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Feature Stories, Wellington Education

Integrated Fine Arts Programs Are Providing Unique Opportunities For Wellington Students

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Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Integrated Fine Arts Programs Are Providing Unique Opportunities For Wellington Students

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Expanded fine arts programs at Wellington schools are making it easier for art, band, chorus, dance and drama students, among others, to further their artistic education without leaving the community.

No longer do these students need to be bused out to specialty schools now that several area schools at all grade levels are expanding their fine arts academies. With the addition of a new fine arts choice program at Wellington Elementary School, local students can now follow an expanded fine arts curriculum from Wellington Elementary School to Wellington Landings Middle School, and on to Wellington High School.

Perhaps nowhere is this expanded curriculum more noticeable than in the amazing show beings produced by Wellington kids at all levels. At the very end of the last school year, Wellington Elementary Choral Director Dave Morrison led his students in a mesmerizing performance of Annie Kids. At WHS, Drama Director Dennis Schaber directed, designed and choreographed while Chorus Director Bradford Chase provided musical direction for recent productions such as Guys and Dolls and The Addams Family. Wellington Landings will be getting ready for its first production this school year.

Wellington Elementary Principal Dr. Maria Vaughan explained that she worked with Wellington Landings Principal Blake Bennett and WHS Principal Mario Crocetti on the creation of this integrated fine arts curriculum once she realized that her colleagues were also working on expanding their fine arts programming.

Aligning the programs, she explained, is the ideal scenario, because it gives the students continuity and somewhere to go.

“When you set up an academy, you really want it to have the kids be able to transition from each level — elementary, middle and high,” Vaughan said. “Once we realized all three of us were doing that, we met and talked about what we were offering at our school and what they’re offering at the middle and high school levels to try to make sure that we’re offering the same types of programs.”

For Vaughan, it’s exciting to work with nearby schools in this groundbreaking project. For her students, she said, it is also exciting because it gives them a glimpse at the future.

“It gives them a goal and ambition. It gives them motivation to continue doing well where they are, and helps them to strive for what’s at the next level,” Vaughan said.

The schools performed together at Wellington Elementary in the spring, with the chorus directors of each school speaking about their respective programs. Chase and Morrison joined Alayna Morton, the chorus director at Wellington Landings, to discuss the hard work and dedication it takes to be a choral student. Even in elementary school, rehearsals are up to four times a week, and it can take months to perfect a song. “It was an amazing experience for the kids,” Vaughan said.

About two months later, Vaughan’s students performed Annie Kids, and all three principals were on hand to enjoy the production. “It is absolutely amazing what Mr. Morrison has done with that program,” Vaughan added. “That show was just astounding. I don’t know how he’s going to top this one. It was pretty amazing, from the costumes to the set design to the acting… I’m very proud to be a part of that and to be able to help make that possible.”

Vaughan is looking forward to developing the school’s strings program with kindergartners and seeing the fine arts progress and integrate into the school’s curriculum. Hand bells, guitar, ukulele, TV production, art, journalism, chorus, drama, the student news crew and yearbook are just some of the ways the students have become engrossed in Wellington Elementary’s new fine arts academy. She noted that students will be able to select their strengths and develop as the program evolves.

Through the drama program, Vaughan said, once the students know what they are expected to do, they rise to the challenge and consistently exceed expectations. As students excel in the arts, other areas improve. “This is going to really impact the whole child. We’re looking forward to seeing how our kids are going to blossom,” she said.

At Wellington Landings, students do not need to have prior experience to take part in the fine arts curriculum, Bennett explained. Advanced classes, however, are audition-based.

Each student has two elective classes that can be filled with fine arts academy classes, such as journalism, band, chorus, hand bells, dance, art, speech/debate, law studies, drama and TV production.

Out-of-boundary students have to apply to the Wellington Landings academy, but all students zoned for the school automatically have access to the program.

“When I first came here, all we had was band, chorus, art and hand bells. All of the other ones, I’ve added over the years in hopes of pulling it all together to be a fine arts academy,” Bennett said.

Starting as early as kindergarten, Bennett said, allows the students to discover what they enjoy and where the arts take them. Having the options from kindergarten through their senior year in high school is a huge opportunity for the kids, she added.

Unlike specialty schools, the students at Wellington Landings are able to shift their focus from one type of fine arts to another and are able to take part in multiple classes, choosing to use one or both of their electives for fine arts classes.

“They’re performance-based classes, where they’re not being graded paper- and pencil-wise, they’re graded by their projects, products and performances,” Bennett said. “For example, in TV production, they’ll be producing the news — live. They’ll be writing scripts and producing.”

Children get to explore their creative side and are able to find different interests through arts programs, she explained.

“I think it’s just great for the kids,” Bennett said. “I think every community should have all the arts programs so that children can benefit from them. I’m really glad that the three of us worked together to make sure that all of the kids can enjoy the programs through their entire K-12 experience.”

On Aug. 8, new students can attend an orientation at Wellington Landings, where incoming sixth-graders can get their bearings.

As students progress to high school, they have access to remain with high-quality arts programs without leaving the Wellington area, Crocetti explained.

“We’ve had a fine arts program for quite a while, but with Wellington Landings and Wellington Elementary jumping on board, it makes a nice progression,” he said. “I’ve seen Wellington Landings students perform over the years and had the opportunity to see Wellington Elementary’s presentation of Annie, which was just phenomenal. It’s going to be a great pipeline.”

As part of the integrated program, the high school theater is going to be made available to the elementary and middle schools, Crocetti said.

Each of the schools are bringing in somewhere between 40 and 60 students from outside their boundaries to participate in their programs.

“They’re moving in all different aspects of the arts, whether it be the visual arts, vocal, instrumental, dance, theater — all areas,” Crocetti said.

Chase is excited about the new integrated fine arts curriculum, adding that it will make his job easier — especially with recruitment. “Having these kids discover what they’re interested in and find their passion, when they come to the high school, they’ll seek us out,” he said. “By the time they get to high school, we should have some students who are not only passionate about what they do, but they’ll also have training in those various art areas.”

In high school, the students take two fine arts classes each year and are encouraged to try different arts to be exposed to different things, he explained.

The WHS academy is in its third year and continues to grow. This is the first year with open doors through the lottery system.

Crocetti is excited to see what students from outside the area bring to the program through a fresh perspective and different, diverse points of view. “They’re an asset to the school,” he said. “They come with a different perspective,” he said.

All three Wellington schools are designated as choice schools, and are accepting students from out of the area to join in the programs. Students outside school boundaries are able to apply for the programs through the Palm Beach County School District.

For more info., visit www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms or contact the schools directly. Call Wellington Elementary at (561) 651-0600, Wellington Landings at (561) 792-8100 or Wellington High School at (561) 795-4900.

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Feature Stories

Susan Rubin Of Beyond The Barn Specializes In Equestrian Design Services

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Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Susan Rubin Of Beyond The Barn Specializes In Equestrian Design Services

By Julie Unger

Susan Rubin of Beyond the Barn Decor Services is not new to the Wellington community. In fact, she isn’t new to the equestrian community, either.

“I am a lifelong equestrian. As a little girl, I used to dream of living in a place where people rode horses, walked around in their britches, and there were paddocks and barns everywhere. It was a fulfillment of a dream to move to Wellington in 1999 and open up a business,” she said.

While she focuses on her décor services nowadays, Rubin also once ran a store called Beyond the Barn. The store catered to equestrians through a unique collection of gifts and home furnishings, all with an equestrian theme. In one corner, she did design and decorating. That niche is now her primary business.

Yet Rubin isn’t someone who just fell into the design business. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and has continued her education through multiple design courses. “I really love working with people to help them nest in their homes,” she said.

As an equestrian — dressage, specifically — Rubin understands the equestrian lifestyle and all the aspects that go along with it, from early-morning risings to having somewhere to relax between barn work.

Many in the community know Rubin from Beyond the Barn, but her design work goes much deeper than equestrian furnishings and accessories.

“I’m more of a relationship decorator. I get to know who my client is and what they want to reflect in their home,” she explained.

Often, interior decorators have a specific style. The homes Rubin decorates, she said, have an air of casual elegance and truly reflect the story of the life, interests, collections and trips of the owner, in an easy, balanced manner.

“I think everyone’s home should tell a story, and it should be a reflection of who you are,” she said.

Rubin works with her clients to find something they truly love, and often will go shopping with them, so an entire room can be designed around a piece that speaks to the owners.

“The whole process is really great,” she said. “A great part at a job is at the very beginning, when you walk into a room listening to the client say they don’t like this, or they like that; what they’re dreaming of or what they want to have. The whole slate is empty. There’s nothing on the drawing board, and the wheels start turning.”

Rubin describes the process as a jigsaw puzzle, combining items the client already has, or truly adores, and adding different items to bring everything together.

“Figuring it all out, that’s a favorite part,” she said.

Production and installation aren’t like they are on television, she explained, because you never know what might happen. Unforeseen complications can always alter the schedule.

“My favorite part is having it done, having it clean-pressed and ready, and having the client show up and doing the reveal,” Rubin said.

Rubin has an extensive network of subcontractors she works with that she has found over the years and vetted — people she trusts to maintain the privacy of her clients.

Havensafe Farm in Wellington, just one of Rubin’s many projects, originally started with a tack room and expanded to the house, additions to the house, landscaping, a covered arena and more since 2008.

Rubin provides concierge services for her clients where she works every step of the way with the owner. She can even create a certain ambiance for parties and enjoys finding special items.

One item she is proud of finding is a set of elegant heat lamps that don’t look like heat lamps, don’t make noise and still provide heat for the client. She has renovated a 1920s chandelier, wired it and found candle-like bulbs to make it a part of the home with an Old World look.

“I offer full service. I will bring pattern selections, things as needed, right to the client’s home. We will do site trips, as needed, to customize it as much to what the client needs,” Rubin said.

Whether it is renovating a barn, a room, a bathroom, or some combination, the sky is the limit, because Rubin can do it all. She isn’t just an interior designer.

“I like to think of myself truly as beyond,” she said.

Though many of Rubin’s clients prefer privacy, she was able to share a few: Betsy Juliano’s Havensafe Farm, author Tammy Hoag, June Brody, the original Two Swans Farm for Carol Cohen, Hope Greenfield and more. She has worked in the Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club, the Aero Club and more.

“What I’m most grateful about is the repeat business, the continued trust, the referrals,” Rubin said. “That brings a lot of joy to my life, that I know I am making a difference in someone’s life and they’re entrusting me to other people and saying, ‘Hey, you need to give her a call.’”

For more information about Beyond the Barn Decor Services, call Susan Rubin at (561) 333-5255.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Ginger Lime Salmon At Stonewood Grill & Tavern

WellingtonTable

Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Ginger Lime Salmon At Stonewood Grill & Tavern

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Wellington’s Stonewood Grill & Tavern may be part of a larger chain, but it’s run like a local restaurant, where customers are honored guests, and the staff accommodates them with dishes made to order.

Executive Chef Khaliah Morris’s favorite dish, Ginger Lime Salmon, was once dropped from the menu, but now it is back, with a bright shining spotlight to let guests know that it is one of Stonewood’s signature dishes.

On the menu, multiple items are emphasized with a box, denoting them as some of the most popular favorites. The Ginger Lime Salmon is one such item, and Morris calls it a must-try.

“It’s served on a bed of Asian vegetables, or Asian slaw really — zucchini, yellow squash, red peppers and onions tossed in a sesame ginger dressing. It’s served with a ginger lime sauce,” Morris explained. “The salmon itself is marinated in a ginger lime marinade. It has a little citrus, has some honey. The base of it is pretty much soy and citrus. It is marinated for up to eight hours, then we grill it, and we garnish it with a little bit more of that ginger lime marinade and cilantro sprigs.”

From start to finish, the Ginger Lime Salmon is made in house, with fresh Atlantic salmon.

“It goes really, really well with the marinade,” Morris said. “It’s really subtle. It’s very light. Especially since it’s so hot outside, I think it’s a great summer dish. It’s not a heavy meal… Especially during summer, it’s just something light, refreshing and not too heavy.”

The flavor profiles blend together to provide a unique dish that may seem unassuming, but is quite special. It truly is one of her personal favorites, not only to make, but to eat herself.

“It’s probably, in my opinion, a sleeper hit,” Morris said. “People are hesitant to try it, because there is a little bit of crushed red pepper in it, but once they try the dish, every time they come back, time after time, I’ll do a table visit and I’ll hear, ‘That’s my favorite dish on the menu.’”

Morris should know — she has worked at Stonewood for almost nine years in multiple capacities, including as chef for about seven years.

General Manager Craig Conerly has been with the company for six years and thoroughly enjoys being able to bring a unique experience to those visiting Stonewood.

“We treat every guest who comes in like they’re family. That’s what makes us special,” he said. “When a guest wants something that’s not on the menu, or something a little different, we tell them, ‘Yes, no problem, we’ll take care of that.’”

Though Stonewood is corporate-run, the individual restaurant leaders are empowered to take care of the guests.

“It’s not just a place to eat food; it’s a dining experience,” Conerly said. “From the minute they walk in the door, the ambiance, the nice dark woods, the lights, the music, it all plays a role in the whole experience. And, of course, the food that Khaliah puts out is just the icing on the cake, so to speak.”

There is a family ambiance with many regulars coming in weekly, and some almost daily.

The menu boasts meat and fish, along with plenty of other options to suit all types of palates. Fresh, tasty food is on a menu large enough to be comprehensive but not so large that it is overwhelming.

Stonewood is primarily a steak and seafood place, Conerly said, but they feature other dishes, such as the Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon, Roasted Beet Salad, Oak Grilled Cheeseburger, Emerald Bay Crab Cakes and more.

And just about anything can be altered. Gluten-free? The menu denotes meals that can easily be altered. Don’t like a certain vegetable? They can switch it out. One of the benefits to everything being made fresh is that there is a sense of creativity that is able to accommodate any taste while still providing the Stonewood experience.

Opening every day at 4 p.m., Stonewood isn’t somewhere to just pop in for a quick meal. It is a place to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience.

“Make it memorable” is a saying at Stonewood, Conerly said, where they want the dining experience to be something guests look forward to.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern is located at 10120 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Pointe at Wellington Green. For more information, visit www.stonewoodgrill.com or call (561) 784-9796.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Real Estate

Jesse Kearney Brings Real Estate Clients Top-Level Customer Service And Expertise

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Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Jesse Kearney Brings Real Estate Clients Top-Level Customer Service And Expertise

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Some people know their career goals from an early age, but many folks — like Jesse Kearney of Kearney & Associates Realty — have to navigate life’s waters a bit before laying anchor on the correct career choice.

Kearney was born in Bologna, Italy, and moved to Palm Beach County in 1982 after his father completed his residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Lantana’s Santaluces High School, then joined the U.S. Army.

Later, Kearney attended Palm Beach Community College and went on to Florida Atlantic University, where he majored in computer science. After moving to Chicago and trying his hand at being a stockbroker, he returned to West Palm Beach and FAU.

“I entered into real estate as a means of supplementing my income while attending school at Florida Atlantic University, this time as a criminal justice major,” Kearney said. “It turned out that real estate became my passion, and I placed my focus there. I then worked toward obtaining my broker’s license starting in 2003, and in 2005, I earned the broker’s license.”

Kearney makes certain that Kearney & Associates delivers top-level customer service and real estate expertise.

“I believe what makes our firm different than the others is our approach and philosophy toward real estate,” he said. “We focus our efforts on creating a customer experience that is unsurpassed in the industry. Our goal is to be the first and only name that our clients think about when they are ready to move or when referring their friends and family.”

The Wellington-based company is a full-service brokerage specializing in luxury property marketing and sales, residential real estate, leasing and property management across Palm Beach County. It has represented both buyers and sellers as far north as the Jupiter/Tequesta area and as far south as Boca Raton.

Kearney is no newcomer to Wellington, having moved here with his wife Kristen and their family in 2002.

“We felt it was the best place to raise our family,” Kearney said. “I feel what makes our area special is the sense of neighborhood, the pride of community, and the equestrian draw. In addition to the parks and events, there’s a feeling of belonging to something that not only brings you back to a time almost forgotten, but provides the modern amenities that people have become accustomed to. It is something that needs to be experienced as words cannot do it justice.”

Kearney has a positive yet cautious view of the future of the local real estate market.

“We have gotten accustomed to the dramatic gains of recent years, but many forget that real estate is, in fact, cyclical in nature,” he said. “I believe we will still see more modest increases in value moving forward but with longer marketing times than in recent years.”

Kearney appreciates the results of doing good work on a consistent basis.

“I am humbled that I have clients from 10 years ago who will still call me for advice,” he said. “I have met so many interesting people and families, each one having impacted my life.”

For more info., call Kearney & Associates Realty at (561) 792-7104 or visit www.thekearneyteam.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Home

Palm Beach Polo Estate Offers Serene, Spacious Living With Many Amenities

WellingtonHome

Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Palm Beach Polo Estate Offers Serene, Spacious Living With Many Amenities

Story by Deborah Welky • Photo courtesy Casey Flannery

“Spacious serenity” are the words best used to describe this month’s featured home, located in the Maidstone section of Wellington’s exclusive Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club neighborhood. Beautifully landscaped right down to the tropical fruit trees, this expansive, 9,000-square-foot estate home epitomizes the best in South Florida living. With a kitchen that makes entertaining a delight and a welcoming backyard patio, guests may not want to leave — and they may not have to. The home offers six bedrooms, seven full baths, two half baths, and easy access to nearby equestrian facilities and shopping.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Health

Dr. Jesse Skinner Joins All Paws Animal Clinic

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Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Dr. Jesse Skinner Joins All Paws Animal Clinic

All Paws Animal Clinic is proud to introduce its new associate veterinarian, Dr. Jesse Skinner.

Skinner was born and raised in Palm Beach County. A graduate of Lake Worth High School, he spent much time as a young man enjoying the area’s beautiful beaches, surfing with friends. After graduation, he decided to join the Florida Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2004. It was there that Skinner discovered his interest in medicine.

Upon returning home, Skinner combined his newfound interest in medicine with his love for animals and decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. He began pursuing this goal by working in a veterinary clinic. “I was lucky enough to work for Dr. Patty Forsythe at All Paws as an assistant, which only increased my passion for the profession,” Skinner said.

Skinner attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychobiology. He continued his education by obtaining his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from North Carolina State University, one of the nation’s most highly ranked veterinary schools.

During his tenure at North Carolina State, Skinner received an award for excellence in junior surgery, as well as the American Animal Hospital Association award for proficiency in primary care. His professional interests include surgery, geriatric care, clinical pathology, ultrasound and internal medicine.

Skinner enjoys the diversity of the veterinary medicine he can perform at All Paws Animal Clinic, as well as the client interaction. His goal is to always keep the client calm and well-informed, so that the focus can be on the pet receiving the best care. He brings a keen insight and strong diagnostic ability to All Paws. Combined with Forsythe’s extensive experience in veterinary medicine, they both look forward to providing the western communities “quality veterinary care with compassion.”

Skinner is a family man and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Nicole, and two dogs, Trouble and Namani. He also stays active still surfing, going to the gym and playing basketball. Depending on the season, he can be found rooting for Florida sports teams, such as the Dolphins, Hurricanes, Heat and Marlins.

All Paws Animal Clinic is located at 1011 N. State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 790-9225 or visit www.allpawsanimal.com.

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Feature Stories

Design Visionary Dougie Mutch Roots Herself In Wellington’s Timeless Equestrian Lifestyle

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Wellington The Magazine-July 2016

Design Visionary Dougie Mutch Roots Herself In Wellington’s Timeless Equestrian Lifestyle

By Allyson Lagiovane

Douglas Mutch — affectionately known as Dougie Mutch — spent her childhood coloring pictures and daydreaming of fairytales, but she was also obsessed with horses. Unlike most kids’ creations, her drawings were designs for barns, her fairytales involved no princes, and it was her passion for horses that guided her on a journey she never thought she’d take.

That same passion turned her life into a whirlwind of success in the interior design industry. “I still remember, my entire childhood when I was supposed to be doing my homework, I’d be designing barns,” Mutch recalled. “And I remember, my mom would say, ‘Are you doing your homework?’ and I would say ‘Yes Ma’am!’ But you know, I wasn’t.”

Mutch followed her passion for interior design to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she graduated as a licensed interior designer. She made the move to Wellington in 1981 and immediately delved into her career at a local design firm.

From working at Palm Beach Design, located at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, where she designed a field-side VIP tent for Prince Charles using her grandmother’s furniture, to opening her very first firm, M. Douglas Mutch Interiors, Mutch’s functional and timeless equestrian designs caught on fast in the Wellington community. “I have a blessed life, I really do,” she said. “But it’s only because I feel like I have a wonderful work ethic, and one of the things I truly believe is that you are only as good as your last job. It’s about being able to do the best you can for your customer.”

Mutch always dreamed of opening her own interior design company, and at an imperfect time, the perfect partner walked into her life. Despite the fact that she was in no position to hire anyone, the fairytale played out, and Susan Elhilow became Mutch’s trusted business partner.

“Beautiful lady, bright, smart, vivacious and energetic, the whole deal,” Mutch said of her. “I wasn’t in a position to hire, but she wasn’t going to say no, and it’s the best relationship I could ever imagine, truly a fairytale story.”

With Elhilow by her side, the pair started Gracie Street Interior Design, Mutch’s current interior design firm in downtown West Palm Beach.

Gracie Street prides itself in the ability to design for the equestrian lifestyle, creating an aesthetically pleasing space while maintaining its functionality.

“The lifestyle really comes down to the same thing at the end of the day,” Mutch said. “I really learned that when it comes to doing interior design for people who are passionate about horses, whether it’s a farm or a house, you don’t have to explain the lifestyle because it’s something I know.”

Mutch also knows how to spend her time giving back to the industry that has done so much for her. From the very beginning of her career, Mutch worked alongside Winter Equestrian Festival founder Gene Mische, designing the VIP tent at the Polo Club, completely pro bono. She later teamed up with longtime friend Mason Phelps Jr. when the National Horse Show moved to Wellington, and they designed the first-ever, and now iconic, Jockey Club.

She continued to give back through her work at the United States Hunter Jumper Association, bringing in donations for the new USHJA headquarters in Lexington, Ky. She brought the history of the USHJA to Kentucky in a modern style, incorporating posters and paintings donated on permanent loan by people across the country.

When the National Horse Show made the move to Kentucky, it was Mutch who headed the design operation. “I was challenged with the task to bring the history of the National Horse Show to Lexington, and bring Lexington to the National Horse Show,” she said.

The entertainment areas were the work and vision of Mutch, designing the rider’s club, the Taylor Harris VIP Club, and the one-of-a-kind Gracie Street Garden.

“At Madison Square Garden there was the MSG Club. I was joking when I brought up calling it the GSG,” she said of the Gracie Street Garden. “Then when it actually stuck; I was greatly humbled by that. It’s huge to me. I do all this pro bono, because it’s my way to give back to this industry.”

Mutch has been in Wellington for 35 years and has rooted herself in the warm climate and the rich equestrian culture. These days, she spends her free time riding her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Gracie Street’s Yes I Fly. After years of hard work, she has finally been able to add her passion for riding back into her life.

“I’ve been in this industry for so long, and I am blessed to be able to do what I do for people who do what I love the most,” she said. “My two passions are combined, and it’s just so rewarding.”

For more information about Dougie Mutch and Gracie Street Interior Design, visit www.graciestreet.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Tuna Tacos Featured On Expanded Menu At Romeo’s

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Wellington The Magazine-July 2016

Tuna Tacos Featured On Expanded Menu At Romeo’s

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Nestled in the Wellington Marketplace at Greenview Shores Blvd. and Wellington Trace, Romeo’s Italian Cuisine started out as a pizzeria, but has recently evolved into a full-scale Italian restaurant offering brunch, lunch, sunset and dinner. Glittering lights and soothing music create a warm and inviting atmosphere as the smell of classic Italian cuisine emanates from the kitchen.

Much has changed about Romeo’s in its nine-year history, with a grand re-opening in November 2015. Co-owners Tony Manglaviti and Sebastian Romeo expanded the operation from a 40-seat pizzeria to a 200-seat restaurant with a bar, outdoor dining, a soon-to-open private event room, tapas, brunch, lunch, dinner and entertainment. Now, the menu includes pizza, seafood and fresh pasta.

“We do everything from scratch, starting with the pasta and pizza dough. We use fresh, organic meats,” Manglaviti said. “We grew based on pizza, but what we want to bring to the community is that we do not just do great pizza, but we concentrate on healthy, organic, gourmet food. We have a little bit of everything. We accommodate everybody. We have seafood, pizza, pasta, healthy salads.”

The new menu reflects the focus on specialty foods with mussels, Maine lobster, grilled eggplant, seasonal vegetables, intricate salads and sophisticated meal combinations.

A signature dish at Romeo’s, the Tuna Tacos, is available both in a lunch serving (two tacos) and a dinner (three tacos) with bigeye tuna paired with pico de gallo stuffed tortillas.

“I’ve been working on this lunch menu with the chef,” Manglaviti said. “I had him buy the best quality he could find for all the fish. This particular fish is bigeye tuna. He seasons it, he sears it, and then he puts it over tacos with a special sauce.”

Tuna Tacos were added to the menu in the beginning of May when Romeo’s began opening for lunch, and has been the bestselling meal since. Bigeye tuna, Manglaviti said, is a high-quality tuna that often comes with a big price tag. Romeo’s sells the dish for $7, when similar dishes sell elsewhere for more, he explained, because they want their customers to enjoy the best and have the opportunity to taste something special.

Chef Joshua Flores perfects the dish using fresh tuna that comes in several times a week, cutting up the loin, cubing it, preparing it, cooking it and assembling the Tuna Tacos.

“This dish, for me, is very special because it’s a new item for the restaurant,” Flores said. “The tuna we’re using is very high quality. A lot of restaurants use it, but for different purposes. I decided to put it in the taco because people can have more appreciation for all of the flavors combined — the pico de gallo, the bigeye tuna and the spicy cilantro dressing that I make.”

The tortilla is finished on the grill, lightly cooking the flour tortilla, giving the tacos a nice finishing touch, Flores explained.

The new lunch menu includes specialty meals, salads and appetizers such as Beef Carpaccio, Ceviche, Grilled Calamari, Caprese Salad, Bella Donna Pizza and Insalata Pizza, Grilled Salmon with Mango and Avocado, and more. The dinner menu offers such specialties as Ceviche di Gamberi e Polpo, Blood Orange Arugula Salad, Ravioli di Aragosta, Involttini di Pollo, Seabass Oreganata, Filetto e Patate Gratinate, Brussels and Goat Cheese Pizza, White Clam Pie and Melanzana Parmigiana.

Lunch is from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The Sunset Menu is from 4 to 7 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday with a four-course meal for $25. Dinner is served from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. during the week, and until 11 p.m. on weekends.

During the weekends, Romeo’s often features live music or a DJ. In June, Romeo’s introduced a brunch menu. Takeout is available, as is delivery. Romeo’s is also available for special events.

Romeo’s Italian Cuisine is located in the Wellington Marketplace at 13889 Wellington Trace. For more information, visit www.romeositaliancuisine.com or call (561) 793-7100.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Home

Upgrades Turn Wellington Townhome Into A Charming, Spacious Cottage

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Wellington The Magazine-July 2016

Upgrades Turn Wellington Townhome Into A Charming, Spacious Cottage

Story by Deborah Welky • Photos by Abner Pedraza

Located in Wellington’s Coventry Green neighborhood, this three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath townhome has the unique charm of a seaside cottage, thanks to 10 years of upgrades made by its owners. For example, removing an atrium from the center of the 2,100-square-foot abode allowed the owners to create a “four poster” island downstairs and a third bedroom/office upstairs. Extending the living space onto the patio by bumping out sliding glass doors added another 200 square feet, creating a home that feels much larger, open and airy than your standard townhome.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Education

Anita Kane Of #1 Education Place Gets Joy Out Of Helping Her Students Succeed

Education_1EducationPlace

Wellington The Magazine-July 2016

Anita Kane Of #1 Education Place Gets Joy Out Of Helping Her Students Succeed

Story by Chris Felker • Photos by Abner Pedraza

The life of local educator Anita Kane, co-founder of #1 Education Place in Wellington, has come full circle. Growing up in a private school setting, she has now created an educational institution to meet the unique needs of today’s students.

As a child whose entire youth was spent on the 25-acre campus of one of the largest private day schools on the East Coast, located in the outskirts of Washington, D.C., Kane was exposed daily to the educational world her parents occupied full-time.

They owned and ran the Potomac Country Day School in Maryland, founded four years before she was born.

“We also ran one of the largest summer day camps on the East Coast,” Kane recalled. “I grew up with a lot of that stuff, a lot of involvement, and I think that’s probably why I thought I wanted to get away from it.”

Growing up, the school was always a large part of life.

“People would forget their books at school, and they had no problem just coming up to the house and knocking on the door while we were eating dinner and saying, ‘I need you to go unlock the school building.’ It was a real community, and I thought I wanted to get away from that.”

So, she left for Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Then it was off to law school at George Mason University. “I told myself that I wasn’t going to do the education thing; I was going to go to law school,” Kane said. “Until I had a child, and then I decided I needed to be involved in that.”

She got married while attending law school and had her son, Sean Joseph Kane. “But I was a single mom from the time my son was 2,” Kane said. “So I went back and got several levels of Montessori teacher training, and I got a master of arts in teaching from Trinity College in Washington, and then started working at the school in Maryland that my son went to.”

She came to Florida when she was recruited by a private school in Palm Beach in the mid-1990s to help establish a new program. “After three years, we agreed that things weren’t working out,” Kane said. “I found myself without a job and with six horses, three dogs and a child. I walked away from a job for the first time in my life.”

So, years after she had left behind the educational community she grew up in, Kane joined with a former colleague to establish #1 Education Place. “Interestingly enough, that’s what we’ve really tried to create here — a community,” she said.

Now located in the original Wellington Mall, #1 Education Place grew in large part out of her and her son’s connections in equestrian circles. “I had been involved in the horse-show world my whole life,” she said. “We were supposed to go to the Charleston Summer Classic that summer.”

It was 1999. “Everybody said, ‘Oh… go ahead anyhow, you can groom for me, and you can do this…’ Then people started asking me to tutor their children. From tutoring children over the summer, it got to be doing school with children in their homes during the school year. Then, after a year or so, it got so big that I couldn’t handle it.”

That is when she partnered up with co-founder Judy Blake. “For about two years, we did this school from our cars,” Kane recalled. “We traveled around, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger, between circuit clients and year-round students.”

That’s when #1 Education Place got a permanent location, just across the street from where the school currently resides. “What we thought originally was just going to be a tutoring service wound up turning into a private school,” Kane said. “The need became apparent very quickly for a private school that would serve children who have different needs than a child who can go to school from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

Many of their clients are either professionals or athletes, as are a good number of the students.

“Many of our students are athletes, not just equestrians, but we’ve also had race car drivers and models and ice skaters,” Kane said. “What happens with those children, who really have a profession basically at the tender age of 15, is that they can’t really go to school on that kind of a regular schedule.”

#1 Education Place, which serves students in first through 12th grades and sometimes beyond, now is going into its 16th year. It has around a dozen faculty members, serving between 40 and 60 students at any given time during the year, and a dozen or more during the summer.

Kane went on to earn certificates from Independent School Management (ISM) in school policy design and implementation, and now is teaching mostly English at her school. She has also taught business communication, English, professional development and computer skills to adults in the past, but is now concentrating on her duties at the school.

Part of that is deciding which students to accept. “About 20 to 30 percent of our students are just those for whom traditional school doesn’t really work,” she said. “We accept something called the McKay scholarship, and it’s for students who have any kind of learning need from an undiagnosed one to those who have muscular dystrophy or other disorders that make it very difficult for them to be in the public school system.”

Yet the school remains very well known for its connections to the horse community.

“It began through the horse connection, and still, I would say, it’s a very strong connection,” Kane said. “This school is really a microcosm inside of that community. We get a lot of repeat people, and friends and family. We’ve had all the Gracida kids.”

Her personal reward from her full-circle career has changed, though, since she first started the school. It’s partly because last year she lost her son, who taught math at the school. He went to sleep after a normal day last fall and never woke up. She has started a scholarship in his name.

“So yeah, my focus has changed now. It keeps me alive; it keeps me happy. Always my focus has been, I get great joy out of giving to these children,” Kane said.

What she gets out of it is a lot of gratitude and the joy of seeing their success.

“To have a child who couldn’t succeed someplace else, or who everybody else thinks is a pain in the pitfeathers, and to be able to connect with that child, to be able to be a participant in somebody’s transformation, that’s my reward,” Kane said.

For more information, call (561) 753-6563 or visit www.1educationplace.com.

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