Category Archives: Feature Stories

Wellington The Magazine, LLC Featured Articles

International Polo Club Welcomes Returning Sponsors And An Ever-Increasing New Group Of Luxury Brands

International Polo Club Welcomes Returning Sponsors And An Ever-Increasing New Group Of Luxury Brands

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO

The International Polo Club Palm Beach will begin its season on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, and is supported once again by a host of sponsors dedicated to the continuation and success of polo in the United States.

Since IPC first opened, it has been a staple in the polo community, attracting spectators, top international players and enthusiasts alike from around the globe to the heart of Wellington.

The prestigious cachet of the International Polo Club has become a coveted brand, attracting luxury sponsors seeking to align with the exclusive lifestyle personified by the elite sport.

Palm Beach is a legendary winter retreat for high-profile corporate giants, jet setters and scene-makers. Combine these signature traits with the passion, performance, sportsmanship and sophistication of Sunday polo, and you have an unbeatable partnership of titans.

“When luxury brands sponsor a high-profile sporting event, they choose one that will exemplify and elevate their image. This enables them to reach target markets with messages that resonate with their clientele,” said Mark Bellissimo, who purchased the polo club at the close of the 2016 season. “IPC embodies the messages that elite brands align themselves with: tradition, elegance, high performance, unparalleled quality and an inspiring sense of style.”

Partners seek maximum visibility, impact and exclusivity. Customized polo sponsorship packages include a variety of elements, such as tournament underwriting, media exposure, polo team and player awards, signage, onsite events and a prominent product presence at polo matches or special promotions. Social media has exploded, and savvy brands are also focusing on driving digital activation campaigns and creating a dynamic online presence.

The lineup of sponsorships for 2017 at IPC is impressive, with many loyal sponsors returning and new ones coming on board, as well as many more still in discussion. Here is what you can expect to see this polo season:

Engel & Völkers has renewed its naming rights for Field 1, the championship field in front of the grandstand, where Sunday’s featured matches and tournament finals are held.

Wellington Regional Medical Center returns as the official hospital partner for the winter polo season. This year, WRMC is sponsoring the Kids’ Fun Zone, which in 2017 will be open free for children. It will offer fun activities such as coloring, face-painting and other activities.

Veuve Clicquot maintains its position as the official champagne at IPC. A new Veuve Clicquot Champagne Garden at the Pavilion will be open to the public.

Seminole Coconut Creek Casino returns as the sponsor of the Coco Polo Lounge at the Pavilion. You can buy a brunch ticket on the IPC web site and upgrade the experience to the Coco Polo Lounge.

The United States Polo Association, which is the governing body of the sport in this country, and U.S. Polo Assn., its global licensing entity, are sponsoring several of the highest-level polo tournaments (26 goals) in the United States at IPC. Among them are the USPA Gold Cup and the USPA U.S. Open Polo Championship.

On the stadium side of the field, anyone with a general admission ticket is welcome to enjoy food items and specialty drinks at the Ketel One Kitchen, sponsored by Ketel One Vodka.

Additional 2017 sponsors include: AIG Private Client Group, FIPA Group, the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Lugano Diamonds and The Wall Street Journal.

Visit www.internationalpoloclub.com for more information, ticketing and sponsorship inquiries.

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IPC’s Chef William Sellner Cooks It Up With Love At Children’s Home Society Benefit

IPC’s Chef William Sellner Cooks It Up With Love At Children’s Home Society Benefit

By Kayla Anderson

Hosts and chefs recently gathered in some of Palm Beach’s most breathtaking homes for an event to benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida. The International Polo Club Palm Beach and its executive chef, William Sellner, participated in “The Ultimate Dinner Party” on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The 24th annual event raised more than $250,000 for Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable children.

“The event was incredible,” Sellner said. “It’s so important to the club and me to donate our time and food toward this wonderful cause. The proceeds help children in the system have the opportunity to be adopted into loving families.”

Sellner became involved with the event when one of his purveyors asked him to come along and lend a helping hand. After his first dinner party, the chef knew that this was a cause he wanted to support.

Involving IPC was the next step, and the club was happy to help. IPC and Sellner partnered with the Children’s Home Society as a major partner in Palm Beach County to donate time and food.

The evening began with a cocktail party at the magnificent Palm Beach home of Jeff and Mei Sze Greene. Following cocktails, guests divided into more intimate groups, where they enjoyed custom creations by Sellner and other top chefs. He and other professional chef members of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Culinary Foundation planned and prepared a four-course meal for the hosts and their guests.

Hosts included Mr. and Mrs. Leo Vecellio, Ross Meltzer and Victor Figueredo, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Greene, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Virginia Mortara, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Beaty, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. David Dreman, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Allinson, and Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lazzara. Guests included Raysa and Alfie Fanjul, Joel Pashcow, Pam and Peter Dupuis, Michael and Annie Falk, Carol Jaeger and Douglas Jencks, Michele and Howard Kessler, Carolyn Grace, and Tony and Vanessa Beyer.

The event’s honorary chairs were Tom Quick and Susan Miller. They were supported by epicurean advisors JoAnna Myers, Pam Dupuis, Tiffany Cloutier, Marzia Precoda, Holly Dreman and Afsy Pottash. The platinum benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessler. Gold benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Dupuis, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Grace, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Beyer, and Pine Creek Sporting Club and Myers Auto of Palm Beach. The media sponsor was Palm Beach Illustrated, and the invitation sponsor was Christofle.

The event has raised more than $4 million since its inception 24 years ago. The money benefits the more than 17,000 vulnerable children and family members that the organization serves in Palm Beach County each year.

“We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the American Culinary Federation,” said Rachel Spillane, special events coordinator for the Home Society. “The event’s success wouldn’t be possible without the time, talent and resources donated by Palm Beach area chefs from properties such as the International Polo Club, the Jupiter Beach Resort and the Breakers. We are honored by our partnership and look forward to the continued positive impact we’ll have on children and families in Palm Beach County.”

The Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Since 1902, the society has offered services that help break the cycle of abuse in families, heal pain for traumatized children and guide teens to successfully transition into adulthood to create strong, loving families.

“The Ultimate Dinner Party” is the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s signature event, taking place in Palm Beach’s most luxurious homes.

“As a chef, it’s the part of life where you need to feed your soul in order to feed others,” Sellner said. “Giving that positivity out there, especially to organizations in need, is such a great thing.”

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Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W Returns To Wellington Feb. 2-5

Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W Returns To Wellington Feb. 2-5

By Taylor Renner

In 2016, the picturesque Deeridge Farms, owned by Jeremy and Margaret Jacobs, opened its gates to a new, prestigious equestrian event in the Wellington community. Bringing together top athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level of show jumping, the event was a great success for the equestrian community.

The Palm Beach Masters, formerly known as the Wellington Masters, will return to the winter equestrian capital of the world Feb. 2-5, 2017. This year, show organizers are looking forward to putting on an even bigger and better event as it continues to grow in popularity and bring together the best of the best.

The Palm Beach Masters is once again designated a CSI3*-W event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and will play host to the 12th Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League qualifying event — one of 14 within the league — leading up to one of the year’s most highly anticipated competitions in show jumping, the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha, Neb., in March.

Wellington has historically held a World Cup qualifying event at the Winter Equestrian Festival, but in 2015, a conflict hindered the show’s ability to further host a leg of the competition. With no host venue, it looked as though Wellington might lose the event in 2016. However, the Jacobs family, longtime Wellington residents, stepped up and offered their 300-acre estate to stage the event in order to keep the qualifier in Wellington.

“I think it’s wonderful being able to keep the event in Wellington,” Louis Jacobs said. “It actually improves the equestrian community in Wellington because you get those extra competitors who may be competing somewhere else during the season to come to Wellington for the week to get World Cup points. From what I understand, the entries even went up at the Winter Equestrian Festival during last year’s event, just because there was increased interest and concentration in the market.”

Louis is proud that his family has been able to help. “It means the world to us to have a World Cup qualifier in Wellington,” he said. “That’s why we stepped up and raised our hand to host it and, as the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we like that.”

Wellington is world-renowned for top-tier equestrian sport, and the Palm Beach Masters will build on the success of the inaugural 2016 event to become established as a premier, stand-alone international show jumping competition in the United States.

“This event is special to me for a lot of reasons,” Charlie Jacobs said. “One, first and foremost, it’s my family’s farm, so there’s a bit of nostalgia there, having been on that property for more than 30 years — since 1980. Seeing it all come together as it did last year for the first time was incredible. We received a great deal of positive feedback from the exhibitors and spectators, but this year, we’re working to improve the venue and event on all levels.”

A number of changes were made at Deeridge Farms for this year’s event.

“We completely re-did our grass field and the drainage system with the idea being that if we were to get another 4 inches of rain, like we did last year the night before the competition, we would still be able to use the grass ring,” Charlie said. “We also expanded the all-weather footing arena so it’s almost double the size of what it was last year. We also had a two-story, 60-meter VIP tent last year, and we were overwhelmed, frankly, with the great feedback regarding not only the seating and the views, but also the hospitality. So this year, we ordered an 80-meter tent, and we expect it will also have a third story to accommodate judges and announcers. We’re looking forward to the event, and we’re very excited for this upcoming season.”

Charlie, who is president of the event with his brother Louis, will also be competing in this year’s event in an effort to collect valuable World Cup ranking points. Charlie traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden, and represented the United States at the 2016 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals and hopes to do the same in 2017.

“I aspire to go to the finals in Omaha,” he said. “I was in Gothenburg last year and, from what I’ve been told, it will be radically different with the venue and size of the ring. I think my horse would be well-suited for it. I’d love to go given the opportunity, and hopefully we earn enough points to make the trip.”

A total of 14 athletes from the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League will qualify for the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Omaha from March 29 through April 2. The top seven athletes from the East Coast sub league and top three from the West Coast sub league, plus the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico, will qualify for the final, alongside winners from 14 other leagues around the world.

Following last year’s success, the Palm Beach Masters invites riders, owners and equestrian fans to once again return to scenic Deeridge Farms during the first week of February to experience shopping, socializing and equestrian sport at an exclusive, stunning and appropriate setting fit for a world-class show jumping event.

“I would hope that everybody who comes has a wonderful experience,” said Katie Jacobs-Robinson, sister of Charlie and Louis and a successful amateur hunter rider. “We really design the process around the horse and the welfare of the horse as the number-one priority. We do limit the entries because we want to preserve the safety and sanctity of the competition itself, but we also hope the people who come really enjoy themselves and the experience as a whole.”

For more information about the Palm Beach Masters, visit www.palmbeachmasters.com.

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Polo Is A Way Of Life For Wellington’s Bollini Family

Polo Is A Way Of Life For Wellington’s Bollini Family

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Polo is a sport that tends to run in families — large, extended families where grandfathers, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, uncles and cousins play, or have played, this sport of kings, where horse and rider barrel down the field with mallet in hand to score a goal.

For Wellington’s Bollini family, polo isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. It’s part of their culture and part of their family. It isn’t a sport they just play, it is part of who they are.

“It was something that was natural,” Juan Bollini Sr. said. “Polo, for us, I’d say, it’s in our blood.”

In Argentina, polo is a family tradition on Juan Sr.’s mother’s side. He was born in Buenos Aires and spent a lot of time on the family farm playing polo with his uncles and cousins. His professional polo career, however, started later than for most. He attended university, worked at a bank for seven years, and was invited to play polo in the Wellington area in 1985.

“Since then, I have been lucky enough to have a good relationship with the patrons, and I started playing with Rolex and the Oxley family,” he said. “Now I’m with the Ganzis.”

Juan Sr.’s wife, Cecilia, has also taken her turn with the mallet. She competed before their children — Mariana, 26; Juan Jr., 20; and Santos, 17 — were born.

“I love riding, and I love horses,” said Cecilia, who prefers to stay on the sidelines nowadays.

Mariana, who lives and works full-time in Argentina, also played polo for a while before choosing a different direction. Her brothers, however, are thriving in the sport.

Polo players are ranked on a scale from -3 to 10, with few players reaching anywhere near the coveted 10-goal status. Juan Sr., who is currently ranked with a 5-goal handicap, was once ranked at 8 goals. Juan Jr. is already ranked with a 3-goal handicap and considered a professional polo player. Santos, still in high school, isn’t far behind, with a 0-goal handicap.

Juan Jr. was introduced to the sport at a young age thanks to his family when they were living in Argentina. “We would go to the farm on the weekends and play with my cousins, my uncles and my dad,” he recalled. “That’s how I started.”

During breaks from school, Juan Jr. would come to the United States and play in youth polo tournaments. “It’s the part of the family tradition that got me into polo,” he said.

When he isn’t on the polo fields, or at the barn, Juan Jr. is studying international business and trade at Florida Atlantic University. The sport, and his father, have taught him to never give up and play as hard as he can every time he’s on the field. He is applying that same lesson to his education.

Other sports have caught Juan Jr.’s eye, such as tennis and soccer, but polo has always been his top priority.

For Santos, polo is also a way of life.

“It has always been around. It’s just the way I grew up. I love it. It’s the sport that I’ve been practicing my whole life,” he said.

Santos attends Wellington High School and is low-key about his life on the field. Only his close friends know he is an avid polo player.

Perpetuating the family tradition is one of the important aspects of polo for the Bollinis.

“It’s something that the entire family can enjoy, between the being outside, and the horses and the game,” Juan Sr. said. “Polo is such a great sport, because you can play so many different levels. There’s a level for everyone.”

It’s a sport that he can share with his family, playing with his sons and enjoying the beautiful weather that South Florida and Argentina have to offer.

“It’s something that keeps the family together,” Juan Sr. said. “You spend a lot of time in the game. You spend a lot of time in the barn. You talk about it.”

What people often don’t realize, Juan Sr. explained, is that there is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes, caring for the horses and working with the horses.

“It’s a passion,” he said. “It’s a way of life.”

Polo is also a sport that keeps families together. There’s a lot of traveling and time spent with other polo families. As a 30-year professional polo player, Juan Sr. is thankful to the Ganzis, who own the Grand Champions Polo Club and the Aspen Valley Polo Club. Through his association with them, he has been able to work, and play, with his sons.

Playing with their father is important to Juan Jr. and Santos.

“Playing with my family is something that few people get to experience, even though it is a family-oriented sport,” Juan Jr. said. “Playing in tournaments and playing competitively with your family, that’s something even greater. That’s something that out of all of the people who play polo, not many of them get to experience, just because of the age difference or the handicap difference. It’s something that you really value when you’re on the field with your brother, or your dad.”

Having a built-in support system is advantageous for players, including for Santos, a rare left-handed player in a sport played with the right hand.

“Playing polo with my dad, with my family, makes it easier for me, for us. Not only do we have a mentor 24/7 at home, even when we’re not on the fields, but also it makes us feel way more comfortable when we are on the field, because it’s your dad and your brother,” Santos said. “You still want to try your hardest, but you’re in a comfortable state where you can perform well.”

With Grand Champions as their home club, the Bollinis are able to play with many different players. “Being part of such a large group, you have a variety of possibilities for teams,” Cecilia said.

She offers her support from the sidelines, juggling a career as a community health worker with her equestrian family life.

“I facilitate workshops for nonprofits to help manage people with chronic conditions, and diabetes, especially the older adults and Hispanics,” Cecilia said. “We’ve been traveling for polo for all our married life, so I’m accustomed to it. It’s a part of our lifestyle.”

For Cecilia and her family, Wellington has always been a comfortable place to be.

“Having come here so many years, now we’re living here, it has always been a very comfortable town to come to as a foreigner,” she said. “We always felt at home.”

Part of that is knowing so many people in the wider polo community.

“The people who live here all year-round are very open and welcoming to those who come seasonally and those who choose to live here year-round,” Cecilia said.

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Brandon Phillips Brings Lessons From The Polo Field To Philanthropy

Brandon Phillips Brings Lessons From The Polo Field To Philanthropy

STORY BY MELANIE OTERO • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO

Brandon Phillips approaches philanthropy the same way he does the polo field: Surround yourself with a great team, make it fun and bring your competitive spirit.

It’s a philosophy that the Wellington resident and world-renowned polo professional has followed for the past four years as the founder and honorary chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Polo for a Purpose event. Always believing he can do more, Phillips has helped grow the event from a luncheon that raised $60,000 in 2013 to a full day of events that raised six times that amount — $360,000 — in 2016.

He is determined that this year’s Jan. 16 event at the International Polo Club Palm Beach will best a half-million dollars and attract an even greater number of guests.

The program begins at noon with a luncheon, silent and live auctions and a cocktail reception. At 3 p.m., the grounds of the venue will open for scheduled family-friendly activities, and at 4 p.m., there will be a concert by Gipsy Sound Revolution.

One of Phillips’ first experiences that drew him to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was personal. As a survivor of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that struck at age 14, Phillips was asked by LLS to talk to a Boca Raton boy named Bruce Steinberg who was going through recovery. Steinberg wanted to meet a professional athlete. What he found in Phillips was a lifelong friend.

The two first met at Phillips’ stable in Wellington. As Steinberg admired the horses, the survivors discovered they were like-minded in how they fought their cancer battles.

“I see so much of myself in Bruce when I was his age,” Phillips said. “We both have very positive attitudes and know that this disease is a hurdle we just need to jump. Our outlook during treatment was more about how it interfered with our sports and the good time we were having as teenagers. We never thought about dying.”

Although Phillips travels extensively as a polo professional, he always makes time for Steinberg when he’s home for the winter in Wellington. In between, the two stay connected through texts and social media.

Philips also makes sure that Steinberg is always involved in Polo for a Purpose. “We’ve made Bruce an honorary member of our team,” Phillips said. “He’s our fifth player.”

Phillips’ relationship with Steinberg and his first Polo for a Purpose event were what made him break his silence about his childhood cancer.

“It took me a while to accept this role,” he said. “After I was sick, I didn’t want to speak to anyone. When I turned 30, I decided to see what I could do to help.”

He has kept his word. In just four years, Phillips has created a wildly successful and popular charitable event in a county that is home to countless fundraisers. He is very aware that the event must be different, fun and more exciting every year to keep attendance and support growing.

“It’s no different from competitive polo,” Phillips noted. “We have to top ourselves every year.”

Phillips is quick to credit the team around him — co-chairs P.J. Rizvi, Visse Wedell and Penny Bradley, and LLS Executive Director Pam Payne — who challenge each other to make the event a memorable experience for people of any age or income bracket.

Rizvi used her connections to take the event to the next level this year by inviting Gipsy Sound Revolution — a reincarnation of the Gipsy Kings with several of the original band members — to perform after the match. And throughout the day, the co-chairs have arranged for the grounds to be filled with activities for families. A kids’ zone, ice cream trucks and face painting are just some of the activities planned.

“We really want people to enjoy themselves,” Phillips said, adding that for $40, guests can spend the day at the polo club, watch an exciting match and stay for an amazing concert.

For those wishing to make a larger contribution, there will be a gourmet luncheon with silent and live auctions before the four-on-four high-goal polo match.

Seating for the luncheon is limited and nearly sold out. The cost for the polo match and concert is $40 per person, and tailgate tents holding up to 10 people with admission to the concert cost $400.

Polo for a Purpose is just as fun for Phillips as he hopes it is for attendees. It’s a homecoming of sorts for him, and a way to give back the community that embraced him.

He started his professional polo career in Wellington at 17, and his teammates are top players who trained together in their late teens.

“We lived together, fought with each other and worked our way up from the bottom together as we were becoming professionals,” Phillips said.

Phillips sees another type of camaraderie in the stands as his team plays. The entire six-row front section of the stadium is given to children fighting cancer and their families. “To just be a kid, have fun and experience something new and exciting like polo means everything to these children,” Phillips said.

If he had his wish, cancer never would ail another child. He’s proud that the money raised from the event will go toward research for blood cancer cures and patient support in Palm Beach County.

“An important part of our funding goes toward families who have a child with cancer and can’t afford the travel and other expenses they incur as they’re going across the state or the country trying to save their son’s or daughter’s life,” Phillips said.

Saving lives through research is why LLS exists, said Payne, executive director of the Palm Beach area chapter.

“Forty percent of the drugs in the FDA pipeline approval are for blood cancers to help keep people alive, thrive and have a life like Brandon’s,” she said. “Children who have cancer look at Brandon and see an amazing athlete who was once where they are now. It’s hard to find enough words to express how grateful we are to him for his work toward a world without blood cancer.”

Phillips’ competitive spirit comes through when he reflects on his work for LLS.

“I always want to do better,” he said. “That’s the attitude I try to pass along to kids — winning is everything, it’s the only thing, especially when the game is your life. You have to think of the future and do what you have to do. It’s a test from God. You have to pass. You have to win.”

If you ask any of the kids rooting for Phillips, they’ll tell you he already has.

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Polo for a Purpose event, call (561) 616-8682, e-mail events@poloforapurpose.org or visit www.poloforapurpose.org.  

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Top Jock Tack Boxes Building Irish Roots In Wellington

Top Jock Tack Boxes Building Irish Roots In Wellington

By Taylor Renner

For any equestrian business, there is no better place to be during the winter season than Wellington. At the start of each new year, Wellington transforms into an international hub for all things equestrian. With so many opportunities to promote and expand his business within such a niche market for four months, Top Jock Tack Boxes founder Joseph Moran has decided to make Wellington his company’s seasonal home.

Originally from Galway, Ireland, Moran started Top Jock Tack Boxes in 2012. After a successful first year building tack boxes for customers across Ireland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany, Top Jock Tack Boxes expanded stateside and is currently based in New York. The company’s innovative, custom boxes have become a must-have item among top riders, such as international show jumpers Shane Sweetnam, Schuyler Riley, Jonathan and Christine McCrea, and McLain Ward, as well as top dressage rider and trainer Douglas Puterbaugh, to name a few.

Top Jock Tack Boxes brings both quality and functionality with completely customizable, luxury tack boxes built specifically for equestrian athletes. Any size, color and layout can be designed with custom interior configurations and high-definition exterior graphics, along with solid oak engraved panels to feature personalized branding options, such as an athlete’s sponsors, country, web site, stable or other details.

Durable, weatherproof and beautifully crafted, a Top Jock Tack Box makes a great first impression, is practical and, most importantly, protects the owner’s valuable equipment.

“I know a lot of Irish people who are based in Wellington, and they all tell me it’s the place to be during the winter,” Moran said. “That’s where most of the major farms go, and with the products that we sell, from an equestrian business point-of-view, it was imperative for me to be there as well.”

Moran has known about Wellington and the Winter Equestrian Festival for years.

“I saw a lot of posts from WEF through social media,” he said. “I always knew WEF was the biggest show around, and it was definitely a show that I wanted to attend. Last year was our first year at WEF. It was definitely very beneficial for Top Jock Tack Boxes. We got sales from the show and made valuable connections within the top levels of the sport. We loved the whole experience. More than anything, it was just about being there and experiencing it all.”

For Moran, being able to connect and see firsthand an inside perspective into the lives of top riders from around the globe while in Wellington helps him cater his products to fit his customers’ needs.

“Last year, I had the opportunity to tour a couple of top equestrian facilities in Wellington,” he said. “Being able to see the different farms and layouts and the quality of the facilities — it really helps me to develop my products. When I get to see their barns and talk with the riders, I learn a lot about what they’d like to see or have at their barns. There are always a lot of ideas being thrown around, and it’s so beneficial for me because I might see things I haven’t seen before and get new ideas for products.”

Growth within the local Irish equestrian community also sparked Moran’s interest in coming to Wellington. Over the past few years, top Irish riders have established home bases in Wellington, such as show jumpers Shane Sweetnam, Darragh Kenny and Richie Moloney.

“It’s nice to be able to meet up with some of the Irish people in Wellington during season,” Moran said. “There’s a huge Irish community, and they’re all willing to help in any way they can by referring us to other people and telling them to have a look at our products and explaining who we are.”

This year, Moran has even bigger plans to take advantage of his time in Wellington with Top Jock Tack Boxes, providing top-of-the-line bespoke tack boxes to equestrian enthusiasts and athletes alike.

“We’re a lot more organized and prepared this year, with it being our second year,” Moran said. “2017 will be our first full, proper year at WEF and in Wellington during the winter. From that point of view, I very much look forward to it, and I expect it to be a successful season. More people know who we are and what we do now, so I think it’s going to be an even better experience for us this year.”

To learn more about Top Jock Tack Boxes, visit www.topjocktackboxes.com or contact Moran at enquiries@topjocktackboxes.com or (845) 269-9888.

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Creative Collaboration Creates Great Designs At Jeffrey Aaron

Creative Collaboration Creates Great Designs At Jeffrey Aaron

By Julie Unger

Jeffrey Aaron Inc. is the creative collaboration between general contractor Jeffrey Russell and interior design specialist Aaron Coen.

The partnership began when Jeffrey installed cabinets and did a bathroom renovation for Aaron. “I was shopping for the products and having Jeff install them. That was in 2007,” Aaron recalled.

In 2009, they worked together to completely redo a rental home in Wellington. Later, when a friend purchased a home, Aaron and Jeffrey worked together to make the home more fluid. “That was the first time I had done spatial change with Jeff,” Aaron said.

It was at that point that they knew a unique partnership was in the making. That idea was solidified when working on a complete overhaul of a 1929 Quaker farmhouse in Pennsylvania.

In 2012, they were sitting on a porch and discussed the possibility of working together. “Jeff came to me and said, ‘I can build a really good box all day long because it’s the cheapest way to do it and it’s the fastest way to get out. You can take a box, manipulate it and do something completely different that I would never even consider,’” Aaron recalled.

Aaron, a dressage rider, isn’t formally trained in design, which, as he points out, is a strength. It’s the difference between knowing how to deal with a sick horse in the middle of the night versus having read about how to do it, he explained.

“Even with fabrics, having gone to college and earning a degree in animal science, I know more about cotton than any book could tell me,” Aaron said.

Jeffrey started remodeling older homes in the northeast, then moved to Florida and continued his home remodeling business.

In July 2012, Jeffrey Aaron Inc. officially came to be.

“Our approach is ‘Do it once, do it right, do it your best,’” Aaron said.

Seeing how thrilled clients are once the job is done, Jeffrey said, makes all the effort worthwhile. They know they’ve done a great job when clients refer Jeffrey Aaron to their friends.

“It’s so hard to find a good contractor,” Jeffrey said. “They’re just overwhelmed with joy. It’s great.”

During a project, Aaron said, it is imperative to sit down with someone to figure out a design plan, “to find out people’s wants, likes and dislikes,” he said.

“That’s where you start, and then you come up with ideas. Then I’ll present them with pictures. ‘Would you go for this?’ The reason why they’re reaching out? They don’t have the vision to see the end result,” he said. “To give them something to look at to get a protocol is the best-case scenario. It’s very personal.”

Jeffrey suggests that clients stop for a moment and live in their home as-is, observe where the sun hits, and what sort of things need attention. Living in the home, taking the time to get to know the nuances of how the house works, is important.

“Let’s talk about how you live and what you do,” Jeffrey said.

Six months is a good amount of time to get to know a home, he said.

One of the goals at Jeffrey Aaron is for people to feel comfortable in the space, for them to understand the project and truly feel at home. It’s personal, and Jeffrey and Aaron want clients to feel like they can come to them for anything.

They specialize in kitchen and bathroom renovations — the things that add value to a home and can make or break a house sale — as well as remodeling and design.

Part of what makes these projects special, Aaron said, is that you’re giving the place a fresh start, and there’s always an end to the project. Knowing that the client will be happy in the end is everything. “For someone to get exactly what they want, in their budget, is totally awesome,” he said.

One of the amazing things with interior design is that similar cabinets, countertops and accessories can be used for every budget. It’s the same basic product, and same approach, regardless of what the project budget is. For example, they redid an entire kitchen’s cabinets for $7,000, and it cost less than if the cabinets were purchased new elsewhere.

Among the trends that Aaron has noticed is that different generations are going to the Internet to learn about design and are requesting “double-word” decorating. For example, now clients ask for “modern coastal.” This gives the design two goals to meet.

Jeffrey Aaron stays away from a signature design look and instead lets the client’s needs determine the look.

“Whoever calls, you need to go there and give them what they ask for,” Aaron said. “I’ll normally tell Jeff what I want, and he’ll tell me how he can make it happen.”

Jeffrey enjoys learning how the homeowners live, and then taking a customized approach to fit their needs. Making the home ergonomic, neat and personalized, is special, he said.

“The planning is the most important part,” Jeffrey said.

Considering clients’ heights, or whether they are left handed or right handed, and adjusting things accordingly, Jeffrey is able to work with the owner and make their ideas come to fruition.

In this way, Jeffrey Aaron is able to transform a house into the client’s dream home.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” Aaron said. “Our motto is ‘making your house your home.’ You go through the stages, and it becomes yours. It’s very personal. Jeff handles the building contractor end of everything. I am the middle man for making appointments with subcontractors and getting them out there… and, of course, the decorating.”

For anyone looking to have the assistance of a design company, Aaron suggests sitting down with the designers, getting to know the space and not leaving any stones unturned. Designers should know the local codes and be able to offer a wealth of knowledge, he added.

Jeffrey Aaron’s showroom is located at 3220 Fairlane Farms Road, Suites 7 and 8, in Wellington. Appointments can be made by calling (561) 676-0540 or e-mailing contact@jaimpressions.com. For more info., visit www.jaimpressions.com.

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Trent Frazier Dominates The Basketball Court At Wellington High School

Trent Frazier Dominates The Basketball Court At Wellington High School

Story by Y.A. Teitelbaum • Photos by Gene Nardi

Trent Frazier is easily recognizable on and off the basketball court. On the court, the Wellington High School guard is generally acknowledged as the most talented player in school history. The slender 6-foot-2, 170-pound varsity star is equally adept showing off his signature left-handed jumper from the corner or a dribble-drive through three defenders to get to the rim.

On Nov. 9, the lightning-fast Frazier signed his national letter of intent to play for the University of Illinois in the physical Big Ten Conference.

Frazier has been working hard to improve his game, especially his scoring. Heading into his final year, he had scored 887 points, and at his current pace will likely finish among the school’s all-time leading scorers.

As a sophomore, Wellington won the Class 8A state title 57-56 over Oviedo’s Hagerty High School in 2015 when Frazier sank the winning free throw with one second remaining. As a junior, Wellington lost in the regional final to eventual state champion Coral Springs High School in double overtime.

Frazier started his senior season in style, scoring 43 points, including the game-winner on a tip-in of a teammate’s missed free throw. His quickness with the ball and burst on his first step allows him to easily defeat defenses. How far the Wolverines advance in the playoffs in February remains to be seen. But his legacy is secure.

“Trent is a joy to be around,” said Wellington head coach Matt Colin, whose team amassed a 54-8 record over the last two seasons heading into Frazier’s senior year. “He’s a great kid; he works hard. He’s the first one in and last one out. I have to kick him out of the gym.”

Off the court, Frazier approached his senior season sporting an Odell Beckham Jr. hairstyle — the so-called burst-and-fade with the longer top dyed blonde.

“I like to dance, and because he likes to dance [after a touchdown], and I saw the hair, and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s cool and interesting.’ So, I decided to do it,” Frazier explained of his summer decision. “If he changes [his hairstyle], I don’t know about that. I like this style.”

Frazier, who is the second oldest of four children, moved to Wellington from Boynton Beach about three years ago with his parents. His mother is a medical assistant at MD Now and his father is a chef at Salt7 in Delray Beach.

“The biggest thing I learned from my parents is hard work,” Frazier said. “They work really hard for us. They’ve been together a long time. It has been a blessing… Coming up, we really didn’t have a lot of money. They would work two jobs.”

Frazier smiles when talking about his slight frame and wonders why he doesn’t weigh more because of his father’s skills in the kitchen.

“Nah, I can’t cook; I’ll burn up some macaroni,” laughed Frazier, whose nickname is “TF.” “I don’t eat a lot. I need to get more food in my body. Actually I eat a lot, it’s just my body. I think I play too much basketball. It’s just weird.”

He is close to his family.

“My little brother, he loves to cook, he bakes cakes all the time, the kid’s good,” Frazier said. “He’s got my dad’s abilities. I’m really a mama’s boy. I love my mom. I go to my mom for anything.”

Frazier’s father, Rondell, played basketball at Santaluces High School and started his son at age five. By 13, he was playing against much older competition and receiving tough love from his dad.

“I was a little harder on him, so he would go to his mom,” Rondell Frazier admitted.

But the two have a very good relationship and usually share a post-game hug on the court.

Like many athletes, Frazier enjoys following a routine, whether it’s during practice or a game. His pregame routine includes dancing with his teammates to loud music in the locker room.

“That’s fun; it gets our blood rushing,” said Frazier, who said his favorite artists are Britney Spears and Lady Gaga.

He also takes time for a prayer before going onto the court.

“Having God by my side is an extra hand. He helps me a lot. The skills and talents he gave me. I just pray before the game. It gives me a lot of strength,” Frazier said.

Once on the court, with his good luck long-sleeved white T-shirt under his jersey, Frazier shoots until he hits a three-pointer to get his “rhythm and flow going” before heading to the huddle.

“The long-sleeved T-shirt, that’s my tradition. I have to wear that,” Frazier said. “The first game when I tried it on, I had an amazing game. I’ve worn it ever since, the same one every game.”

Another routine is his pre-game meal — three double cheeseburgers and sweet tea that his father prepares for him.

“He was a very picky eater,” Rondell Frazier said.

Frazier is looking forward to going to college, although he has some trepidation because of the cold-weather climate up north. In high school, Frazier enjoys his economics class but said history is his favorite.

“I’ve got nothing warm to wear, not right now,” Frazier said. “I’ve never seen snow before. I’ll get used to it. I can’t wait to get up there.”

Frazier turned 18 on Sept. 8 and his friends took him out to dinner, where he enjoyed one of his favorite meals, a cheeseburger.

“It’s just a blessing to make it another year,” Frazier said. “Moving to Wellington was the biggest move of my life. It was pretty rough down there [in Boynton Beach], growing up and living in the projects. I didn’t go outside; I stayed inside with my family. I don’t like the violent stuff, so I stayed to myself and focused on basketball. It was a great change for me and my parents.”

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Brooke USA Ambassador Visits Nonprofit’s Project In Guatemala

Brooke USA Ambassador Visits Nonprofit’s Project In Guatemala

Story by Sarah Harper

Photos courtesy Enrique Urdaneta Photography

At the heart of Nic Roldan’s life as a professional polo player is his love of horses. While his polo ponies live in equine luxury, Roldan is acutely aware that many horses, donkeys and mules around the world do not share such a comfortable existence.

This dichotomy is what compelled him last year to become an ambassador for Brooke USA, the American fundraising arm of Brooke, the largest international equine welfare organization dedicated to improving the lives of working equines in the poorest countries of the world, and the communities that depend on them.

Since joining Brooke USA as an ambassador, Roldan has worked to raise money and awareness about the plight of working equines around the world. Last March, he hosted Nic Roldan’s Sunset Polo & White Party, which raised more than $140,000 for Brooke USA, and the annual event will return on March 24, 2017 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington.

In September, the Wellington resident traveled to Guatemala to experience firsthand Brooke’s commitment to improving the lives of working equines. Roldan spent seven days in Guatemala visiting communities in the Zacapa and Quiche regions, seeing for himself the work that Brooke Guatemala/ESAP is conducting.

“I was blown away by the number of people who rely on their donkeys to carry their essentials, such as wood, water and other goods,” Roldan said. “It was an emotional experience to see how these people live, how proud they are and how enthused they are to learn. It was truly inspirational. It was amazing to see where the funds that Brooke USA raises are being used.”

Most of Guatemala’s large working equine population is used for transporting agricultural products, namely produce and firewood. Reaching working horses, donkeys and mules, and their owners and users, is problematic in much of Guatemala due to the mountainous terrain and remote communities. The geography makes it difficult for animals to receive the necessary healthcare to continue their jobs providing a livelihood for their impoverished owners.

Roldan’s first stop was the mountainous region of Zacapa, located seven hours from the capital of Guatemala City. The team visited two project communities, where a team from Brooke was providing an educational program to local residents on parasites, as well as hands-on practical lessons in equine welfare.

The highland areas of Zacapa are prone to drought. Roldan saw one of the ongoing efforts put in place by Brooke to combat this issue. Brooke provided bags of drought-tolerant grass seed for owners to grow forage for their working equines, even when drought conditions would not normally allow grass to grow. This is just one example of the ways in which Brooke adapts its programs to fit the needs of a specific community.

During a visit to a small mountain community, Roldan got an idea of how difficult the lives of Guatemala’s working equines can be. This community had no local water supply. Donkeys are used to walk down to the river to get water and haul it back. Roldan and Brooke USA’s team completed the hike themselves to experience a day in the life of a donkey.

“We went to visit a man who has three mules he uses to fetch wood,” Roldan recalled. “He was having trouble with one of them, so the Brooke team was helping by teaching him how to handle his mule correctly so that it could be a more useful asset. It’s great to see how they take the time to explain how to handle these working equines correctly.”

Roldan and the Brooke USA team also spent time in Quiche, a community where Brooke has had a long-term presence. This area, roughly five hours northwest of the capital, has a lush alpine landscape and a high level of poverty. In this area, working animals suffer due to poor hoof condition, lameness, high tick infestation and wounds. They met a local man, Don Roberto, who was taught to shoe the working equines of the local community by Brooke.

“Don Roberto remodeled a common pair of pliers into hoof clippers,” Roldan said. “It was great to see the work he did, and how amazing all of Brooke’s field staff are — caring, welcoming, professional. I’m very proud to be a part of this organization.”

Brooke places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of education and how it can positively affect the welfare of the animals and the livelihoods of the owners in an entire community. Brooke’s work has an intense ripple effect, helping not only working equines, but the families who depend on them and the community as a whole.

For Roldan, the trip brought home the importance of the work that Brooke does for working equines around the world and continues to motivate him as he works as a Brooke USA ambassador to raise money and awareness.

To learn more about Brooke USA, visit www.brookeusa.org.

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Wellington Chef Clay Carnes Wins Big On Food Network Show ‘Cutthroat Kitchen’

Wellington Chef Clay Carnes Wins Big On Food Network Show ‘Cutthroat Kitchen’

Story by Deborah Welky • Photos by South Moon Photography

Wellingtonian Clay Carnes is a well-known local chef and social media devotee, and as of this past summer, the winner of Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen: Time Warp Tournament.

Season after season, those of us who struggle in the kitchen watch in awe as competing chefs on Cutthroat Kitchen prepare fabulous meals while handicapped by missing ingredients, ridiculously inadequate cooking surfaces or challenges like having potato mashers strapped to their hands. All the obstacles in their way have been “purchased” at auction by their rivals with limited budgets.

None of this fazed Carnes, however.

“You have to remember that there’s a whole crew behind these devious ideas,” he explained. “Two or three people think up these crazy props, but there’s a whole team of guys who build them to spec, and then they test them with a culinary team. So, there’s always a way out with everything. Even if the task looks impossible, there’s a way. It’s up to you to figure out the key to making it work.”

Carnes, who was contacted by the Food Network after they viewed one of his food-inspired Instagram videos, flew to Los Angeles for a “Time Warp” competition that spanned four decades — the 1950s through the 1980s — to culminate with a finale set in the 1990s. “1950s” contestants had to make an all-American breakfast — while stuffed in a phone booth. “1960s” chefs had to prep Chicken Kiev — on protest signs. The “1980s” were required to make a toaster pastry while playing a giant video game.

Carnes starred in the “1970s” show, which required creating crêpes suzette while dressed as a disco ball and making hamburger macaroni and cheese while riding a banana seat bicycle — with two other chefs on board.

“They were feisty, man,” said Carnes of the two female chefs who shared his ride. “We had to split our time while preparing our stuff. So, I’m competing against them, but we’re all on the same bike!”

Once he won the 1970s episode, Carnes headed to the finale, which pitted the four decade winners against each other. Savvy competitor that he is, Carnes spent time watching the previously aired episodes, looking for strengths and weaknesses in his rivals.

“I didn’t know how to size them up. They’d all won before, and they were all pretty good chefs,” Carnes said. “It was hard, but on that show, you need to be a quick thinker. I had watched their episodes, and it was the ladies I was nervous about. The guy was kind of a goofball. But I did my research.”

The “1990s” required Carnes to dress as a member of a boy band to make BBQ chicken pizza, share a ship’s bow while he and a rival created fried calamari, and navigate a physically challenging DoubleDare-type obstacle course of desserts.

A combination of wicked cooking skills, plus mindful auction budgeting that allowed him to strategically handicap the other competitors, was what won him the game.

“You need to be incredibly good at making something out of nothing,” said Carnes, who wasn’t necessarily talking about ingredients. “The kitchen is 100 percent like you see on TV. They have everything you could dream of needing, very cool; the pantry is stocked very much on point with what you see as a viewer. But I would tell anyone going on the show to worry less about how good a cook you are and to concentrate more on being a problem-solver. Forget about what you know already — it won’t matter if your knife is sharp. Worry less about what they’re judging you on and more on, ‘Can I get out of here alive?’”

Is Cutthroat Kitchen truly that challenging? And is host Alton Brown as intimidating as he tries to appear?

“He’s so smart,” Carnes said. “If you follow his history, he’s a bundle of knowledge. He’s really awesome. But there, in the studio, you get an evil vibe about him. The show is definitely what it seems. It’s the real deal.”

Riding a banana-seat bicycle and cooking his way through an obstacle course were the furthest things from Carnes’ mind when, at age 12, he took a job as a dishwasher. However, as he spent day after day watching food preparations, he knew that he had found his calling. He attended the French Culinary Institute and ALMA/La Scuola Internazionale Di Cucina Italiana. Upon graduation, he was hired as chef de cuisine at Palm Beach’s Cucina Dell’Arte, where he learned real European cooking techniques.

“At that point, I knew I wanted to explore it,” Carnes said. “There was a spark. I thought it was the coolest thing that you could take all these ingredients and express what you wanted to through cooking for people.”

A stint as “chef ejecutivo” at the boutique hotel Mansion Alcazar in Cuenca, Ecuador, followed. Upon Carnes’ return to the United States in 2011, he brought his unique talents to Wellington’s award-winning restaurant The Grille, as well as the White Horse Tavern.

His latest triumph was this summer’s opening of Cholo Soy Cocina in West Palm Beach. The restaurant’s Latin street-type food boasts locally grown produce, non-GMO corn tortillas and top-quality meats. Peppers, herbs and other vegetables are grown on the patio and rooftop garden as Carnes looks to create specific flavors found only in certain regions of the world.

His busy life as a restaurant chef was good preparation for this star turn on the Food Network.

“When I went out to L.A. for all those filmings, the minute I stepped off the plane, there was a guy waiting for me with a Town Car or whatever, water, magazines,” he recalled. “I checked into the hotel and just relaxed. But the next day, it’s all work — from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. It was like a normal day in the life of a chef!”

To learn more about Clay Carnes’ latest venture, visit www.cholosoycocina.com.

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