having the two buildings like this creates a wonderful sense of community,” he said.

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved a second phase of the expansion, designed to connect the two schools, but with a deadline for completion set at the end of this year.

One of the black vinyl awnings will go over the east entrance to the Dream Middle School and the other will go over the western entrance of the Ideal School facing it. Soderman agreed to change the green awning at the back of the Ideal School to match the others. Before voting to approve, commissioners asked questions

about placing the Dream Middle School sign facing Seminole Palms Drive, just north of the school. “I don’t have a problem with the awnings or a sign,” Commissioner Darrell Lange said, “but the school’s real entrance is on Royal Commerce Road, and putting a sign on the north side of the school, which is the side of its building, could be seen as a violation of code.” Lange questioned whether other businesses located in the Commerce Park or nearby might use approval as justification for a change in their own signage.

Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin replied that Seminole Palms Drive is the school’s nearest right of way and that the school is entitled to one sign that it can place at its front or at the nearest right of way. “The front of a building can be defined differently,” he said. “It can either be where you enter, or where you have right-of-way frontage.”

Sen. Dave Aronberg: State Will Be Hurt By This Year’s Budget

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Issues such as droopy pants, guns in the workplace and mandatory ultrasounds for pregnant women considering an abortion diverted the 2008 Florida legislative session from more important issues, said State Sen. Dave Aronberg in an update to the Wellington Village Council at its meeting Tuesday night.

Aronberg (D-District 27) said the session was disappointing because issues that generated much discussion had little to do with property tax and insurance reform, education and other issues that needed to be dealt with properly during a tough economic year.

Other issues that took up considerable legislative time included intelligent design versus evolution and whether drivers should be allowed to have certain ornamentation hanging off the back of their trucks, Aronberg said.

The only item among those that passed, Aronberg noted,

was the bill allowing citizens to leave guns in their automobiles outside their place of employment.

“We dealt with a lot of issues that should not have been at the top of the agenda,” Aronberg said. “Whether you are for or against these things, it’s important that we focus on the real priorities of our state such as property insurance, property taxes, the environment, education and healthcare. Part of the reason why the priorities were skewed was that there was no money but there was an election year. Next year, it won’t be an election year, but the state will still be hurt greatly by this year’s budget.”

Despite the cuts at the state level, Aronberg said there were some bright spots, such as Wellington receiving $135,000 for the K-Park site as a result of a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant.

Aronberg said the government also continued its commitment toward Everglades restor-

Xtreme Tae Kwon Do in Wellington is offering a self-defense class for men and women ages 13 and up Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. The course will teach physical self-defense skills, knife-defense drills and gun-defense drills. The course will be taught by Master Pope, a sixth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and fourth degree in hapkido. He will discuss how to avoid dangerous situations and do some hand-to-hand combat drills. The cost is $30. Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do is located in the Wellington Plaza at 12799 W. Forest Hill Blvd. For more information, call (561) 795-2823 or visit www.ultimafitness.com. Self-Defense Class On May 31

ation with $50 million in funding, which was a hard-fought battle because no money was going to be set aside originally. If funding were not forthcoming from the state, Aronberg said, the federal government would not have funded its portion either. As the outgoing chair of the Joint Committee on Everglades Restoration, Aronberg said he considers the funding to be a top priority for a valuable resource. “They found $50 million in the budget,” Aronberg said, adding that it was less than the previous year, but the state continued its commitment to the Everglades.

Aronberg said Wellington has good representation in the upper house with three senators: himself, Ted Deutch (D-District 30) and Jeff Atwater (R-District 25). “Wellington has more clout in the senate than most counties,” he said. “You have senators on both sides of the aisle. We work well together, and we like each other. I am looking forward to serving you in the future as your state senator.”

Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto thanked Aronberg for championing Everglades restoration. “Without it, what we as a community and the western communities folks have fought to preserve would be lost,” Benacquisto said.

Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore said he was thankful some of the bills that were being considered in the State House did not make it through, among

them ones that would have forced local governments to make further budget cuts.

“The State Senate acted in a way that was more regional,” Priore said. “I cannot imagine what would have happened if we had a couple of bills that were being considered come forward on top of Amendment One and the mandated reductions. We would have put some cities out of business. I don’t think this is going away. It’s not just smoke and mirrors. It’s a reality in many, many ways. It’s important that the legislature become aware and stay aware of what is happening back south.”

Aronberg said some of the legislators come from local government but seem to forget their roots when they move to higher positions. “I always enjoy going to the League of Cities events,” Aronberg said. “There are a lot of legislators who won’t attend those events. They get elected to local government, and when they move on, all of a sudden local government is the enemy.”

Councilman Matt Willhite praised Aronberg for his passion for public service and said the senator was one of the reasons why he ran for the Wellington Village Council.

“We’re about the same age,” Willhite said. “You inspired me to run for office. I see what you have achieved. I have seen your passion for issues. It helped inspire me to run so I could better serve the residents.”

The 2008 Hurricane Season Starts Sunday: Are You Prepared?

The last of the remaining presidential primaries will be held this Tuesday, which means you can expect non-stop media coverage of the results, as well as numerous predictions about what will happen in the months to come. Were this not a presidential election year, however, the talking heads would be talking about something entirely different this week — and offering just as many predictions, wrong or right. Sunday officially marks the start of the 2008 hurricane season, and though the nightly news hasn’t been awash in hurricane imagery, the reality remains the same: now is the time to make sure you’re prepared. Fortunately for South Florida, the past two hurricane seasons came and went without much turmoil. It’s hard to imagine that just three years ago, hurricanes Wilma and Katrina wreaked havoc on the region, only a year after hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne did their damage in 2004. Of course, after having been spared such calamities, we fall down the slippery slope of complacency; the longer the storms stay away, the more likely we are to keep them out of sight and out of mind. When that happens, we let our guards down and are unprepared when the next hurricane hits. And though it may be impossible to prevent a bad storm from causing any damage, the consequences are far worse for those who don’t take any preventive measures.

PBCC Campus Crucial For Wellington

This is in response to Palm Beach Community College trying to obtain property and establish a campus in the western communities. I have volunteered for six or seven years in high schools here in western communities working with senior class students introducing them to entrepreneurial skills. When I ask my class of about 30 students what their plans are after graduation, at least two thirds of them indicate they plan to attend the Palm Beach Community College. Unfortunately, in today’s economic climate, many are not financially equipped to attend a four-year college.

The need for this campus in the western communities is extremely important. Under the current situation, all of these students are forced to commute to the campus in the eastern part of our county. This obviously puts even more of a burden on their travel time due to the fact that most of them are working part-time jobs. In addition, it certainly adds to their expense to travel that distance.

The people of the western communities and the parents of these students should take the position to support this proposal for this western campus, it is extremely vital and necessary.

L. Ben Roberts Wellington

Modify Groves Strategic Plan

If adopted in its present form, the draft strategic plan for the Town of Loxahatchee Groves will take the town in the wrong direction. Several proposed action items — seductively referred to as “strategic focus ar-

eas” — are actually red flags that will increase conflicts among residents and waste taxpayer dollars. These items are not appropriate or necessary for a visioning statement or strategic plan. Any adopted document should provide a general and positive guide for the future of Loxahatchee Groves. In its present form, the strategic plan includes 13 categories of new codes and related land use, business and environmental definitions intended to regulate many aspects of life in Loxahatchee Groves. We should not use the strategic plan document as a vehicle to legitimize placing ill-considered expensive burdens on homeowners, homebased businesses, equestrians, agriculture, nurseries, trucks and equipment operators. The town should not present itself as a Big Brother that uses code enforcement to implement the prejudices and/or impractical expectations of a limited number of people.

The proposed strategic plan also contains action items intended to challenge the ability of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District to continue processing resident petitions that request the use of OGEM as a stabilizing road surface combined with speed tables (humps) on heavily traveled road segments. Given the history of public discussion of this issue and the existing public record of the water control board’s decision to proceed, this action item does not belong in the proposed strategic plan. A related action item to hire outside consultants to conduct a study of consolidating the LGWCD and the town is also unnecessary at this early stage of the town’s development. The town has not digested the workload and costs of running its current “government lite” operation with part-time contractors. Yet another re-

In addition to the steps you can take to reinforce the structure and safety of your home (purchasing hurricane shutters or plywood for the windows, removing projectiles from your yard), the majority of your preparation should focus on what happens after the storm passes — and the electricity could be out for days, if not weeks. Most of the items you’ll need can be purchased at the local supermarket: bottled water, non-perishable food items, batteries, flashlights, etc. And if you find yourself needing to make a post-storm purchase, it’s a good idea to have plenty of cash available; credit/debit card machines don’t work without electricity. Regardless of what you decide to do should a hurricane come our way, the important thing is that you develop a plan beforehand. For those whose homes might not be structurally secure enough to weather a strong storm, the best option is to seek refuge at a shelter. In the western communities, shelters include Palm Beach Central and Seminole Ridge high schools.

Despite the lack of hurricane coverage in the news right now (compared with last year’s inundation of dire forecasts, at least), the threat is the same as always. Whether we’ll be blessed with another hurricane-free season or we’re just experiencing the calm before the storm, there’s no way to know for sure. The only thing we can do is be prepared.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

hashed issue and expenditure of taxpayer dollars will only benefit consultants, lobbyists and attorneys instead of taxpayers.

Taxpayers should attend the June 3 meeting to encourage the town council members to adopt a significantly modified visioning statement or strategic plan for Loxahatchee Groves. Public record copies of the proposed plan are available from the town clerk.

John Ryan, Supervisor Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District

Preserve The Ag Reserve

At the March 24 Palm Beach County Zoning Commission meeting there was discussion on using ag reserve lands as a potential site for a private religious school. The Board of County Commissioners decided to look into amending the comprehensive plan to allow institutional uses, i.e. schools, libraries, fire stations, etc. in the preserve areas east of U.S. 441 (a.k.a. State Road 7). The comp plan designates the ag reserve be used primarily for agricultural purposes. The reserve is 20,000 acres in the western portion of Palm Beach County bordered by Wellington on the north, Boca Raton on the south, Florida’s Turnpike on the east and the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on the west. In 1999, the majority of the voters in the county approved a bond issue that would permanently preserve a portion of this land for agricultural uses. The county borrowed $100 million to acquire 2,561 acres west of SR 7 to be preserved as farmland. Another 7,000 acres have been added to the preserved farmland through development agreements. The developer of this private religious school wants the board of county com-

missioners to find a way to amend the comp plan so they can buy preserved farmland at a fraction of the cost of developable land.

On May 23, at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners, the planning department presented their findings on amending the ag reserve portion of the comp plan to the planning commission (formerly the Land Use Advisory Board). The planning commission was unanimous in rejecting any changes to the ag reserve/comp plan. If this is allowed to pass, the remaining “preserved” lands, including the 2,561 acres that the taxpayers are financing, could be sold off to development.

On June 3, the commissioners will hold a workshop on amending the comp plan to allow “instructional uses” in the ag reserve. If you want to keep the agriculture lands that we have designated as preserve, tell the county commission to preserve the reserve.

Dennis Lipp, Councilman Loxahatchee Groves

Expand The Search For Oil

I found Mr. [Jules] Rabin’s recent column entertaining (“Airline Company Executives Contribute to the Industry’s Woes,” April 18). However, he sounds like the problem with America is big business and stock market moguls, with the possible exception of George Soros, of course. Mr. Rabin is, of course, aware that the U.S. Congress for the past 20 years has consistently refused to allow Americans to avail themselves of our own domestic oil. And the environmentalists, with whom he no doubt agrees, have prevented oil companies from building additional refineries, and they oppose nuclear power plants.

I’m not defending oil speculating. Even Karl Marx referred to speculators as “parasites.” Nevertheless, the speculator guarantees the farmer his price before he even plants. He can guarantee the airlines fuel prices so that they can determine future costs more accurately. He assumes the risk and sometimes wins and sometimes looses. Oil speculation is based upon the likely future market, which as we know shows a very short supply of gasoline in comparison to the growing global demand for the same. It’s really very simple. The law of supply and demand is still in effect.

I know some like to deny that market forces can have a positive effect on the health of the economy, and are always of the opinion that more legislation is the answer. The government in effect controls the means of production through imposing regulations, prohibiting competition, and by standing in the way of the free market, and it has not done a very good job historically either in the U.S. or in the socialist countries. When was the last Senate hearing that solved anything? ... Oh, and I thought that we didn’t like how big business controls congressmen. I see we can change our tune when it comes to something that we want accomplished, like beating up on capitalists. So is Mr. Rabin suggesting that the airline execs move lawmakers to limit speculation on oil? Exactly what sort of governmental prohibitions did he have in mind? I think he forgot to say.

How about stealing the prof-

its from oil companies and giving them to the airlines? That should stimulate more oil production, right? That would be a fine long-term solution if our goal is to return to the horse and carriage. Oh, but I forgot, that might cause the water in Florida to become polluted with nitrogen or something. Horses do tend to leave a trail behind them so to speak, and there is already a move to prohibit the horse manure of sport horses.

Drilling for oil, digging for shale or coal, and building nuclear power plants have all been off limits to businesses according to Congress. So they are obviously not supply-sided. Instead, let’s blame the big oil companies for pricing oil at its market value. Perhaps Mr. Rabin assumes that we all know that the earth has enough gas and oil reserves to supply the world’s energy needs for hundreds of years, but it sounds to me as if his column bashing airlines for trying to survive is more like off the top of his head, being devoid of any real statistics. You want to know why we are paying more for gas and there is less a supply now than when Jimmy Carter was president? Congress has created an artificial shortage of oil. We have tar sands and oil shale. There are vast reserves on the continental shelf that foreign countries are using while congress has prohibited U.S. companies from exploring. Natural gas reserves under the sea have been estimated at 1.6 trillion cubic feet, but we can’t get to it because Congress will not allow it. There’s

See LETTERS, page 5

The Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, with contact name, address, and telephone number (anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414; fax them to 793-6090; or you can e-mail to letters@ goTownCrier.com.

Notes On Mastering The Media, Loxahatchee Groves Style

Makeup! Wardrobe! Get the hairstylist over here now! Good grief, don’t they know we have a press conference starting in five minutes? Is this scene taking place before the Hollywood press corps where Harrison Ford will announce his next Indiana Jones adventure? Nope. The White House pressroom where President Bush will announce troop withdrawals from Iraq? Negatory. Is Barack Obama getting ready to take the stage to give the press more information about how his family won World War II? Au contraire

We’re gathered at a Loxahatchee Groves council meeting where board members are getting ready to meet the press. Let’s see, there is Carol Porter from the Town-Crier, and that guy from the Observer. No one from the Post or Sun-Sentinel. They hardly ever bother to show up. The TV news crews must have gotten lost — again. We’re ready to see the new and user-friendlier members of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council. New? Improved, you ask? That’s a resounding Loxahatchee yes! The town council, after deciding recently that the right spin is just as important as the right road covering, has hired a media consultant to help guide it through the maze of pesky reporter’s questions. You know, questions such as “how was your weekend?” and “how is your family?” or “what time is the next meeting?”

The leaders of this small hamlet (oops, make that “town”) of about 4,000 residents, many of whom actually haven’t been seen for years, have hired media consultant Jim Brosemer to give them tips on how to respond to media inquiries. Mr. Brosemer used to be a local television reporter and now teaches journalism at Lynn University. He is also the husband of political consultant Donna Brosemer, who lobbied for the Committee to Incorporate Loxahatchee Groves and then

of View...

By Don Brown

helped out Councilman Dave Autrey in his campaign to win a seat on the town council. Not coincidentally, she now does lobbying for the town.

The council held a retreat two weeks ago where Mr. Brosemer briefed members about how to be brief at a news briefing.

He provided some of his insight about how the news profession works, especially in television news. “TV needs pictures. TV does not cover talking heads very well,” Mr. Brosemer said, in explaining why the boob tube likes interesting video. Heck, I knew that. “If it bleeds, it leads,” right? He explained that pitching a political story on television news would lose out to the three-legged dog or the pelican with the fishhook in its mouth.

(Note to Jim: Localize your examples. In Loxahatchee Groves say something like a six-legged pig or a pelican catching an alligator on a fish hook that was stuck in its mouth — “Pelican Snags Gator,” get it? Or the owner of a grow house whose bundles of cash were burned in a fire touched off by the lighting. Now that would be funny, with a little poetic justice thrown in.)

I wasn’t at the retreat, but I’ve been musing about some possible give-and-take...

Mr. Brosemer: “Provide brief and accurate responses to reporters’ questions. If you have time,

TOWN-CRIER

have Town Clerk Matthew Lippman write them out.”

Councilman Dr. Bill Louda: “I’m not going to let anyone tell me how to write something. I’ve been writing letters to the editor for years!”

Mr. Brosemer: “Yes, I know. But the term ‘road apples’ is not the proper way to describe, ahhh, manure issues. And calling someone an ignorant Neanderthal is not a very good way to get your point across.”

Mr. Brosemer: “Never tell a reporter, ‘no comment,’ and have someone available who can put a face on the community.”

Councilman Dennis Lipp: “That’s a great idea. I’ll volunteer to be the face of the community. I know just about everything, the county commissioner loves me and I enjoy telling jokes. People trust me no matter what I say.”

Councilman Dave Autrey: “No way. I’m the community’s face. Wasn’t I the face of the incorporation committee? I’ve earned the face title.”

Councilman Lipp: “In your face! I volunteered first.”

Mayor David Browning: “Stop the bickering. I’m the mayor. I’ll be the face. And I want to announce that, as the face of the community, I want the council and Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District to live in peace and harmony from now on.”

Mr. Brosemer: “Okay, council members, that’s a good start. We’re getting a good dialogue going. That’s what the media wants. Good dialogue being shouted. If we had a little blood thrown in, you might even beat out the threelegged dog.”

Vice Mayor Marge Herzog: “This information has been very interesting. I can use it for the Loxahatchee Groves Garden Club, the Loxa-

hatchee Groves Landowners’ Association, the American Legion Auxiliary and any other organization I’ll be running in the future.”

I have one or two questions I would have liked to ask Mr. Brosemer had I gone to the retreat. How do you put a good spin on a 75-year-old nudist at Sunsport Gardens or make people feel warm and fuzzy about one of Tarzan’s escaped tigers? Hold on, I think I get it:

Reporter: “There have been some complaints (Mr. Brosemer suggested third-party questions) about nudists from Sunsport Gardens getting together for five-mile jogs on roads nearby. Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Face (whoever that is): “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle.”

Reporter: “A nudist colony is kind of rustic and rural, but there are motorists driving by with children in their cars. Shouldn’t you be protecting them?”

Face: “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle. And we strive to protect everyone.”

Reporter: “Okay, never mind. What about the tiger that escaped from Steve ‘Tarzan’ Sipek’s compound several years ago and was finally shot by state Fish & Wildlife officials? Is the council concerned that another one of his big cats might escape and hurt someone?”

Face: “We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone who respects our rustic rural lifestyle. We strive to protect everyone. We also love animals.”

I’m told that Mr. Brosemer made $500 for his media advice to the council. I would have charged the price of a cup of coffee for this advice: never lie and never cover something up.

‘Unity In The Community’ The Theme At Santamaria Forum

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

Unity among the western communities was the focus of County Commissioner Jess Santamaria’s monthly forum last week, with Loxahatchee Groves Mayor David Browning and Indian Trail Improvement District President Mike Erickson the featured speakers. Santamaria opened the May 21 forum in the original Wellington Mall by reminding the audience the purpose of the meeting.

“We should all unite, and to find a way to do that for the entire western communities of The Acreage, Wellington and Royal Palm Beach and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves to work in an united effort to protect the quality of our life

Letters

continued from page 4 oil from the gulf to Alaska, but so what?

The facts always get in the way of hyperbole, but I have a suggestion, and it is not original. Perhaps we might consider reducing the number of fuel blends, allow offshore drilling and in ANWAR, expedite the approvals for new refineries, and give tax incentives for building new nuclear or clean coal power plants. But we don’t like tax breaks for the rich, right? And what if a nuclear power plant should fail? Oh, and don’t forget global warming. We can’t stand one more carbon atom mixing into our clean air.

Frank J. Morelli Wellington

Thanks For Making Event

A Success

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc., our Third Annual Memorial Day Service certainly lived up to the name “A Day to Remember.”

It was an incredible service with an overwhelming response from the public. Many lives were touched as they learned more about our organization.

A special heartfelt thank-you goes out to Kevin Karlo, Alisa Martin and the entire staff of

in the western communities,” he said. “There are two specific areas that we are most concerned about. The two areas are crime and traffic.”

Erickson, a self-described “computer geek” who accompanied his address with a PowerPoint presentation, said the various communities must plan together and seek compromise.

“Crime and traffic are two big issues, but I am not sure they are uniting issues,” he said. “If you slow traffic down in one place and get rid of a route there, it will hurt people somewhere else. We have to evaluate the whole process.”

Erickson said he got involved in politics because he got tired of reading about the ITID’s problems and wanted to do something to stop the infighting

Palm Beach Memorial Park for hosting such a memorable event for yet another year. Thank you to the Memorial Day committee chaired by FSO’s Rosemary Mouring and other members, Annelies Mouring, Suzanne Beard and Mary Ann Hedrick of FSO, and Alisa Martin and Kevin Karlo of Palm Beach Memorial Park. All of you pulled off of one of the finest ceremonies in Palm Beach County!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this day a true success. What an honor to have Bob Nichols, chairman of the FSO board and a 33-year veteran broadcaster, as master of ceremonies for this event. His charisma and dedication to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach and to all veterans was truly exhibited! Even WPTV News anchor and reporter (and FSO Vice Chairman) Jay Cashmere was brought to the podium to share a few words with our veterans and guests.

Congressman Ron Klein gave a beautiful speech and emphasized the importance of FSO, as well as Sgt. James Roberts, an FSO recipient who spotlighted the points of what it is like to be a recipient of FSO and how important our organization affects those who are serving overseas.

The keynote speaker, WWII Veteran (U.S. Navy) Lt. JG Harold Shugar, delivered such a powerful speech and provid-

and bickering on the board of supervisors.

“Four out of the five board members got elected a year ago and replaced all the previous board members except one,” he said. “It was a new start for The Acreage… Fiscal responsibility was an important aspect, and so was rebuilding our government relationships. This is about unity in the western communities. This is about developing the relationships with the communities around us. We need to be negotiating for the good and demanding open government.”

Erickson noted that each of the four western communities has its own goals and agenda, which is not surprising. “There are things we can agree on and things we don’t agree on,” he said. “West Palm Beach doesn’t

ed such detailed history and in-

sight. Shugar also served in Israel’s War of Independence. His speech and stories were insightful. He spoke words that we will never hear anywhere else, he spoke facts of what Americans have been through, what we are going through and what we must never forget!

We truly appreciate all the media for participating so strongly in this event. Thank you to Boy Scouts of America Troops 160 and 395, Cub Scout and Pack 241 Troop for helping throughout the ceremony and to Wings of Dove for the beautiful dove release. Thank you to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach FireRescue and Boynton Beach Fire-Rescue honor guards, and to all who participated in this event. Thank you to all the veterans who attended and to the public for coming out to pay tribute and memorialize those servicemen and women who have and are currently serving our country. We appreciate the donation presented to FSO from Jewish WWII Veterans Post 520. Thank you to all of you who truly helped make Memorial Day, May 26, 2008 a day to remember! May God Bless all our veterans and their families, past and present. May God Bless America.

Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar Executive Director/Founder Forgotten Soldiers Outreach

want Roebuck Road, and Royal Palm Beach wants it. Larger landowners who have farmed for a long time want density and profit. There are issues we won’t always agree on. Each commuSee UNITY, page 8

Unity Meeting — (Right) ITID

President Mike Erickson, Commissioner Jess Santamaria and Loxahatchee Groves Mayor David Browning. (Below) The meeting included a performance by the Binks Forest Elementary School chorus under the direction of Karen LaFrance.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

Little Smiles

Employees from Palms West Hospital have partnered with local businesses to raise money for Little Smiles by organizing a “poker run” which will take place on Sunday, June 8. The run will start at Iron Eagle Motorcycles (1890 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) at 10 a.m. with the last bike out by noon. From Iron Eagle the route will go to Palms West Hospital, J&S Fish Camp, Down Low Pub and will finish up at Nothin’ Fancy. At the end of the run there will be food, music and raffles, and prizes will be awarded for the best poker hands. The fee is $10 per poker hand, extra cards are $1 each.

Motorcycle Poker Run

The organization Little Smiles is very generous to the pediatric patients at Palms West Hospital. This fundraiser is a way to give back to this compassionate organization. Additionally, Palms West Hospital knows that the pediatric patients will enjoy watching the hundreds of motorcycles come through the hospital campus from the pediatric floor window. Palms West Hospital would like to offer a special thanks to the following businesses in the community who are sponsoring the event: Ink Link Tattoos, Leslie Kay Insurance, Island Jack’s, Iron Eagle Motorcycles, Palms West Hospital, J&S Fish

Camp, Down Low Pub, Nothin Fancy, Sal’s Italian Ristorante in Wellington, Epilution Med Spa, the Labbe Law Firm and Down Low Pub. For more information, or to get involved, contact Cary at (561) 662-8295.

and sporting event tickets,

and celebrity receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.littlesmiles.org.

RPB Man Attacks Palm Tran Driver

By Mark Lioi Town-Crier Staff Report

MAY 28 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested for assaulting a Palm Tran bus driver Wednesday evening. According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report, sheriff’s units were dispatched to the intersection of Cypress Trace and Kapok Way at about 5:11 p.m. regarding a disturbance on a Palm Tran bus. At the scene, the driver told deputies that two passengers had been creating a disturbance regarding the order in which other passengers were being dropped off, and verbally abusing him. He warned the passengers that he would remove them if they did not cease their behavior, at which time the suspect, 52-year-old Epifanio Laboy, reportedly struck the driver several times in the face, drawing blood. The suspect claimed that the driver had gotten out of his chair and that he struck him in order to avoid being struck first, according to the report. Laboy was placed under arrest for battery and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail. The incident was captured by a video camera at the front of the bus.

• • • MAY 23 — An SUV was burglarized last Friday night or Saturday morning in Wellington’s Pinewood Grove neighborhood. According to a PBSO report, a Santa Clara Trail resident told investigators he accidentally left his Hyundai Santa Fe unlocked when he parked it on his driveway at about 5 p.m. Friday night, and when he returned to it at 11 a.m. the following morning he found ashes from the vehicle’s ashtray dumped out on the front passenger seat. Approximately $25 in cash and change had been removed from the vehicle, mainly from the center console. PBSO investigators collected swabs of DNA evidence from the scene.

MAY 23 — A bay at the Wellington Business Center on Fairlane Farms Road was burglarized sometime between last Friday and Tuesday. According to a PBSO report, it is unclear whether the culprits had a key to the bay or if it was left unlocked. PBSO investigators determined entry was gained through the rear door, although no signs of forced entry were found. Once inside, the burglars removed the lock on a 40-foot walk-in container and took approximately $11,000 worth of copper wire on rolls. PBSO investigators were unable to gather fingerprint evidence at the scene.

MAY 26 — A home in the Wellington’s Edge neighborhood was reported burglarized late Monday morning. According to a PBSO report, a Carriage Brooke Drive resident reported that he left his garage door open while mowing his lawn between 11 a.m. and noon, and his briefcase, which was left on a table in the garage, went missing during that time. The black briefcase contained a $1,500 laptop computer, a $150 wireless card and a gift card worth $50, according to the report.

MAY 27 — A home in cen-

tral Wellington was burglarized sometime Tuesday or on Wednesday morning. According to a PBSO report, the owner of a Crassula Court home found the rear door of the residence open when checking on it at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The owner, who keeps the home as a rental property, had last visited at 10:30 a.m. the previous day. PBSO investigators determined that the door had been pried open. While a microwave oven was found on the floor at the rear of the home, two 25-inch television sets were missing. The home was unoccupied at the time. MAY 27 — Two cars were reported burglarized in the Southern (Kmart) Plaza shopping center in Royal Palm Beach on Tuesday evening. According to a PBSO report, a Wellington woman and a Royal Palm Beach man both told investigators they had been working out in the Planet Fitness gym between 5:30 and 6:55 p.m., and returned to the parking lot to find their vehicles’ passenger-side windows smashed and items missing from the interior, mostly clothing and cash. PBSO investigators were unable to gather fingerprint evidence due to heavy rain, but a witness described seeing a gray Toyota Maxima driven by a black male behind the burglarized vehicles for several minutes. The RPB victim reported that his bank had advised him that his credit card had been used at the Wal-Mart nearby for a charge of $300 at 6:52 p.m. and for a charge of $18 at a gas station later that evening. An investigating deputy asked for surveillance video at the Wal-Mart but was told by security employees there that the cameras above the registers were inoperative due to computer trouble. MAY 27 — A Royal Palm Beach man was arrested on drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop Tuesday night. According to a PBSO report, a sheriff’s unit alerted to stop a Nissan that had committed a flagrant traffic violation located the car going southbound on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. at approximately 9:58 p.m. As the deputy followed the car, which was reportedly going 45 mph in a 35 mph zone, he noticed the passenger moving about frantically and apparently trying to conceal something under the seat. After stopping the car driver Jessica Argentine told the deputy that her speedometer was broken, according to the report. The deputy also recovered a pill vial labeled for alprazolam (Xanax) 2mg but which contained four 80mg oxycodone tablets. Argentine said the pills belonged to her husband and that he must have dropped them. Argentine was arrested and handcuffed. Meanwhile deputies also removed the passenger, identified as 24-year-old Louis Espinosa, from the vehicle and under the passenger seat found a plastic straw with residue that tested positive for cocaine. Also found under the seat was a silver “butterfly” knife. According to the report, Espinosa was arrested and charged with possession of

See BLOTTER, page 7

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County is asking for the public’s help in finding these wanted fugitives: • Junior Gabriel is a black male, 6’ tall and weighing 170 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 10/ 01/89. He has tattoo on his back and scars on his right cheek, left shoulder, left arm, left leg and abdomen. Gabriel is wanted for failure to appear in court on the felony charges of burglary of a dwelling, grand theft from a dwelling and obstructing a police officer without violence. His occupation is unknown. His last known address was Wharf Lane in Greenacres. Gabriel is wanted as of 05/ 29/08. • Tamario Sanders is a black male, 6’4” tall and weighing 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. His date of birth is 12/10/86. He has scars on his right hand and right buttock. Sanders is wanted for failure to appear in court on the felony charges of attempted robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His occupation is painter. His last known address was South 38th Street in Greenacres. Sanders is wanted as of 05/29/08. Remain anonymous and you may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestopperspbc. com.

SR 7 Project

Less Retail, More Office

continued from page 1 village suggestions. Responding to concerns about the traffic pressures the center will bring to SR 7, he also noted that the project has been designed to be very accessible to pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorists.

“The retail came down significantly and the office went up,” he said. “The synergies of uses will work very well together. Any additional entitlements will come in as office. We have worked well with the corridor master plan folks. We do understand what is needed and desired along the corridor. This master plan lays it out very well. We will bring in traffic and people to the site by way of car, by way

Tax Values

Figures Are Preliminary

continued from page 1

“We thought the taxable value would come in somewhere between $6.7 [billion] and $7.4 [billion]. This number is about halfway between what we thought the best and worst cases were. We were prepared for this number. I have to tell you,

Committees Council

Selections

continued from page 2 Cullough, Carol Coleman, Don Dufresne and Nick Manifold.

Parks & Recreation

Advisory Board — Tim Shields, Glen Bennett, Lauren Sacks, Dr. Jeffrey Zipp, Frank Keiser, Liz Stockton, Sam Falzone, Anthony Forgione, Tom Wenham and Kevin Burch. Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board — Alan Medoff, Carmine Priore III, Gene DiFonte, Craig Bachove and Steve Delai.

of bike and by way of walking. There is more of a balance.”

Priore said he did not doubt the balance of uses, and the mall access, but like Benacquisto, he had worries about opening more retail space when commercial space in existing shopping plazas remains vacant.

“The question is how are you going to build additional 75,000 of commercial space, and how are you going to fill it,” he said.

Cheguis said the developer is looking into filling the site with specialty restaurants and highend businesses, and that by the time the plaza opens, the economy would be back on the upswing. The new facility would become a real destination, something lacking on the corridor right now.

“The intent is there won’t be any McDonald’s or any fast-

I’m very pleased with the work that my finance and accounting staff has done in being able to come in with numbers as close as they’ve come in.” Figures released by Nikolits’ office this week are only preliminary estimates provided in order to allow municipal governments to start planning their budgets for the next fiscal year. The actual budgets will be based on another set of official figures, to be released in three months.

The Public Safety Committee — Bobby Ewing, Keith Jackson, Robert Russell, Joie Talley, Alan Fuhrman, Tim Wallace, James Lewis, Valerie McKinley, Dwight Saxon and Kevin Shaw. Tree Board — Debbie Evans, Lisa Stattmiller-Ferano, John McCarthy, Charles Sandell, Stormi Biven, Ellen Garzione, Richard Meyer, Toni Siskind, Anne Cavaleri and Ken Roundtree.

Blotter

continued from page 6 narcotic equipment, possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon, and taken to the county jail.

MAY 28 — A West Palm Beach man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in Royal Palm Beach Wednesday evening. According to a PBSO report, deputies on patrol stopped 25-year-old Chaz Freshour and a passenger on Ponce de Leon Street for a traffic violation at about 6:09 p.m. When a deputy asked Freshour if he had any illegal drugs in the car, the suspect replied that the deputy would find nine tablets of oxycodone between the driver’s seat and the console. The deputy recovered the drugs and handcuffed Freshour, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and taken to the county jail.

MAY 28 — A Wellington man was robbed at gunpoint while walking on Big Blue Trace late Wednesday night. According to a PBSO report, the victim was walking northbound on the west side of Big Blue Trace near Emerald Forest Drive at about 11:50 p.m. when he was approached by two black males wearing white T-shirts and denim shorts, with their faces concealed by black bandanas. One suspect was armed with a semiautomatic handgun. The suspects took from the victim two packs of cigarettes, a lighter, a wallet containing a Florida driver’s license and Social Security card, house keys, a cell phone and approximately 35 cents before heading east down Emerald Forest Drive. No witnesses were located.

food places,” he said. “It will be more of a specialty center.”

Mayor Darell Bowen said Cheguis had mentioned people biking and walking back and forth to the mall, but noted that he had not seen anyone riding their bikes or walking along State Road 7 in quite some time.

Cheguis pointed to other high-end mixed-use projects PGA Commons, Midtown and Donald Ross Village, which have residential components nearby. Residential developments would be located near this new project, he said, and it would draw those residents.

“Those centers are surrounded by the same type of planned developments,” Cheguis said. “Those centers are being accessed by people all around the area. People in close proximity will come to it. It’s convenient for them to do so. If we build it, they will come.”

Priore made a motion for approval, but once again echoed his concerns about the project. He said the developer had pro-

duced good projects in the past,

but the proliferation of retail is now a serious problem.

“We have an overwhelming problem that is not going away,” Priore said. “With the increase in the approvals of these commercial properties, we are creating vacancies. How will you fill them? What is their longevity? They are not doing very well. It’s a serious concern. It does not look good for this community to have vacancies. I hope you can get them filled.”

Benacquisto seconded the motion, again reluctantly. Bowen concurred with Priore, and said he also reluctantly supported the motion. “It’s interesting that you bring up the PGA corridor,” he told Cheguis. “I think that the reason the people come to the restaurants is they are working there. I have a great deal of concern about developing more retail. I don’t think you will get enough people coming out on bikes and crossing SR 7 to get here.”

The motion passed 4-0 with

Councilman Bob Margolis absent. In other business:

• The council approved the second reading of a comprehensive plan amendment for the Whitehorse Financial Center, amending the village’s Future Land Use Map designating as Community Commercial the 1.16-acre parcel on the west side of SR 7 about 1.5 miles south of Forest Hill Blvd. The property’s prior designation was Palm Beach County’s Low Residential (LR-2). The proposed use for the site is a 3,700-square-foot financial institution with three drive-through lanes. Priore made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Benacquisto. It passed 4-0.

• The council approved a development order amendment for the Wellington Parc development on SR 7, extending the Palm Beach County traffic concurrency build-out date from 2008 to the end of 2011. The 15.83-acre parcel is on the west side of SR 7 about 1.2 miles

south of Forest Hill Blvd. Before the vote, Benacquisto said she was concerned whether other applicants with projects along SR 7 will request similar delays. “You mentioned a couple of other people who were doing this,” she told Planning and Zoning Director David Flinchum. “I guess my question is, as things start to get delayed and delayed, there could be a different council seated at the time this item comes back. We can’t guarantee anything.” Village Attorney Jeff Kurtz said the council could discuss such items if it felt the need. “If the council wished to open up for discussion other items as a precursor, to determine whether or not the build-out date was appropriate to extend, you could do so,” he said. “I think you could do that. If you want to talk about issues and try to determine whether or not they should be looked at, you could do so.” Priore made a motion for approval, which was seconded by Benacquisto. It passed 4-0.

New Human Resources Director Settling In At Indian Trail

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

Indian Trail Improvement

District employees are now getting the services of a specialist from Human Resources Director Loren Slaydon.

With District Administrator

Chris King a qualified planner, the district hired Slaydon in April after the members of the ITID Board of Supervisors decided to spend money budgeted for a planning position on a human resources specialist instead.

Slaydon said many people have no idea what a human resources person actually does.

“That person takes the lead in dealing with all the employees, to see to their safety requirements as well as to salaries and pensions, and dealing with grievances,” she explained.

With 65 people now in its employ, ITID has a real need

for a staff member committed specifically to personnel issues, Slaydon said. “Benefit issues are very complicated,” she said.

“Everyone is scared when dealing with them. A wrong decision can have a major impact on a worker’s life and on his family.”

Slaydon said her responsibilities cover almost anything to do with the district’s employees.

“There’s a lot of human resources and labor law that the district has to know or it can easily violate the law,” she said. “Also, I handle all labor issues and employee relations. I check the payroll, and I am in charge of hiring.”

Slaydon also attends the district’s frequent safety meetings.

“Almost none of our residents know that we have a safety meeting at least once a week,” she said. “When you have peo-

ITID Will Discuss Budget On June 3

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

At their first public budget meeting for the coming year next week, the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss a draft budget that holds the line on spending.

ITID supervisors have recently indicated an aversion to raising assessments and placing further stress on the budgets of Acreage residents.

“With the price of gas going up the way it has, the least we can do is not add to people’s problems,” Supervisor Sandra Love Semande told the TownCrier Wednesday.

The ITID assesses property owners on a per-acre basis and at a rate according to the benefits received by their development unit, rather than property values. The ITID board is scheduled to review the draft budget on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Some sharp increases in costs, particularly for gasoline as well as some building materials, put pressure on the budget, as the district’s leadership works to complete several major projects.

The biggest district-wide

projects proposed by staff include continued expansion of Acreage Community Park as well as paving projects on several heavily traveled roads. The district is also planning on expanding Hamlin Equestrian Park with additional land to the east by covering over a separating canal, and fencing the whole area.

The supervisors have all said they will examine the suggestions of staff and the advisory committees very carefully but that their first priority will be preventing assessment increases.

The June 3 meeting is the first public step toward the creation of the budget for the 2009 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. All residents are welcome. “We want to hear from the residents before we make decisions,” Semande said.

District staff will meet with residents to discuss requests for new projects on June 26. Last year, no requests were made. In early July, the board will continue to review the budget and set assessment rates for the coming year, with final budget approval in September.

ple using large, complex equipment, it is important to make certain that everyone knows every suggestion for safety. And Operations Director Terry Narrow makes sure that everyone is briefed on equipment they’ll use and upcoming jobs.”

One benefit of attending the meetings, Slaydon said, is that ITID employees get to know her better when they otherwise might not see her regularly.

“When you’re out on a large piece of grading equipment somewhere in the district,” she noted, “you can’t just drive it over to meet me.”

Slaydon started working in the human resources field right out of college. “I grew up and went to college in Connecticut,” she said. “When you finish at the University of Connecticut, even when you major in English the way I did, the question is not

Unity Similar Issues

continued from page 5 nity has its own individual scenario.”

The avenue to unity, Erickson suggested, would perhaps be a summit or forum format where all communities have a voice.

“We need to find a way, whether it’s a forum to bring all parties to the table or something else. We will not find the answers until we have the forum where all individuals will sit at a table to hash out resolutions. We want to play nice in the sandbox. We are not a bully. We are not the isolationist. We want to find compromises and solutions.”

Erickson said the Northern Everglades Natural Area currently under development presents a real opportunity to unify the western communities in a physical sense, through interconnecting trails and greenways.

“It’s a no-brainer to connect Loxahatchee Groves to Indian Trail and to connect to the Royal Pines Natural Area, and where it can connect to Royal Palm Beach’s bike trails,” Erickson said. “There are potential green corridors that can connect to

whether or not you work for an insurance company, but which company you work for. And I started in worker’s benefits right from the start.”

Slaydon moved to Florida in 1999 and worked for Philips Electronics North America in Palm Beach Gardens.

“We handled the benefits for 30,000 active workers and 20,000 retirees,” she said. “I headed up the benefits/payroll areas.”

Today Slaydon lives with her husband and rat terrier Buddy in the Flamingo Park neighborhood of West Palm Beach.

Slaydon said many residents are not aware the district pays for medical and dental insurance for all ITID workers.

“They can choose from two different plans,” she said. “And, of course, if they want their families covered as well they can

Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves, and connect into the equestrian trails in Wellington. We can create a much larger thing that can turn into a gem.”

Erickson noted that ITID’s stormwater is of good quality with a phosphorus content of less than 50 parts per billion, and that could prove helpful to other communities during a drought situation. The district is examining ways of storing more water in its 770-acre impoundment area, and he said the western communities as a whole should find their own means of storing and controlling water. “It’s time to get out of the box and take control of our own destiny,” he said.

Santamaria, noting that Erickson frequently charges that the county gives Acreage residents a poor return for their tax dollars, encouraged the community to incorporate.

“I encourage you or anyone else to pursue it,” he said. “It’s a long process, but you can incorporate and plan your own destiny. You should not be dependent on the county to ask for handouts. If Loxahatchee Groves can do it, you can do it with your 50,000-plus residents.”

Browning thanked Santamaria for sponsoring his monthly forums, which provide a venue for mutual understanding and

purchase that coverage from us.”

The district also provides paid holidays, vacations and life insurance, as well as accident and disability coverage. Workers become part of the Florida Pension Retirement System. Slaydon oversees all of that, and notes that almost everything she does is confidential. “That is another reason for having someone like me here,” Slaydon said.

“I learn a lot about our employees, and I make sure that I keep everything quiet, even from other people at the district. That’s important to them. The more the workers trust me, the more I can help them.”

Slaydon said she enjoys the ITID working environment. “I like working here,” she said.

“The people are great. The administrators have given me support, and I’ve been able to start getting

interaction. “I want to thank Jess for these meetings,” he said.

“We need to get the word out. Unity involves understanding each other. We need to understand where everyone comes from.”

Where the people of Loxahatchee Groves are coming from, Browning said, is the desire for a non-urban setting.

“Most people moved here for the rural lifestyle,” he said.

“When I moved here in 1979, five acres cost me less than a lot in Sugar Pond Manor. It is a mix of agricultural and residential. We have a lot of nurseries. We have a lot of cottage industries.”

Part of the unique character of Loxahatchee Groves is that it is the oldest of the western communities, yet its youngest municipality, Browning said. “We have been a community for a long time in western Palm Beach County. We became a town in 2006. We elected our council in 2007. We are a fairly new municipality. We have growing pains. We want to keep our taxes low. It’s been a busy year. We are in the process right now of putting together our comprehensive plan. We are almost finished with our strategic visioning process.” Browning added that each community is different and unique, much like the members

‘I think of the communities as a family. Every child is different. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other.’

— Lox Groves Mayor David Browning

of a family. “I think of the communities as a family,” he said. “Every child is different. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other. We are like kids in a lot of ways. We have to work together even though we are all different. For a personal example, I have one son who graduated from Wellington High School, and another from Royal Palm Beach High School.” The key to unity is communication, Browning said. “We can’t share each other’s burdens if we can’t talk about it,” he said. “We have to cooperate and work together. We have to work out the problems and come up with a solution. We have to coexist. The commissioner said that crime and traffic are big issues. Another one is water. The more people who live out here, the more the demand for water. It will affect our lifestyles.”

‘Inland Port’ Idea Might Bring A Shipment Of Jobs Out West

By Carol Porter Town-Crier Staff Report

A Port of Palm Beach official

told members of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association last week to look forward to an inland port expected to expand the current port’s capacity.

Carl Baker, director of communications for the Port of Palm Beach, told LGLA members May 22 that the port is considering several locations in western Palm Beach County for the inland port, with road and rail connections to the Port of Palm Beach and other South Florida seaports. Baker said the lack of growing room is the main reason the port is seeking an inland location.

“Why do we need an inland port? Congestion,” Baker said. “Anyone who has been on I-95 at 5 p.m., you know what congestion is like. And of course, you get congestion in the port. We’re not as busy as we would hope to be right now. Miami and [Fort Lauderdale’s] Port Everglades are really busy. As small as we are at only 156 acres, we are the 19th-busiest container port in the entire country. Miami is number 12. There is a lot of stuff that moves through South Florida between Port Everglades, Miami and the Port of Palm Beach. We are probably talking $65 billion a year with the stuff going in and out of these ports.” Baker said the inland port would consist of warehouse, distribution and light manufactur-

ing components, and rail interchange facilities on about 3,000 acres. Without the transportation components, he said, it would resemble a business or commerce center.

“We’re talking a big industrial park,” Baker said. “What makes it an inland port is it is tied into a port. If you took away the port, it would be just a big business center.”

Baker said the Port of Palm Beach is not “reinventing the wheel” with the inland port concept, noting that the Virginia Port Authority’s Virginia Inland Port is about 85 miles west of its seaport. Since opening in 1989, he said, it has become a very profitable operation and an economic engine, with 24 major companies locating near it. An inland port could do much the same for Palm Beach County, he said. Also, while the Port of Palm Beach is currently stymied by lack of expansion space and ground transportation issues, the inland port could help ready it for the 300 percent trade increase expected to affect U.S. ports in the next 15 years.

Baker said that Florida should experience a huge increase in transshipment activity in coming years, even if the state’s influx of new residents stops cold.

“You can be as anti-growth as you want to be,” he said. “Growth is going to continue to happen even if not a single extra person moves into the state. The population still will increase. This won’t go away. This is going to help the state.”

Baker also said the port would provide “real jobs for real people” in construction, trucking, maintenance, warehouse, dispatch, heavy equipment operation, security, freight forwarding and other fields.

“These are real jobs,” he said. “You don’t have to have 16 years of college to do this, and there’s a lot of people in this country who would kill for a job like that. Transportation jobs are higher-level-paying jobs.”

Baker noted that the inland port idea has gotten the nod from a wide range of local and statelevel agencies, such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Florida Department of Transportation, which has paid for three studies on the proposal.

“Everybody likes this, including agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the cities of Belle Glade, Clewiston and South Bay,” Baker said. “They are all like, ‘can you start tomorrow?’ They want this really, really bad for all the obvious reasons. Even the Palm Beach Post likes it.”

Port Everglades and the Port of Miami have also expressed enthusiasm for the proposal, Baker said.

“They don’t need an inland port,” he said. “They have enough land for five years from now, but in 10 to 15 years, they will run out of land, and they know it.”

Besides the Port of Palm Beach and FDOT, the inland port development project in-

volves the Palm Beach County Department of Economic Development and private landowners and developers including Ascot Development, Florida Crystals, Lykes Brothers, U.S. Sugar and the Vavrus Ranch, Baker said. The Florida Legislature has authorized the Port of Palm Beach to enter into a public-private partnership by Oct. 1, and the partnership may issue bonds to finance the proposed improvements.

While the inland port may not be located directly in the western communities, large regional landowners have put forward at least seven sites for consideration. Most are located to the west, although the Vavrus Ranch land is located to the north and east of The Acreage.

Although the final location of the inland port has not yet been determined, Baker said the port would emphasize the further development and use of railways, because it is one of the cheapest forms of transportation.

“The cost of rail is where it’s at,” Baker said. “Trucks can’t touch it. You’re going to stress rail no matter what you are doing and where you are going. You can swing the stuff right out of a ship and right into a railcar and then drive off.”

‘We’re talking a big industrial park. What makes it an inland port is it is tied into a port. If you took away the port, it would be just a big business center... These are real jobs, and transportation jobs are higher-paying jobs.’

13TH ANNUAL MY BROTHER’S/SISTER’S

KEEPER SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

The 13th annual My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Scholarship Awards were presented on Friday, May 23 at the original Wellington Mall. County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, founder of the awards program, served as master of ceremonies with his son Chris.

Jalani Lord of Seminole Ridge High School and Ana Maria Castillo of Wellington High School.

Sponsor presenters included Isabella Lundsford of Templeton & Company, Alisha Mellot of Riverside National Bank, Dawn Rivera of the TownCrier, Jaene Miranda of the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, Lynda DiMatteo of the Observer, Rhonda Ferrin-Davis of Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI), Robert Jones of Fuchs & Jones, Peggy and Mark Candreva in memory of their son Joshua, and Jess, Chris, Victoria, Tony and Vince Santamaria.

Numerous business partners were on hand to present scholarships to 16 deserving youngsters from area schools. Student honorees were: Alana Grnja of Binks Forest Elementary School, Brandon Fabel of Cypress Trails Elementary School, Robert James of Equestrian Trails Elementary School, Johnny Forde of Golden Grove Elementary School, Matthew Schultz of Gove Elementary School, Jasmine Ellis of H.L. Johnson Elementary School, Mia Kaisen of Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School, Ashleigh Coffman of New Horizons Elementary School, Serena Rodriguez of Royal Palm Beach Elementary School, Lindsey Hanrahan of Crestwood Middle School, Jennifer Anne Cardozo of Wellington Landings Middle School, Emily Davis of Western Pines Middle School, Deanna Everett of Glades Central High School, Rubi Nunez of Lake Shore Annex, PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Scholarship Foundation was established to provide higher education or trade scholarship awards. Scholarships are awarded to elementary, middle and high school students who demonstrate good citizenship and exemplary service to their community, fellow students and neighbors. The scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,000. The scholarships will be deposited into an interest-earning account maintained by a bank for disbursement only to a college, university or trade school once the recipient enrolls in the school.

Eight of the top math students from Polo Park Middle School were invited to participate in the 46th Annual Palm Beach County Council of Teachers of Mathematics Middle School Math Tournament. Public and private middle schools from around the county participated, each bringing their very brightest math students. Top finishers from Polo Park were Colin Webster (top 15, eighth grade), Lucas Wollenman (top 15, seventh grade) and Michael Law (top 15, seventh grade). Other outstanding “mathletes” from Polo Park included sixth graders Mitchell Goldhaber, Jordan Beller and Andrew Melville; seventh grader Rose Halfon; and eighth grader Adam Feldman. Pictured here are (front row, L-R) Melville and Goldhaber; (back row) Wollenman, Law, Halfon, Webster, Feldman and Principal Marcia Andrews.

MARTHA WEBSTER VISITS KINDERCARE IN RPB

KinderCare Learning Center in Royal Palm Beach had a very special visitor on Wednesday, May 28. Royal Palm Beach Councilwoman Martha Webster was the “celebrity reader” for the day, delighting children with the book We’re Making Breakfast for Mother. With a huge focus on literacy in the voluntary pre-kindergarten classrooms and the year coming to an end, the center was lucky to have such a distinguished guest foster love for books and reading.

WCS Class Of 2008 Valedictorian And

Wellington Christian School’s valedictorian for the class of 2008 is Matthew Maise. Matthew has a GPA of 4.32. He attained it by taking all of the science and honors courses Wellington Christian offers and all of the Advanced Placement courses as well. Matthew was involved in the student government at WCS; he enjoys playing tennis and building saltwater fish tanks. Matthew was accepted at the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, University of Michigan, University of Georgia and Michigan State University. He has chosen

to attend the University of Florida and plans to major in business. The salutatorian is Taylor Smythe. Taylor has a GPA of 4.14, and he also attained it be taking all of the Advanced Placement courses offered at Wellington Christian. During his time at Wellington Christian, Taylor participated in the school drama productions and is most noted for being Scrooge in A Christmas Carol last fall. Taylor is very talented in music and was in the choral program as well. He plans to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University and major in graphic design.

Season Finale For Wellington Landings Handbell Choir

It’s been said that the measure of a good time can be gauged by the speed at which the clock moves. For a group of students at Wellington Landings Middle School, that idea hit home recently.

When they rang out their last note at the season finale concert on Thursday, May 15, the eighth-grade members of the advanced handbell choir at Wellington Landings Middle School had to face the sad reality that this was indeed the end of an era — one that had passed far too quickly.

The ringers had been together since the beginning of sixth grade, performing for the Palm Beach County School Board, entertaining crowds at Disney World and representing their

school in the annual Spotlight on Young Musicians at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. But suddenly, it was over. There is no handbell elective at the high school level, so the musical skills learned by this group of students over the past three years, the camaraderie and friendships built and strengthened over late night talks in their Disney hotel rooms and countless rehearsals, will fade into memory as the students begin life as freshmen next school year.

As the concert ended with the traditional playing of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” mixed emotions were evident in the musicians, teachers, parents and administrators who came to hear them ring one last time.

ELBRIDGE GALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Second graders at Binks Forest Elementary School have gotten to know one local orthodontist personally. Dr. Randall Shults is a regular volunteer at Binks Forest. He visits the school each Friday to teach second-grade students about Junior Achievement. Each year he also holds a class on tooth care. (Above) Dr. Shults talks to second graders. (Below) Students study a handout about how communities work.

Local Debaters

Win National Trophies

Three area high school debaters took home trophies from the 2008 National Catholic Forensic League’s Grand Nationals championship tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Wellington High School junior Amanda DeStefano and Seminole Ridge High School juniors Devon Arnold and Eddie O’Hara were among 11 Palm Beach County debaters who advanced beyond preliminary rounds at the 57th annual event.

DeStefano broke to the final round in Student Congress, making her one of the top 24 student legislators in the nation. The Public Forum Debate team of Arnold and O’Hara advanced to the event’s octofinal round, making them one of the top 16 teams at the Appleton, Wis., tournament.

WHS Band Excels At State Assessments

The Wellington High School band program has just completed an outstanding spring semester. For the first time in school history, the Wellington High School jazz band earned straight Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association State Jazz Performance Assessment held on April 1 at Taravella High School in Coral Springs. Following this achievement, the school’s Wind Ensemble earned a Superior rating at the FBA State Concert Music Performance Assessment on April 16 at Vero Beach High School. This is only the second time in school history the Wind Ensemble has earned this honor.

The Wellington High School band program is now the only high school band in Palm Beach County rated Superior in both

‘Three Piggy Opera’ At Panther Run Elementary

The kindergarten classes at Panther Run Elementary School presented the Three Piggy Opera recently for a Mother’s Day Tea and Kindergarten Roundup. There were solos, duets, trios and a chorus. The scenery consisted of straw, stick and brick houses. The show was complete with special effects when the Big Bad Wolf blew over the straw and stick houses. The brick house, however, survived a big blast by the wolf. Eventually the three pigs and the wolf became friends when the wolf became a vegetarian. At that point they all sang the grand finale together.

jazz and concert performance at the state level for the 2007-08 school year. Only 13 high schools in the State of Florida achieved the accomplishment this year.

To help support the WHS Band, the Wolverine Band Boosters Association has started a corporate sponsorship program. Rewards are available for donations as small as $50. For more information or to download a sponsorship form, visit the band’s web site at www. whsband.com.

Middle School Mathematics Competition

More than 240 mathematics students representing 22 public schools in Palm Beach County participated in the 46th Annual Middle School Mathematics Tournament on Thursday, April 17 at Royal Palm Beach High School. The first-, second- and

third-place students from each participating school received ribbons. In addition, the top 15 students in grades six, seven and eight, as well as the top 15 students overall, were recognized with special ribbons at the tournament.

The top three students for each grade level received a trophy and monetary awards. The top five students overall received a trophy and a graphing calculator, compliments of Mellisa Akey from Texas Instruments.

“All of the students who participated should be congratulated for their mathematics excellence and for representing their schools so well,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Constance Tuman-Rugg said.

Math Teachers Annual Dinner

The Palm Beach County Council of Teachers of Math-

ematics (PBCCTM) recently held their annual dinner at Benvenuto restaurant in Boynton Beach. Honored at the dinner were the teachers of the year, the high school scholarship winner and the T-shirt design winner.

The High School Teacher of the Year is Phyllis Pacilli of Boca Raton High School. Other finalists were Kelly Kinard of Jupiter High School, Marie Maloney of William T. Dwyer High School and Glen Marr of Park Vista High School.

The Middle School Teacher of the Year was Elizabeth Simek Brandt of Western Pines Middle School. Other finalists were Deborah Agresti of Lake Worth Middle School and Frank Argain of Okeeheelee Middle School.

The Elementary School Teacher of the Year was Nancy Bourne of Beacon Cove Intermediate School. Other finalists were Vicki Hutchinson of Beacon Cove and Lana Saxon of Elbridge Gale Elementary School. The PBCCTM Scholarship winner was Icon Mazzaccari of Atlantic High School. Mazzaccari is a senior graduating with a 4.0 GPA and will be attending the University of Florida majoring in mathematics and chemistry. Her future goals are to receive a master’s degree in mathematics and chemistry. The winner of the PBCCTM T-shirt Design Contest was Manuel Francisco Jr. from Forest Hill High School. His design will be used on the T-shirts that will be available at the Aug. 13 Pre-School Mathematics Conference. Manuel’s teacher at Forest Hill is Paula Tomlinson. Joanna Hataway of Independence Middle School is PBCCTM president; Lauren Cronkhite of Jupiter High School is vice president. For more information about the council, call Nancy Kinard at (561) 434-8250.

CHARACTER COUNTS FOR STUDENTS AT NEW HORIZONS

New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington recently announced Character Counts recipients. Erika Cheesebro received the Character Counts Caring Award for putting caring into action every day and by helping a student who was choking by doing the Heimlich maneuver. Devon Rodriguez received the Character Counts Responsibility Award because he always chooses to “Do the Right Thing.” Michelle Alvarez was honored at the New Horizons Elementary School “Celebrate Citizenship” rally. She received the Character Counts Trustworthiness Award because she can always be counted on to tell the truth and keep her word by doing what she commits to do.

Loxahatchee Students Win $23,000 In Competition

Three ninth-grade teams from Seminole Ridge High School have won $23,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds by taking regional awards in this year’s national eCybermission program, a U.S. Army-sponsored, web-based science, math and technology competition that allows students in grades six through nine to compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities.

Taking a second-place award, which includes $3,000 in bonds for each student, was the “Teen Taste Testers” team, which in-

cluded students Kasey Birch, Megan Cabot and Ashley Duhaime. The team was led by team advisor Margarette Marturano. The students performed experiments to find out what age group could best distinguish tastes such as sugar, vinegar and salt. They found a correlation between age and the ability to distinguish taste and hope to use the study to promote healthy eating. Taking criteria awards, which include $2,000 in bonds for each student, was the “GummyBears” team, which included students Vanessa Eriste, Saman-

tha Jordan and Megan Wright, led by Marturano. The students received Innovation, Originality and Creativity awards and were recognized by judges for their investigation into over-thecounter products that would be best for killing bacteria. The “CrankDatScience” team included students Angellique Phillips, Veda Sadhu, Tori Thomas and Ryan Livingstone, and was led by team advisor Karensa Wright. The students received an “Application of Science, Math and Technology” award and were recognized by judges for their

research and experimentation into the effect of music on human stress levels.

In the past six years, Seminole Ridge High School has won $31,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds by students competing in eCybermission.

Registration for next year’s competition opens Aug. 1. For a complete listing of the 200708 winners, or for more information, visit www.ecyber mission.com.

For more information about the Seminole Ridge program, call Marturano at (561) 4222623.

Western Pines Teacher Receives FCEC Grant

Karen Woods was the recipient of a Nancy Givens Grant from the Florida Council for Exceptional Children for the 200708 school year. Woods teaches children with special needs at Western Pines Middle School in The Acreage. She paired eight students from

her vocational skills class with peer buddies from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America for an activity. The 16 students traveled to Wannado City at the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise where they received firsthand experience in several jobs of their choosing.

RELAY WRAP-UP PARTY

A wrap-up party was held Tuesday, May 20 at Acreage Community Park for the American Cancer Society’s Acreage/ Loxahatchee Groves Relay for Life, which took place at the park May 2 and 3. The event raised $35,000 for cancer research, programs and youth camps. (Above) The Frontier Elementary School Mustangs raised the most money, at $3,337. (Below) Participants at the wrap-up party.

Metzner Awarded Scholarship

For more information on FAU’s Wilkes Honors College, call (561) 799-8646 or visit the school’s web site at www. honorscollege.edu.

ESOL Student Thrives At RPBHS

Michael J. Metzner, 17, son of Cheryl and Fred Metzner of Wellington, has been awarded a $10,000 four-year academic scholarship by Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Metzner graduated from Wellington Christian School in May and will begin his honors college studies in the fall.

Located on FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, the Wilkes Honors College is the first public honors college in the country to be built from the ground up. The college offers talented students the experiences of a small, residential liberal arts college combined with the vast resources of a comprehensive public university.

FAU is one of 11 four-year public institutions in Florida. Established in 1961, the university serves more than 25,000 degree-seeking students on campuses in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Dania Beach, Jupiter and the Treasure Coast.

Andrea Cosma is a student from Romania who came to the United States two years ago. While attending Royal Palm Beach High School she has been able to take regular classes and one honors class during her second year at the school. Cosma’s dedication and the support given by her ESOL teachers have led her to maintain a 4.2 GPA. Cosma is a member of the National Honor Society and is in the top five percent of her graduating class.

Cosma said she is very proud of her success and appreciative of the help she has received from ESOL teachers and school administrators who believe in providing engaging learning opportunities for all students. For more information about ESOL programs, call Phara Lissade-Latour at (561) 753-4033.

WHO’S NEW!

Aadarsh Nair — son of Jayasree Vasudeven and Jayaraj Damodaran Nair of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on April 30.

Peyton Matthew Holton son of Paola Velasquez and Matthew Holton of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 1.

Tyler James Yzaguirre son of Maritsa Lee Yzaguirre of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 1.

Peyton Juliet Meredith daughter of Elizabeth Dykes and Derrick Meredith of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 1.

D’Angelo Fountain Calloway Jr. — son of Latorya Hardy and D’Angelo Calloway Sr. was born at Palms West Hospital on May 2. Trent Dennis Fronrath son of Jessica and Todd Fronrath of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2. Annie Mackenzie Pennington — daughter of Brandy Mackenzie and Christopher Pennington of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2.

Zada AnnMarie Wheeler daughter of Janna and Lance Wheeler of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 2. Jordan Webster Sommerville — son of Amy Maree Chouris of West Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 5. Rebecca Eileen Gauger — daughter of Tracy and Bryan Gauger of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 6. Cameron Obair — son of Jessica Holland and Matthew Obair of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6. Preston Jett Applebaum son of Amanda and Jason Applebaum of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6. Giada ReJune — daughter of Danielle and Jason ReJune of

Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 6.

Anderson Meyer Spellman — son of Allison Marie and Joseph Michael Spellman of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 7. Sebastian Lawrence Bedward — son of Karina and Garth Bedward was born at Palms West Hospital on May 9. Bain Funke — son of Rachelle and Stuart Funke of Loxahatchee was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 9.

Kayla Leigh Kicklighter daughter of Courtney and James Kicklighter of Wellington was born at Palms West Hospital on May 13.

Roshni Katragadda daughter of Ria and Subramaniam Katragadda of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 13.

Steven Michael Edward Youst — son of Kathleen and Richard Youst of Royal Palm Beach was born at Palms West Hospital on May 16. Alexander Michael Arato — son of Jennifer and Michael Arato of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 19.

Kristen Pamela Briggs daughter of Veronica and Charles Briggs of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 19.

Kaylee Samantha Fruchter — daughter of Irene Katz and Michael Fruchter of Lake Worth was born at Palms West Hospital on May 20.

Emani Danielle Salmon daughter of Danielle Myers and Michael Salmon of Royal Palm Beach was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 20.

Jayden Carlos Figueroa son of Tammy Lynn and Carlos Javier Figueroa of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 23.

Cornelia Dang — daughter of Nina and Cory Dang of Wellington was born at Wellington Regional Medical Center on May 23.

Absolute Dance To Perform June 7 At RPBHS

Absolute Dance of Wellington finished their competition year as strongly as they started. The 55-member performing company, ranging from ages five to 18, performed an amazing 56 numbers at On Stage America, their last competition of the year.

“At least 80 percent of our numbers were awarded Platinum scores,” Absolute Dance co-owner Cheryl Alker said.

“Two of our senior dances, ‘Round Here’ — featuring Billy Bell, Elizabeth Hayda, Chelsea Hull, Nicole Lehto, Olivia Mallano, Samantha Otano, Samantha Raffel, Sammi Schlechter and Savanna Zeiher — and Bell’s solo ‘Falling Awake’ received the highest accolade of a Diamond Award. Only two were awarded over the weekend, and with both going to Absolute Dance, it was praise indeed.”

Two of the company’s graduating seniors — Bell and Tayler Fay — were awarded prestigious scholarships. Fay will be attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia (her first choice) with a grant of $48,000. Bell also had a dream come true with a scholarship to Julliard. Julliard accepts only 12 men and 12 women in the dance program each year worldwide. Bell was also a semifinalist as a presidential scholar.

“We are so proud of all of our dancers this year,” Absolute Dance co-owner J.J. Butler said.

“Their hard work has paid off. We are so excited to see them all perform in our recital. This year the theme is Music of the Knight , the best of Andrew Lloyd Webber. We are featuring Cats, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and of course Phantom of the Opera. With such tal-

Platinum Performance — The Absolute Dance Sophomore Company performs “Save a Life,” which received a Platinum Award in the On Stage America competition.

ented dancers, it truly will be an amazing show.” Music of the Knight will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8 at Royal Palm Beach High School. For more

information about tickets, being part of the Absolute Dance performing company or summer classes, call (561) 798-1388 or visit www.absolutedanceof wellington.com.

WHS Majorettes Finish A Successful Season

Gillespie, Kite Wed May 10

Jim and Beth Gillespie of Wellington recently announced the marriage of their daughter Jamie Gillespie to Vance Kite on May 10 at First Christian Church of West Palm Beach. The reception was held at the Harriet Himmel Theater in CityPlace. Vance is the son of Jeff and Tracy Kite of Pueblo, Colo. The bride is a December 2006 graduate of University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She graduated from Wellington High School in 2003 and is a software developer for IZEA Inc. in Orlando. The groom is a 2005 graduate of Colorado Christian University in Denver with a bachelors’ of science degree in biology and minor in chemistry. He is the director of group life for Student Ministries at Discovery Church in Orlando. The couple will reside in Winter Park, Fla.

The Wellington High School band’s Majorette Squad, coached by Adrienne Brady, had a busy and successful spring competition season, ending in two state championships and qualifying for two national tournaments.

In February, the squad competed in the annual Disney World Twirlmania Competition, an international twirling event featuring majorette squads from around the world. The WHS squad earned first place in the Friday Parade, first place in the High School Classic competition and third place in Dance Twirl, the halftime show, Show Corps, Twirling Corps and Flag Corps.

After qualifying through regional competition in March, the girls attended the Drum Majorettes of America State Competition May 16-17. The WHS squad won first place in five out of eight categories in the state, and qualified for the DMA National Competition for the second year in a row.

The WHS Majorettes attended the United States Twirling Association State Contest on May 3 after qualifying through regional competition on April 12. The girls won state championships in seven out of eight categories and have qualified for the USTA National Competition to be held in Daytona Beach on July 17.

Teens Keep It Modest At Annual Mormon Prom

More than 100 high school youths age 16 and older enjoyed the second annual “Mormon Prom” sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The dance, held Saturday, April 19 at the Stuart Stake building in Palm City, included church members of congregations from Jupiter to Cocoa Beach and their friends who danced and socialized during the fun-filled evening. The LDS congregation in Wellington has more than 700 members.

A festive atmosphere reflecting the theme “Anchor in Safe Harbor” was accomplished by transforming the building’s multi-purpose area (basketball court) into a sailing ship, complete with billowing sails, simulated waves and tropical fish.

Following a formal dinner prepared by adult volunteers, dancing, spirited conversations and youthful fun dominated the evening.

In order to attend the dance,

each teenager agreed to a modest dress code and appropriate behavior as a condition to receive a “dance card” for admittance. These agreed requirements reflect the LDS Church’s encouragement of high moral standards for the youth and all members. LDS dances provide a night free from the hip-grinding dancing, plunging necklines and racy song lyrics. Sadie Klein of Wellington said she had a great time. “I think that they did an excellent job thinking it through and planning it and carrying it all out,” she said. “The night was fantastic. I loved it!”

Although the LDS church sponsored the activity, it was open to non-members as well. One youth who was not a member noted “how much fun these Mormon kids really have.” It was generally agreed that all had a good time, and many were already looking forward to next year’s LDS prom.

Prieto Graduates

Daniel Alejandro Prieto was among the 216 men who graduated on Sunday, May 11 at commencement exercises marking the end of the 233rd academic year at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Prieto graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School and is the son of Olga and Fernando Prieto of Wellington. Hampden-Sydney College first enrolled students in 1775. A private men’s college, it is known for its structured liberal arts curriculum, the Honor Code, a unique focus on the educational needs of young men, and a small and nurturing environment.

James Rivera Benefit Golf

Tourney

The annual James Ryan Rivera Muscular Dystrophy Golf Tournament will be held Friday, June 20 at the Links at Madison Green in Royal Palm Beach.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start 8:30 a.m. The tournament will include contests for putting, hole in one and closest to the pin, as well as team awards, a luncheon buffet, door prizes and a raffle.

Rivera was diagnosed in 2007 at the age of five with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease. Proceeds from the golf tournament will go to the Rivera family to help offset costs related to the illness. The Links at Madison Green is located at 2001 Crestwood Blvd. North. For more information, call Dawn Dallin at (561) 309-5864 or visit home.james riverabenefit.com.

Improv Comedy Comes To The Studio Theatre

The Studio Theatre of Wellington will present a performance of the improv group Long Story Short on Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m.

Formerly known as the Parking Lot All Stars, Long Story Short is Wellington’s own improv comedy troupe. The troupe will perform a night of improv comedy games based on audience suggestions and input. If you enjoy the show Whose Line

Is It Anyway? you will love this live interactive comedy experience. Long Story Short has entertained countless sold-out crowds, making up all their jokes on the spot. Audience members are often invited on stage to help out, so be prepared to join in the fun. Troupe members are Adam Lescht, Patrick Price, Nicholas Varajon and Amy Wanberg. Tickets to the performance cost $10. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling (561) 2044100. The Studio Theatre of Wellington is located in Wellington Commerce Park at 11320 Fortune Circle, G-7.

Vacation Bible School At St. Michael

Children ages four through grade six are invited to participate in Vacation Bible School at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The theme for the school is “Power Lab,” which uses a science and experiment focus to help children discover the miraculous power of Jesus. The cost is $10 per child and $5 per additional sibling. To register, or for more information, call (561) 793-4999.

Palm Beach Carnival At The Fairgrounds

The Palm Beach Carnival, a celebration of South Florida’s Caribbean-American culture, will be held at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) on Saturday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Events will include a traditional carnival parade with more than 20 different masquerade bands, costume and marching band competition, live performances by top international artists, vendors and cultural entertainment. For more info., visit www.wpb carnival.com or call (561) 3090620.

FSO Event

June 14

Forgotten Soldiers Outreach will present a Flag Day/U.S.

Army Birthday Ceremony at South Florida VA National Cemetery (6501 S. State Road 7, Lake Worth, one mile south of Lantana Road) on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will include honorary guest speaker Col. Banna Ghiotto, a WWII Veteran. The program will also include the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard and PBSO Pipes & Drum Corps.

For overflow parking, a complimentary shuttle service from the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach will be provided at the Super Target Store at Lantana Road/ State Road 7.

For more information about Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, a non-profit charitable organization, visit www.forgotten soldiers.org or call Mary Ann Hedrick, events manager, at (561) 369-2933 or (561) 5863592. For more about South Florida VA National Cemetery, call (561) 649-6489.

Upcoming

Events At New Beginnings

New Beginnings Chapel has many activities planned this summer.

• Power Lab for Children

Power Lab provides fun, memorable Bible-learning activities for kids of all ages. Each day kids will sing catchy songs in Sonic Sing & Play, play teamwork-building hyperspeed games, nibble test-tube treats, take on daily challenges to share Jesus’ amazing power in their lives, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s Word and create cool crafts they can take home and play with all summer long.

Vacation Bible School: Power Lab runs June 23-27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each evening. Kids who have finished kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome to join this free weeklong program, which will celebrate Jesus’ miraculous power. Power Lab kids will join about one million other kids around the country in decorating Gospel Outreach (GO) soccer balls to be sent to South Africa and to the Czech Republic with New Beginnings’ own church mis-

sion team. Power Lab space is limited. Register online at www. nbchapel.com.

• Calling All Sports! — New Beginnings Chapel offers a free sports camp for kids from six to 11 years old. Meeting Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 2 through Aug. 27, children can learn sportsmanship and develop skills in football, soccer, basketball, tae kwon do, cheerleading and crafts. Each evening also offers cool snacks and a word from God. Online registration is available at www.nbchapel.com.

• Czech Republic Mission Trip — Czech United is the name of the nine-member mission team heading to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic this summer. Partnering with Association for Baptist World Evangelists, the team will help local missionaries teach English and about Jesus. New Beginnings Chapel’s youth are taking the lead by practicing skits, helping to write language lessons using Biblical truths, planning the soccer outreach, raising funds and learning the Czech language.

• AMPED Youth Group Heads to Mobile — This summer, the New Beginnings youth group takes Alabama by storm. Joining M-Fuge, a weeklong mission camp hosted in Mobile, Ala., a group of 30 youth will participate in local programs to support the residents. Some will paint, do light construction and yard work while other teams get dramatic and perform at local nursing homes, prisons and community centers. All youths join the daily Bible studies while leaving some rest and relaxation time for fellowship with hundreds of other teens from around the country. AMPED (A Ministry Preparing Eternal Disciples) leaves June 29 and returns on July 6. AMPED meets regularly during the summer for middle and high school students. For more information, contact Pastor Anthony DiMarzio at (561) 385-2269 or anthonyd@nb chapel.com.

New Beginnings Chapel is located at 8431 Lake Worth Road just west of Florida’s Turnpike. For more information, call the church at (561) 9673149 or (561) 722-0957, or email nbchapel@bellsouth.net. Service is held each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Visitors are welcome.

‘Trailer

Park’ Musical Comes To Kravis Center

The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will present The Great American Trailer Park Musical June 3-22. The double-wide divas of Florida’s most exclusive trailer park have survived everything from no-good men to bad perms. But when a “stripper on the run” comes between agoraphobic housewife Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband,

PBC Fleet Management Switches To New Fuel

The Palm Beach County Fleet Management Division, part of the Facilities Development and Operations Department, has changed to ethanol E10 fuel for county vehicles. All county fuel sites are now dispensing the new fuel. Using E10 will save the county 300,000 gallons of gasoline a year. This new fuel blend, composed of gasoline and ten percent ethanol, will be used for the entire county fleet including constitutional officers, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, airports, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department and all departments. Palm Tran, the county’s public transportation service, uses biodiesel that is a mixture of regular diesel and naturally grown resources. Palm Beach County Fleet Management has several other

green initiatives already in place. Palm Beach County is 13th in the nation of all commercial and governmental fleets for the number of hybrid vehicles, according to the October 2007 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine. The county’s fleet is composed of 157 hybrid vehicles and will have 200 by the end of 2008. Palm Beach County Fleet Management will be the first government in southeast United States to purchase medium-duty hybrid bucket trucks this year. Other green practices include using propane for various pieces of equipment, downsizing the fleet (not buying large vehicles unless necessary for a particular mission), encouraging less idling of vehicles and establishing a stringent preventative maintenance program. Fleet Management also started a program for using nitrogen-filled tires three years ago.

Memorial Wellington Observance

continued from page 1 done. But if you don’t talk about these things, future generations won’t know what you sacrificed for all of us,” he said. “So please take a few moments. I know it’s hard for veterans. We don’t talk much about these things. Please let the younger generation know what you gave them and what you allowed them to have today. If you see a veteran on the street, say thank you.”

Al Weissman, post commander of the Sylvia and Hyman L. Solomon Jewish War Veterans Post 684, quoted from the

song “The House I Live In” sung by a “skinny Italian kid from Hoboken, New Jersey,” Frank Sinatra: “The place I work in / The worker by my side / The little town or city / Where my people lived and died / The howdy and the handshake / The air of feeling free / And the right to speak my mind out / That’s America to me.”

“This has been my song for over 60 years,” Weissman said. “It is still relevant today as it was 60 years ago. God bless those who have kept us free. Freedom is not cheap. It has cost many lives. I am proud to be here today to honor our veterans.”

The ceremony was concluded with a laying of the wreaths, a rife salute and the playing of “Taps.”

ROYAL PALM BEACH MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE HONORS FALLEN HEROES

The Village of Royal Palm Beach held its annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 26 at Veterans Park. The observance was led by members of the American Legion Post 367 Honor Guard, ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary 367, Boy Scout Troop 111, Cub Scout Pack 120, Brownie Troop 515 and local dignitaries. Refreshments were prepared by Wild Orchids Café and served by Young at Heart Club volunteers following the rifle salute.

ROYAL PALM MEMORIAL GARDENS, VA NATIONAL CEMETERY HONOR FALLEN SOLDIERS

A Memorial Day weekend service was held Sunday, May 26 at the Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in West Palm Beach. The theme was “Honoring Those Who Served and Remembering Those Who Gave Their Lives.” The ceremony included an assembly and posting of the honor guard and color guards; the national anthem sung by Mace Graham, musical director of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach; an invocation by Rabbi and Lt. Colonel (Retired) Alan Sherman; patriotic music by the Palm Beach Pipes & Drums; greetings from VA Medical Center Director Charleen Szabo; a wreath-placing ceremony featuring representatives of 40 different service organizations; remarks from Congressman Ron Klein and state senators Jeff Atwater and Dave Aronberg; and Memorial Day addresses given by Col. Allen West and Army Brig. Gen. Dennis Rogers.

The VA National Cemetery in suburban Lake Worth held its first Memorial Day service on Monday, May 26. A number of dignitaries, veterans and Palm Beach County residents took part in the special event, which included addresses from Congressman Ron Klein, Brig. Gen. Albin Irzyk, VA Medical Center Director Charleen Szabo, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs Pete Doherty. Soloist Lou Galterio sang the national anthem and closing songs. The ceremony was officiated by Vietnam War veteran Dennis Koehler. PHOTOS BY CAROL PORTER/TOWN-CRIER

The Moon, And Other Situations That Don’t Make The Grade

My big worry today is whether, after we’ve run out of oil, we’ll run out of chicken fat. Because I’ve read that thousands of people now use biodiesel fuel to power their cars and that this fuel is made from the greasy runoff sludge procured from fast food restaurants.

The fact that something along the lines of motor oil is a byproduct of our lunch is disturbing enough, but with everyone eating healthier, sludge production will be down. Then what do we put in our gas tanks? Lettuce stems?

These are the kinds of things I will worry about while the rest of you are being productive.

I am also really ticked off at the moon. Ever since I found out that it is not up in the sky a full 12 hours, casting a protective glow over me while I sleep, I’ve considered it nothing more than a shirker — a sun wannabe.

Deborah Welky is The Sonic BOOMER

I mean, Ol’ Sol is up there for the full 12 hours, doing his job keeping us warm; and the moon makes these brief appearances, ducks behind some trees and is gone. What kind of an orb is that? And yet whenever any artist — from the kindergarten kid with his first crayon to the venerable Vincent Van Gogh — draws the nighttime sky, he or she is kind enough to include the moon. The

moon being AWOL from the evening sky is like a Nike sneaker without the swoosh. It’s nice but it’s nothing special. So that’s another one of my complaints, not that I expect you to do anything about it. I also would like it if people would stop standing in front of me in line. Yes, I know they got there first and have busy schedules just like me, but I think it would be so much nicer if they would part like the Red Sea and let me sashay up to the counter the minute I enter the door. I mean, I know they’d do it for the pope and most movie stars. All I want to know is how I can get that same status. What threshold of fame do you have to cross to get preferential treatment at McDonald’s? Do they let Hannah Montana go ahead but not Pee Wee Herman? At least, not anymore? Does Bob Bark-

er still get to skip to the front? If I lived in Hollywood, I might know the answer to this. I’ll have to ask my sister. Finally, how many antiques can possibly be left in England? And how much French country furniture in France? Every magazine I open up has pages and pages of homes featuring absolutely gorgeous English or French antiques. Well, I’ve been to England, and it’s tiny. The French countryside (which I traveled extensively while lost — another story) is comprised mostly of sheep. Where the heck are designers getting this stuff? It has to be fake. I’m going to start taking old furniture out into the yard and burying it so it has an authentic, European countryside look when I dig it up three months later — by the light of the moon. I hope.

Indiana Jones Flick Satisfies Those Who Know The Menu

If there is one movie everyone has been talking about going to see this summer it’s Indiana Jones and the Incredible Sequel. Of course, the real title is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but that barely matters. The first movie in the series had the Ark of the Covenant as its focus, the second some kind of holy rock, the third the Holy Grail. Now we have a crystal skull that holds enormous power.

In the series, the actual artifact never matters much. Bad guys want it really badly so they can gain some mystical power and Indiana Jones goes through a series of thrill-ride type actions to stop them, culminating with the doom of the bad guys. The strongest power the movies seem to have is the ability to draw audiences.

‘I’

On CULTURE

By Leonard Wechsler

The new movie fits that bill perfectly. This time the villains are the Russians, instead of the Nazis of the first and third films. After all, Harrison Ford is almost 30 years older than he was when the first film came out, so this film takes place in the 1950s. After a few obligatory nasty FBI and Joe McCarthy-style references, the Russians move swiftly to fill the old Nazi place. The accents are a bit different, but the actions are pretty much the same. Will the movie be a disappointment? Some early critics say it does not measure up to the older movies. I found it to be a good movie experience. Of course, it is not the same as the first one. Nothing could be as good as the first time you go through the experience. Paul Simon once wrote that real girls could not live up to his sweet imagination and the same is

true with movies. Those of us who saw the first movie loved the special effects, the wild ride. Even though director Steven Spielberg said the film was a rip-off of old Saturday afternoon adventure serials, the freshness of it caught our imagination. Since then, besides the regular sequels, there have been dozens of films within the same genre. After the first couple of them, it is hard to be blown away. Go watch Raiders of the Lost Ark on DVD. It’s still very good, but repetition by similar films diminishes the immediate experience.

The age of the lead actors also creates differences. Harrison Ford is around my age, so watching him leap around seems a bit wondrous... but I can enjoy watching a member of my “Geritol generation” doing some derring-do. If you understand the reference, you are of the right age.

Some critics, undoubtedly much younger than he, have criticized the film for having an older hero. Perhaps they should take a break and change their diapers!

Why not have older heroes? Indy has gained

some wisdom over the years, and at least some of the time it shows. Karen Allen is back from the first picture as his early love, Marion Ravenwood. Some critics, again younger ones, have complained that she looks her age. Wow! She starts off back where she and Indy began with a lot of zingers, but finally both characters show they learned from experience.

Maybe the time has come for action heroes who are a bit older. I found The Transformers last year to be a bit boring with its bland young heroes. Shia La Boeuf starred in that, and is in this film too, and is as bland as a lot of young people seem to be.

But Indy still thrills as he faces nasty KGB soldiers, red killer ants, incredible waterfalls and, of course, at least one snake. If you want a movie that satisfies all your cinema needs, this is not the one. If you want a movie that really makes you think or cry, forget it. But if you want to grab your popcorn and have a fun couple of hours, this is the movie for you.

I Keep On Getting Good Weekends By Missing Marlins Games

Last week my wife Sharon went to Orlando with my son Brian and his family. She bought a birthday present (or, I should say, I bought a birthday present) for our granddaughter Eliana. The present was a trip to a beauty parlor for kids in the castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Of course my wife wanted to go to see our granddaughter receive her birthday present. And who am I say to no? (It wouldn’t do any good anyway.) So off to Disney my wife went. My son left me with my 20-percent dog EZ to keep me company.

One of my friends noticed I wasn’t looking too happy. He asked me what was wrong, so I told him my tale of woe and how I was stuck with my 20-percent dog (who takes more medicine than I do) for the weekend. He told me he had a solution to my problem that would make me very happy. He had two tickets and a parking pass for the Saturday night Marlins game. He went on to tell

Wondering & Wandering

By Ernie Zimmerman

me the seats were the best in the house. He gave me the tickets and told me to have a good time. I was happy and excited to receive the tickets. I then started to wonder who would be the lucky person to go to the game with me. I have three grandsons and a son who are wild about baseball. I figured if I took one of them, the other three would not be too happy with me. I then remembered I had a 12-year-old dog at home that must be walked about every three

hours. All of a sudden the baseball tickets were

starting to become a problem.

After giving much thought to the situation I came up with the perfect solution. I called my son Ronnie and told him to take his oldest son Max to the baseball game. I told him RHIP (rank has its privileges). My son said he would get back to me.

About an hour later he told me he would go to the game if I would watch his twin sons Carter and Chandler for the rest of the weekend. I told him that would not be a problem. I also told him I would throw in $40 so he and his son could have some spending cash on me.

I started making plans of things the twins and I would be able to do for the weekend. About an hour later the phone rang again. It was my son wanting to know if his daughter Grace could also come over. She heard her brothers were coming to my house and wanted to join the fun. I asked

my son if he told her she would be sleeping here. He told me she was fine with that. I said bring her over, the more the merrier. We started Saturday night by going to dinner at a very nice barbecue place. The three kids were model customers. They all finished their dinner. It was now back to my house for a nighttime swimming party. We stayed in the water for over two hours.

Sunday we had a great breakfast and then we went to an 11 a.m. movie. We saw Speed Racer The kids loved it, but I must admit it was among the worst movies I have ever seen. We then spent the rest of the day in the pool. When it was time for the kids to go home, they decided they didn’t want to leave. (At this point I knew I had done a good job of being a grandfather.) You just can’t put a price on a weekend like this. I just hope the good man upstairs has many more like this one in my future.

The Palm Beach County League of Cities held its Tenth Annual Installation Gala on Friday, May 23 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The gala celebrated newly installed president Ocean Ridge Mayor Ken Kaleel, as well as executive officers, the board of directors and local government partners. The ceremony included the presentation of colors by the Ocean Ridge Police Honor Guards. The national anthem was performed by the Wellington Landings Middle School chorus led by choral director Lynn Pernezny. Wellington Vice Mayor Dr. Carmine Priore, the incoming 2008 Florida League of Cities president, said a few words.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cross Competes In ‘Guardian Challenge’

By Phyllis Hanson Special to the Town-Crier Air Force Tech. Sgt. Gregory Cross, son of George and Martha Cross of Wellington, was one of nearly 200 airmen from throughout the Air Force Space Command who gathered at Peterson Air Force Base in the foothills of the Rockies in Colorado to determine the “best of the best” within the command responsible for the satellite, missile and communications tech-

nology that gives us many of the high-tech amenities we use in our everyday lives. The Air Force Space Command competition “Guardian Challenge” put Cross, along with other airmen in space operations, missile deterrence, space launch, weapon systems and security forces, through “end-of-the-world” scenarios, both natural and man-made. Their goal was to keep defense technology going despite the

threats. “Guardian Challenge allows units to increase their proficiency and strive for excellence in their daily operations,” said Cross, a 1996 graduate of Lake Worth High School.

To get here, Space Command airmen and their teams spent countless hours poring over technical manuals and dissecting end-of-the-world scenarios, developing and perfecting ways to keep their assets safe.

“We standardized all the

scripts given to each unit in Space Command to ensure equity throughout all units,” Cross said.

Cross is a space operator by trade and is assigned to the 14th Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. He is an evaluator for the Air Force wing-level space operations.

“I evaluate Air Force Space Command units including missile warning and satellite operational units,” Cross said.

Cross has served in the Air Force for 12 years. He has been assigned to such places as North Carolina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Colorado and California. While Cross and his fellow Space Command airmen are rarely seen outside of their often-remote communications and missile bases around the world, many of their efforts are felt each time we turn on the TV or pull up to the pump.

• PLANET KIDS — Planet Kids is family-owned and operated with trained, experienced counselors all with First Aid/CPR training. The camp has the coolest playground in town, continual learning programs in house, exciting field trips three days per week, hands-on science, educational outings, scrapbooking, cooking, swimming, roller skating, bowling, wildlife sanctuary visit, Jungle Queen cruise and more. Two separate camps are offered: Junior camp for ages 2 to 5 years and Super camp for ages 5 to 12 years. Planet Kids is open daily from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday at five convenient locations. See our ad for locations and phone numbers.

• CASPEREY STABLES HORSE CAMP — Casperey Stables is a small, fun-filled day camp for children ages seven to 14. With four riding opportunities each day, arts & crafts and outdoor games, our campers find little time to be bored. Our low counselor/child ratio ensures your child will receive individual attention. There are camp sessions for spring and winter school breaks, and during the summer, each two-week session has a theme, such as Indian Days, Circus Days and Medieval Days. We have a weekly swim party and end each session with a horse show and family barbecue. Call soon — this small, quality program fills quickly! To learn more about our camp, located at 2330 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, call us at (561) 792-4990 or visit www.caspereystables.com.

• RAVENWOOD RIDING ACADEMY — Ravenwood Riding Academy has been located in Wellington for 20 years. Proprietor and instructor Judie Jenner has been professionally involved with horses for over 30 years. Learn to ride at Camp Giddy-Up! Meet new friends and have fun all summer long learning about horses. The summer program consists of weekly sessions from June through August for children six years and up, with a focus on fun, and an emphasis on safety. Lessons daily, groups are limited to 10 to 12 campers per week and grouped by skill level. All riding equipment and safety stirrups are provided. The program features demonstrations with veterinarians, blacksmiths and equine dentists. Call (561) 793-4109 to register today. Hurry, sessions fill up quickly.

• VILLARI’S SUMMER CAMP — For the first time in 25 years, Villari’s of Wellington is pleased to announce a full-day, nine-week summer camp. After years of research and preparation, we have decided it is time to offer a camp tailored to developing the mental as well as physical skills of your child. Through stretching, strengthening and balancing the bodies and minds of our children, we open a world less intimidating, more interesting and less confusing to them. Let your child experience a summer full of fun, fitness and friends. Call (561) 792-1100 for more info.

• XTREME TAE KWON DO SUMMER CAMP Join us again for a funfilled summer camp for children ages four to 14. We offer physical and mental fitness and ways to improve your child’s balance and coordination while learning self defense. We also enjoy arts and crafts, and field trips to movies and gymnastics. Come and experience the best summer camp in the west. Two sessions will be offered: Session I from June 9 to June 20 and Session II from July 7 to July 18. Register before the end of April and receive an Xtreme T-shirt. Space is limited; register today. Instructor is child CPR and heartsaver AED certified. Located at 12799 W.Forest Hill Blvd. inside Ultima Fitness. Call (561) 795-2823 for more information.

• FUTURE STARS BASKETBALL CAMP — Held in the Palm Beach Central High School gymnasium, Future Stars is a fun and instructional basketball camp for boys and girls ages six to 17 of all ability levels featuring basketball drills, competitions and games. Campers are grouped by age and ability. All campers will receive a camp T-shirt. Awards will be presented the last afternoon of camp for team winners, competition winners and special recognition. The instructional staff is comprised of high school coaches who are teachers. Lunch may be bought or brought. There will be three weekly session available running from June 16 through July 3. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Call (561) 4003397 for camp information and registration.

• ARMORY ART CENTER GET CREATIVE SUMMER ART CAMP — Jump Start for ages five to seven; Adventures in Art for ages eight to 11; and Studio Art Shops for teens (middle and high school students). An adventure in the visual arts for your young artist! Six sessions starting June 9. The center is located at 1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 832-1776 or visit www.armoryart.org.

• TUTORING CLUB OF WELLINGTON — Tutoring Club of Wellington can make a difference! Tutoring Club helps students become more knowledgeable and successful in school. Our educational programs help students raise test scores, grades and attitudes toward education. We offer a well-rounded process that is proven to work well not only with students, but also with parents, teachers and the community. Helping students take a triumphant step in their educational future is our numberone goal. Summer camp registration is June 2 and June 12. For more information, call directors Gale Nelson and Jeff Santoloci at Tutoring Club of Wellington at (561) 784-4434.

• IBIS FARM — Now located in Little Ranches, Wellington Summer Camp at Ibis Farm starts July 7 for ages six and up. Instructors and owners Lauren Briggs, Monique Loehrer and Melody Shapiro have over 30 years in the industry and are on the “A” Circuit. It’s a great way for kids to get involved with animals and meet new friends! Daily riding, horsemanship, arts & crafts, games and a horse show every Friday afternoon. Camps run from Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring lunch and plenty of drinks. Call (561) 616-7246 for more information.

• LA HACIENDA SHOW STABLES — Make this summer one to remember and join LaHacienda Show Stables for lots of fun riding, playing with horses, swimming and other activities that are part in its riding camp. The program is open to children ages six to 15 and runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Extended care is available. For more information, call (561) 422-8863 or visit www.lahacienda showstables.com.

C SHARP’S SCHOOL OF ROCK — C Sharp will be jamin’ Monday through Thursday during the summer. Our two-week camp includes introduction to guitar, drums, piano and singing. Students will be exposed to the fundamentals and will collaborate, write and perform with other students. Camp runs June 9 through Aug. 15 for ages seven to 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come and visit us for all your music needs at 13860 Wellington Trace, Suite 20 in the Courtyard Shops. For more info., call (561) 795-2585.

• KEVIN PERKINS GOLF ACADEMY — Kevin Perkins, PGA Master Professional, was the director of golf at the world-renowned Champions Gate Golf Resort in Orlando, international headquarters for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Perkins was the 92nd PGA Professional to achieve the elite “Master” PGA professional ranking among 22,000 PGA members. For more information, call Kevin at (561) 301-3783.

CONTENTS PREPARED BY THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT

TOWN-CRIER SPORTS & RECREATION

Wolverine Football Squad Looks To Improve On Last Year’s Record

By Paul Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report

If the annual spring game is any indicator, the future looks bright for Wellington High School football.

True, the Wolverines lost a 39-28 contest at home to Boynton Beach High School on May 21. But head coach Chris Romano and his staff had the chance to see how some returning varsity players will work into the 2008 system, as well as observe some newer faces. “I was pleased with the offense,” Romano said following the contest. “We need to improve some areas on defense, though.” One area in need of improvement is Wellington’s deep backs,

who were burned on several occasions for long Boynton Beach pass completions. Several set up or resulted in scores by the Tigers.

The game started out like a Wolverine dream, as Wellington jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a touchdown run by newcomer Rahiem Smalls and a reception by Brandon Peluso. But the Tigers came back with three unanswered scores to take a 20-14 lead late into the first half. Wellington regained the lead late in the first half on a score by Winter Cullen. The touchdown drive came following an apparent Boynton Beach score that was negated by two penalties. The Tigers took control in the

third quarter, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to distance themselves from the host Wolverines. Wellington’s final touchdown came late in the fourth quarter.

Returning Wolverines who gained valuable playing time included Cullen, Ben Chapman, Mike Punal, Brendan Carroll, Stephen Bender, Adrian Rodriguez and Joe Billi. A number of new Wolverines, such as Smalls, Chris Thomas, Alex Dinardo and Brynjar Gundmuddson, also enjoyed substantial playing time, although Romano and his staff made sure to give every player in uniform the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.

Hawks Cap Spring Football With 37-19 Victory Over Park Vista

By Candace Marchsteiner

Special to the Town-Crier

The Seminole Ridge High School Hawks

soared to a 3719 spring football victory over the Park Vista High School Cobras on Friday, May 23.

Stormy skies cleared in time for the 7 p.m. kickoff, leaving the field marshy and slick.

“I was a little bit worried about the wet field because I thought it would take away from our weapons, but we have so many,” head coach Matt Dickmann said.

The Hawks unleashed their weapons against the Cobras minutes into the game, drawing first blood with a field goal. The Cobras nearly fumbled the wet ball on the kickoff return, causing a pileup and a flag for unnecessary roughness against the Hawks.

Undaunted, the Hawks stopped the Cobras’ first drive, forcing a punt, but the Hawks subsequently lost yardage due to a quarterback sack. Cobra running back Trence Mason ran a punt return for a touchdown, and a good extra point put Park Vista up seven points. But with 47 seconds left in the first quarter, Hawk running back William Jones scored a touchdown on a punt return, and kicker Justin Falk successfully nailed the ex-

tra point, making the score 10-7 Seminole Ridge at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Hawks defense succeeded in shutting down the Cobras. SRHS running back Michael Fioramonti scored a touchdown, but the extra point was no good, and Seminole Ridge headed to the locker room at halftime leading 16-7.

Pumped for a comeback, Park Vista scored a touchdown three minutes into the third quarter. A wide extra-point attempt left the score 16-13 Hawks. Once again, Jones ran in a Seminole Ridge touchdown, and the extra point was good, bringing the score to 23-13. The Hawks widened their lead to 17 points as running back Jordan Schumacher scored a touchdown, and Falk added a solid extra point. Baffled by a punt that appeared to be out of bounds, the Cobras scrambled for the ball and were taken down at their own 17 yard line. With 9:40 left in the fourth quarter, Hawk running back Javian Wrisper scored another touchdown, and the extra point brought the score to 3713. The Cobras came back too little too late in a nearly nineminute drive for a touchdown. Fioramonti blocked the extra

point, ending the game at 3719.

Gathered on the field after the game, offensive line coach Justin Hilliker told the team he expects both more effort and great results in the coming season.

“That was your little gift for working for four weeks,” he said. “Now we gotta bust our butts for 12 weeks, because we will be district champions.”

Dickmann told Town-Crier he was satisfied with the win.

“The biggest thing we’re looking for is for the offense to gel,” he said. “I saw a lot of things I liked tonight. I’ve got a quarterback who’s throwing the ball well and who can run, great wide receivers, great running backs and the offensive line is being consistent. We’ve got two fine kickers. I can see either one of them come in and get the job done. I mean we’ve just got so many weapons there.”

Dickmann was happy with his defensive line, but noted that improvements can be made.

“At the end we gave up about an eight- to nine-minute drive,” he noted. “That was probably the most disappointing thing of the night. But to have one disappointing thing out of all the things that were positive tonight for a spring game, I’m pretty happy.”

The 9-10 Acreage Reds Win Baseball Championship

Reds — (Front row, L-R)

John Caprio, Manager Rick Raymond and Coach Brian Jones.

The 9-10 Reds defeated the Dodgers 8-7 Monday to win the Acreage Athletic League’s baseball championship. After finishing the regular season with an 18-0 record, the Reds remained undefeated throughout the Bash Tournament.

The first three innings of Monday’s game was a battle of the pitchers, with Richie Cotromano pitching for the Reds and James Park pitching for the Dodgers. Both teams allowed only one run.

In the fourth inning, both sides scored two more runs. By the time the sixth and final inning rolled around, the score was 5-4 Reds. Toward the end of that inning, the score was 8-7 Reds with the Dodgers at bat. But a high fly ball to second base was caught, and the third out

was made, giving the Reds the title with a 22-0 record.

“This game was more exciting than any other I ever coached,” Manager Rick Raymond said. “I know tomorrow morning whoever was at this ballpark tonight will be talking about how great of a game was played by both teams. Our hats off to the Dodgers and for the undefeated Reds!”

A record of 22-0 is quite an accomplishment, Raymond noted. “Congratulations for the accomplishment that most never get to experience,” he said. “To all the parents, siblings, relatives and players of this Reds team, I appreciate all the dedication and support from each and everyone of you. We will all have a great memory to look back on in the years to come!”

Pro Ball Dodgers Victorious In Triple Crown Tourney

Haligas Wins Regional Gymnastics Competition

Chandler Haligas won the regional gymnastics championship at the Prep Op Region 8 Championships held May 9 at the Ban-Corp Arena in Tupelo, Miss. States included in the championships were Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Haligas won the uneven bars competition with a 9.675, balance beam with a 9.625, vault with a 9.35 and floor exercise with a 9.80 to take home the AllAround Champion title. Haligas was also one of six chosen to be a part of the Georgia Regional Team, which won the gold medal.

The Dodgers are a travel team formed seven months ago by professional Major League coach Juan Bustabad. The team includes players from Wellington and Boynton Beach.

Participating in just their first tourney, the Dodgers raised their season record to a robust 32-10. Among the nine age divisions, the Dodgers were the only area team to make it to the finals.

“Against this type of stiff competition, you can’t take home medals or just give up two runs a game with only a few stars,” Coach Barry Cohen said on behalf of his fellow coaches Everett Seymour, Andrew Garbarini, Joe Dalton and Juan Bustabad.

The 8-U Pro Ball Dodgers won the Triple Crown Memorial Day Madness Tournament with an impressive 6-2 victory over the Miami Cardinals. The Cardinals are the Fall Nationals runners-up and possess a potent hitting attack that scored 48 runs in their four previous tourney games. During the tourney, the number-one seeded Dodgers led in 29 of their 30 innings played and allowed 13 runs to finish with a 5-0 record. Everyone contributed, with extra base hits coming from Jordan Bustabad and Myles Cohen, timely hits from Krishna Raj, Joshua Hernandez, Christopher Seymour and Andrew Garbarini, and stellar fielding from Zach Brundage, Michel John Dalton, Justin Kolnick and Samantha Zuckerberg.

‘Race Of Truth’

40-K Time Trial

At 20-Mile Bend

The State Time Trial Championship is back in South Florida on Saturday, May 31. The USA Cycling-sanctioned event will benefit the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post 611. Riders from all over the state will converge west of Wellington at 20-Mile Bend to compete in this year’s 40k Time Trial, called the “Race of Truth.” They will be racing against the clock

for the coveted state champion jersey and bragging rights that they are the fastest in their age group or category. Organizers expect at least 250 riders from ten-year-old juniors to master men and women in their 70s. The age groups are scored in five-year increments for the best time with medals for five places, along with $2,200 in prize money. The start/finish line is approximately three miles west of Lion Country Safari on Southern Blvd. The first riders start at 8:01 a.m. The riders are started at one-minute intervals, traveling

west to make the 25-mile loop and finish just north of the starting line. For more information, visit www.wpbraceseries.com or email Mike Purdy at mikepurdy @bellsouth.net.

Firecracker Golf Tournament In Royal Palm

Start your Fourth of July celebrations with the Village of Royal Palm Beach at the annual Firecracker Golf Tournament held at the Links at Madison

Green. A shotgun start at 8 a.m. will be followed by a barbecue luncheon at the Madison Green clubhouse, with longest drive, closest to the pin and other contests held throughout the morning to ensure a great time. Register now with a foursome for $240 or as an individual for $60. Registration applications are available at the RPB Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way), the RPB Recreation Center (100 Sweet Bay Lane) or the Links at Madison Green clubhouse (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North). For more information, call (561) 790-5149.

Haligas is 10 years old and trains at NorthWind Gymnastics Center in Alpharetta, Ga. She is trained on the uneven bars by former Belarus Olympian Elena Piskun. On vault, Chandler is coached by former University of Virginia gymnast Peggy Simpson, and on balance beam and floor she is coached by former Georgia Gym Dog Terri Eckert Smith. She is the daughter of Jenna and Dan Haligas (a

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR

Saturday, May 31

• The Village of Wellington invites the community to join in the dedication of its newest Wetlands Park on Saturday, May 31 at 9 a.m. at the wetlands park entrance located at the southwest corner of Village Park (11700 Pierson Road). As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there are plans for a bird release and a boardwalk tour highlighting the park’s design and habitat. For more info., call Dwayne Hetherington at (561) 791-4773.

• State Sen. Jeff Atwater (RDistrict 25) will celebrate his reelection campaign kickoff Saturday, May 31 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center (12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Spend the afternoon chatting with Sen. Atwater about important issues while kids enjoy pony rides, face painting and magic shows. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served. For more info., call Atwater campaign headquarters at (561) 842-4040 or visit www.senatorjeff.com.

Sunday, June 1

• The Royal Palm Beach High School Wildcat football team will hold its Inaugural Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 1 at the Links at Madison Green (2001 Crestwood Blvd. North in Royal Palm Beach). Registration and auction bids begin at noon. The tournament will get underway with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. For more info., contact Cheryl Seitler (561) 723-8298 or cseitler15@ bellsouth.net.

Monday, June 2

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold VolunTeen Orientation on Monday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. This is the last chance for interested teens ages 12 through 18 to attend in preparation for summer volunteer hours. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

Wednesday, June 4

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host “Health Information on the Internet” on Wednesday, June 4 at 2 p.m. Rachel Mick from the Community Health Information Service will guide adult attendees through online resources so they can find quality medical information that can be trusted. To pre-register, call (561) 790-6070.

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host the 11th Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) in expo buildings 6 and 10 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4. Enjoy food from great restaurants, musical entertainment, refreshments and a business expo. Call (561) 790-6200 for info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold its Book Discussion Series for adults on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. Sara Harris will lead a discussion of Family Pictures by Sue Miller. Sign up and check out a copy of the book. Call (561) 7906070 for more info.

Thursday, June 5

• Do you enjoy writing poems, short stories or memoirs? The Royal Palm Beach Writing Club meets at 10 a.m. on first and third Thursdays at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). For more info., call Margie Bonner at (561) 712-4905.

• The Women’s Chamber Foundation will hold its annual scholarship award luncheon on Thursday, June 5 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Kay Carnes, head of St. Mark’s Episcopal School. Register online at www.womenschamber foundation.org or call (561) 684-4523.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Teen Advisory Group meeting for ages 12 through 17 on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy snacks, conversation and good ideas. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

Friday, June 6

• The West Palm Beach Antique & Collectibles Show will return to the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) Friday through Sunday, June 68. Admission is $11 for a multiday ticket; single-day tickets cost $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for seniors. Children under 12 will be admitted free. For more info., call (561) 7930333.

• The “Down the Street” Bead Show will be held Friday through Sunday, June 6-8 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in Building 1. Admission is $5 and free for children 12 and under. For more info., call (561) 793-0333.

Saturday, June 7 • A Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, June 7 to raise money to support the family of Carson Ruffa, an 11year-old boy recently diagnosed with a rare disorder. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (12200 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington). It will include a bounce house, food, live music, silent auction, games and bake sale. For more info., call Jennifer Klinkowitz at (561) 795-8908.

• The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 345, a non-competitive recreational youth soccer league, invites girls and boys between the ages of four and 18 (by July 31) to sign up to play soccer in the fall 2008 season, which runs Aug. 18 through Nov. 15. The registration fee is $85 per child. Registration will be held Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the AYSO activity building at the Okeeheelee Park soccer fields (7715 Forest Hill Blvd). For more info., call (561) 6425449.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will hold its Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party for grades kindergarten and up with master magician Gary Midnight on Saturday, June 7 at 1 p.m. To pre-register, call (561) 7906070.

Sunday, June 8

• A fundraiser will be held Sunday, June 8 from noon to 3 p.m. at Backstreets Bar & Grill for Earl Hebert, a Wellington man who was struck by a car on April 23 and sustained a traumatic brain injury. Hog dogs, chili, potato salad, coleslaw, beer, wine and soda will be served, and there will be live entertainment. The suggested donation is $25. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Proceeds raised, including tips, will be donated to the Earl Hebert Fund. Contributions will be taken any time at Backstreets, located at 12771 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. For more info., call (561) 795-0100.

• My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust will host “A Memorable Evening with Copeland Davis and Friends” on Sunday, June 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center (151 Civic Center Way). The event will feature live music and delicious dining, all to support a great cause. The cost is $40 per person. To reserve tickets, call (561) 793-7606. Monday, June 9

• The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon Monday, June 9 at 11:45 a.m. at Outback Steakhouse (11101 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach). The cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. For more info., call (561) 790-6200 or visit www. palmswest.com.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will host a Father’s Day Program for ages three through six on Monday, June 9 at 1 p.m. Find out what dads do around the world and make your father a special “I love you” card. To preregister, call (561) 790-6070.

• Jason Pitman, head basketball coach at Seminole Ridge High School, will host a series of Summer Basketball Camps in June and July. The June 9-12 camp will feature a three-hour afternoon session for ages six to 14, while the July 21-24 camp will feature a three-hour morning session for ages six to ten, and a corresponding afternoon session for ages 11 to 14. For complete information, visit the SRHS Edline page to register, print and mail the online registration, or call Pitman at (561) 422-2603.

• The Seminole Ridge High School Football Cheerleaders will host a Summer Cheer Camp Monday through Thursday, June 9-12 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The camp is open to kids entering kindergarten through fifth grade in the coming school year. For more info., e-mail Kelly Dickmann at dickmannk@palm beach.k12.fl.us.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature “Summer Story Times: Whole Wide World at Your Library” from Monday, June 9 through Aug. 1. Staff and participants will travel the world through songs and stories. Call (561) 790-6070 for more information.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wellington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 7936090. E-mail: news@gotown crier.com.

Fresh-Made Pizza And More At Romeo’s Pizza Express In

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report

Don’t let the location fool you.

Romeo’s Pizza Express, located in the Citgo gas station plaza in front of Regal Cinemas in Royal Palm Beach, is the real deal.

Romeo’s is not a franchise renting a piece of the Citgo location, but a oneof-a-kind independent Italian carryout and delivery. Owner Joe Rotella and manager John Romeo are both Italianborn and serve authentic cuisine from southern Italy. “We learned from our parents how to make the sauce and the meatballs,” Rotella said. “We learned preparing the foods in the traditional way of cooking.”

Rotella said he and Romeo are distantly related by marriage — Romeo is married to his brother-in-law’s sister.

“I’ve known John for about 15 years,” he said.

Rotella sold his previous Romeo’s location at Southern Blvd. and Haverhill Road to try something new, re-establishing in a location that has a lot of pass-through traffic.

The previous pizzeria at the Citgo station sold products brought in frozen. “This is a new philosophy,” Rotella said. “We wanted to try something different. It seems to be working because everything we do here is fresh; we make our own dough.”

Practically everything sold at Romeo’s is made on the premises, Rotella explained, even the meatballs.

“Everything here is hand-tossed and handmade,” he said. “We make our own sauce. We don’t buy anything readymade. Everything is made from scratch. The only thing we don’t make is our sub rolls.”

Romeo’s prices are also a real deal.

“We try to keep the prices low,” Rotella said. Romeo’s cheese pizza, for example is $8.95 for the 14-inch and $14.95 for the 18-inch, with all the usual toppings available at $1.50 each.

Cheese pizza by the slice is $1.75, with 50 cents for each additional topping.

Romeo’s house pizza includes cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onion for $14 or $19.95. Caprese, another special, includes fresh tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil and light cheese for $8.95 or $14.50. Other specials include white pizza, a vegetarian pizza and a meatlovers’ pie. “We also have the thick Sicilian square pizza,” Rotella said.

But pizza is just the beginning.

Romeo’s also offers full dinners including chicken marsala, chicken francaise, fettuccini alfredo, shrimp parmesan, shrimp francaise, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi and chicken cacciatore. Priced from $9.95 to $12.95, all dinners include salad and rolls.

Romeo’s selection of salads includes antipasto, chef, Greek gorgonzola, tuna salad, chicken salad, tossed salad and chicken cutlet salad. Prices range from $4.25 to $6.99 for a small and $6.45 to $8.95 for a large. Also on the menu: calzone and strombole; chicken, eggplant or shrimp parmigiana; as well as baked lasagna, manicotti, ziti, stuffed shells and assorted spaghetti dishes. All the pasta is homemade, and the tomatoes are imported from Italy. “The tomatoes are very important,” Rotella said.

And if that’s not enough, Romeo’s also serves a wide variety of hot and cold subs, chicken wings and appetizers such as chicken fingers, fried moz-

zarella, jalapeno poppers and fried calamari. The restaurant features daily specials Monday through Friday. On Mondays customers can get a large cheese pizza and ten wings for $15.99; on Tuesdays two one-topping pizzas with soda is $19.99; on Wednesdays two hot or cold subs goes for $11.99; on Thursdays lasagna or spaghetti is on special for $7.99; and on Fridays a large

cheese pizza with 20 wings is featured for $19.99. Romeo’s can also cater large and small events, with all orders made to the customer’s preference. “We do all kinds of catering, whatever the customer wants,” Rotella said. “We

Advantage Advertising Lands Sunrise Premiums Corporation Account

Wellington-based Advantage Advertising Agency has been awarded the highly sought Sunrise Premiums Corporation (SPC) account, an international travel consolidator.

Zach Rebackoff, a former pro baseball umpire who is Advantage’s owner and president, won the account with “hard work, determination and a keen evaluation of our incentive industry,” said SPC President Steve Kessler from his company’s office in New York City.

“Mr. Rebackoff took the risk of showing us our Achilles’ heel as well as our strengths, and that was gutsy,” Kessler said. “He has communicated a fine-tuned plan to address and connect our sales cycle to another core group of clients, and millions more travelers.” Advantage opened its doors in Wellington in November 2007. The agency touts a short list of local clients, but SPC represents the agency’s first national client. The agency will begin publicizing SPC in an unprecedented manner: the first initiative is to introduce SPC to the masses and will incorporate a 60- to 90-percent discount on vacation travel (air, land and sea).

“Most small- to mediumsized businesses do not have any clue about how travel consolidators operate or how travel vouchers inspire revenue streams, even in slow months and down time. Soon they’ll know, and the best-kept secret in big business will be no more,” Rebackoff said. “SPC’s travel vouchers have until now been used almost exclusively by Fortune 500 companies. If you own a business, would you invest perhaps $10 to attract and close a customer? Of course you would, and that’s why auto dealerships, banks and credit card companies all use travel rewards. It’s a nobrainer! Need more subscribers? Offer travel vouchers. Need more walk-in traffic? Offer travel vouchers. More business? Vouchers.” SPC inventories huge blocks of travel options, then whole-

sales travel vouchers (hotel rooms, airfares, cruises) at 60 to 90 percent off retail, business-to-business sales only. Upon sale, clients own title to hundreds (even thousands) of coded vouchers, with all original traveling privileges intact.

Subsequently, companies incorporate “travel rewards” into their marketing strategies, direct-response campaigns, traffic boosters, special promotions and online traffic builders, in addition to differentiating themselves from their competition. The tempting vouchers expedite the prospecting of sales and increase rapid closure, all for a negligible cost. Prospective customers, existing customers and employees all win.

Advantage Advertising focuses on small- to mediumsized businesses and is particularly effective in creating hard-hitting marketing approaches and consumer-oriented public relations campaigns.

To contact Rebackoff, call (561) 793-0121 e-mail zach@ advantageadagency.com. For more information about Advantage Advertising, visit www.advantageadagency.com. For more information about Sunrise Premiums Corporation, call the Pompano Beach office at (954) 917-3760 or visit www.sunrisepremiums. net.

Grand Opening Celebration For PDQ Care

Represntatives from the Wellington and Palms West chambers of commerce joined staff at PDQ Care in the Mall at Wellington Green on Friday, May 23 to celebrate the location’s grand opening. Florida

Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros was on hand to speak about the need for quality healthcare for all Floridians. Her presentation covered ways in which the state is working to improve the quality of healthcare through prevention, affordable prices and a strong physician workforce.

The event featured free screenings for osteoporosis and blood pressure, an orthopedic brace clinic (measuring and fitting light braces for elbows and knees), introduction of a PDQ-sponsored weight loss challenge, distribution of customer loyalty discount

ical doctors, and PDQ Care also offers a wide variety of preventative care and wellness services as well as medication therapy management and a unique PHR-To-Go personal health record service. For more information about PDQ Care, call (561) 7931336

New Menu Items, Amenities At McDonald’s Restaurant Near RPB

By Leonard Wechsler Town-Crier Staff Report

The new McDonald’s on Okeechobee Blvd. near State Road 7 is not your typical fastfood restaurant.

“We want you to feel like you’re home or at a local pub,” owner-operator Mark Watson said. “It looks like a sports bar. There’s a warm feeling, like home. We want this to become a destination spot, one where you want to hang out and relax, not just run in and grab a fast meal. We even have free wi-fi here, so you can take out your laptop and stay a while.”

The new restaurant’s walls feature large flat-screen televisions tuned to ESPN or CNN. Another feature that sets this McDonald’s location apart is the availability of the corporation’s new line of McCafé specialty coffees.

“We can do cappuccinos and lattés, both hot and iced,” Watson said. “Also flavors. We even have a lo-cal version of a vanilla blend that is only 30 calories. We get top-quality coffee beans, just as good as at a Starbucks. And we don’t charge Starbucks prices, we charge McDonald’s prices.”

Watson is a partner in Melton Management, which owns 28 McDonald’s franchises in South Florida, mostly in Palm Beach County. Watson said he and his partner Keith Melton try to give the décor of each of their locations a distinct character.

“Some have motorcycle gear, others have hot rods,” he said. “Our closest other location, at Wal-Mart down on State Road 7, has a science-fiction movie theme. We want our locations to look a bit different, to change the experience slightly.”

At a May 20 open house, Watson recalled how he started working for McDonald’s in 1981. “My brother worked for Keith Melton at a location in Utah,” he said. “Both he and Melton were sent to Wichita to take over a store that no one else wanted, and they asked me to come along. I started on the crew and became a store manager, and then moved to Shreveport, Louisiana with Melton as a supervisor. When he came to West Palm Beach in 1996, he asked me to come with him and be his partner.”

Watson said more than 1,200 owner-operators began their careers working as crewmembers, flipping burgers and making fries. More than 37 percent of McDonald’s owner-operators are either women or minorities or both, he said.

“Most people don’t realize the economic impact of McDonald’s,” Watson said. “It provides over 94,000 jobs in Florida and is responsible for adding a billion dollars to the state’s economy. We average $1.7 million in revenues per restaurant each year and provide an average of 71 jobs.”

Watson noted that the company provides its employees with medical and dental insurance as well as other benefits.

Watson also introduced Josef Braga, McDonald’s Florida Employee of the Year for 2007, who works at the Courtyard Shops shopping plaza restaurant in Wellington. “He’s the kind of person we want to work for us,” Watson said. “I would bet that in a few years he will own his own location.”

Watson credits the high quality of the food as a reason for the company’s success. “Our burgers are all made from prime beef,” he said. “That’s higher quality than you can usually buy for steak at home. Our chicken is all top quality chicken breast. Our salads and many of our products are prepared here on premises to guarantee freshness. We use real fruits and nuts on our salads. We use Paul Newman salad dressing. As much as possible we use natural, whole products.”

The restaurant staff provided a tour of the restaurant, which

included the large freezer where temperatures are kept between 0 and -10 degrees Fahrenheit. “We get orders twice a week,” Operations Manager Carol Perez said. “Everything is very fresh.”

Sam Houston, an owner-operator from Sebastian, gave a tour of the non-refrigerated areas. “McDonald’s has created a system to make sure that products are moved through in such a way that you don’t get anything even close to being too old,” he said. “Our expiration date is always several days earlier than any kind of official date presented. We want the food to be of the best quality and prepared from fresh ingredients.”

The staff also stressed the philanthropies of the McDonald’s chain. “Everyone knows about Ronald McDonald Houses,” Houston said. “That’s where families go to be near their children when the kids have a major illness. We now also have Ronald McDonald Rooms in some hospitals so families can be even closer. And we provide money, millions of dollars, for other charities like Junior Achievement and World Children’s Day. We pay as much attention to giving back to our customers as to feeding them.”

The new McDonald’s is located at 9835 Okeechobee Blvd. and is open for inside dining from 6 a.m. until midnight, while the drive-through is open around the clock.

For more information, call (561) 202-6740 or visit www. mcdonaldsmelton.com.To learn more about McDonald’s employment in Florida, visit www. mcflorida.com.

Taste Of The West Returns June 4 To Fairgrounds

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce will host the 11th Annual Taste of the West & Chocolate Lovers Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.) in expo buildings 6 and 10 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4. Now in its 11th year, this popular food and business expo draws tremendous crowds. With nearly 40 restaurants and specialty food shops in this year’s event, the chamber expects this to be the best year yet.

Participating restaurants and food specialty shops include: Black Canyon Grill, Breakers West Country Club, Brass Ring Pub, Beef O’Brady’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Cold Stone Creamery, Costco Wholesale, California Tortilla, Chick-fil-A, Crazy Crepes, Christy’s N.Y. Cheesecake,

D.J. Steaks & Seafood, Dean Anthony’s Express, Donna Marie’s Gourmet Market, Earl of Sandwich, Firehouse Subs, Golden Corral Buffet Restaurant, Godiva Chocolatier, Gypsy’s Horse Irish Pub & Restaurant, Havana Restaurant, Hoffman’s Chocolates, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Jamba Juice, Mama Gizzi Gourmet Pasta Shop, Naylah Mediterranean Grill, Nicole’s Village Tavern, Philly Connection, Publix, Rita’s Water Ice, Shane’s Rib Shack, Smokey Bones, Steak & Shake, Standard Coffee Service, the Bamboo Club, Tree’s Wings & Ribs, What’s 4 Dinner?/What a Cupcake and more. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.palms west.com.

Wycliffe Golf & Country Club Unveils New Logo

The Wycliffe Golf & Country Club recently announced its new corporate identity after a year of conceptual inspiration and deliberation. In the midst of the club’s $23 million renovation, the distinctive logo has come at the perfect time to highlight the modifications appearing throughout the clubhouse. The club transformation includes improvements and expansions to the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club fitness center, tennis and golf facilities, and ensures the security of member property value for years to come.

The investment will fashion the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club into one of South Florida’s

most enviable and contemporary facilities.

Wycliffe members are waiting for construction to finish as they become aware of a strong new identity being reinforced in the community. Wycliffe Golf & Country Club General Manager Steve Malvinni reflected on the club’s “transition into a new era of modernization and opportunity.”

Malvinni emphasized the need for Wycliffe to have state-of-the-art facilities and operations in order to prosper well into the future and stressed the “necessity of branding through logos and consistent communication to lead the way in this transformation.”

Expected to be finished in mid 2009, the clubhouse improvements and new corporate identity will physically demonstrate the evolution of a new era within the country club. Additionally, Wycliffe Golf & Country Club members are experiencing a renewed sense of pride as they anticipate a remarkable future filled with fresh opportunities and a new celebrated appearance.

“The club will provide its members with outstanding facilities, designed to enhance member satisfaction and both furnished and decorated with remarkable style and beauty,” Wycliffe Golf & Country Club President Fred Traub said.

The new corporate identity

is being welcomed with open arms as an exciting symbol of times to come.

The Wycliffe Golf & Country Club is located 4650 Wycliffe Country Club Blvd. off Lake Worth Road near State Road 7. For more information, call (561) 472-6521 or visit www.wycliffecountryclub. com.

West Palm Beach Antiques Show Ends Season June 6-8

The West Palm Beach Antiques & Collectibles Show has been running at the same location for over 18 years and neither rain nor early summer in South Florida slows it down.

The last show of the 2008 season will take place Friday through Sunday, June 6-8 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Then the show takes its annual break in preparation for the upcoming 2009 season beginning the first weekend in November.

This will be the last opportunity for several months to take advantage of an array of dealers and merchandise seldom seen in one event. As always, it will include special services for visitors such as glass and porcelain repair, jewelry repair, silver and gold plating, and doll repair. The popular appraisal clinic will also be active.

One of the highlights of the West Palm Beach Antiques & Collectibles Show is always the opportunity to visit and interact with some of the interesting dealers who regularly display their wares at the show. The youngest professional dealer in the show this year is Sean Bunnell of Miami at age 16. Sean’s parents Karen and Fred Bunnell have been dealers for approximately 26 years, specializing in estate jewelry, porcelain, ceramics and antiques. Sean literally grew up in the business, going to shows since his birth.

At a very early age, Bunnell was attracted to the jewelry. “Every kid likes something bright and shiny,” he said. Today, Bunnell’s inventory

focuses on diamonds and upscale timepieces like Cartier and Tiffany. He got into the business in a big way at age 12. Bunnell sold his go-cart and, against his parents’ advice, invested the entire $450 in proceeds in his own jewelry inventory. Since then, Bunnell has been an independent dealer, juggling his school and show schedules with great agility. Not surprisingly, the most frequently asked question in his booth is, “how old are you?” followed by, “how long have you been doing this?” Bunnell doesn’t mind the inquiries and enjoys telling his story to new visitors while greeting old friends and the many repeat customers who frequent his display. Bunnell said that his customers pretty much cover the spectrum from children younger than he to senior citizens; their tastes in jewelry are as varied as their age. As far as he can see, Bunnell intends to make this his profession after completing his education.

The Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fair

Wal-Mart Awards College Scholarships To Wellington High School Grads

The scholarship program is one of three that the Wal-Mart Foundation provides annually to help with college expenses for associates as well as the general community.

“For many students, paying for college can be a real financial burden,” Wal-Mart Market

Six West Palm Beach-area high school graduates were awarded $1,000 Sam Walton Community Scholarships from the Wal-Mart Foundation. They were honored at an event held Friday, May 23 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Royal Palm Beach, where they joined WalMart representatives, family members and School District officials. Among the scholarship recipients were Travis Brant and Karl Hohn of Wellington High School.

Manager Chad Edwards said. “The Sam Walton Community Scholarships are a way to recognize these students for their hard work and achievement, and to help them get the education they want and deserve.”

The scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic record, test scores, community involvement and work experience. Last year, more than 7,200 high school seniors received scholarships totaling more than $7.2 million. Last year, Wal-Mart provided more than $67 million in educational initiatives, including teacher recognition programs, scholarships, educational programs, and support for local schools and universi-

ties. The company also supports programs that improve graduation rates and adolescent literacy. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and its foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the company supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability, and health and human services. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. For more information, visit www.walmartstores.com/community.

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