Town-Crier Newspaper August 2, 2013

Your Community Newspaper Serving Palms West Since 1980Volume 34, Number 31August 2 - August 8, 2013

WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGETOW N - C R I E RTH

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INSIDE

DEPARTMENT INDEXNEWS ............................. 3 - 10OPINION .................................4CRIME NEWS .........................6PEOPLE ............................... 13NEWS BRIEFS..................... 14SCHOOLS ............................ 15COLUMNS .................... 21 - 22BUSINESS .................... 23 - 25ENTERTAINMENT ................ 26CALENDAR ................... 30 - 31SPORTS ........................ 33 - 35CLASSIFIEDS ................ 32 - 37

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ART SOCIETY ‘MEET THE ARTISTS’ AUG. 6SEE STORY, PAGE 3

ROBBIN LEE NAMED NEW CEO AT WRMCSEE STORY, PAGE 7

OPINIONCommunities Can SolveWater Woes BetterBy Working TogetherEach community has its ownneeds and strategies in dealingwith excess water. This is furthercomplicated by the South Flori-da Water Management District,which controls how much wa-ter a community can drain andwhere that water can go. Butseveral area leaders believe theanswer is to work together tomove water out of our area, andthe Town-Crier agrees. Page 4

Rule Change ForVet Clinics Concerns

Equestrian Board

By Ron BukleyTown-Crier Staff Report

The Indian Trail ImprovementDistrict Board of Supervisors metfor a budget workshop Wednes-day, July 24, with the primary goalof reallocating a larger percentageof its budget to drainage issues.

The workshop had been calledby Supervisor Gary Dunkley tofocus more of the budget on drain-age, telemetry and equipment nec-essary to keep the district’s watersystems functioning smoothly.

Acting District AdministratorJim Shallman said ITID has a bud-get they can work with in the cur-rent year to create additional fi-nancing for some of thoseprojects. “We’re looking for direc-tion from the board on when theseprojects ought to be done,” Shall-man said.

Shallman also noted that ITIDVice President Carol Jacobs want-ed to address staff reassignmentsand salaries.

Jacobs said she wants to elimi-nate some office positions in or-

der to put more employees in thefield; reducing the salary andscope of the vacant district admin-istrator’s post and changing it intomore of a manager’s position.

Shallman said he had met withDunkley, newly appointed DistrictEngineer Jay Foy and several res-idents to discuss developing along-term plan for drainage im-provements within the frameworkof the existing budget.

Foy, who stressed that his con-tract with ITID had not yet begun,said they were trying to figure outwhat the numbers in the budgetactually meant.

“I’m really just in the first phaseof investigating this, but in myopinion, you don’t have enoughin there for canal maintenance,”Foy said. “You have a failing in-frastructure, which is typical of allgovernments that have beenaround for any time. Culverts wearout, especially metal culverts.You’re going to have to start re-placing them or you’re going to

ITID: More Money ForDrainage Projects,Less Toward Parks

THIRD ROW CENTER WOWS CROWD

By Anne CheckoskyTown-Crier Staff Report

A local music teacher receivednational recognition last month fora production she helped plan andput together to help kids learnabout nutrition and recycling.

Estibaliz Gastesi, music teacherat Golden Grove ElementarySchool in The Acreage, came upwith the idea of having the choir— made up of third- to fifth-gradestudents — join first- and third-grade students at her school per-form a show based on a nutritionprogram the Palm Beach CountySchool District rolled out last year.

The district introduced the “Or-

Music Teacher Gets National Kudos For Nutrition ShowganWise Guys” to all elementaryschools in 2011-12. It is part of anational program that uses 10 char-acters to teach children about howto be healthy and smart from theinside out.

The 10 characters are: Sid andKid the Kidney Brothers, Sir Re-brum, Pepto, Peri Stolic, Windy,Hardy Heart, Madame Muscle,Calci M. Bone, Peter Pancreas andLuigi Liver. Their motto is: “Welove who we live in, so please takecare of us.”

The organization started by per-forming at assemblies in elemen-tary schools throughout Georgiain 1993. Now OrganWise Guys is

in more than 5,000 schools in 20states. It has a monthly national e-newsletter, The OWG News, thatgoes out to subscribers. The Julyedition included a story on Gaste-si and Golden Grove.

Gastesi hit on the idea of creat-ing a show after seeing the Organ-Wise Guys posters in her schoolcafeteria. Songs from the organi-zation’s CD were used, and differ-ent activities from art, physicaleducation and the cafeteria wereintegrated into the performance.

The school used recycled ma-terials from trash for the costumes,such as plastic bags from Target,

Some Wellington DepartmentsMight Resume Friday Hours

See ITID, page 16

See VET CLINICS, page 16

See GASTESI, page 7

SCHOOL LANDSCAPING

Equestrian Trails Elementary School revealed its recently fin-ished landscaping makeover Tuesday, July 30. Seacrest Ser-vices donated its time and all materials, including plants, tobeautify the school courtyard and repair the irrigation system.Shown here is Silke Corredor, with daughters Leah and Nathalie,in front of the flower arch with Paul Licata of Seacrest Servicesand Equestrian Trails Principal Michele Johnson.

MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

See WORKWEEK, page 4

By Lauren MiróTown-Crier Staff Report

Members of the WellingtonEquestrian Preserve Committeedecided Wednesday to postponea recommendation that could makeveterinary offices a permitted usein certain parts of the WellingtonEquestrian Preserve Area.

Committee members wanted asecond look at the ordinance withamended language to set stan-dards for the clinics — includingallowing only equine veterinaryclinics as a permitted use — be-fore sending the item to Welling-ton’s Planning, Zoning & Adjust-ment Board.

The petition was brought byPalm Beach Equine Clinic andwould change the master plan tomake veterinary clinics a permit-ted use in sub-area D of the Eques-trian Preserve Area, which stretch-es from Lake Worth Road north toPierson Road and from 120th Ave-nue South west to Palm BeachPoint.

Palm Beach Equine Clinic Pres-

ident Scott Swerdlin said he wastrying to get the allowed use sohe could fix up and expand theclinic, noting that he has hadtroubles under the current zon-ing.

“We’ve been in the same lo-cation since 1983,” Swerdlin said.“Up until recently, we could justgo into the village and ask for anapplication for development. In2006, the hurricane tore down abunch of stalls, and when wewent to submit a permit, we foundit was going to be more compli-cated.”

Because of the weak economy,Swerdlin said he decided to waitto replace the stalls. Then, in 2010,when he looked into it again, hefound his property exceeded theallowed floor area ratio and wasnow an illegal use.

We were a non-conforminguse,” he said. “Everything hadbeen fine since 1983.”

Swerdlin said one option wasto come in for a commercial recre-


Some of Wellington’s depart-ments could be going back to afive-day workweek as part of aneffort to provide better customerservice for residents on Friday. Ata budget workshop Monday, mem-bers of the Wellington VillageCouncil asked staff to look into thecost of moving some departmentsback to working five days.

Wellington enacted a four-dayworkweek three years ago as aneffort to curb costs. It was largelysuccessful, but some council mem-bers remain concerned that resi-dents can’t get needed help onFridays.

“Do you have any opinionwhether customer service wouldbe improved by going back to fivedays?” Vice Mayor Howard Coatesasked.

Village Manager Paul Schofieldsaid he hadn’t heard many com-plaints but was considering it.

“Going back to a five-day work-week has been an item of seriousdiscussion among the manage-ment team,” he said. “Should thecouncil desire, we are prepared totake elements of the village backto a five-day workweek.”

Coates said that in the privatesector, it’s common to use Fridaysto go for permits or other tasksoutside the office.

“I don’t hear it a lot, but occa-sionally I hear grumblings fromresidents,” he said. “I know thereis some discontent that we are notopen for customer service on Fri-days.”

Schofield said one option wasto have customer service open onFridays, but stagger the employ-ees’ work schedules so they workonly four days, but have differentdays off.

This would also allow the vil-lage to keep customer serviceopen later hours, he said.

“The problem with a traditionalfive-day workweek is we find ourresidents like the ability to be herebetween 5 and 8 p.m.,” Schofieldsaid. “We are considering beingopen five days, but keeping em-ployees on a four-day workweek.”

Councilwoman Anne Gerwigsaid she thought that could be agood compromise.

“I’ve seen people here on Fri-days trying to come in,” she said.“I get complaints from residentsthat they can’t even get in the door.But they also really like those ex-

tended evening hours. If we canvary people’s days off so custom-er service is open late and openMonday through Friday, I thinkthat would be the ultimate com-promise for residents.”

Schofield said there has beendiscussion of moving some de-partments back to a five-day work-week, but others benefited fromworking four extended-hour days.

“There are certain parts of thevillage that I would not recommendwe ever take back to a five-dayworkweek,” he said.

Among these are utility fieldworkers and public works crews,who are able to get more field timeand more accomplished in fourdays than they could in five.

“We get more out of them in afour-day workweek, principallybecause we eliminate 20 percentof their mobilization and demobili-zation,” Schofield said.

It also allows the crews to fo-cus on and finish projects as theycrop up, rather than having to de-lay them for a day.

“If they are coming in at 7:30 a.m.and leaving at 3:30 p.m., and aproject crops up in the afternoon,they generally aren’t able to start

Students dressed in recycled materials for the show.


Palm Beach County Commission-er Jess Santamaria has mobilized aflooding task force to addressdrainage and weather issues thatappear to be cropping up not onlyin Palm Beach County, but nation-ally.

“I would say next to the inspec-tor general, my highest prioritiesare flood prevention,” Santamariatold the Town-Crier on Tuesday.“Every time I watch TV, what’shappening in the Midwest, what’shappened in New Jersey duringHurricane Sandy, and I’m remind-ed of New Orleans, and I’m think-ing that could happen right here.It could cost lives and billions ofdollars in property damage. That

has got to be a priority for us inthe western communities.”

He pointed out that flooding isa crucial issue not just in the west-ern communities, but in other ar-eas of the county, too, such asDelray Beach, which also hadflooding recently.

In addition, Santamaria is con-cerned about the condition of theHerbert Hoover Dike and risingwater levels in Lake Okeechobee.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineersactivated its emergency opera-tions center last week in responseto the high water level, which stoodat 15.82 feet on Wednesday andhas been rising an average of 6inches per week.

“If the levees break, it affectsnot only the Glades, but other ar-

eas as well,” he said.Tied into the issue is the J.W.

Corbett Wildlife ManagementArea berm, which threatened togive way after Tropical StormIsaac last year. Money has beenset aside on the state level tostrengthen the berm.

“I think we had something todo with the governor approvingthe $4 million for reinforcing theCorbett berm, so that is a goodthing,” Santamaria said. “We knowthe potential damage from floodsbecause it happened last year.”

Too often, he said, the countygets caught up in small issues andignores the larger ones. “This issomething that could be serious,and even if it’s only a 5 percent

Santamaria Forms Task ForceTo Address Drainage Issues

See TASK FORCE, page 16

The Third Row Center Singers presented “A Royal Songfest” on Sunday, July 28 at the Royal PalmBeach Cultural Center. Approximately 200 people came to watch as the Third Row Center singersperformed a wide variety of music. Members of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches per -formed solos, while the Women of Note Octet provided vibrant harmonies. Shown here, ThirdRow Center performs “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Central Chamber BidsFarewell To MirandaThe Central Palm Beach CountyChamber of Commerce held afarewell party for CEO JaeneMiranda on Friday, July 26 atDiSalvo’s Trattoria. Co-workersand friends gathered to wishMiranda good luck in her newjob as CEO of the Boys & GirlsClubs of Palm Beach County.

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Nicole Hornstein’sFather Pushing HelmetLaws Across The NationThe Acreage father who spear-headed the drive to require thatjuvenile horse riders wear hel-mets in Florida has taken hiscampaign to other parts of thenation. Gary Hornstein has got-ten a similar law through theNew York legislature. Page 3

Royal Palm HostsIndoor Flea MarketA summer indoor flea marketwas held on Friday, July 26 atthe Royal Palm Beach CulturalCenter. Shoppers were treatedto music and free cake and cof-fee as they shopped for bar-gains and treasures from vari-ous venders. Page 15

Across District AndLocally, Tough YearFor School GradesFour of the 20 elementary andmiddle schools in the westerncommunities saw their schoolletter grades change this year.In one instance, the change wasan improvement, from a B to anA. But in three other schools, thenews wasn’t as good. Page 3

August 2 - August 8, 2013 WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM The Town-Crier

The Town-Crier WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM August 2 - August 8, 2013

NEWS


Next week, members of the com-munity will have an opportunityto check out local art and meet crit-ically acclaimed local artists dur-ing the Wellington Art Society’s“Meet the Artists” reception at theWellington Municipal Complex.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 4 to5:30 p.m., 14 artists will be on handto discuss their artwork on display

in the second-floor gallery at themunicipal complex. The event isfree and open to the public.

“We’ve participated in the Artin Public Places program foryears,” Wellington Art SocietyPresident Leslie Pfeiffer told theTown-Crier Tuesday. “When thenew building was built, they in-cluded a gallery area with lightingto display artwork. We were askedto display our art there.”

The Wellington Art Society is anonprofit organization founded in1981. It is open to artists of all me-dia and aims to make visual artaccessible to the community. Clubmembers have more than 80 piec-es of art on display throughout thecommunity, including 34 originalpieces on display in the municipalcomplex.

The art pieces vary from paint-ings to sculptures and 3-D art, andthey are rotated every fourmonths. Pfeiffer explained thatgroup members can submit up tothree pieces of art for each cycle,which are chosen by village staffmembers based on specific crite-ria.

“It was the village’s idea to usethe gallery space to display localartwork,” she said. “It’s a greatway to showcase our local talent.”

Many of the artists, though lo-cal to Wellington, have achievednational and international acclaim.

“Many of our artists are well-known,” Pfeiffer said. “This is anopportunity for people and fami-lies to come and meet the artists.We like to have a dialogue betweenthe artists and the communityabout creativity and the art pro-cess.”

The village’s art gallery is a stun-ning location to display art, Pfe-

iffer noted. “The lighting is terrif-ic,” she said. “It allows for largepieces, as well as free-standingsculptures and 3-D pieces on ped-estals.”

If you can’t make the Aug. 6 re-ception, Pfeiffer encourages thecommunity to check out the piec-es on their own. The gallery isopen to the public anytime themunicipal complex is open.

And starting in September, theWellington Art Society will offertours of the gallery on the sec-ond and fourth Tuesday of themonth.

“It will be a guided tour of thecurrent exhibition,” Pfeiffer said.“We invite families and groups tocome. Hopefully after people cometo the reception, they will bringtheir family and friends back onanother occasion.”

She said the goal is to increasecommunity awareness of theunique gallery.

“It’s open and airy and an out-standing venue for our artists,”Pfeiffer said. “There are so manythings going on in the area, withthe amphitheater and the commu-nity center, and this should be astop for people to make.”

For more information, visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org or callPfeiffer at (561) 632-3677.


The Acreage father who spear-headed the drive to require thatjuvenile horse riders wear helmetsin Florida has taken his campaignto other parts of the nation.

Gary Hornstein’s activism be-gan with an Acreage tragedy —the death of his 12-year-olddaughter Nicole, who died after ahorseback riding accident in June2006. She suffered severe headinjuries after falling from her mountwhile not wearing a helmet. Nicolewas in a coma for 20 days beforeshe finally succumbed to her inju-ries.

Not only is the Indian Trail Im-provement District’s horse park onHamlin Blvd. now named inNicole’s memory, but her fatherspent years lobbying in Tallahas-see before the new helmet law wasenacted.

Now, Hornstein has gotten asimilar law through the New Yorklegislature. As of earlier this week,it awaits the signature of Gov.Andrew Cuomo.

The bill passed both houses ofthe legislature in New York’s statecapital of Albany about a monthago and must be signed byWednesday to go into effect.“They expect it to go into law,”Hornstein said. “There’s been noanimosity, no negative feedback.”

The bill was sponsored by StateSen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Long Is-land) and Assemblyman FredThiele (D-Long Island). However,with just days left in the session,prospects were not good. Horn-stein had been working on themeasure since 2011.

“When I got up to Albany, thebill was dead,” Hornstein told theTown-Crier on Tuesday. “Therewere two days left, and it was put

on the shelf. They told me it mightgo next year.”

That is when Hornstein trackeddown Assemblyman David Gantt,chairman of the TransportationCommittee. “By the time we walkedback to his office from the Assem-bly room, he said, ‘Look, we’ll holda third meeting, and we’ll get thisthing passed this year.’ I was veryglad I went to Albany. Even FredThiele couldn’t believe that I hadgotten it done through Nicole. Ijust told my story, spoke from myheart, and they went with it.”

Next year, Hornstein is turninghis sights on the major equestrianbastions of Kentucky and Tennes-see to try to get helmet laws en-acted there.

Now a resident of Southampton,Long Island, Hornstein and hisfamily lived in The Acreage whenthe accident happened.

“I still have a house down there,

and I have my daughters downthere, but I’ve been up here for awhile now,” he said.

It took two years to get the billpassed in Albany.

“I went up the first year andspoke, and it didn’t go,” he re-called. “In the second year, theysaid it wasn’t going to go, and Iwent up there and it went. Twoyears to get a law, that’s prettyquick.”

Hornstein pointed out that ittook Florida three years to getNicole’s Law enacted.

“The average is seven,” he said.“I’m getting it down to a systemnow. I just went up there andpounded on every door that Icould. Everybody who would lis-ten heard about it. I carried her pic-ture everywhere I went, and I cantell you something bigger than mewas leading this thing. I’m very

Nicole Hornstein’s Father Pushing Helmet Laws Around The Nation

Eye of Giant Buddha by Nancy Brown is one ofthe pieces currently on display in the upstairsgallery at the Wellington Municipal Complex.

PHOTO BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Art Society Will Host ‘Meet The Artists’Reception At Wellington Gallery Aug. 6

See HORNSTEIN, page 16

Gary Hornstein, instrumental in passing Florida’s lawrequiring juveniles to wear helmets when riding horses,

is now lobbying for similar laws around the nation.

Across District AndLocally, A Tough Year

For School Grades

Elementary SchoolsAcreage Pines A ABinks Forest A ACypress Trails A AElbridge Gale A BEquestrian Trails A AFrontier A AGolden Grove A AH.L. Johnson A ALoxahatchee Groves A ANew Horizons A BPanther Run A APierce Hammock A ARoyal Palm Beach A AWellington B A

Middle SchoolsCrestwood A BEmerald Cove A AOsceola Creek A APolo Park A AWellington Landings A AWestern Pines A A

SCHOOL GRADES2012 vs. 2013

2012 2013

By Anne CheckoskyTown-Crier Staff Report

Four of the 20 elementary andmiddle schools in the western com-munities saw their school lettergrades change this year.

In one instance, the change wasan improvement, from a B to an A.But in three other schools, thenews wasn’t as good. Theydropped from A ratings to B rat-ings.

Wellington Elementary Schoolreturned to an A grade this year,after dropping to a B last year, whileElbridge Gale Elementary School,New Horizons Elementary Schooland Crestwood Middle Schooleach dropped from A to B.

The district released the gradesFriday, July 26. High school gradeswon’t be released until the end ofthe year, district officials said.

Rules changes adopted last yearSee GRADES, page 16


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BARRY S. MANNINGPublisher

JOSHUA I. MANNINGExecutive Editor

RON BUKLEYManaging Editor

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DAWN RIVERAGeneral Manager

JASON BUDJINSKICommunity Editor

TOWN-CRIERTHE

OUR OPINIONCommunities Can Solve Water Woes Better By Working Together

Founded In 1980 By Bob Markey Sr.Copyright 2013, Newspaper Publishers Inc.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising.

MEMBER OFThe Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce

LETTERS TO THE EDITORStudy Traffic AtCrestwood Blvd.

IntersectionEditor’s note: The following let-

ter is addressed to the RoyalPalm Beach Village Council. Acopy was sent to the Town-Crierfor publication.Dear Council Members:

I am bringing this to your atten-tion because of my deep concernfor safety, brought on by the new-ly installed signalized traffic inter-section on Crestwood Blvd. for theRenaissance Academy at PalmsWest.

Heading south on CrestwoodBlvd., because of the left curvingof the road and landscaping in themedian just before the entrance tothe Renaissance Academy, a driv-er cannot see the traffic lights orany other signals associated withthe intersection. There appears tobe no provision at all for warningoncoming drivers of this newly sig-

nalized intersection.To properly alert the driver, there

needs to be flashing warnings ofthe signals, preferably a light sys-tem showing the status of the light(green/red). Static signage beforethe left curve, while probably thecheapest option, would be inade-quate. There needs to be an ac-tive system that draws the driv-er’s attention to the approachingintersection and the status of thetraffic light.

One could make the point thateventually drivers will get used toit. However, this approach quick-ly fails because it will take driversa while to get used to it, there willalways be drivers new to the area,drivers do not always pay atten-tion to their driving and, if cross-ing guards are in place, they wouldbe in danger.

Taking this a step further, if thisintersection is for the school chil-dren to cross a busy six-lane road,why take any chances at all?

There are ways to prevent a trag-

edy from occurring. Please givethis the utmost attention andstudy it deserves. Develop a so-lution and implement it with all duespeed. The safety and lives ofthese school children depend onaddressing this situation. Thisapplies as well to drivers travers-ing this area outside of the schoolsessions.

Tom ParkerRoyal Palm Beach

Two InspectorsGeneral Is

One Too ManyMayor Steven Abrams has

been the voice of reason leadingthe Palm Beach County Commis-sion. The mayor has a keen senseof purpose and is acting as thepeople’s watchdog over howcounty tax dollars are being spent.

The authority of the inspectorgeneral in the Office of the Clerk &Comptroller is limited. The ordi-

LAUREN MIRÓNews Editor

NEWS

Our area has seen more rain this year than it has going back a number of years. Thoughthere are some advantages to this — green foliage and fewer concerns about water shortages— there are also drawbacks. The abundance of water in our area in the last few years hascaused concerns of flooding, water storage and how to manage water in our area.

The issue has landed our communities on the map — the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) flood map, that is. Many of our communities could soon be declared floodzones, collectively costing residents millions of dollars in required flood insurance. We believe itis crucial that the western communities come together to work on a regional strategy for watermanagement and alleviate flooding concerns.

Each community has its own needs and strategies in dealing with excess water. This isfurther complicated by the South Florida Water Management District, which controls howmuch water a community can drain and where that water can go. This structure puts commu-nities at risk of flooding, with each community working independently.

But several area leaders believe the answer is to work together to move water out of ourarea, and the Town-Crier agrees.

County Commissioner Jess Santamaria recently announced that he is putting together a taskforce of residents and water experts from across the county to tackle the issue, and the West-ern Communities Council has expressed interest in a similar venture aimed at changing theFEMA maps.

Having a united front will also help us sway entities like the SWFMD and FEMA — whichcould be very important in the near future. And having allies not only on regional water issues,but also other local issues can be beneficial to the entire area.

It is crucial that area leaders and water experts sit down and make a plan to weather allstorms. Though we may not be able to stop a storm, we can work together to mitigate itseffects.

When Tropical Storm Isaac hit, some areas of the western communities — those with moredrainage rights — were high and dry, while others saw residents trapped in their homes fordays. Though few houses flooded in the storm, having a regional strategy that allowed ourcommunities to work together to drain water might have helped everyone.

Unfortunately, water management is both a logistical and bureaucratic system with a lot ofmoving parts. If we can get those parts in synch, drafting a regional strategy, we can help toalleviate some confusion.

And the time to do it is now — well before a disaster hits. What happened during TropicalStorm Isaac might have been disastrous had the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area bermnot held up. Luckily, the state has set money toward reinforcing the berm to avoid a futuredisaster, but there could still be unforeseen issues in the future that could continue to put ourcommunities at risk.

No matter what issue crops up, we can weather it better together.

nance establishing the new Officeof Inspector General (OIG) gaverise to extensive powers. If I un-derstand correctly, Mayor Abramsis proposing the county combinethe duties of the two inspectorsgeneral. His erudite proposal willautomatically end the lawsuit filedby 14 municipalities. His proposalwill result in lowering the cost totaxpayers, eliminating overlappingauthority and guaranteeing inde-pendence from political manipula-tion because voters will have thefinal say over how the office per-forms.

In the heat of high emotionsengendered by the arrest of threecounty commissioners in rapidsuccession, voters were advisedthat what was needed was yet an-other layer of bureaucracy. Thatadvice is costing us $7.5 million.Let me make this clear to votersand local politicians: the $3.5 mil-lion that is quoted in the news forthe OIG covers salaries for 40 moregovernment employees. That is an

average of $87,500 per employee.In addition to the cost to taxpay-ers of $3.5 million, the county hasbudgeted another $4 million tohouse the OIG and to comply withthe mandates imposed by the OIG.The bottom line is that the pro-posal by Mayor Abrams will likelysave taxpayers more than $4 mil-lion a year, and the combined of-fices will exercise all the authoritygranted by voters to the OIG.

The lawsuit by 14 municipalitieswas inevitable. Sadly, early on Iquestioned the constitutionality of

the proposed OIG ordinance. Theresponse from county officials wasthat they considered the ordinanceconstitutional until a judge saidotherwise. I suspect that if the law-suit is not settled, the county willlose, and at great expense to tax-payers. Mayor Abrams is propos-ing a plan that will make the OIGmore efficient and eliminate the un-constitutional argument since theClerk & Comptroller is constitu-tionally established.

Frank J. MorelliWellington

SEND IN YOUR LETTERSThe Town-Crier welcomes letters to the editor. Pleasekeep letters brief (300 words). Submit letters, withcontact name, address and telephone number(anonymous letters will not be published), to The Town-Crier , 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Welling-ton, FL 33414; fax them to (561) 793-6090; or youcan e-mail [email protected].


Members of the Royal PalmBeach Education Advisory Boardtalked about plans for the upcom-ing year during an organizationalmeeting Monday.

Proposals include gettingspeakers to explain the new Com-mon Core system, and invitingschools to make presentations.

Board members said they wouldprefer to hear presentations fromthe students, as many had donein the past year. “I don’t want tohear from the principals. I want tohear from the students,” BoardMember Renata Espinoza said.

Board Member David Kendleagreed, adding that he thought itgave the teachers a sense of ac-complishment to bring their stu-dents in to make presentations.

“Promotion is so important toschools,” Chairman Lynn Balchsaid. “Part of your job, which per-haps you didn’t sign up for, is tobe a promoter of your school.”

Balch said he would send let-ters to all the schools with datesof the upcoming meetings, invit-ing them to make presentations.

Balch also asked village staff tohave someone come in to give anexplanation of the Common Corestate standards that are now be-ing implemented, as well as thePartnership for Assessment ofReadiness of College and Careers(PARCC), which is slated to replacethe FCAT.

“Now I’m starting to see thatthey’re hedging on the PARCCassessments, but I don’t know ifthat’s important to us,” Balch said.

Espinoza said she recently at-tended a Common Core confer-ence in Washington, D.C. “Be-cause this is the last year of FCAT,everything’s changing,” she said.“They’re changing all of the booksand technology. It’s coming, it’snew and a lot of teachers are notused to it.”

Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara, liaisonto the board, asked what the

board’s role would be in the Com-mon Core curriculum.

Espinoza said the role of theboard is to help parents becomeeducated on the issue.

“You would want the parents toknow,” she said. “You want to beeducated as a board because youwant to be educated as a boardmember what the Common Core isand how education is changing.”

Hmara said Wellington did a pre-sentation on Common Core a yearago that generated a lot of intensediscussion.

“There is great concern on ev-erybody’s part,” Hmara said. “It’ssomething that is brand new, andit’s scary. What they’re talkingabout is critical thinking, hard stuff,postulating. Just teaching rotememory, structured thinking andthe right answer is far easier thanteaching people how to thinkabout and come up with the solu-tion to problems.”

Espinoza said research hasshown that Americans’ jobs are

being taken internationally, andAmerica is trying to catch up aca-demically.

Yet Hmara still wondered whatthe board’s role would be, if any,with Common Core.

Espinoza said that if a parentwere to talk to the board aboutCommon Core, board membersmust understand it, if only to di-rect the parent to their child’s prin-cipal for more information. “As aboard, what we can do is supportthose schools and hope they aredoing what they are supposed tobe doing,” she said.

Hmara suggested that hearingreports on what Tallahassee didrelating to education in the pastsession could include CommonCore.

“[The legislative session is]probably a great backdrop for hav-ing a discussion about CommonCore and how it’s going to be im-plemented,” he said. “Those twowould probably work well togeth-er.”

Kendle said there is a great dealof misinformation circulatingabout Common Core. “This infor-mation has gotten out there, andyou’ve got people believing awhole lot of junk,” he said.

Espinoza suggested trying toget Kevin Baird, chairman of theCommon Core Institute, and itsfoundation, the Center for Collegeand Career Readiness, to RoyalPalm Beach to speak, pointing outthat Baird’s appearances are expen-sive.

It was also noted that recentstate legislation requires that prin-cipal evaluations be posted onlineand parents need to understandwhat the evaluations mean. Hma-ra said he thought that issuewould work well with other legis-lative discussion.

Members also discussed invit-ing the school district’s lobbyist,Vern Pickup-Crawford, back tospeak on the issues, as well asstate representatives and schoolofficials. Hmara suggested match-

ing speakers with the sevenschool presentations.

Hmara asked whether a memberof the Education Advisory Boardshould attend school board meet-ings and report back with briefupdates. Board Member KlemieChristie pointed out that the reso-lution creating the Education Ad-visory Board might have to beamended because that idea is cur-rently considered outside the pur-view of the board.

Hmara said he will ask the coun-cil about having an advisoryboard member at school boardmeetings. “I will support it,” hesaid.

Balch also asked Hmara to bringup the terms of Education Advi-sory Board members. “Are we theonly board with one-year terms?”Balch asked.

Hmara said he will bring it upwith the Royal Palm Beach VillageCouncil, but added, “You’re right,you’re the only ones with one-yearterms.”

RPB Ed Board Prepares To Invite Schools, Speakers To Meetings

unfortunately, erased by an NBCengineer) digitized, making it rel-atively easy to find the snippetsyou or I might want.

Already there is a processwhere you can surf over to Appleand for $1.99 retrieve “everythingCarson” from special shows tospecial show segments.

Whether you’ve gotten your

kicks from the likes of a RobinWilliams interview, Carson’s in-teraction with animals or hisstand-up comedy, it is now easi-ly available.

Jeff Sotzing, Carson’s nephewand now president of the CarsonEntertainment Group, keeps find-ing new ways to make the oldmaterial come front and center.

Johnny Carson Lives! 20 Years Of Digitized Humor Now AvailableOPINION

If any entertainer’s body ofwork should be enshrined andthen made available to the pub-lic, it surely ought to be JohnnyCarson.

The ringleader and 30-yearhost of the Tonight Show finallyhas had 4,500 hours of his showsfrom 1972-92 (the first 10 yearsof Carson’s Tonight Show was,

These days, increasing requestscome from a family member’s an-cient moment of Johnny Carsonfame.

The Apple affiliation startedfrom this type of request. It wasfrom a man who had appearedon the show, as a boy, doing birdcalls, and who sought a copy ofhis big moment.

Thus, if you are interested inseeing a copy of a Fred Astaireinterview or the hilarious JackBenny bantering with Johnny, itis available — and at a rather fairprice.

With the general status of to-day’s television programming I’llrace you to Apple to grab a bit ofworthwhile history.

Footlooseand...

By JulesW. Rabin

WorkweekSome

EmployeesMight Work

Fridayscontinued from page 1

it until the next day,” he said. “Wefind that when these things hap-pen now, we have plenty of timeto get them done before 5:30 or 6p.m.”

Coates asked what the savingswere by moving to a four-day work-week. Schofield said it was about

$600,000. “Do those savings stillhold true?” Coates asked, andSchofield said they did.

Schofield said he would havestaff investigate the cost of hav-ing the village at least partiallyopen on Fridays.

In other business, Wellingtonmight double its expenditures onlobbyists this year. Schofield saidthat several national issues meanWellington needs a voice both inTallahassee and Washington, D.C.

“We anticipate a larger role forour lobbyists,” he said. “Hopeful-ly we won’t use it all, but it’s bud-geted.”

Coates asked how much Well-

ington has historically spent onlobbying, and Schofield said itwas between $75,000 and $80,000a year.

“We’re doubling that,” Coatessaid.

But Wellington has spent asmuch as $200,000 a year lobbyingat the federal level in the past,Schofield said.

Council members are expectedto discuss hiring a new lobbyingfirm next month.

“The cost will depend on whowe choose,” Gerwig noted.

One of the largest issues thatwould affect Wellington is the re-lease of new flood maps created

by the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency, Schofield said.

“They take most of Wellington,that is not currently in a flood zone,and turn it into a flood zone,”Schofield explained. “Every home-owner will have to buy flood in-surance. That policy cost alonewill be close to $13 million.”

But Gerwig pointed out that oth-er organizations, such as the West-ern Communities Council and theFlorida League of Cities, will alsobe lobbying on the issue.

Schofield said he thinks it’s im-portant that Wellington have itsown presence.

“I’ve been told you cannot

abandon individual efforts withthe federal government,” he said.

Coates said he wasn’t sure lob-bying would be valuable to Well-ington. “I will have to be persuad-ed of the value realized from theseexpenditures,” he said. “Thesepeople they are supposed to belobbying only have so much timein their day. They will be gettinghit by [other organizations] on thesame issue.”

But Mayor Bob Margolis saidhaving good lobbyists was key tohelping Wellington alleviate itswater-quality woes several yearsago. “I really think the village ben-efited by having a lobbyist when

we were having water-quality con-cerns,” he said. “They broughtback dollars for [the WellingtonEnvironmental Preserve], and itwas imperative that we had lob-byists in both Tallahassee andD.C. getting our feelings known.”

Schofield noted that Wellingtonfaces a similar issue with new En-vironmental Protection Agencystandards for water quality thatcould affect how the village man-ages water.

Public hearings on final adop-tion of the proposed Wellingtonbudget and tax rates will take placein September, when the council willmake its final decisions.


NEWS

Whole Foods Market in Wellington hosted an ice cream social on Saturday, July 27. Samples of non-dairy and organic ice creams withplenty of tasty toppings were offered to shoppers, who were invited to create their own masterpieces.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

WHOLE FOODS IN WELLINGTON SERVES UP TREATS DURING ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Stacie and Gavin Cowell receive a treat from Lauren Belinsky.

Diana and Maile Hart get scoops of ice cream. Mario, J.D. and Nataly Miller enjoy their treats.Amanda DiSantis and Suzanne Redmond

seve up organic frozen treats.

Amanda DiSantis, Joe Colavito and SuzanneRedmond prepare to give out samples. Danielle Ballinger and Katie Scalisi show off their ice cream.

Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association held a fun show Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28, at the Jim Brandon EquestrianCenter. On Saturday riders, horses and trainers dressed in pirate outfits for a costume contest. The show was just for fun, with no pointsgiven, but winners received ribbons. For more info., visit www.pbcha.org.

PBC HORSEMAN’S ASSOCIATION HOSTS FUN SHOW FOR RIDERS AT JIM BRANDON

Madison Aguilar shows off her ribbons won aboard Roscoe. Autumn Langworthy and Oliver take a jump. Emily Yoos and Jasper dressed as pirates in the costume class.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/ TOWN-CRIER


CRIME NEWS

THE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOX IS PROVIDED BYCRIME STOPPERS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. CRIMESTOPPERSIS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT SHOWN HERE.

Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach Countyis asking for the public’s help in findingthese wanted fugitives:

• Shawna David, alias ShawnaWillhoite, is a white female, 5’1” tall andweighing 140 lbs., with black hair andbrown eyes. She has a tattoo of a fairy onher lower back. Her date of birth is 3/3/79. David is wanted for failure to appearon charges of grand theft. Her last knownaddresses were 39th Street in West PalmBeach and 10th Avenue North inGreenacres. She is wanted as of 07/25/13.

• Sarah Shattuck is a white female,5’4” and weighing 145 lbs., with brownhair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo onher lower back. Her date of birth is 03/28/78. Shattuck is wanted for violationof probation on charges of dealing in sto-len property. Her last known address was61st Street North in The Acreage. She iswanted as of 07/25/13.

Remain anonymous and you may beeligible for up to a $1,000 reward. CallCrime Stoppers at (800) 458-TIPS (8477)or visit www.crimestopperspbc.com. Sarah Shattuck


JULY 29 — An employee of theVillage of Wellington called thePalm Beach County Sheriff’s Of-fice substation in Wellington onMonday to report an act of van-dalism. According to a PBSO re-port, sometime between 10 p.m. lastFriday and 9 a.m. Monday, some-one entered the rear patio of theWellington Community Center andpulled out or slashed the screenssurrounding the area. Accordingto the report, one of the patiochairs also had a large, black scorchmark, suggesting it was burned.The damage was estimated at ap-proximately $1,000. The employeesuggested that it might have beendone by unknown juveniles whoskateboard in the area. There wasno further information available atthe time of the report.

• • •JULY 23 — A deputy from the

PBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatcheesubstation responded to a homeon 62nd Lane North last Tuesdaymorning regarding a theft. Accord-ing to a PBSO report, sometime be-tween 1:30 and 6:30 a.m., an un-known man entered the victim’sfenced-in property and stole a bar-rel filled with pieces of scrap brass.The victim’s video surveillancecamera caught the suspect enter-ing the property and using a hand-dolly to wheel the barrel outsidethe fence to a waiting vehicle. Thebrass pieces were valued at ap-proximately $500. There was nofurther information available at thetime of the report.

JULY 23 — A Royal Palm Beachman was arrested last Tuesdaynight on charges of indecent ex-posure. According to a PBSO re-port, a deputy from the Royal PalmBeach substation was on patrol inthe Crestwood Square shoppingplaza at approximately 9:30 p.m.when he observed 50-year-oldJorge Montoya near the far northwall of a business in the plaza.According to the report, the dep-uty observed Montoya unbucklehis belt and unzip his pants, thenbegin to urinate on the wall. Thedeputy noted that the area was welllit and easily visible to people near-by. According to the report, thedeputy made contact with Mon-toya, who said he was aware thatthe business had bathrooms avail-able, but chose not to use them.Montoya was arrested for inde-cent exposure and issued a noticeto appear in court.

JULY 24 — A resident of 58thPlace North contacted the PBSO’sAcreage/Loxahatchee substationlast Wednesday afternoon to re-port a case of fraud. According toa PBSO report, sometime last Tues-day or Wednesday, someonefraudulently withdrew approxi-mately $16,000 from the victim’sBank of America account. Accord-ing to the report, the victim becameaware of the fraud after her bank-card was rejected. The victim wentonline and found that the chargesoccurred in the Miami and Hiale-ah areas. There were no suspectsor witnesses at the time of the re-port.

JULY 24 — A deputy from thePBSO substation in Royal PalmBeach was dispatched to the Su-per Target store on OkeechobeeBlvd. last Wednesday night fol-lowing an armed robbery. Accord-

Vandals DamagePatio Of WellingtonCommunity Center

Shawna David

ing to a PBSO report, at approxi-mately 10 p.m. an unknown manwith a bandana over his face en-tered the business through theeast doors, brandishing a blackrevolver. According to the report,the suspect approached a registerand told the cashier to put all ofthe money into a black bag. Thecashier complied, and the suspectfled the store. The suspect wasdescribed as a black male, approx-imately 5’10” and wearing a greenMiami Hurricanes hoodie. Therewas no further information avail-able at the time of the report.

JULY 27 — A Royal Palm Beachman was arrested early last Satur-day morning on charges of fraudand trespassing after being foundin possession of stolen creditcards. According to a PBSO re-port, a deputy from the Royal PalmBeach substation was on patrolnear the Goodwill store on Belve-dere Road at approximately 4 a.m.when he observed an unknownperson sleeping on a couch out-side the business. According tothe report, the deputy made con-tact with 22-year-old AlejandoMorales, who said he was nothomeless but did not say why hewas sleeping on the donatedcouch. During a search of his per-son, the deputy found a brownwallet that contained three creditcards with different names onthem. According to the report,Morales was also in possessionof an empty green leather Pradapurse and a benefits card in a dif-ferent name. Morales was arrest-ed and taken to the Palm BeachCounty Jail where he was chargedwith trespassing and larceny of acredit card.

JULY 29 — A resident of theLakeside Shores community calledthe PBSO substation in Welling-ton on Monday morning to reporta vehicle burglary. According to aPBSO report, the victim parked hisvehicle on his driveway last Fri-day night, leaving it unlocked. Thefollowing morning, he discovereda rubber glove and a paper towelin his driveway. Then, at approxi-mately 8 a.m. Sunday morning, thevictim discovered that the sparetire in his trunk was missing. Ac-cording to the report, the victimalso found a rubber glove on thefloorboard of the vehicle. The vic-tim said his GPS device was left inhis car and nothing else appearedto be taken. According to the re-port, several neighbors reportedfinding rubber gloves and papertowels on their property as well.The stolen tire was valued at ap-proximately $200. There were nosuspects at the time of the report.

JULY 29 — A deputy from thePBSO substation in Royal PalmBeach was dispatched Monday toa gym on Southern Blvd. regard-ing a theft. According to a PBSOreport, the victim worked out at thegym last Sunday afternoon andforgot his gym bag in a locker,which was not locked. When thevictim contacted the gym Monday,he found his bag had been taken.According to the report, the vic-tim said the bag contained hischeckbook, as well as a .380 semi-automatic pistol with laser sightand a box of 50 rounds of .380-caliber ammunition. The stolenitems were valued at approximate-ly $500. There were no suspects

See BLOTTER, page 16


NEWS


There is a growing number ofequestrian trails in Palm BeachCounty, and county officials hopeto slowly continue increasing thetrails over time.

That was the message of LindaWirtz, program director at the JimBrandon Equestrian Center, andGinny Powell with the Palm BeachCounty Department of Environ-mental Resources Management,when they met with members ofthe Loxahatchee Groves Land-owners’ Association on Thursday,July 25.

Wirtz noted that Jim Brandonitself has more than 8 miles of horsetrails as well as open riding areasand arenas with spectator seating.A half-dozen other county parksalso have horse amenities.

“Palm Beach County is anequestrian paradise,” Wirtz said.“We have every level of competi-tion and facility throughout thecounty. Some people are surprisedto find out that Florida ranks thirdin economic impact on a nationallevel.”

In equestrianism, Florida ranksjust behind California and Texas.

“Palm Beach County is a majorentity, as is the Ocala area,” Wirtzsaid, explaining that the racetracksin Miami-Dade and Broward coun-ties also account for a large por-tion of the industry in Florida.“Palm Beach County really has themost diverse equestrian industry,I think, within the state, from trailriding and polo to 4-H and ponycamp, as well as hunter jumper anddressage and so on. We really dohave a great diversity.”

The riding areas and trails at JimBrandon are open 365 days of theyear from sunrise to sunset, andthere is no charge for their use,Wirtz said, explaining that the fa-cility complies with state and fed-eral laws such as helmets for rid-ers under 16 and the requirementof a negative Coggins test.

“We also have some generalrules posted, such as the basic,‘Don’t do anything incredibly stu-pid,’” she said.

Other parks with horse trails in-clude Riverbend Park west of In-terstate 95 and south of Indian-town Road, which is expected tobe the hub of a countywide net-work of horse trails one day. “Ithas an extensive amount of trails,

and there’s places you can park,”she said. “It’s really very beautifulthere.”

Next up for Jim Brandon, Wirtzhopes to get a trail ride vendor onboard.

“One of the things we are look-ing to do is to obtain a vendor thatwill provide trail rides,” she said.“So you can pay a fee and be ableto go trail riding but not have theexpense of the horse.”

Not only are the trails free to useat Jim Brandon, there is no fee towatch most the events put onthere. Only occasional specialevents, such as a rodeo of theWorld Dressage Masters, chargea fee.

The 4-H Club is also a frequentuser of the center. “I’m particular-ly interested in working with thekids,” Wirtz said.

Powell explained the county’seffort to increase the connectivityof its greenways and trails througha program called the NortheastEverglades Natural Area (NENA).

“Historically, this area was theheadwaters of the Everglades,”Powell said. “The vision 10 yearsago was to connect all this stuff,not just conservation lands butthe east coast corridor, the cordthat goes up and down A1A, theLake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, allthe conservation land, BuschWildlife and all the parks. River-bend is the hub, and the idea isthat everything radiates out fromRiverbend.”

Powell said that NENA is stilla vision and there are missinglinks.

“We don’t have all the answers,and there are complicating factorswith connectivity,” she said, ex-plaining that many of the publicnatural areas are separated by pri-vately owned land, highways andcanals. “It’s one thing for a pedes-trian or a cyclist, but for an eques-trian, it’s very dangerous.”

However, Powell stressed thatthe county is actively working onthe issue, although it might take10 or 20 years before it is all con-nected.

There are already a half-dozennamed equestrian trails radiatingout from Riverbend Park. “There’sa trail coming out of Riverbend onthe southeast corner,” she said.“That’s going to put you across abridge on the east side of the C-18Canal onto the Bluegill Trail. A lot

of these NENA trails are on canalbanks.”

Amenities on the trail includechickee shelters and overlooks.“It’s about 5 miles from RiverbendPark to the Sandhill Crane accesspoint at PGA Blvd. and the C-18Canal,” she said.

There is also a stretch from PGABlvd. to Grassy Waters Park onNorthlake Blvd., which is current-ly listed as a future trail, althoughit can be ridden now.

“It’s fine for horses, but comingdown Bluegill to PGA, you’ve gota road, and that’s an issue,” shesaid. “There are future plans toadd a safe crosswalk, crossinglights and warnings to motoriststhat this is an equestrian cross-ing.”

She clarified that the trails are

multipurpose, for hiking, bicyclingand riding. “When you get downto the Beeline and Northlake Blvd.,it’s much more complicated,” shesaid. “That’s a problem that’s notlikely to be resolved for a long time,but the idea is that we connect toGrassy Waters.”

The Historic Jupiter-IndiantownTrail, which has some connectionissues, comes out of the north endof Riverbend Park and extends toIndiantown. “That is actually a his-toric roadbed,” Powell said. “Youcan still see portions of the histor-ic roadbed there.”

A big issue with the completionof that trail will be a crossing forthe St. Lucie Canal and IndiantownRoad.

“Once you do get across,you’re in the Cypress Creek Natu-

ral Area,” she said. “We built a trail-head there, and you can traileryour horse to Cypress Creek, andwe did construct a section of trail2 miles through our natural area.It’s a shellrock road. It’s only asmall portion, but you can actual-ly pick up and go through a por-tion of Jupiter Farms, and then youcan go through the HungrylandEnvironmental Area, which is astate facility.”

Portions of the historic roadbedwest of Hungryland go throughprivate property with gates.

“The fact is that nothing is com-pletely connected at this point intime, and it’s going to be a while,”Powell said. “These are pieces oftrails — 2 miles here, 5 miles there— so there’s still quite a long waysto go, but you can stay on the old

canal levees and still use thesetrails.”

A big challenge for the new trailsystem will be connecting to theJ.W. Corbett Wildlife ManagementArea, because the north side ofthe trail is separated at the BeelineHighway with a guardrail. Butonce a solution is figured out,Corbett connects to the DuPuisWildlife & Environmental Area,which abuts Lake Okeechobee tothe west.

Once at the lake, it has a trailthat goes completely around thebody of water. However, repairwork on the Herbert Hoover Dikealso has portions of that trail tem-porarily closed, Powell said.

For more about the county’sequestrian trails, visit www.pbcgov.com/parks/equestrian.

Wellington Regional MedicalCenter recently announced thepromotion of Robbin Lee to chiefexecutive officer. She took over theposition Thursday, Aug. 1.

Lee is a seasoned healthcareexecutive with 30 years of experi-ence. She has served in varioussenior-level positions throughouther career and brings extensivehealthcare management and lead-ership skills to the WRMC team.

Prior to taking the position inWellington, Lee served as thechief operating officer of HCA-owned JFK Medical Center andLawnwood Regional Medical Cen-

ter, both in Florida. She has alsoserved as the chief executive of-ficer of Northlake Medical Centerin Atlanta, senior vice presidentof operations of Stamford HealthSystem in Connecticut and asso-ciate administrator at EmoryHealthcare in Atlanta.

Lee is a registered nurse andearned her master’s degree in busi-ness administration from EmoryUniversity. A Georgia native, shestarted her healthcare career as aunit nurse at Georgia Baptist Med-ical Center in Atlanta. Lee hasearned numerous honors andawards, and has served on vari-

County’s Equestrian Trail System Being Built One Piece At A Time

Linda Wirtz (left) explains the county’s equestrian amenities, while Ginny Powell (right) shows the interconnecting trail network.PHOTOS BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

ous community boards. She cur-rently resides in Palm Beach Coun-ty with her husband, Robert.

Wellington Regional MedicalCenter is a 233-bed, acute-care fa-cility and medical center servingcentral Palm Beach County andthe surrounding region since 1986.It is a thriving community hospi-tal, proud to offer the high-techadvantages of larger hospitals withthe personalized care of a home-town provider.

For more information aboutWellington Regional Medical Cen-ter, call (561) 798-8500 or visit www.wellingtonregional.com.

Robbin Lee Takes Over As New WRMC CEO

Robbin Lee

GastesiOrganWise

Showcontinued from page 1

which represented the heart, andchip bags and cereal boxes, whichrepresented the intestines, Gaste-si said. All the trash came from theschool’s teachers and students.

“Everybody talks about recy-cling, but nobody knows what itis. I think they really got the idea,”she said of the students, addingthat this had a much greater im-pact than placing a bottle in a bluebin.

The students practiced starting

in February for the May perfor-mance. As show day approached,they amped up the practices toonce a day for an hour.

“It was such a hoot, and the kidshad a blast,” said Karen DeSantis,a Golden Grove volunteer.

In addition, Gastesi invited lo-cal farmers to come to the perfor-mance with fruits and vegetablesto share with the school and audi-ence. “We got so many dona-tions,” she said.

There were free samples for ev-eryone, and there were more than300 kids in the cafeteria.

The donations also under-scored the importance of the ideaof eating right. Instead of cookies,

candy and sugary drinks, the kidswere presented with tables of freshfruits and vegetables, Gastesi ex-plained.

The performance, which alsoincluded poems, lasted about 40minutes. It was so successful thatGastesi hopes to repeat the idea infuture years.

As for the national recognition,Gastesi — who has a doctorate inpiano performance and has taughtfor 14 years — said she was verysurprised.

And this coming school year,Golden Grove is going all-green,so there’s no telling what theschool’s music teacher might comeup with to promote that.

Students dressed up to represent the kidneys.The cafeteria staff set

out healthy fruit snacks.

Students dressed up to represent(above) the brain, the bones and

the intestines, and (left) the heart.

August 2 - August 8, 2013 www.gotowncrier.com The Town-Crier The Town-Crier www.gotowncrier.com August 2 - August 8, 2013 Page 9

CORRUPTION COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERALand the

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Palm Beach County commissioners have cor-rectly rejected the latest settlement offer from 14 cities suing to avoid pay-ing their share to support the Office of Inspector General. Barring some surprising resolution, this case is going to trial.

That will happen be-cause the settlements have been unacceptable. Each one floated essen-tially the same plan: In-stead of making cities share the cost for the inspector general to au-dit and investigate them, have the county impose fees directly on the busi-nesses that cities con-tract with. Cities would help the county collect these fees, but they’d get a cut of the proceeds – and they wouldn’t be held responsible for col-lection errors.

If this sounds like the makings of a raw deal, that’s because it was. The cities’ plan exempt-ed broad categories of city contracts from the proposed 0.25 percent fee, including utility bills, legal contracts, ca-ble TV

contracts, entertainment contracts, medical ser-vice contracts – not to mention any contract worth less than $1,000. And, of course, the fees could be negotiated only into new contracts, so for the first few years this system likely would raise scarcely any mon-ey at all.

But not according to West Palm Beach’s city attorney, who claimed in a letter to county offi-cials that the proposal “is intended to fully fund” the inspector general’s $3 million budget. Real-ly? When we asked West Palm Beach officials how much revenue they thought their brainchild would raise, they had to admit that they hadn’t researched the question. Indeed, there’s no record that city officials did any formal study applying

the proposal to the city’s existing contracts, West Palm Beach spokesman Elliot Cohen told us.

How can the cities say their proposal would not gut the inspector gener-al’s budget if they don’t have even a rough idea of how much money it would raise? The cities have a seemingly facile response: If the money generated is too little, raise the surcharge. That sounds simple, but such a decision would have to be made by coun-ty commissioners, who would find themselves overwhelmed by oppo-sition from businesses. Politically, it would be a non-starter.

County commissioners seem to understand that under the cities’ proposal they would be left hold-ing the bag. This would inevitably undermine the inspector general’s abili-ty to investigate munic-ipal government. This lawsuit has stalled for more than 1 1/2 years. Time to settle it in court.

Andrew Marrafor The Post Editorial Board

West Palm Beach showsthat none hasbeen serious.

Cities’ non-offer offers OUR VIEWS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

REPRINT FROM: Palm Beach Post Editorial: July 29, 2013

In an earlier pub-lished opinion piece, Palm Beach County Mayor Steven Abrams proposes the Office of the Inspector General be put under the Coun-ty Clerk and Comp-troller. He seems pre-occupied with who is

watching the inspector general, rather than ending the lawsuit over how the inspector general’s office is funded.

He cites the “consternation of many” that the inspector general is functional-ly independent, but not truly indepen-dent. Who are the “many?” Are they fellow elected officials and adminis-trators who don’t like the oversight?

Mr. Abrams raises the subject of rogue federal actions in the Internal Revenue Ser-vice and National Security Administration. However, in several national scandals, it was the inspectors general who uncovered and reported the problems, while those overseen prevented timely publication.

The mayor worries about eliminat-ing duplication and states that the clerk “already productively performs” audit-ing and IG functions. A quick compari-son would demonstrate that there is lit-tle overlap and belies the breadth and productivity of the clerk’s IG office.

Sharon Bock, our county clerk, has been politicking for this proposal while being a party to the funding lawsuit and withhold-ing funding for the OIG, thereby directly controlling the OIG’s budget.

The clerk is an elected official. The inspec-tor general is “prohibited from representing a political party or being on any executive committee thereof, seeking public office during his or her term of service and shall not seek public office or employment with any public entity subject to the jurisdic-tion of the inspector general for four years thereafter.”

Who watches the transparent, inde-pendent watchdog? The public, the media and the IG Committee, which has the oversight, hiring, firing and contract-re-newal role. The mayor’s proposal thwarts the independence for which more than 72 percent of the people voted, and does noth-ing to resolve the funding issue which has been the biggest obstacle to oversight.

Iris Scheibl has been involved with the Palm Beach County Ethics Ordinances since 2009 and served on the Ethics Ordinances Implementation Advisory Committee in early 2010.

Scheibi

Mayor off base on inspector generalREPRINT FROM: Sun Sentinel Opinion Section - July 27, 2013 By Iris Scheibi

Post Special Report Inspector General Lawsuit

Watchdog legal fees already top $430,000Records are spotty on costs of lawsuit about the inspector general.

By Joel Engelhardt, Jennifer Sorentrue and Niels Heimeriks Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

WEST PALM BEACH — Attorneys rep-resenting at least a dozen public agencies logged 65 hours at taxpayer’s expense on a single day in May 2012 trying to settle a lawsuit over who pays for the Palm Beach County inspector general.

That six-hour mediation session cost tax-payers more than $11,600. And no settle-ment was reached.

As the dispute lumbers deep into its second year, West Palm Beach has maintained that the legal costs are low because staff attor-neys do most of the work. Still, the public cost of the suit over whether the county can assess cities to pay for the inspector general has reached at least $430,000, a Palm Beach Post analysis of agency billing records shows.

More than a dozen citiesrefuse topayfor InspectorGeneral SherylSteckler’s Office.

REPRINT FROM: Palm Beach Post Sunday, July 28, 2013

Cities renew refusal to pay watchdog bills Towns say state law exempts them from inspector funding.

By Jennifer Sorentrue Palm Beach Post Staff WriterFourteen cities and towns challenging bills they received for Inspector General

Sheryl Steckler’s anti-corruption oversight claim state law exempts them from hav-ing to make the payments, according to a new case filing.

The cities Tuesday amended their 1½-year-old lawsuit against Palm Beach Coun-ty, pointing to a state law they say gives cities and towns sovereign immunity. In the amended suit, the cities argue they have not waived their right to sovereign immu-nity and therefore the county cannot require them to pay for Steckler’s office.

“Without an express waiver, the county cannot charge the cities,” said Jennifer Gardner Ashton, an attorney with Corbett, White and Davis, which represents five of the 14 cities still in the suit.

The cities also have argued that the payments constitute an illegal tax.County Attorney Denise Nieman said she could not comment.“We just received a copy of the amended complaint,” Nieman said. “It is under

review.”The county this month rejected a proposal to settle the dispute. County attorneys

said they planned to ask a judge to set the case for trial.Ashton said the cities’ amendments would not delay the case.Fifteen cities sued the county in 2011, arguing that the required payments were

unconstitutional. Wellington later dropped out of the suit.Without a settlement, many involved in the suit say, the case will likely go on for

years.Both sides agree the case would likely be precedent-setting and could face chal-

lenges from statewide groups such as the Florida League of Cities, which worries that it might allow other counties to pass unfunded mandates to cities and towns.


A recent Palm Beach Post inquiry states that over $430,000 has already been spent in legal fees by lawyers representing the county and the 14 municipalities refusing to pay for the office of Inspector General and this lawsuit could continue for years. The grand jury report in 2010 recommended fund-ing the OIG with a ¼% vendor fee on all government contracts, just as Miami-Dade has done the past 14 years. Why are the County and cities charging the tax payers instead of the vendors to fund the OIG? Is it because the opponents of the OIG are hoping that they will get the support of the taxpay-ers? The best solution is for the 72% of voters who voted for the Inspector General to make note of the current elected officials of the 14 cities who still refuse to pay for the office of Inspector General and “vote them out of office” in their next campaign for reelection, as was done in Wellington, who withdrew their lawsuit immediately following the election of those who supported the Inspector General.

TIME magazine gave Palm Beach County the shameful title “CORRUP-TION COUNTY.” FORBES magazine called the West Palm Beach metro-politan area the “4th MOST MISER-ABLE” area in the country. In 2009 the GRAND JURY assembled by the State Attorney confirmed that Palm Beach County was still “CORRUP-TION COUNTY” and as a result rec-ommended the establishment of the OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL to be the local government WATCH-DOG! The Palm Beach Post, Sun Sen-tinal and Town-Crier newspapers all unanimously support the need for the INSPECTOR GENERAL. Over 72% of Palm Beach County voters in Novem-ber 2010 demanded to include all 38 cities under the oversight of Inspec-tor General. Why are 14 cities and a very small minority still in self-denial of the facts and continue to create any possible contrived obstacle to pre-vent the Inspector General to inves-tigate local government fraud, waste and abuse of power? What are they so afraid of? Those with clean hands have nothing to fear!

CITIES REFUSING TO PAY WATCHDOG BILLS 1. West Palm Beach 2. Boca Raton 3. Palm Beach Gardens 4. DelRay Beach 5. Jupiter 6. Riviera Beach 7. Tequesta

8. Mangonia Park 9. Lake Park 10. Manalapan 11. Palm Beach Shores 12. Highland Beach 13. Ocean Ridge 14. Gulf Stream

August 2 - August 8, 2013 www.gotowncrier.com The Town-Crier The Town-Crier www.gotowncrier.com August 2 - August 8, 2013

CORRUPTION COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERALand the

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Palm Beach County commissioners have cor-rectly rejected the latest settlement offer from 14 cities suing to avoid pay-ing their share to support the Office of Inspector General. Barring some surprising resolution, this case is going to trial.

That will happen be-cause the settlements have been unacceptable. Each one floated essen-tially the same plan: In-stead of making cities share the cost for the inspector general to au-dit and investigate them, have the county impose fees directly on the busi-nesses that cities con-tract with. Cities would help the county collect these fees, but they’d get a cut of the proceeds – and they wouldn’t be held responsible for col-lection errors.

If this sounds like the makings of a raw deal, that’s because it was. The cities’ plan exempt-ed broad categories of city contracts from the proposed 0.25 percent fee, including utility bills, legal contracts, ca-ble TV

contracts, entertainment contracts, medical ser-vice contracts – not to mention any contract worth less than $1,000. And, of course, the fees could be negotiated only into new contracts, so for the first few years this system likely would raise scarcely any mon-ey at all.

But not according to West Palm Beach’s city attorney, who claimed in a letter to county offi-cials that the proposal “is intended to fully fund” the inspector general’s $3 million budget. Real-ly? When we asked West Palm Beach officials how much revenue they thought their brainchild would raise, they had to admit that they hadn’t researched the question. Indeed, there’s no record that city officials did any formal study applying

the proposal to the city’s existing contracts, West Palm Beach spokesman Elliot Cohen told us.

How can the cities say their proposal would not gut the inspector gener-al’s budget if they don’t have even a rough idea of how much money it would raise? The cities have a seemingly facile response: If the money generated is too little, raise the surcharge. That sounds simple, but such a decision would have to be made by coun-ty commissioners, who would find themselves overwhelmed by oppo-sition from businesses. Politically, it would be a non-starter.

County commissioners seem to understand that under the cities’ proposal they would be left hold-ing the bag. This would inevitably undermine the inspector general’s abili-ty to investigate munic-ipal government. This lawsuit has stalled for more than 1 1/2 years. Time to settle it in court.

Andrew Marrafor The Post Editorial Board

West Palm Beach showsthat none hasbeen serious.

Cities’ non-offer offers OUR VIEWS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

REPRINT FROM: Palm Beach Post Editorial: July 29, 2013

In an earlier pub-lished opinion piece, Palm Beach County Mayor Steven Abrams proposes the Office of the Inspector General be put under the Coun-ty Clerk and Comp-troller. He seems pre-occupied with who is

watching the inspector general, rather than ending the lawsuit over how the inspector general’s office is funded.

He cites the “consternation of many” that the inspector general is functional-ly independent, but not truly indepen-dent. Who are the “many?” Are they fellow elected officials and adminis-trators who don’t like the oversight?

Mr. Abrams raises the subject of rogue federal actions in the Internal Revenue Ser-vice and National Security Administration. However, in several national scandals, it was the inspectors general who uncovered and reported the problems, while those overseen prevented timely publication.

The mayor worries about eliminat-ing duplication and states that the clerk “already productively performs” audit-ing and IG functions. A quick compari-son would demonstrate that there is lit-tle overlap and belies the breadth and productivity of the clerk’s IG office.

Sharon Bock, our county clerk, has been politicking for this proposal while being a party to the funding lawsuit and withhold-ing funding for the OIG, thereby directly controlling the OIG’s budget.

The clerk is an elected official. The inspec-tor general is “prohibited from representing a political party or being on any executive committee thereof, seeking public office during his or her term of service and shall not seek public office or employment with any public entity subject to the jurisdic-tion of the inspector general for four years thereafter.”

Who watches the transparent, inde-pendent watchdog? The public, the media and the IG Committee, which has the oversight, hiring, firing and contract-re-newal role. The mayor’s proposal thwarts the independence for which more than 72 percent of the people voted, and does noth-ing to resolve the funding issue which has been the biggest obstacle to oversight.

Iris Scheibl has been involved with the Palm Beach County Ethics Ordinances since 2009 and served on the Ethics Ordinances Implementation Advisory Committee in early 2010.

Scheibi

Mayor off base on inspector generalREPRINT FROM: Sun Sentinel Opinion Section - July 27, 2013 By Iris Scheibi

Post Special Report Inspector General Lawsuit

Watchdog legal fees already top $430,000Records are spotty on costs of lawsuit about the inspector general.

By Joel Engelhardt, Jennifer Sorentrue and Niels Heimeriks Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

WEST PALM BEACH — Attorneys rep-resenting at least a dozen public agencies logged 65 hours at taxpayer’s expense on a single day in May 2012 trying to settle a lawsuit over who pays for the Palm Beach County inspector general.

That six-hour mediation session cost tax-payers more than $11,600. And no settle-ment was reached.

As the dispute lumbers deep into its second year, West Palm Beach has maintained that the legal costs are low because staff attor-neys do most of the work. Still, the public cost of the suit over whether the county can assess cities to pay for the inspector general has reached at least $430,000, a Palm Beach Post analysis of agency billing records shows.

More than a dozen citiesrefuse topayfor InspectorGeneral SherylSteckler’s Office.


Cities renew refusal to pay watchdog bills Towns say state law exempts them from inspector funding.

By Jennifer Sorentrue Palm Beach Post Staff WriterFourteen cities and towns challenging bills they received for Inspector General

Sheryl Steckler’s anti-corruption oversight claim state law exempts them from hav-ing to make the payments, according to a new case filing.

The cities Tuesday amended their 1½-year-old lawsuit against Palm Beach Coun-ty, pointing to a state law they say gives cities and towns sovereign immunity. In the amended suit, the cities argue they have not waived their right to sovereign immu-nity and therefore the county cannot require them to pay for Steckler’s office.

“Without an express waiver, the county cannot charge the cities,” said Jennifer Gardner Ashton, an attorney with Corbett, White and Davis, which represents five of the 14 cities still in the suit.

The cities also have argued that the payments constitute an illegal tax.County Attorney Denise Nieman said she could not comment.“We just received a copy of the amended complaint,” Nieman said. “It is under

review.”The county this month rejected a proposal to settle the dispute. County attorneys

said they planned to ask a judge to set the case for trial.Ashton said the cities’ amendments would not delay the case.Fifteen cities sued the county in 2011, arguing that the required payments were

unconstitutional. Wellington later dropped out of the suit.Without a settlement, many involved in the suit say, the case will likely go on for

years.Both sides agree the case would likely be precedent-setting and could face chal-

lenges from statewide groups such as the Florida League of Cities, which worries that it might allow other counties to pass unfunded mandates to cities and towns.


A recent Palm Beach Post inquiry states that over $430,000 has already been spent in legal fees by lawyers representing the county and the 14 municipalities refusing to pay for the office of Inspector General and this lawsuit could continue for years. The grand jury report in 2010 recommended fund-ing the OIG with a ¼% vendor fee on all government contracts, just as Miami-Dade has done the past 14 years. Why are the County and cities charging the tax payers instead of the vendors to fund the OIG? Is it because the opponents of the OIG are hoping that they will get the support of the taxpay-ers? The best solution is for the 72% of voters who voted for the Inspector General to make note of the current elected officials of the 14 cities who still refuse to pay for the office of Inspector General and “vote them out of office” in their next campaign for reelection, as was done in Wellington, who withdrew their lawsuit immediately following the election of those who supported the Inspector General.

TIME magazine gave Palm Beach County the shameful title “CORRUP-TION COUNTY.” FORBES magazine called the West Palm Beach metro-politan area the “4th MOST MISER-ABLE” area in the country. In 2009 the GRAND JURY assembled by the State Attorney confirmed that Palm Beach County was still “CORRUP-TION COUNTY” and as a result rec-ommended the establishment of the OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL to be the local government WATCH-DOG! The Palm Beach Post, Sun Sen-tinal and Town-Crier newspapers all unanimously support the need for the INSPECTOR GENERAL. Over 72% of Palm Beach County voters in Novem-ber 2010 demanded to include all 38 cities under the oversight of Inspec-tor General. Why are 14 cities and a very small minority still in self-denial of the facts and continue to create any possible contrived obstacle to pre-vent the Inspector General to inves-tigate local government fraud, waste and abuse of power? What are they so afraid of? Those with clean hands have nothing to fear!

CITIES REFUSING TO PAY WATCHDOG BILLS 1. West Palm Beach 2. Boca Raton 3. Palm Beach Gardens 4. DelRay Beach 5. Jupiter 6. Riviera Beach 7. Tequesta

8. Mangonia Park 9. Lake Park 10. Manalapan 11. Palm Beach Shores 12. Highland Beach 13. Ocean Ridge 14. Gulf Stream


NEWS

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce held a farewell party for CEO Jaene Miranda on Friday, July 26 at DiSalvo’sTrattoria. Co-workers and friends gathered to wish Miranda good luck in her new job as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm BeachCounty. In addition to food and drink, attendees shared memories and stories of working with Miranda.


CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTY CHAMBER BIDS FAREWELL TO JAENE MIRANDA

Chamber Vice Chairman of EducationEric Gordon signs the banner for Miranda.

Christina and Frank Gonzalez withDr. Jef frey and Charlene Bishop.

Jaene Miranda with members of the CentralPalm Beach County Chamber staff.

Maggie Rosenberg from SOR Entertainment, Jaene Mirandaand Central PBC Chamber Interim CEO Mary Lou Bedford.

Jaene Miranda with Carol O’Neil (left) and Rachelle Crain (right).Earl Bryant, Kathy Foster, Dr. Maria Vallejo,

Eric Gordon and Silvia Garcia.

Equestrian Trails Elementary School revealed its recently finished landscaping makeover Tuesday, July 30. Seacrest Services donatedits time and all materials, including plants, to beautify the school courtyard and repair the irrigation system.

LANDSCAPING WORK UNVEILED AT EQUESTRIAN TRAILS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Silke, Nathalie and Leah Corredor look at a hangingplanter made from a plastic soda bottle.

Ritchie McIntosh of Seacrest Services, Equestrian TrailsPrincipal Michele Johnson, Director of Landscape StephenTerzo, Vice Principal Sue Millas and Director of Business

Development Paul Licata in the butterfly garden.

PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/ TOWN-CRIER

Joshua Knight tends recently planted coffee plants.


NEWS

Only weeks into its 2013-14 year,the Wellington Rotary Club is al-ready engaged in its first commu-nity service project.

Beverly Perham, executive direc-tor of “Back to Basics,” a charitythat the club has long supported,asked for some hands-on assis-tance. Rotarians normally donate

Wellington Rotary Supports Charity That Supplies School Uniformsmoney to the nonprofit every yearand honors Back to Basics at itsannual holiday luncheon. Thisyear, club members decided todonate their time and help to as-semble and package 8,000 schooluniforms for the Back to Basicsprogram.

Many club members donated

more than 12 hours each at thewarehouse providing Perham withthe needed support to completethe project and ensure the uni-forms were ready for distribution.“Back to Basics” donates these8,000 school uniforms each yearto underprivileged children at-tending South Florida schools.

“Back to Basics” and Perhamhave provided these school uni-forms for the past 29 years. Thegoal, according to the nonprofit’smission statement, is “to raise theself-esteem of children, which di-rectly relates to their learning, byproviding the basic necessities ofuniforms, sneakers, socks andunderwear.”

Originally, Perham did all of thiswork in her own home. In 2010, withthe help of the Wellington RotaryClub, she was able to relocate to awarehouse in Wellington to bet-

ter complete the work.Funding for Back to Basics is

all privately donated and 100 per-cent of the money donated goesto the cost of the school uniformsand the other basic items. Thebudget for the program is between$75,000 and $100,000 annually. Theprogram is funded by many localchurches, businesses, charitableorganizations and some anony-mous donors. Up until this year, alarge donor to the program hasbeen the Andy Roddick Founda-tion. Because of the loss of this

funding, Back to Basics is lookingfor other ways to raise money forits needs.

The program, which began in1984, initially supported only 26school children.

For more information on Backto Basics, or how to get involvedwith future community outreachprojects of the Wellington RotaryClub contact Maggie Zeller [email protected] or (561)715-9262, or Membership ChairJasmine Velez at [email protected].

(Above) Rotarians Maggie Zeller and Larry Kemp with Back to Basics Executive DirectorBeverly Perham (center). (Right) Larry Kemp in the Back to Basics warehouse.


PALMS WEST PEOPLEMarshall Foundation Names RobbynAckner Chair Of River Of Grass Gala

Robbyn Ackner of West PalmBeach has been named chair ofthis year’s River of Grass Gala ben-efiting the Arthur R. MarshallFoundation for the Everglades &Florida Environmental Institute.

John and Nancy Marshall, alongwith Matthew and Thais Piotrows-ki, will serve as honorary chairsfor the upcoming gala to celebratethe 15th anniversary of the Mar-shall Foundation. This year’s galawill be held Saturday, Dec. 14, atthe Colony Hotel Pavilion (155Hammon Ave., Palm Beach).

The members of this year’s Riv-er of Grass Gala planning commit-tee include Amy Bernard, ErikBrown, Veronica Brown, FreddaButowsky, Sally Byrd, Lois Cahill,Jimmy Cates, Yu Ling Cui, NormanGitzen, Jaimie Goodman, AshleyGreenberg, Beate Hambster, KimHanson, Bobbi Horwich, HayleeKaye, Bonnie Lazar, Denise Mari-ani, Nancy Marshall, Barbara Mc-Donald, Thais Piotrowski, MichelePoole, Bernadette Shalhoub, Paul

Suschak, Karen Vaughn, PhyllisVerducci, Kelly Wagner, LindaWartow, Elaine Weber, GiseleWeisman, Jody White and BarbaraWilkinson.

“We are overjoyed that our val-ued friends and supporters havegenerously agreed to play leadingroles in this important annualevent,” Nancy Marshall said. “Weknow that their active involvement— and that of our soon-to-be-an-nounced ambassadors and jewelsof the Everglades — will ensurethat our eighth annual River ofGrass Gala will be bigger and bet-ter than ever.”

The River of Grass Gala funds100 percent of the foundation’sgrassroots environmental projectsthroughout the year, educating thenext generation about the criticalimportance of the Everglades.

Tickets for the River of GrassGala 2013 are $350 per person. Formore information, or to purchasetickets, call (561) 203-9004 or visitwww.artmarshall.org.

County Library HostsSouth Tech Student’sAlcohol-Free Poster

Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityProvost & Chief Academic OfficerDr. Joseph A. Kloba recently an-nounced that Dr. Leslie Turner,professor of accounting, has beenappointed dean of the RinkerSchool of Business.

“Dr. Turner is a man of deep per-sonal faith,” Kloba said. “He hasgarnered the support of his facul-ty and staff colleagues both in theschool and throughout the cam-pus with his humble spirit and clearstyle of communication.”

Turner came to Palm Beach At-lantic in August 2008 and hasserved as interim dean of the Rink-er School of Business since June

Rocky Jimenez will soon see hishandiwork in all 17 branches of thePalm Beach County Library Sys-tem.

Jimenez, a senior at South TechAcademy, designed a poster thathighlights the winners from thethird annual “What Can I Be If I’mAlcohol Free?” poster contest.When asked why he wanted tospend his free time working on thisproject, Jimenez said, “If I can makea difference in someone else’s lifethrough my designs, I’ll take thatopportunity.”

The contest is a collaborativeeffort between the Palm BeachCounty Substance Awareness Co-alition, Adobe, the School Districtof Palm Beach County, the SouthFlorida Fair, the Palm Beach Sher-iff’s Office, the Wellington RotaryClub and Allstate to increase theawareness among the community

Shuo Chen of Wellington wasnamed to the Dean’s List at Virgin-ia Tech for the spring 2013 semes-ter. To qualify for the Dean’s List,students must attempt at least 12credit hours and earn a 3.4 gradepoint average on a 4.0 scale dur-ing the semester.

Founded in 1872, Virginia Techattracts students from all 50 states

Dr. Leslie Turner Appointed Rinker Biz School Dean2010. Prior to coming to the uni-versity, Turner was professor andchair of the Department of Ac-countancy at Northern KentuckyUniversity for four years, wherehe taught for 16 years prior to hisappointment as chair. He alsotaught at the University of NorthCarolina at Greensboro.

Turner has published 18 peer-reviewed articles in accountingjournals such as Accounting Ho-rizons , Journal of AccountingCase Studies, Journal of Account-ing and Public Policy and Jour-nal of Management AccountingResearch and Strategic Finance.Two of his articles were awarded a

certificate of merit by the Instituteof Management Accountants. Hehas made several presentations atnational and state accounting con-ferences. Turner is the co-authorof an accounting information sys-tems textbook published by JohnWiley & Sons. He is a certifiedmanagement accountant and a cer-tified financial manager, and is amember of the American Account-ing Association, the Institute ofManagement Accountants, andthe Information Systems Auditand Control Association.

He and his wife, Theresa, areactive members of West Pines Bap-tist Church in Greenacres.

Shuo Chen Named ToVirginia Tech Dean's List

about the dangers of underagedrinking, while promoting the lit-tle-known fact that most teens arealcohol free.

“According to the 2012 FloridaYouth Substance Abuse Survey,seven out of 10 students are alco-hol free,” said Jeff Kadel, execu-tive director of the Palm BeachCounty Substance AwarenessCoalition. “There is a strong cor-relation between more free timeand risk-taking behaviors. Theproject is timely because summeris one of the most popular timesof year that young people will ex-periment with alcohol and otherdrugs.”

The poster is part of a contin-ued effort to increase the numberof drug-free youth in Palm BeachCounty. It will be featured in thelibraries for the duration of sum-mer.

and more than 100 countries. Theuniversity’s eight colleges achievequality, innovation and resultsthrough teaching, research andoutreach in Blacksburg and at oth-er campus centers in northern Vir-ginia, southwest Virginia, Rich-mond, southern Virginia, HamptonRoads and Roanoke. For more in-formation, visit www.vt.edu.

Gala honorary chairs Nancy Marshall andThais Piotrowski with chair Robbyn Ackner.

Library Poster Contest — (Front row) Alexa Lee, elementary win-ner Abigail Edwards, poster artist Rocky Jimenez and LavidahJohnson; (back row) West Boynton Library Branch Manager AdamS. Davis, Tom Carreras of the Wellington Rotary; Palm Beach CountySheriff’s Office Cpl. Matthew Ott and and Micah Robbins.

The 2013 River of Grass Gala Committee.

Previous gala chairs and honorary chairs: (front row) Roberta Drey,Joyce McClendon, Sydelle Meyer, Bobbi and Harry Horwich; (backrow) Bob and Michelle Dif fenderfer, Thais Piotrowski, Nancy andJohn Marshall and Bernadette and Bob Shalhoub.

Dr. Leslie Turner


NEWS BRIEFSMitzvah ProgramSeeks Volunteers

Now in its 16th year, the Mor-seLife Homebound Mitzvah Pro-gram and its volunteers will makea difference Tuesday, Sept. 3 toJewish, frail, homebound seniorsover the High Holidays who oth-erwise would not be able to expe-rience the joys and traditions ofthe season.

According to Linda Sevich,MorseLife director of community-based services, more than 400 vol-unteers of all ages and from allwalks of life will have preparedHomebound Mitzvah programpackages and deliver them onSept. 3 to seniors throughout PalmBeach County and vicinity.

“For some people, particularlyseniors with family members whohave passed on or live a distancefrom them, the holidays can be theloneliest time of the year,” Sevichsaid. “It has been such an honorfor us to be able to bring the joysand traditions of the High Holi-days to them. It is truly a beautifulmitzvah.”

The High Holidays, the mostimportant period of prayer, reflec-tion and celebration of the NewYear for Jewish people, begin with

Rosh Hashanah on the eveningof Wednesday, Sept. 4 and con-tinue with Yom Kippur, which be-gins on the evening of Friday, Sept.13.

Homebound Mitzvah programvolunteers will gather for their de-liveries on the MorseLife campusat 4847 Fred Gladstone Drive (offHaverhill Road) in West PalmBeach, and on the Jewish Com-munity Center campus in Boyn-ton Beach at 8500 Jog Road from8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Volunteers deliver packages tothe homes of area Jewish seniorsthat include kosher meals preparedby Morse’s Culinary and Nutri-tional Services Department, prayerbooks, a DVD of Rosh Hashanahand Yom Kippur services and oth-er tradition items. Just as impor-tant, volunteers provide “qualitytime” to Homebound Mitzvah pro-gram recipients, sitting and talk-ing with them for a while to bringadditional warmth to the delivery.

Since 1997, the program hasreached out to the area’s home-bound elders in hopes of dimin-ishing the loneliness and isolationfrequently felt over Jewish holi-days. It was founded by Marilynand Stanley M. Katz, who hadnurtured a similar program, called

Dorot in New York, to help isolat-ed seniors.

To volunteer for the program,or to order High-Holiday packag-es, call (561) 282-5388.

Lutheran ChurchSchool-SupplyDrive Aug. 4-11The outreach ministry of St.

Michael Lutheran Church in Well-ington will collect school suppliesand school uniforms for twoschools: Belle Glade Excel CharterSchool, a new school supportedby Lutheran Services Florida, andGreenacres Elementary School,where 96 percent of the studentsare on the free-lunch program. Inaddition, the church is collectinggently used uniforms for the chil-dren at Greenacres. The public isinvited to participate in this col-lection.

Collection runs through Aug. 11and will be accepted at St. Micha-el Fellowship Hall at 1925 BirkdaleDrive, Wellington, Mondaythrough Thursday from 11 a.m. to3 p.m. For info., call the office at(561) 793-4999, Karen at (561) 333-5947 or Carol at (954) 579-8830, orvisit www.stmichaelelc.com.

Clerk’s RPBExpansion Set

For Aug. 5The Palm Beach County Clerk

& Comptroller’s office operationsare changing Monday, Aug. 5.Beginning Aug. 5, all clerk’s officecourthouse locations will be opento the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,while the office in Royal PalmBeach is expanding its service tofive days a week.

The new hours will give em-ployees more time to process elec-tronically filed court documentsnow coming to the clerk’s office24 hours a day, while the expand-ed service in Royal Palm Beach willallow the office to better servePalm Beach County’s growingwestern communities.

Clerk’s office employees willcontinue to work from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. The hour in the afternoonwhere employees are not availableto the public will allow them timeto process documents, updatecourt files and complete otherwork. This will save on overtimecosts, because that work was pre-viously done before and after nor-mal operating hours.

A list of frequently asked ques-

tions about the new hours is avail-able online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.

CAFCI PresentsAnnual Talent

Show On Aug. 17Caribbean-Americans for Com-

munity Involvement (CAFCI) willpresents its annual talent show onSaturday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. at theRoyal Palm Beach Cultural Center,located at 151 Civic Center Way.

Auditions will be held Friday,Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cul-tural Center.

The show will feature youthstars of tomorrow. A donation of$10 for adults and $3 for childrenunder 12 is requested to attend theshow. Refreshments will be onsale. Proceeds will benefit theCAFCI Student Assistance Schol-arship Fund.

The event is co-sponsored bythe Palm Beach County CulturalCouncil.

Save the date, bring the entirefamily and come out and encour-age future leaders and stars.

For more information, call Shirl-ey at (561) 719-6508, Nadine at(561) 351-6895, Marsha at (561)

386-3146 or send an e-mail [email protected].

Temple To HoldOpen House At

GymnasticsStudio

The members of CongregationL’Dor Va-Dor are hosting a freeopen house at Genie’s Gymnas-tics (6752 Lantana Road, LakeWorth) on Sunday, Aug. 11 be-tween 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor in-vites all families with their kids,including current students andfamilies, to join this fun openhouse. Rabbi Barry Silver is excel-lent at the trampoline. He will dem-onstrate his skills, showing howto do some impressive moves.

All attendees will have the op-portunity to discuss the possibil-ity of becoming congregationmembers and having their childrenregister for religious school. Reli-gious school begins on Sunday,Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m.

Genie’s Gym is located nearCube Smart Storage, just west ofJog Road. Call (561) 968-0688 nolater than Friday, Aug. 9 to RSVP.


NEWS

A summer indoor flea market was held on Friday, July 26 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. Shoppers were treated to music andfree cake and coffee as they shopped for bargains and treasures from various venders. PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

ROYAL PALM HOSTS SUMMER INDOOR FLEA MARKET AT THE CULTURAL CENTER

Iris Levin, Rosemarie Hosford andMarilyn Hill enjoy a day of shopping.

Dr. Matt McNabb gives information to Barbara Wilson.Attis Solomon, Dolly Hughes, Vinette Tracy andLorna Pearson show off their handmade items.

Andrea Crowley selects a skirt, whileDora Maniscalco and Mae Gold look on.

Marge Rosenfeld chooses a new purse. Helen Regan buys a hat from Dick Carmine.

Back-To-School Tips From Huntington Learning Center Of WellingtonIt is back-to-school time, and

if summer has been filled withtrips to the pool, hanging outwith friends, television, videogames and other leisurely activ-ities, now is the time to transi-tion from summer to schoolmode.

“We always encourage familiesto relax and enjoy the less-struc-tured pace of summertime,” saidMary Fisher of the WellingtonHuntington Learning Center.“However, there are several thingsyou can do toward the end of sum-mer break that are immensely help-

ful in getting students ready toreturn to the classroom.”

Fisher offers these six back-to-school tips:

1. Set goals. Goal-setting is agreat way to help kids reflect onlast school year and think aheadabout what they want to accom-plish and avoid this year. Talkabout the things children are ex-cited and anxious about, and havethem set several goals and mea-surable milestones. Do this justbefore classes start or during thefirst week of school.

2. Organize the desk and home.

Get the house back into “schoolshape” by designating spots forimportant school papers thatcome home, a family calendar, back-packs, shoes, jackets and a home-work station. Homework stationscould be a desk in a bedroom orother room. Make sure the spaceis stocked with the supplies stu-dents will need for the school year,and have kids help get the spaceready.

3. Reestablish a schedule. Talkabout the school-day routine, in-cluding wake-up time, schoolhours, homework time, dinner time

and any extracurricular activitiesin which the children will partici-pate in during the week. In the weekor two before school, try to havethem go to bed and wake up atapproximately the same times asduring the school year.

4. Review school work and in-formation. Being prepared will helpease into the first weeks of school.Review assignments, spellingwords and other work from theprevious school year. Amp upreading in these final few weeks ofsummer. And find out as much aspossible about what is to come:

teacher, class schedule, classroomlocations and more.

5. Set a positive tone. Childrenwho struggled last year mightdread going back to school, so itis important to help them get intothe right mindset for school suc-cess. Let students know that youare there to support them no mat-ter what. Talk about things theyare looking forward to this year,and offer ideas if they need someencouragement and point outsome of the good parts of last year.Be optimistic and encourage themto embrace the same outlook.

6. Arrange for tutoring help ifneeded. If last year was difficult,don’t wait to reach out for helpthis year. Help build students’skills, preparedness and confi-dence with a customized, one-to-one tutoring program. Call Hun-tington Learning Center of Well-ington to discuss needs andschedule a diagnostic evaluationbefore the new school year begins.

For more information about one-on-one tutoring programs, contactFisher at (561) 594-1900 [email protected] or visitwww.huntingtonhelps.com.

SCHOOL NEWS


NEWS

Blottercontinued from page 6

or witnesses at the time of the re-port.

JULY 29 — A deputy from thePBSO’s Acreage/Loxahatcheesubstation was dispatched Mon-day to Palms West Hospital re-garding a theft. According to aPBSO report, the victim, a hospitalpatient, said that sometime be-tween 5 p.m. last Sunday and 1 a.m.the following morning, someonestole her Steve Madden walletcontaining her bankcard. Accord-ing to the report, the victim wentto visit her mother in the intensivecare unit last Sunday evening andplaced her wallet on her bed be-neath a blanket. When she re-turned to her room, she was givenpain medication and went to sleep.According to the report, when thevictim awoke, she could not findher wallet. The victim asked hernurses, who said they had notseen the wallet. There were nosuspects or witnesses at the timeof the report.

HornsteinResolveBorn OfTragedy

continued from page 3humble and grateful that this gotdone. If it saves one kid’s life, I’vedone my job.”

Hornstein said a common reac-tion by lawmakers and other offi-cials is that they could not believean equestrian child helmet law hadnot been enacted already. “It’scommon sense, especially with allthe helmet awareness that’s outthere,” he said.

Hornstein also called atten-tion to new designs in helmetsthat sense when a person is fall-ing and will automatically fill anairbag.

“The technology that’s outthere these days is amazing, forprotective gear on your head, forvests that actually fill up with CO

2,”

he said. It’s very important. Thebrain is nothing to mess with. I’velearned that and I see it, and I’mgrateful that kids are putting themon.”

GradesMany State

Changescontinued from page 3

in the way schools are assessedis one reason many schools sawchanges in their grades this year,said Frank Rodriguez, the schooldistrict’s assistant superintendentfor quality assurance.

“There were 18 rules changeslast year and 13 or 14 this year,”added Mark Howard, district di-rector of research, evaluation andassessment.

For example, last year studentshad to show a proficiency of 3.0 inthe writing portion of the FloridaComprehensive Assessment Test(FCAT). This year, that benchmarkwas upped to 3.5, Rodriguez said.Science achievement levels werealso raised.

A new reading threshold wasestablished this year as well, Rod-riguez said. If 25 percent of stu-dents were shown not reading atgrade level, that would cause aschool to drop one letter grade.

Meanwhile, the state is in themiddle of changing how it assess-es school performance. It’s cur-rently switching from using theNext Generation Sunshine StateStandards to the Common CoreStandards. That change won’t befully implemented until 2014-15,Rodriguez said.

In 2012, the state was granted awaiver to the Elementary SchoolEducation Act so it could changeaccountability systems, Howardexplained.

Drops in letter grades couldhave been worse for some schools.On July 16, the Florida Board ofEducation voted 4-3 to support anemergency rule, suggested byEducation Commissioner TonyBennett, that schools would notdrop more than one letter grade in2013 and through the state’s tran-sition to the Common Core Stan-dards. District documents showthat Crestwood Middle Schoolwas helped by this measure andcould have had a grade lower thana B.

The letter grades are importantbecause they are supposed to bereflective of a school’s perfor-mance, Howard said.

“It’s misleading to the public,”he said about this year’s lettergrades.

The action taken by the stateboard was intended to mitigateany confusion.

Overall, the school district lostits coveted A rating, dropping to aB. After no F-rated schools lastyear, there were two elementaryschools, two charter schools andone alternative school receiving Fratings this year. And the numberof A-rated schools dropped by 30percent this year, from 87 last yearto 61 this year.

Task ForceKeepingFocus OnDrainagecontinued from page 1

chance, it’s 5 percent too much,”Santamaria said. “I’m not going totake any chances.”

Santamaria said he is trying tounite the community on a commongoal, starting with a task force ofresidents.

He said the idea grew out ofmeetings he had after Isaac. Thatis when he began meeting withAcreage residents, including Pa-tricia Curry, Anne Kuhl and AlanBallweg, to monitor agencies suchas the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers and the South Florida Wa-ter Management District.

One immediate goal is to speedup the process of turning MeccaFarms into needed water storage.The county recently agreed to sellMecca Farms to the SFWMD.Santamaria wants to get them toclose on the property and beginworking on water storage there forpeople in The Acreage.

“They need more outflow,” San-tamaria said. “We will be monitor-ing different agencies, such as theArmy Corps, the South FloridaWater Management District andthe Lake Worth Drainage District.”

So far, about eight people havesigned up to take part in the taskforce on flood prevention, but heexpects about 12 people as a start-ing group to be the nucleus.

“We’ve got to get serious aboutthis, and we’ve got to follow upon the different agencies that areworking on it, and give them a bitof a nudge here and there to makesure they are giving every effort,”Santamaria said. “I don’t want towait for another flood before act-ing.”

Santamaria said he was able toconvince other commissionerstwo weeks ago to draft a resolu-tion in support of a flood preven-tion program. A draft was complet-ed by County Administrator BobWeisman last week.

“I am tweaking it a little bit, andI will submit if for a final vote by allof the commissioners to supportflood-prevention methods and asystem of monitoring the differentagencies, so that each one doeswhat they’re supposed to do,” hesaid.

Santamaria expects the resolu-tion to be on the commission’sagenda Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Once created, he plans to recruitprofessionals, including new In-dian Trail Improvement District En-gineer Jay Foy, a stormwater spe-cialist, and Palm Beach CountyWater Resources Manager KenTodd, to help out.

“We have to start worryingabout this flooding issue,” San-tamaria said. “It seems to be be-coming more rampant and morefrequent.”

Although few homes were ac-tually flooded during Isaac, San-tamaria said people should not bestuck in their homes for a week dueto impassible roads.

“Right now it’s an inconve-nience, but it can be a catastro-phe,” he said. “I don’t want to waitfor a disaster. I want to do some-thing now.”

ITIDMore MoneyFor Drainage

Projectscontinued from page 1

have road cave-ins and a wholebunch of problems.”

Jacobs agreed there are manyculverts that need to be replaced.

Dunkley suggested that ITIDimplement a five-year plan and al-lot a certain amount of moneyeach year for culverts, after identi-fying exactly which culverts needreplacement based on their condi-tion.

“I’m glad that the board is final-ly coming with a direction,” Dunk-ley said. “Being a business per-son, you can’t really move to adirection until you have identifiedit. We have finally identified thatwe are a water district and our pri-mary goal is water management.”

Dunkley pointed out that thedistrict’s $10 million budget is nota lot of money for what they needto do, and that drainage is morecrucial for residents than parks.

“People are going to be pissedoff with me, [but] I don’t live in apark,” Dunkley said. “My home isimportant, and it’s the most impor-tant thing. It’s what most peoplemoved here for — our homes.”

Foy said that in order to proper-ly address culvert replacementcosts, ITID would have to take aninventory of everything it has,assign a life to each thing and de-velop an annual budget of whenthings need to be replaced.

“I’m not aware of that beingdone, but you have to have a fullinventory,” he said. “It’s like thecanals. You can see if they are orare not maintained. The culvertsyou can’t see, typically.”

A galvanized steel culvert, Foysaid, will typically last 10 to 25years, while reinforced concretewill last 50 years or more.

Resident Jean Edwards had sent

an e-mail that she asked to be readinto the record. Among her ques-tions was that there had been atleast $3.9 million in reserves forpark expansion and the communi-ty center. She had heard that theaccount now has $3.2 million. Shewanted to know where the$700,000 went.

Shallman explained that thefund started out as $4 million in2011, and that in the 2011-12 bud-get year, almost $230,000 wasspent on initial engineering con-tractual services, including sur-veying fees and park improve-ments.

“It was $3.7 roughly at the endof 2012,” Shallman said, addingthat very little has been spentsince then. “We started this yearat $3.76 million, and the rest of whatshe is talking about is $347,000 inencumbrances. We haven’t spentthe money. It’s purchase ordersthat have been done for the con-struction company, engineers, ar-chitects, but those can be liqui-dated.”

Edwards also asked whether anassessment has been done of theexisting drainage infrastructure.Acting Director of Maintenance &Operations Henry Shaw said thesystem as it is now is operable,but it would take more time to getthe exact information on what isneeded and what the costs are torepair and maintain the system.

“Hopefully this is where Mr. Foywill come into play, come out toevery one of our stations and con-trol structures, and help me do acomplete evaluation of each andevery engine, each and everypump, control structure and soon,” Shaw said. “I welcome that.”

Shaw said one of the most im-portant improvements needed isreliable telemetry. “The more weautomate our gates, the less time aperson has to go out and assurethat it’s open,” he said. “We’vehad quite a few issues where wecannot rely on what we’re lookingat on screen.”

Former Supervisor Mike Erick-son stressed that infrastructureimprovements can be made nowwith money from reserves, whichcould be replenished later.

Resident Alan Ballweg said thecommunity center stands to be atremendous expense that the dis-trict cannot afford now, pointingout that it is not just the cost ofconstruction, but also an estimat-ed $500,000 for annual mainte-nance.

Resident Patricia Curry said shethought the $3.4 million remainingin the park expansion budgetshould be allocated to drainageimprovements. “We cannot afforda community center,” Curry said.“I would spend zero dollars onAcreage Community Park.”

Jacobs recommended puttingthe question on the next regularmeeting’s agenda.

Dunkley said drainage has alsobecome more pertinent with therecent release of Federal Emergen-cy Management Agency mapsthat may require residents to pur-chase flood insurance.

Resident Sandra Love-Semandesaid there were several factors inplay during the Tropical StormIsaac flooding last year.

“It was not that our systemfailed,” Semande said. “It was thatwe did not have the proper staffon duty prior, during and after.That is my opinion… Also, we didnot have the proper working rela-tionship with the South FloridaWater Management District to al-low us to get that outfall when weneeded it, and we did not have anengineering relationship with theproper people to continue the ap-plication to get additional outfall.”

Semande said that she does notbelieve the drainage system itselffailed.

“I believe that our systemworks. Yes, it needs improve-ments,” she said. “I am very con-fident in the staff that we have,and I’m super-confident in ourfuture engineer.”

Vet ClinicsRule ChangeMeets WithOpposition

continued from page 1ation zoning, but he noted therewas abundance of that in the area.

“We didn’t feel [the WellingtonVillage Council] would be comfort-able taking an additional 30 acresand converting it to commercialrecreation,” he said. “The next bestthing was a zoning text amend-ment.”

Committee Chair Cynthia Gard-ner asked whether the changewould allow for a veterinarian’sclinic in barns in communities suchas Mallet Hill.

Growth Management DirectorBob Basehart said that was un-likely.

“It would have to go throughthe same approvals as a condition-al use,” he said. “It would have togo through Wellington staff, thenthis board, to PZAB and ultimate-ly to the council for final approv-al.”

Swerdlin also said the commu-nities have homeowners’ associa-tions that do not allow for newcommercial development.

“Could they set up a vet clinicin the stable?” Gardner asked.

Swerdlin said some practices,such as having liquid bags hang-ing in stalls for medications, were

common, but that it was unlikelysomeone could run a clinic out ofa residential barn. “Are they go-ing to do surgery in the garage?No,” he said.

Attorney Janna Lhota, repre-senting resident Victoria Mc-Cullough, said the process couldbe achieved with a conditional-use permit rather than a master planamendment.

“We have no issue with the ex-isting equine clinic or its plans forexpansion,” Lhota said. “Howev-er, we do have a problem with whya zoning text amendment is beingproposed to allow veterinary clin-ics as a permitted use… within aresidential pod, rather than ad-dress the specific issue with thisproperty.”

Lhota said the changes wouldaffect only Palm Beach EquineClinic, making it a site-specific is-sue that would be addressed witha legislative action.

She was also concerned aboutpast incidents when master planamendments were approved by theDevelopment Review Committeewithout going before any otherboards or the council.

“This property is one of them,”Lhota said. “I would recommendthat this specifically require reviewby this board as well as PZAB andthe council.”

Lhota added that there neededto be more guidelines for clinics,because the only requirements inWellington’s code for veterinary

clinics now require 5 acres of landand buffers.

“Other than that, there’s noth-ing else,” she said. “We would rec-ommend that there would be spe-cific standards enumerated for[new] clinics in sub-area D.”

Ultimately, Lhota said Welling-ton would have more control ofthese issues with a conditional-usepermit.

But Basehart said a zoning textamendment would give councilmembers more control over the is-sue for future vet clinics, shouldsomeone want to open a new fa-cility in the area.

“You’re safer with the masterplan amendment,” he said. “Un-less you can make specific find-ings that approval [of a clinic]would have detrimental effects,you would not have the ability tonot approve a conditional use.”

Village Attorney Laurie Cohenagreed.

“If [the applicant] meets theconditions for a conditional-usepermit, you have to approve it,”she said. “With the master plan,you have to factor in otherthings.”

Gardner asked whether Welling-ton could require both the masterplan amendment and the condi-tional-use permit, but Basehartsaid that would be a duplication.

“You would go through the sameprocess and before the sameboards,” he said. “There is no rea-son to require a master plan

amendment and a conditionaluse.”

Gardner asked whether clinicscould be limited to equine only,and Basehart said it could be in-cluded in the recommendation.Gardner then asked whether thecommittee could add other guide-lines and review them before theitem went to the Planning, Zoning& Adjustment Board.

Cohen said that they wouldhave to be discussed in public.

“For you to individually com-ment on something you would berequired to vote on, you have todo it in the sunshine,” she said.

Committee Member Linda Elisuggested bringing the issue back

at the board’s next meeting in twoweeks.

“Is there any reason we can’tpush this decision to the next meet-ing and have staff come back withnew language and to answer ourquestions?” she asked.

Committee Member MichaelWhitlow said he didn’t want topush back Swerdlin’s approval toconflict with the equestrian sea-son.

“I don’t want to do anything tohandicap them from doing what Ithink is a good thing,” he said. “Idon’t think anyone here has prob-lems with what they’re trying todo with their clinic.”

But, he noted that the Planning,

Zoning & Adjustment Board meet-ing in August is canceled, mean-ing that board would not be ableto hear the issue before Septem-ber.

Swerdlin said he was not op-posed to postponing the issuebut was concerned that his clin-ic might not meet whateverguidelines the committee want-ed to add.

Eli made a motion for staff towork with both Swerdlin and Lho-ta to address some of the concernsand bring back new guidelines forclinics at the next meeting. Themotion passed 5-0 with committeemembers Linda Smith Faver andCarlos Arellano absent.

Join in a day of shopping, shar-ing and supporting the EducationFoundation of Palm Beach Coun-ty on Saturday, Aug. 3.

That is the day the Gardens Mallwill donate 5 percent of the day’slogged sales to the foundation tosupport K-12 public education inPalm Beach County. In order for adonation to be credited to the foun-dation, shoppers must validatetheir receipts at the informationdesk on the lower level grand courtof the mall (across from Macy’s).

“Partnering with the GardensMall, over the sales tax holidayweekend, is an exciting opportu-nity for the foundation. Parents,students and teachers will be ableto do their back-to-school shop-ping, save on sales tax and sup-port the Education Foundation. It’sa win-win,” said Mary Kay Mur-ray, executive director of the Edu-cation Foundation of Palm BeachCounty.

Legislation was passed to cre-ate a three-day sales tax holidaythat begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday,Aug. 2 and ends at midnight Sun-day, Aug. 4.

During this period, no Floridasales tax or local option tax will becollected on sales of clothing, foot-

wear and certain accessories sell-ing for $75 or less per item, on cer-tain school supplies selling for $15or less per item, and on computersand certain related accessoriesselling for $750 or less per itemwhen purchased for noncommer-cial home or personal use.

Founded in 1984, the EducationFoundation of Palm Beach Coun-ty is a nonprofit organization ded-icated to advancing excellence inPalm Beach County’s publicschools by increasing publicawareness and inspiring commu-nity and business support for pro-grams focused on learning, litera-cy and leadership.

With the support it receivesfrom contributions and grants, theeducation foundation providesresources for innovative programsto improve academic achievement.For more information, call (561)434-8428 or visit www.educationfoundationpbc.org.

For more information about theAug. 3 event, call Tracy Rudnickat (561) 434-8428.

The Gardens Mall is located 1mile east of I-95 on PGA Blvd. inPalm Beach Gardens. For more in-formation, visit www.thegardensmall.com.

If the lifeguards order you outof the water along South Floridabeaches during Shark Week, headstraight to the South Florida Sci-ence Center & Aquarium, former-ly the South Florida Science Mu-seum, for a series of Shark Weekinspired activities planned forAug. 5-9.

The fin-tastic fun starts Mon-day, Aug. 5 and runs through Fri-day, Aug 9, with special shark-themed crafts, activities and pre-sentations. Science Center visi-tors will be able to create a sharktooth necklace, watch live sharkand stingray feedings, learn fas-cinating facts about sharks andmuch more.

On Thursday, Aug. 8, visitorswill have an opportunity to speakwith special guest Hannah Medd,a local marine biologist working toapply scientific research to theshark conservation message. Tolearn more about why sharks areso vital to the marine ecosystem,be sure to stop in and visit her at“Professor Clark the ScienceShark’s” booth throughout theday. Additional opportunities forstructured labs and facts will oc-cur daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We love the Discovery Chan-nel’s Shark Week,” Science Cen-ter CEO Lew Crampton said. “It’sanother opportunity for us to bethe community resource for con-tinued hands-on, minds-on infor-mal science education. Our guests

and out-of-town visitors can comein to learn more about what theysaw on TV, right here in our back-yard, which allows us to furtherour new mission of ‘opening ev-ery mind to science.’”

With the new addition of a 3,000-square-foot aquarium, the largestfresh and saltwater aquarium be-tween Miami and Orlando, the Sci-ence Center is perfectly positionedfor under-the-sea education. Theaquarium features more than 90different varieties of fish, includ-ing sharks.

Currently home to a nurseshark and a baby marbleheadshark, the Science Center hasplans to add two more shark spe-cies in the very near future. Stin-grays, close cousins of thesharks, also have a home at thenewly expanded Science Center,and will be on display in the everpopular touch tank.

And if modern day sharks aren’tenough to thrill guests, the Sci-ence Center is currently hosting“Savage Ancient Seas: Dinosaursof the Deep” in the newly expand-ed exhibit hall.

The traveling exhibit takes visi-tors on a tour of the late Creta-ceous period, over 70 million yearsago. The exhibit is filled with hugecarnivorous marine reptiles, withdouble-hinged jaws and teeth, gi-gantic flesh-eating fish big enoughto swallow an adult human whole,flying reptiles with three-foot

skulls and the biggest sea turtlesto have ever lived. Also includedin the display is Megalodon, anextinct species of shark, alsoknown as “big tooth.” The watersof the earth during that time wereteeming with beasts just as fero-cious as their better known coun-terparts on land.

The South Florida Science Cen-ter & Aquarium features more than50 hands-on educational exhibits,an 8,000-gallon fresh and saltwa-ter aquarium featuring both localand exotic marine life, a digital plan-etarium, Conservation ResearchStation, Florida Exhibit Hall and aninteractive Everglades exhibit

showcasing that richly diverse ec-osystem.

The facility is located at 4801Dreher Trail North, West PalmBeach and is open Mondaythrough Friday from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., and on Saturday and Sun-day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Generaladmission is $13.50 for adults, $10for children three and up and $12for seniors. Members and childrenunder three are free. Planetariumshows and miniature golf are notincluded in general admission.

For more information about theSouth Florida Science Center &Aquarium, call (561) 832-1988 orvisit www.sfsciencecenter.org.

Shark Week At South Florida Science Center Shop And Share ToSupport EducationFoundation Aug. 3

There’s plenty to do at the South Florida ScienceCenter & Aquarium during Shark Week.

‘We have finally identified that we are a water district and our primarygoal is water management,’ Supervisor Gary Dunkley said.


NEWS

The Third Row Center Singers presented “A Royal Songfest” on Sunday, July 28 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center as part of RoyalPalm Beach’s summer 2013 concert series. Approximately 200 people came to watch as the Third Row Center singers performed awide variety of music. Members of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches performed solos, while the Women of Note Octet providedvibrant barbershop harmonies.

THIRD ROW CENTER SINGERS PRESENT ‘ROYAL SONGFEST’ AT CULTURAL CENTER

Michelle and Gianna DeSanti enjoy the music.

Donielle Jones and Royal Palm Beach Councilman Fred Pinto.Third Row Center singers gather around

Dolly Hughes (center) with a thank-you gift.Young Singers of the Palm Beaches

member Cara Young sings “Girl in 14G.”

The Women of Note Octet performs “Cabaret.” Claire Freed and Hank Morris.

Newly Formed Mental Health Group Serves Palm Beach County


A new initiative in Palm BeachCounty aims to increase under-standing of mental health issuesand raise awareness of resourcesavailable for those in need.

The Palm Beach County ActionAlliance for Mental Health(AAMH) includes mental healthservice providers, school officials,advocates and other stakeholdersworking together to promote andsupport education, early identifi-cation and awareness of availableservices throughout the county.

New donations totaling$150,000 will support the AAMHmission to “break the silence” andend the stigma around mental ill-ness that discourages many peo-ple from seeking help.

The Palm Beach CountyAAMH was founded through theefforts of a local nonprofit organi-zation, Boca Raton’s Promise,which received a donation of$100,000 from the Jacobs Charita-ble Trust and a private donationof $50,000.

The new funding will be usedto enhance AAMH efforts coun-tywide, with stakeholders workingtogether to support initiatives andprograms that lead to early identi-fication of mental health issuesand foster an atmosphere in whichadults, children, parents andgrandparents feel comfortableseeking help for themselves ortheir loved ones.

A workshop event in Boynton

Beach on Sept. 21, “Breaking theSilence in Boynton Beach and LakeWorth,” is supported by the groupand aims at assisting people inboth communities. Boynton BeachMayor Jerry Taylor will be amongthose in attendance.

“We realize the challenges oftoday’s world and the opportuni-ties to shape tomorrow’s world. Weseek to find and assist such op-portunities. We are pleased to con-tribute to the combined communi-ty energies of the AAMH current-ly underway in Palm Beach Coun-ty,” said Lord Anthony Jacobs ofthe Jacobs Charitable Trust.

The AAMH will coordinate ef-forts among invested agencies,organizations and individuals to

ultimately create an appropriatelevel of respect for mental healthissues among all community mem-bers and public officials.

Organizations committed toAAMH include the School Dis-trict of Palm Beach County, thePalm Beach County Health Depart-ment’s Community and SchoolDivision, the Alpert Jewish Fami-ly and Children’s Service, the Amer-ican Association of CaregivingYouth, the Health Care District ofPalm Beach County, the NationalAlliance on Mental Illness in PalmBeach County, the Mental HealthAssociation of Palm Beach Coun-ty, the Faulk Center for Counsel-ing and others.

“Far too many individuals and

families struggle with mentalhealth issues in silence and fear,”said Rita Thrasher, Palm BeachCounty AAMH founder and pres-ident/CEO of Boca Raton’s Prom-ise. “It is especially heartbreakingfor parents of struggling childrenwho feel helpless, fear discrimina-tion and don’t know where to turnfor help.”

Thrasher stressed that thegroup will be active countywide.

“Working together, AAMHmembers will be active in all com-munities raising awareness so thatmental health and its impact re-ceives the respect it deserves,” shesaid. “This generous infusion offinancial support will benefit allAAMH members and community

stakeholders, and hopefully resultin people of all ages having a great-er awareness of existing resourc-es to improve their quality of life.”

Boca Raton’s Promise is cele-brating its 15th year of working to“break the silence” by encourag-ing the community and schools torecognize that keeping silent is aproblem that impedes progress,especially for youth. The organi-zation’s founder, Dr. Merrilee Mid-dleton, was honored at a recentanniversary event where she ex-pressed gratitude for the longtimesupport of entities such as BocaRaton Regional Hospital, theSchmidt Family Foundation, PalmBeach State College and the Ja-cobs Charitable Trust.

PALM BEACH HORSE PARKLATEST NEWS

We welcome your input and ideas – this is YOUR community. Please contact us at:561-333-3100 or Email: [email protected]

www.PalmBeachHorsePark.com

WILL THE PALM BEACH HORSE PARK HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VISITORS?Yes. Th e Southeast corner of the Palm Beach Horse Park property, fronting SR7/US441, will be the primary commercial area--Th e Promenade. It will include a major fl agship hotel and an assortment of approximately 30

carefully selected, upscale shops, restaurants and services from various parts of the United States that refl ect the Western infl uences of the Horse Park.

As the anchor of this commercial complex, the 130 suite, major fl agship hotel will accommodate up to 300 out-of-town guests per night. Th e conference rooms, ballrooms and catering facilities, adjacent to the hotel, will enable the Horse Park to host an array of National conferences, trade shows, concerts, etc.

Visitors and local residents, alike, will enjoy the Western amenities of Th e Promenade.

You Deserve Quality CARE

SPECIALIZING IN:

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SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

FOR OVER 20 YEARS

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The Town-Crier www.gotowncrier.com August 2 - August 8, 2013

THis WeeK’s indexCOLUMNS & FEATURES ........................21-22BUSINESS NEWS .................................. 23-25DINING & ENTERTAINMENT ....................... 26COMMUNITY CALENDAR .......................30-31SPORTS & RECREATION ....................... 33-35CLASSIFIEDS .........................................32-37

BusinessFoster’s Grille in RPB Re-LaunchesUnder new Ownership, ManagementGood vibes abound at the recently renovated Foster’s Grille in Royal Palm Beach. After a full makeover that included corporate ownership and new managers, Jon Rosen and Adrianna Alexander, weekly traffic has surged. “We’re happy to be in Florida and exploring other opportunities on both coasts of Florida,” said Brad Hockenberry, vice president of operations for Foster’s Grille. Page 23

SportsPBCHs GraduatePatrick O’donnellTo Play For MiamiPatrick O’Donnell grew up in the prime era of University of Miami football. Now he will become part of the Hurri-cane family. The former Palm Beach Central High School punter is returning to South Florida, where he will join the Miami football team after four years at the University of Cincinnati. Page 33

Fireworks And Horses: Always A Bad Match, Part 2Ellen Rosenberg continues her two-part series on the dangers of fireworks and horses. In this week’s column, Patricia Davidow-itz of The Acreage explains how illegal fireworks led to the tragic demise of Emily, a rescue horse who was very sensitive to and frightened of loud noises. ellen Rosenberg’s Column, Page 21

Quarterback deCosta Leads Hawks To VictorySeminole Ridge High School starting quarterback Zach De-Costa has been training through the summer to improve his skills for the coming fall season. The 6-foot, 180-pound senior has had the starting quarterback job since the spring of his sophomore year. Page 33

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featuresfireworks and Horses: always a Bad Match, Part 2

Tales From The Trails

By Ellen Rosenberg

“I live in The Acreage, and I’ve noticed the fireworks getting progressively worse each year,” Patricia Davidowitz said. “I currently have three horses. But last year, I also had Em-ily, a rescue horse who was very sensitive and frightened of loud noises. I decided to be smart and move her out of this area for the Fourth of July, so I brought her to a friend’s house.”

Despite this precaution, it was not enough to protect Emily.

“Unfortunately, someone set off some firecrackers near that farm. She panicked, ran through a fence and completely fractured a hind leg. We put her down immediately. It was horrible, just tragic,” Davidowitz recalled.

Part of the problem are the competing reasons people move to communities such as The Acreage. “I think new people move to rural areas like this, see a lot of open space, and think it’s the perfect spot to shoot guns and set off fireworks,” Davidowitz said. “I speak with my neighbors, and most of them are very nice and understanding. But you can’t talk with everyone. Someone on my street set off a couple of rockets horizontally. One hit someone’s carport, another hit the roof of my barn. Luckily, nothing caught on fire. Thank God I was home. I never leave my house on the Fourth of July. I refuse to leave my horses unsupervised.”

Get updates all week long... follow Ellen Rosenberg on Twitter at twitter.com/Horse-TalkFL or stop by the Tales from the Trails page on Facebook and click “like.”

According to Davidowitz, the problem has been getting worse.

“It got so bad this year, fireworks going off night after night, that I decided enough was enough. Every year I call the police and complain, and they usually send someone out. This year, they said they were overwhelmed and couldn’t send an officer. I decided to do something about it. I was on a mission,” she said. “I contacted the Indian Trail Im-provement District to find out about having a neighborhood meeting. I e-mailed the fire marshal, Gov. Rick Scott, two senators, both congressmen and West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio. I got no personal response, just a message saying they’d received my e-mail.”

Davidowitz believes changes need to be made.

“Ethically, something must be done. Maybe there could be some different laws regarding equestrian areas,” she said. “There are all these big tents that sell fireworks just down the road each year, along with other stores. Why are the interests of non-horse owners more important than those of horse owners? I don’t understand

Streets signs like this one get posted in Wellington each year before the holiday.

See ROSENBERG, page 22

why no one does anything about it. Fix the stu-pid scaring-the-birds loophole before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. There are endless scenarios of what could happen.”

I, too, was curious about why illegal fire-works can be sold.

“Illegal fireworks can’t be sold by any retail

stores or tents,” explained John Harsch, a fire marshal inspector. “Stands and retail stores can only sell small stuff, sparklers and showers of sparks. They can’t sell things that report: anything that explodes, like roman candles or bottle rockets. We have a very strict building

features August 2 - August 8, 2013 www.gotowncrier.com The Town-Crier

I tripped last weekend.There was a little piece of brick sticking

up from the hearth and, as I approached the front door, my foot caught it, and I went down like a sack of potatoes. (I would say “like a sack of bricks,” but that would be redundant.)

I suppose it was my own fault. I was look-ing off to my left and wondering if those doodads on the shelves could be arranged in a more pleasing fashion. That’s why I couldn’t pay attention to where I was going.

The next thing I remember is a concrete step zooming up to greet my face, because my husband, Mark, was politely holding the door open for me.

My face did not hit the step, thank good-ness, and that is because, deep in the recesses of my brain, my subconscious remembered that my parents had paid for four years of braces for me and smashing my teeth into a

I Tripped Last Week, But I’ll Just Keep Ignoring The Pain

slab of concrete would’ve made me appear ungrateful. So I swerved. Or flipped. Or something. I don’t know.

I only remember sudden pain — and Mark standing there in horror. So here’s what I told him:

“Drag me outside and close the door. You’re letting the air conditioning out.”

Ah, yes. Frugal to the last.“Are you OK?!” he demanded (after clos-

ing the door).

“I feel like I’m going to throw up. I feel dizzy. I may be in shock. Can you prop me up against the wall there?”

So he propped.But I slid off to the side and was soon lying

on the porch. “My knees hurt. My fingers hurt. Maybe my feet should be higher than my head.”

So Mark maneuvered me around a little bit, and pretty soon I was able to sit up with-out listing. A brief inspection uncovered two bruised knees, two bruised arms, a black and blue toe, and a little finger that did not want to be bent backward ever again.

“We’ve got to go,” I said.“To the doctor?”“No, to the wedding,” I replied. “It’s five

hours away, and we’re not quite sure where we’re going.”

“Don’t you think you should see a doc-tor?”

“Maybe next week. When we get back.”So we went to the wedding (arriving with

four minutes to spare) and Mark, because he is so good, did not mention my near death experience. He merely kept bringing me ice wrapped in napkins to keep my pinkie from swelling up. And he guarded my left foot, where the miserable toe, had anyone stepped on it, would’ve let the cat out of the bag — a screaming, shrieking cat that may have detracted from the sweetness of the day.

I still haven’t been to the doctor, but today might be the day. The bruising has gone away but the finger looks a little crooked now that the swelling has gone down. And it refuses be used — not for the brushing of teeth, the combing of hair or even the typing of columns.

The teeth and hair can wait, but I must be able to type.

It’s the only mental therapy I have.

If you feel you’ve seen the new movie, The Wolverine, before, you are correct. It is pretty much the same story we saw in Iron Man 3 and a host of early Superman flicks. The hero loses his superpowers just as a real threat arises, but somehow gets them back just in time to finally save the day, usually with help from the supporting cast. That said, the movie is enjoyable, just terribly derivative.

Logan (Hugh Jackman), known as the Wolverine, saved young Japanese officer Yashida (Ken Yamamura) at a prison camp just outside of Nagasaki when the atom bomb went off. How a man who can reason-ably fight his way out of anything with his knife-like claws and ability to immediately heal wound up in a prison camp is never shown. At any rate, at the current time he is in the backwoods of Canada, peacefully coexisting with a bear, when Yukio (Rila Fukushima), an emissary from the now-dying age officer (Hal Yamanouchi) who has become the head of a gigantic financial empire, finds him and gets him to return to Japan so the man could say goodbye. The old man offers him something unexpected:

an honorable death. Since Logan is immortal and longs for death so he can be with his beloved Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen, seen in his dreams), he considers it but decides to not follow that course.

The old man dies and, at the funeral, he rescues the man’s granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamoto). She resists at first and, as expected, falls for Logan. The rest of the movie is a struggle between Logan, Mariko and Yukio for survival and control of a great financial empire. Of course, the struggle involves a lot of sword fighting, arrows fly-ing and death. One by one, villains die and it turns out there’s another villain waiting.

The theme of the film is loyalty. Logan is the most loyal of men. He saved the officer

because the man was decent to him. He protects Mariko through that sense of loyalty as just about everyone else in the film finds a way to betray her. He winds up losing his power several times, taking away the easy advantage he usually has. And in the end, he is victorious.

Jackman gives a typical Jackman perfor-mance: all-in. He is pumped up for the role and carries through dialogue that would, in most cases, be weak. He is the center of the film and does an exceptional job. Okamoto as the girl at the center of the plotting is a bit weak; that probably is a flaw of the script rather than the actress. At times she is strong, other times particularly helpless.

I really liked Fukushima. Her character, who had been rescued by Mariko’s grandfa-ther when he saw her as a starving child so that his granddaughter could have a friend, has plenty of spunk. She wields a sword expertly and does dialogue almost as well. When she tells a weakened Logan that she is his bodyguard, it stands as a meaning-ful declaration rather than a joke. Svetlana Khodchenkova as the Viper was a particu-larly effective villain. Unlike some of the

Plot Is Derivative But Jackman Is Great In ‘the Wolverine’‘I’ On

CultureBy Leonard Wechsler

other X-Men villains, she had no redeeming features. But she was a worthy (and beauti-ful) opponent.

As noted above, the theme of the picture is loyalty vs. betrayal. One by one, charac-ters betray the young woman for their own purposes. It was painful the first couple of times but, after a while, almost expected, even though there were quite a few plot twists and turns.

X-Men movies have a sort of sameness, if only because all superhero films have to deal with the obvious disparity in power between the hero and all the villains. And, as I pointed out earlier, this is pretty much the same story as Iron Man 3. As Neil Diamond wrote, “ex-cept for the names and a few other changes, the story’s the same one.” But even with that caveat, this is a fast-moving action movie that will hold your attention until the end.

As I have been writing about movies all summer, it is a good, not great movie. Good with popcorn, nachos or any of the increas-ingly complex menu items the theaters now serve. If you are a Hugh Jackman fan or an X-Men fan, you will pretty much get your money’s worth.

DeborahWelky is

the SonicBOOMer

Rosenbergfireworks

and Horsescontinued from page 21

code governing stores that sell fireworks that report, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems and adequate exits. We inspect them four times a year.”

A search turns up nine such stores from Stuart to Boca Raton.

“Anyone who is going to set off fireworks that report needs a permit,” Harsch said. “Sign-ing a waver doesn’t really protect you. It’s my understanding that setting off such fireworks without a permit is not legal, but it’s nothing we enforce. That’s up to the PBSO.”

People always need to be aware of their surroundings when setting off any type of fireworks, Harsch said.

“They cause many injuries, burns and fires,

especially in a dry year. Sparks can smolder and later burst into flame. And, of course, if there’s alcohol involved, people get a little crazy and a little careless,” he said. “Alcohol and fireworks are a bad combination. My advice is go watch a big show, and leave the fireworks to the professionals. They know what they’re doing.”

Indeed, some years back, one of my neigh-bors who has since moved away, was feeling no pain, as they say, and set off a whole bunch of bright, loud rockets. The palm tree on his front lawn caught fire. We saw the blackened husk of it the next day. Luckily, nothing else burned.

“I don’t want to ruin anyone’s fun, but there are lots of big shows put on by all the towns,“ Davidowitz continued. “Why can’t people just attend those and forget the backyard fire-works? I think if people really understood the situation, they might think twice. I desperately want large roadside signs, like they have in

Wellington, and a visible police presence.”Wellington does, indeed, place large 4-foot

by 4-foot A-frame signs in eight different loca-tions within the community a week before the Fourth of July until the day after.

“The signs sure help remind people that this is an equestrian area, and that fireworks are illegal,” said Gary Goodwin, graphic artist and maintenance worker with the Wellington Public Works Department. “I’ve been with the department seven years, and I think the signs help keep down problems and complaints.”

Acreage official are aware of the issue.“Out here in The Acreage, the fireworks

and gunshots usually run from the end of June through mid-July,” said Jennifer Hager, presi-dent of the Indian Trail Improvement District. “Then they do it all over again for New Year’s. The worst ones are the mortar-type bombs and the whistling bottle rockets. I’m thankful my three horses don’t react, but I always stay out in the barn with them, keep the radio on and

throw a lot of extra hay. I definitely get the problem and understand horse owner’s fears.”

Hager said she favors a community meet-ing on the issue. “I like the idea of having a meeting and discussing this problem. I’d like to include the Acreage Horseman’s Associa-tion,” she said. “What we have to do is educate the non-horse people and teach them to be considerate and respectful. I honestly think that they just don’t know.”

Linda Rainbolt, president of the Acreage Horseman’s Association, wants a solution to the problem. “I hate all the fireworks. We have to do something,” Rainbolt said. “Horse owners in these areas can never go anywhere around the Fourth of July. Sure, I’d like to go see a show. I don’t dare leave my horses. Twenty years ago, when it wasn’t this bad, I had a horse get so scared by fireworks that she jumped a fence. I didn’t find her for three days. These people are breaking the law. It’s really hard on horse owners.”


Business news

Good vibes abound at the recently reno-vated Foster’s Grille in Royal Palm Beach. After a full makeover that included corporate ownership and new managers, Jon Rosen and Adrianna Alexander, weekly traffic has surged.

“We’re happy to be in Florida and ex-ploring other opportunities on both coasts of Florida,” said Brad Hockenberry, vice president of operations for Foster’s Grille. “We painted, cleaned, redid the floors and brought it back to company specs.”

And as word of new management spreads, it’s enticing former customers to come back and give Foster’s another try, said Rosen.

“Things are going really well,” Alexander said. “Saturdays are especially busy since we’re located right on Southern Blvd. The at-mosphere around here is definitely positive.”

Foster’s Grille was also awarded “Best Burger of the Palm Beaches” by the readers of AroundWellington.com.

The fresh, new staff is committed to main-taining Foster’s reputation as a restaurant that offers fast, casual, family dining and serves a high-quality product to its clientele.

Foster’s started flipping burgers in 1999 and instituted its national franchise program in 2005. The Royal Palm Beach restaurant opened in 2009 as a franchise. There are currently 12 employees, Rosen said.

Its menu features chargrilled burgers that are never frozen. Customers on Yelp and Google+ reported on the tastiness of Foster’s wings, hand-cut Idaho potato fries,

old-fashioned milkshakes and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Other menu items include: grilled or fried chicken sandwiches, a Buffalo chicken sand-wich, Philly cheese steak, chick Philly, their famous grilled hotdog, oven-roasted turkey sandwich and a backyard garden burger. A kid’s menu is also available.

In addition to serving a spread of all-Amer-ican goodness, Foster’s Grille has its eye out for the neighborhood.

“Our Dining for Dollars fundraising pro-gram donates a percentage of proceeds to various community groups, such as schools, charities, nonprofits and sports teams,” Hockenberry said. “It has been successful in multiple communities.”

Dining for Dollars is similar to the Grou-pon program, Rosen said. Diners purchase coupons for $10 but they have a $20 value.

Royal Palm Beach is one of 16 Foster’s Grille locations, and one of three in Florida, with others situated in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. There are also restaurants in Mary-land, Virginia and North Carolina. Foster’s Franchise Concepts, located in Haymarket, Va., and is currently accepting new franchise applications. The company has plans to grow its presence in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions, and then expand into other states.

Foster’s Grille is located at 11071 Southern Blvd., Suite 100, Royal Palm Beach in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza. For more info., visit www.fostersgrille.com or call (561) 333-6720.

Jon Rosen and Adrianna Alexander at Foster’s Grill in Royal Palm Beach.

Foster’s Grille In RPBRe-Launches Under NewOwnership, Management

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Business news

The Wellington Chamber of Com-merce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Palm Beach Medical Group.

The physicians of Palm Beach Medical Group in Wellington meet the needs of patients seeking help with cosmetic dermatology, internal medicine and/or hormone replace-ment therapy.

Dr. Khongruk Wongkittiroch is a board-certified physician and a fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. She specializes in general, surgical and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on Mohs micrographic surgery, skin cancer detection and treatment, photody-namic therapy and cosmetic surgery, including mini-facelifts and bleph-aroplasties and aesthetic enhance-ment with Botox and dermal fillers. She has a particular interest in the creative nature and skill of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Wongkittiroch has presented medical posters at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meetings and has lectured at several national conferences in Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco and other cities. She has also pub-

The Wellington Chamber of Com-merce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Juan Roca of First Investors.

First Investors offers a compet-itive array of financial products and services to help individual investors and everyday families reach their financial goals through its nationwide network of registered representatives.

Since its founding in 1930, First Investors has followed the guiding principle of personal service con-necting Main Street to Wall Street.

Its products and services include

lished medically related articles in local and national publications and peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Cutaneous Oncology, Cutis, Practical Dermatology and others.

She is a fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatolo-gy, the American Society for Mohs Surgery and an affiliate member of the American Academy of Derma-tology.

Dr. Raj S. Borade specializes in internal medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology. He is certified by the

American Board of Internal Medi-cine and offers patients a wealth of experience gained through his train-ing and work on three continents.

Dr. Marlynn Nunez specializes in minimally invasive surgery and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Palm Beach Medical Group is located at 3319 State Road 7, Suite 207, in Wellington. Call (561) 753-1101 for more information.

mutual funds, annuities and life insurance. First Investors was one of the original companies to offer mutual funds in the United States. Today, it is a recognized leader in the financial services industry, serv-ing the broad middle market with more than 550 financial services representatives in offices across 26 states. Clientele includes individual investors, school districts, govern-ment agencies, private banks and family offices.

For more info., call (561) 289-3124 or visit www.firstinvestors.com.

P.B. Medical Group Offers A Variety Of Healthcare services

Wellington Chamber ambassdors welcome Palm Beach Medical Group.

First Investors Help Clients Meet Goals

Chamber ambassdors welcome Juan Roca of First Investors.


Business news

Fit2Run, the runner’s superstore, held its first fun run Thursday July, 18 in conjunction with the opening of its new location in the Mall at Wellington Green.

The fun run celebrated Fit2Run’s new location in the mall and kicked off a regular schedule of fun runs that take place every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. Runners meet at Fit2Run, and then run around the entire perimeter of the mall.

Fit2Run is more than a running store; it’s a resource for the Welling-ton and Royal Palm Beach running community. Fit2Run offers services such as video gait assessments, which allows professionally trained staff to customize a runner’s shoes to their specific gait patterns.

Another addition is Fit2Run’s new partnership with Dr. Jon Chung of Keystone Chiropractic, located at 420 State Road 7, Suite 170, in Royal Palm Beach. Fit2Run and Chung have joined forces to create a partnership that offers the running community educational seminars that will enhance the overall running experience.

Chung is a chiropractor who focuses on structural correction, with a focus on structural shifts of the spine. He graduated from the

University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular biology before earn-ing his doctorate from Life Univer-sity’s College of Chiropractic.

Chung is certified in pediatrics from the International Chiroprac-tic Pediatric Association, and is a structural chiropractic researcher who has been published in scientific

Fit2Run Moves To New Location In The Mall At Wellington Greenpeer-reviewed journals.

“Fit2Run is a central hub for Wellington and Royal Palm Beach’s running community,” Store Man-ager Brenda Browning said. “Each week we host runners from the Wellington Runner’s Club, as well as casual runners throughout the county. Dr. Chung is a staple of our running community. His unique

approach to chiropractic, as well as his willingness to give his time and knowledge to the local community through his running presentations, are a valued asset to Fit2Run.”

Chung said it is an honor to part-ner with Fit2Run. “Fit2Run and Keystone Chiropractic share a sim-ilar goal in helping Wellington and Royal Palm Beach runners make the

most of their running experience,” he said. “The proper running shoe, proper gait and optimal structure are equally critical. As one of the few chiropractors in Florida who focuses on structure, it is gratifying to know that Fit2Run recognizes the importance of spinal structure and humbling to be a part of this fantastic relationship.”

Fit2Run Store Manager Brenda Browning with Dr. Jon Chung. Dr. Jon Chung works with a Fit2Run patron.


Dining & EntErtainmEntLynn University Announces 2013-14 Live At Lynn Series

Season subscriptions and individ-ual show tickets are now available for the popular Libby Dodson’s Live at Lynn theater series at Lynn Uni-versity in Boca Raton for 2013-14.

Scheduled headliners at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Per-forming Arts Center include a return visit by the Capitol Steps, a book musical featuring songs by Johnny Cash, a tribute to the Bee Gees, a salute to tap dancing, four Broadway headliners and the Tony Award-win-ning Sweet Charity.

“Once again, this year’s Live at Lynn Theatre Series will host six amazing shows that will delight entertainment fans of all ages. Anyone who loves beautiful music and dance, all brilliantly performed by top-tier talents, should plan now on attending every knock-out pro-duction,” said Jan McArt, producer and director of theatre arts program development.

The Capitol Steps will perform on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. This show puts the “mock” in democra-cy. Capitol Steps was born in 1981 when some senate staffers wanted to stage a nativity play, but in the whole Congress they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin. So, they dug into the headlines and created song

parodies and skits that convey their special brand of satirical humor.

Ring of Fire, based on music by Johnny Cash, will be performed on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. This toe-tapping, book musical features 14 performers, including two-time Grammy Award winner Lari White and Tony Award winner Jarrod Emick. Coming from Broadway, this theatrical delight includes 38 hit songs by the legendary man in black.

Tap: The Show will be performed on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. Tap your feet to the beat. This nonstop, rhythmic energy show is wrapped in dazzling costumes and backed by a soaring orchestra score. An extravaganza of award-winning dancers and singers, this show brings you re-creations of Broadway show-stoppers, soft shoe, flamenco, Irish step and more.

Stayin’ Alive One Night of the Bee Gees will be performed on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. This show pays homage to one of the most legendary groups of all time, the Bee Gees, who provided the soundtrack to the blockbuster disco flick, Saturday Night Fever. Three talented singers will rekindle the magic memories of

numerous mega-hits such as “How Deep is Your Love.”

Sweet Charity will be performed on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, March 16 at 4 p.m. Winner of five Tony Awards, this tender, poignant and consis-tently funny show created by Neil Simon follows the love-challenged misadventures of Charity Valentine, a “lady of the evening” who always gives her heart and her earnings to the wrong man. The tuneful score by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields includes “Hey, Big Spender” and other audience favorites.

It’s a girls night out on March 29 and 30 with Broadway headliners Christine Andreas (La Cage aux Folles), Andrea McArdle (Annie), Maureen McGovern (Little Women) and Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls). This show presents these four award-winning show biz veterans performing some of the biggest hits from Broadway. Performance times for “4 Girls 4” are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

Also during 2013-14 season, the Wold Performing Arts Center will be home for the “American Songbook Series,” featuring mu-sical tributes by Marshall Turkin and the Classic Jazz Ensemble to immortal songwriters and singers

including George Gershwin (Nov. 3); Marvin Hamlish, Dave Brubeck and Whitney Houston (Jan. 12); the music and times of African-Ameri-cans and all that jazz (Feb. 2); Cole Porter (March 9); and Jerry Herman (April 27). All performances are at 4 p.m.

The 750-seat Wold Performing Arts Center, located on Lynn Uni-versity’s campus in Boca Raton, is easily accessible by both I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike.

Season subscriptions are now available at a 25 percent discount: $225 for orchestra seats (regularly $300) and $202 for mezzanine seating (usually $270). Individual show tickets are $40 for box, $30 for orchestra and $25 for mezzanine.

Both season subscriptions and individual show tickets can be purchased by phone at (561) 237-9000, online at http://give.lynn.edu/theatrearts or at the box office at the Wold Performing Arts Center.

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre recently revealed two up-coming exhibitions, both focused on Cuba and running simultaneously. They open Aug. 24 at the nonprofit museum located within City Center in downtown West Palm Beach.

The Conflux of Eternities: His-torical Discourse in the Work of Kadir López Nieves — Nieves was born in 1972 in the Cuban province of Las Tunas. His talent was recog-nized at the early age of 12, when he was chosen to receive a formal art education from grade school through

graduate studies as part of Cuba’s ed-ucation system. He graduated from the prestigious Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA) in Havana in 1995. Like many artists of his generation, Nieves came to artistic maturity at a time when the image and illusion of the Cuban Revolution’s triumph was greatly diminished. Much of his work is inspired by a meditation on time: in blurring the lines between past, present and future, he critiques the effects of progress, or lack there-of, on society in spiritual, economic and political arenas. For example,

Tap: The Show will be featured as part of Libby Dodson’sLive at Lynn theater series at Lynn University in Boca Raton.

On Friday, Aug. 2, Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery will be breaking all records, and then making art out of them.

Several hundred of those old vinyl records no one plays anymore wandered into the gallery one day. A dozen of the gallery’s artists pounced on them, making them into unique and unusual works of art. The gallery will serve its usual gallery feast from bowls formed from these discs. This event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and is free to the public.

Studio Dance of Lake Worth’s Michael Puccio will teach swing dancing in the streets during the event. Dance to the tunes of the ’60s and ’70s from the records not broken. The section of J Street in front of the gallery will be closed between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for this fun event.

Poutine Dog, the Canadian hot dog restaurant next door to the gal-lery, will serve hot-diggity dogs all evening long.

Art, food and dancing in the streets is what J Street is becoming. Join in the fun. “Evenings on the

Avenue” are offered every first and third Friday, and all events are free to the public.

On Friday evening, Aug. 16, Craig McInnis of Jerry’s Artarama will offer free art lessons using the remaining records to create one-of-a-kind paintings. This will be part of a special event featuring four of Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone’s newest artists.

Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Coop-erative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a nonprofit arts organization, whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists.

The gallery is located at 15 South J St. in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are Sunday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Gallery openings are the first and third Friday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. with many special events in-between.

For information call Joyce Brown at (215) 205-9441 or [email protected]. Call the gallery at (561) 588-8344.

Photographic Centre to Present two Exhibitions Focused On Cuba

in his recent body of work “Signs,” Nieves repurposed porcelain-lac-quered steel advertising signs from pre-revolutionary Cuba that cele-brate the island as the economic and cultural capital of the Americas by fusing black and white photographs chronicling events of a bygone era. The irony achieved by juxtaposing image and text serves to provide a deeper, more complicated reading of the island’s history.

An American Presence in Cuba — This exhibit features works by a wide variety of photographers. This exhibition will provide a glimpse of pre-embargo Cuba with shots of numerous island visitors from celebrated artists and athletes to U.S. presidents, as well as movie stars and business tycoons.

There will be an opening night reception with Nieves on Aug. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free event.

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre is in the City Center complex at 415 Clematis St. in downtown West Palm Beach. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (561) 253-2600 or visit www.work shop.org or www.fotofusion.org.“Monopoly” by Kadir López.

Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Gallery Will

Break Records Aug. 2


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HealtH & Fitness spotligHt

By Tania ArtilesSpecial To The Town-Crier

Summer is the perfect time to set an exercise plan in motion. Warm temperatures, longer daylight hours and ample outdoor opportunities allow exercisers to burn calories while enjoying the vibrant season. So why not have fun by trying more invigorating and challenging workouts on the weekend?

Outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and inline skating allow you to reap up to six times more fat-blasting, body-shaping benefits than cruising around the neighbor-hood on foot. And you don’t have to be a hard-core athlete or fitness freak to get the most out of them. Here are some fun ideas for summer exercises that will leave you feeling fit and having fun:

• Swimming — A perfect pastime for long summer days, swimming is actually a great form of exercise. Not only do you get to keep cool while being active, but you can burn plenty of calories. Generally, a person weighing 150 pounds can burn 360 calories in 30 minutes of swimming. There are many exercise options when in a swimming pool — tread

water, swim strokes, perform water aerobics and more.

• Hiking — Enjoying the great outdoors is part of making the most of summertime. To get in a little exercise while communing with nature, grab your hiking boots and head to the nearest park. Hiking, especially in hilly terrain, is akin to strenuous exercise. Just make sure to pack some sunscreen, comfortable socks, a hat and maybe even a walk-ing stick for sure footing. Hiking can burn up to 400 calories per hour and improve cardiovascular fitness. Plus, hiking builds stronger, leaner thighs and firms the body from the waist down. For local hiking clubs, check out the American Hiking Society.

• Cycling — Riding a bike is the perfect exercise; it’s a fun way to work those leg muscles. Biking burns 500 to 700 calories per hour, depending on speed and terrain. It builds muscle in the thighs, calves and caboose. Stay safe while riding by wearing a helmet. Cycle shorts provide padding and wick away moisture, preventing chafing. For biking trails, consult www.bicy-cling.com. If you don’t own a bike or the equipment, Ultima Fitness can

help. Ultima offers indoor cycling classes on a daily basis. Check out the group fitness schedule online at www.ultimafitness.com.

• Kayaking — Pulling the paddle against the water is great resistance. It targets shoulders, triceps, biceps, back and core. Burn up to 340 cal-ories per hour for a sculpted upper body. Kayaking is like meditating on water; the perfect vantage point for taking in the abundant wildlife and sea life. Beginners should use an open kayak, or take a lesson to learn how to escape the kayak first. To find local instructors, visit Kayak Online (www.kayakonline.com). For an indoor option, Ultima Fitness has equipment available that can do the job, such as the Concept 2 Rowing Machines. These rowers target the same muscle groups.

• Inline Skating — Sculpt your buns and thighs without pounding your knees. Skating is much less jarring than other high-intensity sports like jogging. It provides a high-adrenaline release from mental baggage and burns 800 calories per hour. Don’t be intimidated. Ease into it by taking lessons. Use an empty parking lot or driveway for

Have a Fun and Fit summer With these exercise ideaspractice. For courses in the area, visit the Inline Skating Resource Center (www.iisa.org).

• Ultima Fitness — Not a fan of the summer heat? Try an indoor option at Ultima Fitness. There is no excuse for not having a good workout during the summer months. Come try Ultima’s summer specials such as fitness memberships, per-sonal training sessions and specialty programs like BCx Fusion Boot Camp. For a complete one-hour workout, try one of the group fitness classes. Ultima offers more than 45 classes per week, including Zumba, yoga, indoor cycling and more. If you need assistance, a one-hour ses-sion with a certified personal trainer can be scheduled. For an intense workout, try one of the BCx Fusion classes. To find out more about the options, and to take advantage of a free trial workout, visit www.ultimafitness.com.

• Tae Kwon Do — Located inside Ultima Fitness is Xtreme Tae Kwon Do. This pro-gram is offered to both children and adults all

year long. Each summer, there is a special for the entire family. Children and adults can benefit from this “sun-proof workout” that will strengthen both the mind and body. Parents have seen their children focus better and achieve success in academic studies. Adults are more confident and feel better about themselves with increased energy and concentration. In tae kwon do, you will learn to respect life through mental, physical and philosophical studies. For more information, visit www.wellington taekwondo.com.

All of these activities make great summer exercises, but be proactive and don’t partake in any activity without taking safety precautions. Every day is a great day to work

out, so put excuses aside, get out there and have some fun.

For more info., call (561) 795-2823 or vis-it www.ultimafitness.com.

Tania Artiles is sales and marketing manag-er at Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do.


Community CalendarGeier from the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management will discuss how to prepare for, survive and recover from hurricanes. Call (561) 790-6070 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will feature Clay Pendants on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Sculpt clay pendants from air-dry, red clay that mimic textures created by Florida’s first people. Call (561) 681-4100 for more info.

• The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce will host a mixer Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina (11121 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach). To RSVP, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.cpbchamber.com.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Japanese Anime & Culture Club for ages 12 to 17 on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Hang out and watch Anime, talk about Japanese culture and eat snacks. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Crochet Club for ages 9 and up Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Learn basic stitches and socialize while you work on projects. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will meet Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District office (101 West D Road). Call (561) 793-2418 or visit www.loxahatcheegroves.org for more info.

• The Audubon Society of the Ever-glades will host its annual ice cream social followed by a picture show Tuesday, Aug. 6 at FAU’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center (6301 Summit Blvd.). Members are invited to bring their best nature photos to share. Doors open at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more info., visit www.auduboneverglades.org.

Wednesday, Aug. 7• Whole Foods Market in Wellington

(2635 State Road 7) will host Toothpaste Swap Out on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Swap out conventional toothpaste for a free, full-size tube of Hima-laya neem and pomegranate toothpaste, while supplies last. Limit one per house-hold. Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature Not Your Grandma’s Bingo for ages 5 and up Wednesday, Aug.

Saturday, Aug. 3• The Audubon Society of the Ever-

glades will host a carpool tour around the stormwater treatment area managed by the South Florida Water Management District on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 a.m. The tour will include views of the birds that accumulate in the waters. Space is limited. Call Linda at (561) 742-7791 to RSVP. Visit www.auduboneverglades.org for more info.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Java Jam on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Experience a caffeinated col-lection of local talent or bring your acoustic instruments and jam out. Coffee will be pro-vided. Call (561) 681-4100 for more info.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Lego Builders Club for ages 6 to 12 on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Meet fellow builders and work on creative proj-ects. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

Monday, Aug. 5• The Palm Beach County Parks & Rec-

reation Department is offering a Summer Nature Camp for children ages 9 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Aug. 5-9 at the Okeeheelee Nature Center (7715 Forest Hill Blvd.). For more in-formation, drop by the Okeeheelee Nature Center, call (561) 233-1400 or visit www.pbcparks.com/nature.

• Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host a Kids’ Cooking Camp for ages 6 to 12 Monday through Friday, Aug. 5-9, from 9 to 2 p.m. Take a road trip around the U.S. and cook regional foods. The cost is $175 for the week. Pre-registration is required at the customer service desk. Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature Art Club for ages 8 and up Monday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. Live through your art by exploring different mediums. Dress to get messy. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

Tuesday, Aug. 6• Polo Park Middle School (11901 Lake

Worth Road, Wellington) will hold a three-day preparatory program for incoming sixth graders Tuesday, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. The school will also offer parents a preparatory session Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. For more info., call (561) 333-5500.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature Hurricane Preparedness for adults Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Mike See CALENDAR, page 31

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Community Calendar753-2484 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

• Whole Foods Market in Wellington (2635 State Road 7) will host The Sushi Stop featuring the vegetarian green dragon crunch roll with brown rice Thursday, Aug. 8 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. There is no charge. Call (561) 904-4000 for more info.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host Drawing Basics for ages 12 to adult Thursday, Aug. 8 at 5:30 p.m. Render a two-dimensional still life using basic drawing techniques. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

Friday, Aug. 9• KWP Productions’ Second Stage Play-

ers will present A History of the American Film by Christopher Durang at Atlantic Arts Theatre (6743 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 34, Jupiter) Friday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 11, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fri-day and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The show is for mature audiences. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students, available at www.kwpproductions.com. Call (561) 575-4942 for more info.

• KWP Productions will present The Story of Hansel and Gretel with the Over-tures, a cast of elementary and middle school actors, at Mo’s Art Theatre (700 Park Ave., Lake Park) Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, available at www.kwpproductions.com. Call (561) 337-6763 for more info.

• The Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) will present a free screening of the movie Oz The Great And Powerful on Friday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. Call (561) 753-2484 or visit www.wellingtonfl.gov for more info.

Saturday, Aug. 10• “It Could Be a Wonderful World,” a

concert for children, will be presented at the Lake Worth Playhouse on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. The concert features five of the region’s most popular performers, along with animals from the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Tickets are available at the Lake Worth Playhouse box office and at www.lakeworthplayhouse.org. For more info., contact Andy Amoroso at (561) 533-5272 or Joyce Brown at (215) 205-9441.

Send calendar items to: The Town-Crier, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 31, Wel-lington, FL 33414. FAX: (561) 793-6090. E-mail: [email protected].

CALENDAR, continued from page 307 at 10:30 a.m. Create your own card and see if luck is on your side. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• The Royal Palm Beach library (500 Civic Center Way) will host Shark Story Time for ages 4 to 7 on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Take a bite out of a good book during a shark-themed story time. Call (561) 790-6030 to pre-register.

• The Acreage library (15801 Orange Blvd.) will host American Girl: Samantha for ages 6 to 12 on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. Celebrate Samantha with turn-of-the-century crafts and games. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature Hooked on Cro-chet for adults Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Learn beginning techniques or bring current projects. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors will meet Wednes-day, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the district office (13476 61st St. North). Call (561) 793-0874 or visit www.indiantrail.com for more info.

• Company, the award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, concludes the summer season at Palm Beach Dramaworks with performances Wednesday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach). For tickets, call the box office at (561) 514-4042 or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

Thursday, Aug. 8• The Acreage library (15801 Orange

Blvd.) will host Fantastic Phonemes for ages 4 to 7 on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. Play fun learning games and puzzles and listen to a story filled with fantastic phone-mic sounds and funny onsets and rhymes. Call (561) 681-4100 to pre-register.

• The Wellington library (1951 Royal Fern Drive) will feature eBook Assistance: One-on-One for adults Thursday, Aug. 8 at 2:15 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 22 at 10:15 a.m. Call for an appointment with a librarian and learn how to borrow the library’s eBooks. Bring your compatible eReader, tablet or mobile device, and a laptop computer. Call (561) 790-6070 for more info.

• Wellington’s Food Truck Invasion will take place Thursday, Aug. 8 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). Call (561)


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SportS & recreationSRHS Quarterback Zach DeCosta Leads Hawks To Victory

By Gene NardiTown-Crier Staff Report

Seminole Ridge High School starting quarterback Zach DeCosta has been training through the sum-mer to improve his skills for the coming fall season.

The 6-foot, 180-pound senior has had the starting job since the spring of his sophomore year, when former SRHS quarterback Antwan

Washington transferred to Glades Central High School.

Critics doubted DeCosta’s ability to lead the football powerhouse at such a young age, and after a rough 0-2 start last season against William T. Dwyer and Park Vista high schools, a successful season appeared as if it was out of reach for the Hawks.

“The losses brought us closer

mention in last season’s Palm Beach Post all-county. He noted that the Hawks are not primarily a passing team, but can put the ball in the air when necessary.

DeCosta credits his success to his team, offensive line and Hawk quarterback coach Frank Binstead. He also looks forward to his senior season with new head coach Scott Barnwell, who served as assistant coach last season. DeCosta believes Barnwell can carry on the SRHS football tradition and continue the team’s success.

DeCosta has not had much time off through the summer, preparing for his senior season. He attended four camps in addition to keeping a strict schedule in the weight room to improve his strength, as well as throwing to hone his accuracy.

DeCosta puts an emphasis on education. He finished his junior year with a 3.6 GPA. “If I decide not to play football in college, I would like to attend a university in Florida,” he said.

Amherst College and Methodist College are a couple of the schools that have expressed interest in DeCosta, and that list is sure to grow at the conclusion of the fall season.

With his senior year still to unfold as a Hawk quarterback, there will be

together as a team and motivated us,” DeCosta said. “We focused on what we needed to do, watching film and training.”

The Hawks won a pivotal game against Wellington High School the following week, and continued their streak, winning their remaining seven regular season games. DeCos-ta directed the Hawks to a district championship, and led them through a 35-31, come-from-behind rematch victory against Park Vista.

DeCosta threw a 46-yard touch-down pass at the end of the game to send the Hawks into their much-an-ticipated match-up against rival Palm Beach Central High School. “We knew we had to play together as a team to beat them this time,” he said.

Under DeCosta’s leadership, the Hawks won decisively, 31-7, over the Broncos. The Hawks season came to an end in the final eight in the FHSAA regional tournament, where they fell to Broward power-house Cypress Bay High School, 31-14.

DeCosta is no stranger to football, he has played the sport in the Acre-age/Loxahatchee area since he was 5 years old.

DeCosta put up 868 passing yards last season, six post-season touch-down passes and received honorable

many new chapters to write, but it is clear that DeCosta has been com-mitted to excellence in developing himself as a leader for the Seminole Ridge football team.

DeCosta stays in the pocket and looks to throw down field in the“Best of the West” game against crosstown rival Royal Palm Beach.

DeCosta looks down field fora receiver in the Hawks’ pivotal

26-7 victory over Wellington.

By Joshua HyberTown-Crier Staff Report

Patrick O’Donnell grew up in the prime era of University of Miami football. He watched and admired the All-Americans, the record-set-ting amount of top draft picks and the BCS national championships. He was raised a Hurricane.

Now O’Donnell is truly part of the Hurricane football family. The former Palm Beach Central High School punter is returning home to South Florida, where he will join the Miami football team after four years at the University of Cincinnati.

“I’ve always been a Hurricanes fan, listening to them on the week-ends growing up. It’s pretty much embedded into my family,” O’Don-nell said. “Watching the great play-ers come from this program, it’s exciting to be a part of it.”

O’Donnell graduated from Cin-cinnati and, because of a fifth year of eligibility, is able to transfer to Miami, where he will receive a master’s degree in liberal arts.

O’Donnell was the first-team punter when UM head coach Al Golden released the Hurricanes depth chart on April 16.

The PBCHS alum is also one of 25 players on the “watch list” for the 2013 Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate punter.

Although he has already had such success, O’Donnell is actually fairly new to kicking. He began playing football in high school as a tight end and linebacker.

It wasn’t until his junior season, when he saw Wellington’s Matt DiLallo receive a scholarship to the University of Colorado, that he saw a future in kicking. As a senior, O’Donnell earned first-team all-state and all-district honors, and was the co-winner of the 2008 Lou Groza Award, given to the top kicker in Palm Beach County.

That season, he was part of the first winning team in PBCHS his-tory. He made sure of it by kicking a game-winning field goal against Boynton Beach High School in overtime in the last game of the sea-son. “I just remember we had a great coach, Rod Harris, who brought that team together,” O’Donnell said. “It prepared me a lot... I think it definitely prepared me for college ball and to play at that high level of competition and to excel.”

Travis Simmons was the Broncos’ quarterback at the time. He also held O’Donnell’s field goal attempts, including that last game against Boynton Beach.

The Broncos were down three points with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. O’Don-

nell made a 40-plus yarder to force overtime. He later hit a go-ahead field goal in overtime to give the Broncos the lead for good.

“Pat was a great teammate on and off the field and took football very seriously,” Simmons said. “He made everyone around him better when it came to both football and aca-demics. Pat and I spent a lot of time hanging out and going to kicking camps during the off season. Every game Pat kicked he was automatic and made very few mistakes.”

O’Donnell was lured to Cincinna-ti by the success of the UC program (they had just won the Orange Bowl) and by head coach Brian Kelly. At UC, O’Donnell was first team All-Big East in 2011, averaging 43.8 yards per punt. He was UC’s prima-ry punter for the past three seasons, averaging 42.6-yards a punt. In his four years as a Bearcat, UC won the Big East three times.

Now he’s happy to be home, and especially to once again be on the same field as Shane McDermott, another former Bronco playing at UM. “It’s exciting to get back in the same locker room as him,” O’Don-nell said. “He was one of my good friends at Palm Beach Central and good friends period growing up. Hopefully I can ACC championship with him this year.” PHoto couRtesy o’Donnell fAmily

Palm Beach central alum Patrick o’Donnell practices hiskick. He will play for the university of miami next season.

Former pBcHS Kicker patrick o’Donnell to play For UMPHotos By Gene nARDi/toWn-cRieR


sports & recreation

The Wildcat Dancers Dance Team from Royal Palm Beach High School performed during prime time at Downtown Disney’s Waterfront Main Stage on July 26.

The RPBHS dancers worked over the summer for two weeks learning seven new dance routines choreographed by master teach-

er and Dance Director Michele Blecher.

The large audience at Disney’s Waterfront Main Stage enjoyed the team’s performance, which was a mix of routines in the dance styles of jazz, lyrical and contemporary.

After the team’s performance, they enjoyed a pool party at a

Disney resort hotel. The rest of the weekend was team bonding time at Walt Disney World.

Blecher, team members and parents were thrilled with the successful opening season per-formance and look forward to the team’s 2013-14 season of shows and competitions.

Wildcat Dancers — Will Benacourt, Maureen Derius, Rachel Lambe, Loida Jimenez, Ana Rolden, Yoreli Maderia, Captain Bryce Blecher, Dance Director Michele Blecher, Brittany Canales, Bianca Labady, Stephanie Sanchez, Bri Gribble, Tatyana Blackmon and Andres Cazares.

RPBHS Dancers Shine At Disney World

Royal Palm Beach volleyball player Bailey Williams recently returned from the USA HP championship in Fort Lauderdale. The Florida region Girls National Select team won the gold medal, defeating teams from Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Iowa and southern California.

Williams Wins Gold at Usa HP CHamPionsHiP


sports & recreation

The Royal Palm Bassmasters held its monthly fishing tournament July 15 out of the Belle Glade boat ramp on Lake Okeechobee.

First place was awarded to the team of Larry Payne (boater) with five fish weighing 14 lbs., 1 oz. and partner Herman Parker (co-angler) with five fish weighing 6 lbs., 3 oz., for a team weight of 20 lbs., 4 oz.

Second place was awarded to the team of Phil Northrop (boater) with five fish weighing 14 lbs., 1 oz. and partner Irene Northrop (co-angler) with two fish weighing 2 lbs., 6 oz., for a team weight of 16 lbs. 7 oz.

Third place was awarded to the team of Ed Singleton (boater) with

five fish weighing 10 lbs., 11 oz. and partner Chris Schultz (co-angler) with five fish weighing of 5 lbs., 11 oz. for a total weight of 16 lbs., 6 oz.

The big fish of the tournament was caught by Payne; a bass weigh-ing 6 lbs., 11 oz.

The Royal Palm Bassmasters meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center (100 Sweet Bay Lane). The club is now accepting applications for new boat-er and non-boater members.

For more information about the Royal Palm Bassmasters, e-mail [email protected]. or visit www.royalpalmbassmasters.org.

Bassmasters Host Fishing tourney out of Belle Glade

Larry Payne and Herman Parker.

Irene Northrop.Ed Singlton and Chris Schultz.

The Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department is offering a summer nature camp for children ages 9-12 at the Okeeheelee Nature Center, Aug. 5-9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Participating campers will have fun celebrating 500 years of Flor-ida, exploring cultural and natural

Sign Up For Nature Camp At Okeeheeleehistory through field trips and fun activities that might include an airboat ride in the Everglades, snorkeling at the beach, visiting historical sites, animal encounters, crafts and games.

The fee is $150 per child. Reg-istration is open until filled and is limited to 20 campers. For more

information, or to get a registration form, visit the Okeeheelee Nature Center or www.pbcparks.com/nature and click on the Okeeheelee link.

The Okeeheelee Nature Center is located in Okeeheelee Park at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd. Call (561) 233-1400 for more information.


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

INSURANCE

BOB CAVANAGH ALLSTATE INSURANCE — Auto • Home • Life• Renters • Motorcycle •RV • Golfcart • Boat Serving the W e s t e r n C o m m u n i t i e s f o r 24 years Cal l for a quote 798-3056, or visit our website. www.allstateagencies.com/rCavanagh

MASSAGE THERAPY

MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPy — Feeling Run Down From Everything Life Throws At You? Look After Your Health & Wellness With Therapeutic Massage Especially For Women” From Full Body Swedish Massage to Targeted Deep Tissue Massage. Mention This ad Save $15. Call Flor-ence 561-255-8470 Lic#MA 54559

PAINTING

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure cleaning, roofs, houses, driveways, patios etc. Commercial & Residential. Interior & Exterior painting. Certi-fied pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch 309-6975 or visit ourwebsite at www.jbpressurecleaningandpainting.com

JOHN PERGOLIZZI PAINTING INC. — Interior/Exterior - Repaint spe-cialist, pressure cleaning, popcorn ceiling, drywall repair & roof paint-ing. Family owned/owner operator. Free Est. 798-4964 Lic. #U18473

PAINTING

COLORS By CORO, INC. — Int./Ext. residential painting, over 20 yrs exp. Small Jobs wel-come. Free est. Ins. 561-383-8666. Owner/Operated. Lic.# U20627 Ins. Wellington Resident

PLUMBING

JEREMy JAMES PLUMBING — Li-censed plumber, legitimate estimate. Water heaters, new construction. CFC1426242. Bonded Insured. CFC1426242. 561-601-6458

PRESSURE CLEANING

J&B PRESSURE CLEANING & PAINTING, INC. — Established 1984. All types of pressure clean-ing, roofs, houses, driveways, pa-tios etc. Commercial & Residential. In ter io r & Exter ior pa in t ing. Certified pressure cleaning & painting contractor. Lic. #U21552 Call Butch at 309-6975 or visit us at www.jb-pressurecleaningandpainting.com

PLACE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LISTING HERE

CALL 793-3576

ROOFING

M I N O R R O O F R E P A I R S D O N H A R T M A N N R O O F -ING — Roof painting, Carpen-t ry. L ic . #U13677 967-5580

ROBERT G. HARTMANN ROOF-ING — Specializing in repairs. Free estimates, Bonded,insured. Lic. #CCC 058317 Ph: 561-790-0763.

ROOFING REPAIRS REROOF-ING ALL TyPES — Pinewood Construction, Inc. Honest and re-liable. Serving Palm Beach Coun-ty for over 20 years. Call Mike 561-309-0134 Lic. Ins. Bond-ed. CGC-023773 RC-0067207

SECURITY

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

SCREENING

JOHN’S SCREEN REPAIR SER-VICE — Pool & patio rescreening. Stay tight,wrinkle-free,guaran-teed! CRC1329708 call us 798-3132. www.poolscreenrepair.com

SHUTTERS/PANELS

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

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

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

TILE / CERAMICS

S P E C I A L I Z I N G I N B AT H -ROOM REMODELING — Free estimates serving South Florida since 1980. Quality you expect, service you deserve. Lic. bond-ed & Ins. U21006 561-662-9258

TREE SERVICE

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

WATER SYSTEMS

TROPICAL WATER SySTEMS —Whole House Reverse Os-mosis, Sale & Repair of Water Systems, Well Drilling, pumps, and sprinkler installation repair. 561-795-6630 561-718-7260(Cell)

WALLPAPERING

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

The Town-Crier www.gotowncrier.com July 26 - August 1, 2013


FREE-WIFI!

grill subs salads soups tacos burritos

coffee smoothies self-serve frozen yogurt

Summer Special

10% OFF Frozen YogurtValid for frozen yogurt purchases. Must be redeemed by 8/31/13.

Welli Deli is open Sunday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch.13501 South Shore Blvd • Wellington, Florida 33414 • 561.784.5833

WelliDeliPWTW6.28.13.indd 2 6/24/13 11:22 AM

Town-Crier Newspaper August 2, 2013

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Transcript of Town-Crier Newspaper August 2, 2013