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Wellington Health

Getting To Know Patients Is A Key Goal At Bella Vida Family Practice

Getting To Know Patients Is A Key Goal At Bella Vida Family Practice

Story by Deborah Welky • Photo by Abner Pedraza

You’re sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. You’ve filled out your forms. You don’t feel well, and you want to know why. But once those magical doors open and you’re ushered inside, do you still feel like a nondescript number? Not at Bella Vida Family Practice.

You’re sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. You’ve filled out your forms. You don’t feel well, and you want to know why. But once those magical doors open and you’re ushered inside, do you still feel like a nondescript number? Not at Bella Vida Family Practice.

“Asking questions as if you’re running down a list of bullet points is not getting to know a patient,” Dr. Carmen Marrero explained. “With us, it’s not: ‘Are you married? Do you have children?’ It’s ‘Are you married? Oh, what does your husband do? You have children? I have a four-year-old; we have something in common.’ Here, we incorporate real life and our own life experiences into our talks with patients.”

It’s not that Marrero craves conversation that caused her to structure her practice this way. “One of my passions is education,” she explained. “I do rotations with medical students, and I tell them that a person who knows and understands what is going on in their body holds the key to getting healthier. Yes, it is important to control your sugars, but why?”

Bella Vida Family Practice also has replaced “pamphlets all over the place” with current technology. There’s an interactive tablet and TV screen in the waiting area that allows patients to pick and choose what they want to learn about while they wait for their appointment.

“They can get information on personal fitness, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes — whatever interests them,” Marrero said. “Sometimes what they’ve watched sparks questions. A diabetic may say, ‘Hmm. I need to get my feet checked. Can you recommend a podiatrist?’”

There is also an online patient portal for those who are proactive about their healthcare. Patients can update their history, change their address or insurance information, view lab results or send the doctor messages.

Marrero co-owns Bella Vida Family Practice with Elaine Fredrickson, a nurse practitioner with 25 years’ experience. Fredrickson worked in a rural setting in North Dakota before moving to the Wellington area in 2001. The two met during residency training at Wellington Regional Medical Center and opened their family practice last August.

“All the stars aligned,” Marrero said. “We wanted to treat patients like people — talk to them, spend time with them, get to know about their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. Nurse practitioners can function independently, but sometimes we do cross-treat, and patients get two brains for the price of one. We complement each other well. When opening the practice, we decided to go 50-50 all the way except for one thing. I told Elaine that I wanted to name the practice. Cowgirl that she is, she was skeptical.”

Marrero chose a name that meant something very special to her.

“Isabella is the name of my daughter, who was born at Wellington Regional; and ‘Bella Vida’ means ‘beautiful life.’ Elaine liked it. Our main goal is to help our patients to live their beautiful life. Everybody’s beautiful life is a little bit different. They each have their own unique challenges, medical issues and things that they have to overcome. Not everyone’s life is perfect but, at Bella Vida, we help them achieve the level of health and wellness that’s appropriate for their life.”

Bella Vida Family Practice is located at 11327 Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. Learn more at www.bellavidafamilypractice.com or by calling (561) 340-1615.

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Feature Stories

Nine-Year-Old Wellington Gymnast Ari Pike Has Her Sights Aimed High

Nine-Year-Old Wellington Gymnast Ari Pike Has Her Sights Aimed High

By Y.A. Teitelbaum

Ari Pike is a bundle of boundless energy. The lithe, lean 9-year-old is a tumbling machine and has a plethora of trophies to prove it, including a silver medal from her performance in the 2016 AAU Junior Olympics in Houston.

Ari Pike is a bundle of boundless energy. The lithe, lean 9-year-old is a tumbling machine and has a plethora of trophies to prove it, including a silver medal from her performance in the 2016 AAU Junior Olympics in Houston.

While continuing to pursue improvement in her tumbling and trampoline talents, Pike is transitioning into skills needed for high school, college and Olympic competition. Her favorite gymnast used to be U.S. Olympian Gabby Douglas. Now, it’s U.S. Olympian Simone Biles. And that is the level Pike is striving to reach.

“She works very hard and always wants to do better and achieve more, so if she stays this focused and determined throughout middle and high school, she can go far,” said Tina Tyska, owner of TNT Gymnastics, where Pike trains almost daily.

Pike is currently at level 6 in tumbling and trampoline; the highest level is 10. After that it’s Junior Elite and Elite. Several major 2017 events on the horizon include the state meet and possibly regionals, if she qualifies. Each level has specific requirements for the gymnasts’ skill set.

Pike has 90-minute tumbling and trampoline classes at least two days a week, plus one afternoon with a private coach, open gym on Fridays and is a frequent visitor on Saturdays for a workout. She is also working out twice a week with the level 3 gymnastics team so that she can learn the skills needed for the balance beam and uneven bars, and hopefully compete on both teams next season, according to Tyska. She even prints out workouts to do at home.

“I get to be with all my friends,” Ari said about why she likes gymnastics. “I like to show off. I like flipping a lot. I want to be like Simone Biles and go to the Olympics.”

Pike’s start was simple enough, like many children.

“My mom started me. She couldn’t take my energy,” said Pike, a third-grader at Binks Forest Elementary School.

Even though she spends five or six days at the gym, her energy is still seemingly endless, as she bounced on a new pogo stick about 200 times during an off day.

“I wanted to put her in something athletic, to get exercise,” explained her mother, Pamela Pike. “We did soccer before that, and she was pretty good.”

“Some of my friends were in gymnastics, so I asked if I could go,” added her daughter, who has sampled cheerleading and horseback riding. “I want to go back to horseback riding. I’m communicating with my mom about going back to horseback riding.”

Her competitive temperament has taken over in the gym, and it permeates everything she does, including the Reading Counts program in school. She would even ask her mother to take her to school early to take the quizzes needed for the points.

“The thing with Ari — she’s come a long way,” Pamela Pike said. “She’s intrinsically motivated, like my husband [Michael], so she pushes herself. She’s got a good, natural work ethic. Even at the gym, when others are not as engaged, she’s practicing.”

Percy Price is Pike’s main coach for competitive trampoline and tumbling at TNT.

“She is successful in the trampoline and tumbling skills because of her will to win and her want for everything to be perfect,” Price said. “Her best attribute is her sense of humor.”

When not at gymnastics classes, she practices at home, whether it’s on the trampoline or the balance beam, or she plays in the pool or watches TV. The entire family cheers for the University of Florida Gators. There is also time to go boating and snorkeling with her father, who practices martial arts.

Her favorite shows include Worst Cooks in America, Cupcake Wars, The Thundermans, Dance Moms and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.

Pike also likes pretending to be a teacher, with her stuffed animals as the students. And she horses around with the family’s two dogs, a golden doodle (golden retriever-poodle mix) and a cock-a-poo (cocker spaniel-poodle mix). She also enjoys cooking.

“Cupcakes, mostly junk food,” said Ari, who has food allergies, as does her sister, 11-year-old Aliyah, an aspiring singer and actress who attends the Bak Middle School of the Arts.

Being allergic to dairy and nuts means both sisters have had to deal with a lot of forbidden foods, which is difficult, her mother said. Chocolate cake is Pike’s favorite snack, and when she makes cupcakes, she substitutes soy milk and margarine. By the way, Oreos, another favorite, don’t have dairy in them.

“She’s always hungry,” Pamela Pike said.

“I just run off my calories,” her daughter added.

Tyska and Price believe Pike is on the path to athletic success.

“She can be as good as she wants to be,” Price said. “It has to come from her.”

Tyska explained that Pike has a drive that doesn’t stop, and she is constantly asking for help or corrective criticism with her skills and routines.

“Her best attribute is her perseverance and work ethic,” Tyska said. “It’s a lot of work, but she loves the sport enough to go very far with it.”

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Wellington Real Estate

Monica Hoffman & Neolfi Hentze Work With Both International And Local Clients

Monica Hoffman & Neolfi Hentze Work With Both International And Local Clients

By Matthew Auerbach

Working as a team at Heritage International Realty, Monica Hoffman and Neolfi Hentze offer up their experience as seasoned real estate professionals to their many customers, many of whom live a long way from Wellington.

“We work with international clients from Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and Canada,” Hoffman said. “Neolfi and I just came back from a trip to Bogotá, Colombia, where we had an exclusive presentation to our customers there for investment opportunities in South Florida. We made excellent connections in Bogotá, and we are planning on going to Buenos Aires, Lima and Santiago with the same business plan.”

While their long-term goal is to entice buyers to settle and/or invest in the South Florida area, they know their No. 1 job is to provide service that is second to none.

“My specialty is consulting my clients on their real estate goals, short-term and long-term,” Hentze said. “My extensive experience allows me to work with my clients and their family members in making sound real estate decisions. I love helping people; it is second nature to me and very satisfying when you have clients that are so happy with the service we provide.”

Hoffman and Hentze are quite comfortable doing business on other shores. After all, it’s where their individual journeys began. Hoffman was born in Colombia and lived for many years in Venezuela. Hentze was raised in the Dominican Republic before moving to New York.

The two have found a shared appreciation for Wellington.

“In 2002, I met my husband, James, who at that time ran his company purchasing and rehabbing single and multi-family properties,” Hoffman recalled. “We married and moved here. We fell in love with Wellington and have been raising our family here for more than 10 years. The schools are great, and the equestrian venues are world-class. I love the parks and recreational activities, especially the past few years with all the major improvements to the community center, as well as the proximity to the beach, among many other things.”

Hentze agreed. “My family chose to live in the Wellington area for the possibilities of investing as much as it is a great place to live,” she said. “Wellington has been growing, yet it is still an affordable place to live. Schools are good, and there are lots of activities and great restaurants.”

Partnering at Heritage International has allowed these two professionals to utilize their strengths and achieve results that are personally gratifying, as well as being beneficial to those who retain their services.

“Working as a team with Neolfi has been wonderful,” Hoffman said. “We can deliver a higher quality of service to our customers with twice the selling power. We are available to them seven days a week, and we are on top of every single detail of each transaction. Utilizing Heritage’s ‘Intelligent Marketing Strategies’ provides our clients a strategic service versus the shotgun approach to marketing properties with a combination of targeted digital marketing and social media.”

Whether their clientele is many miles away or a stone’s throw from their office, Hoffman and Hentze believe that they can create the best situation possible for buyers, sellers or renters.

“At Heritage International Realty, we go the extra mile to bring our customers and clients the information they need,” Hentze said. “We are tireless in our dedication to our customers; we never stop. As highly experienced, educated and motivated agents, we get the job done. As a team, we are more powerful, because we are combining two different backgrounds and experiences.”

Heritage International Realty’s office is located at 4095 State Road 7, Suite U3, in the Marketplace at Wycliffe. For more information, call (561) 510-6840 or visit www.heritageinternationalrealty.com.

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Wellington Home

Bright And Airy Aero Club Home Personifies The Florida Lifestyle

Bright And Airy Aero Club Home Personifies The Florida Lifestyle

Story by Deborah Welky • Photos courtesy Casey Flannery

This home in Wellington’s Aero Club neighborhood offers the best of both worlds — lots of space and amenities but easy access to services and the equestrian areas. Located on Take Off Place near the Aero Club entrance, the home sits on just over an acre of land. It features five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 3,700 square feet of air-conditioned living space. There’s an attached three-car garage and a heated pool. Decorated in today’s neutral tones, the spacious, sunshine-filled home personifies the Florida lifestyle.

Kitchen: The high-end, gleaming stainless steel appliances in this chef’s kitchen include a six-burner gas stove. There are also marble countertops and backsplash, and an island that encourages conversation and adds to the ambience. The hearth of the home also features generous storage space with floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a great view of the backyard.

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Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Pasquale’s Pizza Serves Up Authentic New York-Style Italian Cuisine

Pasquale’s Pizza Serves Up Authentic New York-Style Italian Cuisine

Story and Photos by Julie Unger

Pasquale’s Pizza, a family-owned restaurant, recently opened on the west side of State Road 7, between Forest Hill and Southern boulevards.

The local restaurant is part of a family-owned chain that also includes three locations in Broward County, said middle son Mike Marrone, who runs the restaurant with his brothers, Nick and George Jr.

“We started from humble beginnings,” Marrone said, “with my mom making the sandwiches, my dad making the pizzas and my brother and I growing up in a crib literally in the kitchen, which is kind of cool. This is all we know.”

Authentic New York-style pizza and Italian food is their specialty. It all started with Marrone’s father, George, naming the restaurant after his father, Pasquale. The family restaurant tradition is still going strong, with another location opening soon.

“My dad has been doing this since 1974. We use the same ingredients that my dad started with back then. We have had a tradition now of almost 40 years doing things the exact same way,” Marrone said.

Attention to detail and caring about the quality and experience is part of the family’s secret to success. The menu had only four things when they first started out. Now, there are salads, wings and more, including authentic zeppoles.

“At the end of the day, when you do things right, you serve quality, people are going to understand that and they’re going to get that,” Marrone said. “That’s why we’ve been successful for so many years. We haven’t been in business for more than 40 years because we got lucky. We have really good food, we care about our customers and we’re passionate about what we do.”

A visit to Pasquale’s wouldn’t be complete without ordering the Penne Alla Vodka; perfectly cooked penne pasta is mixed with a homemade vodka sauce, garnished and served.

“It’s a simple dish made with high-quality ingredients,” Marrone said. “The beauty of the dish is that there are a multitude of things that go into it, but you don’t taste one thing. It’s like a combination of everything to make a certain flavor that you’re looking for. Everyone loves our Penne Alla Vodka.”

The sauce is made with heavy cream, butter, basil, scallions, parsley and vodka, which gets cooked off during the preparation process. Black pepper and crushed red pepper are added, and then the dish is topped with grated Romano cheese.

Marrone said customers also can’t get enough of the pizza, wings and strombolis. Popular subs include the cold Super Sub with ham, salami, capicolla, pepper ham and provolone cheese, and the hot Leave It To Us Sub with salami, capicolla, pepper ham, grilled sweet peppers and melted provolone cheese.

“Those are two unique sandwiches to our restaurant using quality Boar’s Head cold cuts and the same great attention to detail that we’ve always had,” Marrone said. “That has been made in our family since 1974.”

At Pasquale’s, the meatball parmesan sub is actually made with meat slices, rather than round meatballs, which allows the sandwich to fold.

“It’s something neat and different that we do, and it lets the customer know they’re homemade,” he said. “Everything we make on the menu is from scratch. Everything we make is homemade.”

Other favorites include deep-fried calzones, which are a New York/New Jersey specialty, and the zeppoles, which are a northeast delicacy of fried dough with powdered sugar.

“They’re almost like funnel cake at a fair — light, soft, airy and with powdered sugar,” he said.

The Marrone brothers are working to bring the restaurant’s community-friendly atmosphere to the new Wellington/Royal Palm Beach location. They like to be active in the community, sponsoring local sports teams and participating in special events.

Last year, Pasquale’s was at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Flavors of Wellington, where they won runner-up with the Penne Alla Vodka. “We served meatballs and Penne Alla Vodka. It was awesome,” Marrone said.

“Wellington reminds me a lot of Coral Springs,” he added. “A lot of young families, sports… it’s a growing area.”

They’ve already sponsored local sports teams and hosted  school fundraisers and other special events.

There’s a bar with outlets in case someone wants to enjoy a craft beer or a glass of wine, plenty of seating, freestyle soda machines and a community table for teams to come and hang out.

“All of these things are geared toward the trend of how fast, casual dining is going,” Marrone said, noting that Pasquale’s is family-friendly and not the traditional dark, quiet Italian restaurant. “All we want to do is make people happy. We want you to smile.”

Pasquale’s also offers takeout and delivery, and is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Pasquale’s Pizza is located at 171 S. State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 904-0707 or visit www.pasqualeandsons.com.

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Feature Stories

FACES OF WEF

FACES OF WEF

It’s jumper season in Wellington! From January through April, top show horses and their riders come from around the world to take part in the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Horse and rider pairs will soar over fences, navigating complicated sequences and making hairpin turns — all to the delight of the crowds. Riders known around the world will join up-and-comers, youngsters and adult amateurs in the ring to take part in a horse show series that offers something for every age and skill level. Just a handful of these great riders are featured here, in our special 2017 edition of Faces of WEF.

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Venezuelan Show Jumping Star Emanuel Andrade Feels At Home In Show Ring

Venezuelan Show Jumping Star Emanuel Andrade Feels At Home In Show Ring

Back in Wellington for the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival, Venezuelan show jumper Emanuel Andrade has an impressive list of accomplishments for any rider. But when you factor in his age — he’s only 20 — his success in just a few short years is astounding. Just in 2016, Andrade racked up almost 100 top-10 finishes.

His love for horses, and show jumping, started at a young age.

“I was 5 years old, and I was always into the horses. I started in my country, Venezuela, with ponies, how everyone starts. I just kept going until now. It has been a long time,” Andrade said.

A few years after he began riding, his sister, Maria, took to the saddle. The rest of his family quickly followed suit.

“Everyone is into horses now,” Andrade said. “It wasn’t something from my family — it started with me.”

The 20-year-old has won enough ribbons and classes to put him in the same category as more seasoned, experienced riders — he qualified, and competed, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “I had already jumped everything, and I was only 19. I didn’t even realize it. I didn’t even think about it.”

Competing with the best riders and horses in the world, a moment that elite equestrians long for, was a dream come true. “It was very, very nice. It was an amazing experience for me. The place was beautiful,” he recalled. “It is different; it’s not like a normal game.”

While Andrade didn’t finish near the top of the show jumping field in Rio, he was the youngest jumper competing, and he still considers it a high honor. “No matter what your score is going to be, you just want to be there,” he said.

Andrade earned his spot in Rio by placing sixth at the Pan American Games in 2015.

“It was amazing,” he said, of qualifying. “I didn’t get a medal. I jumped off for a medal, and I got sixth place. That’s what got me the pass to go to the Olympics. The Pan Ams were probably more important for me, because if I didn’t do good there, I wouldn’t have gone to the Olympics.”

Andrade is humble about his Olympic experience, noting that he feels lucky to be able to be called an Olympian — a title no one can ever take away.

“Some people think it’s easy, and it’s just because I have a lot of horses that I got into the Olympics. But I feel that, you can give all of my horses to a lot of people, and the results won’t be the same,” he said. “It’s a lot about intuition… It’s not about just the horses, it’s about how hard you work. Be there every day and jump, jump, jump. I don’t have a kid’s life. I don’t have a 20-year-old’s life. I work really hard for what I want with my horses, which is good, because it’s paying back, and I’m happy.”

His hard work, dedication and tireless attitude got him to the Olympics, and his future goal is to return and do better. “I want to do it better next time, and next time better, and I want to go again,” he said. “I feel like that’s the goal — always try to do better.”

One of the secrets to his success, he said, is always competing. While he hopes to continue his education, for now, Andrade is focusing on his riding. He’s working hard and preparing for the future.

Andrade is looking forward to competing in the Great Charity Challenge at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, as well as the Winter Equestrian Festival itself.

Since competing at WEF, Andrade has enjoyed taking part in the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments. He also enjoys working with the Step by Step Foundation and its founder, Liliane Stransky.

“I started riding here seven years ago,” he said. “When I got here, I met the lady who is the founder of the organization, and she’s Venezuelan. She asked me to jump for her.”

Andrade donated his prize money to purchase toys for kids and has been doing it ever since. He helps purchase and deliver the toys, too. “It’s great. It’s super-special,” he said.

Many of the toys go to children at the Kids Cancer Foundation, as well as children benefiting from other foundations through the Great Charity Challenge. “I love that show,” he said.

At WEF last year, Andrade ran into a few difficulties and didn’t do as well as he had hoped. This year, he is going to do the best he can and enjoy the experience. “I’m not looking for anything specific,” he said. “I really want to have a nice time and enjoy the moment… I want to try to do the best I can. If I win, good. If not, I enjoy the moment, which is good.”

Working with the show’s organizers and his father, Andrade helped to have Hollow Creek Farm, his home base, sponsor WEF’s Under 25 Grand Prix Series, which takes place throughout the 12-week festival.

“I realize the vision that is also very important for young riders like me. First of all, WEF is very hard, competing against the best riders in the world,” he said. “These classes are kind of the same, for young people, and I feel like that is very important to get ready for the future.”

For young riders, being able to compete with one another gives them both the chance to go up against with their peers and also prepare to compete against those with more experience, he explained.

“Everyone is very good. It’s an amazing group of horses and an amazing group of riders,” Andrade said.

Riders are coming from all over the world to compete at WEF, and the Under 25 Grand Prix Series is open to riders of all nationalities. The classes have been sanctioned as CSI-U25 events by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). The competition allows up-and-coming riders a chance at the spotlight that they might not otherwise have when competing against more seasoned riders.

On his journey toward becoming a seasoned rider, Andrade competes often, and every chance he gets.

“I feel like every time I go into the ring, no matter what, how difficult it has been going, it’s just very exciting for me. I love it. I love the feeling. It’s always the same,” he said.

Whether he is showing his horses, or showing for his first trainer, Andrea King, Andrade is focused on improvement.

“I’m always riding. I think that’s something that helps,” Andrade said. “This sport is really difficult, so you have to be there every day and try and try and try.”

Consistency, and practicing with different horses, keeps him on his toes and ready to tackle any class, he said.

In 2017, none of the major championships — the World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Games or the Olympics — are on the schedule, which means Andrade and other riders will be concentrating on enjoying what they do and preparing for the future.

Come 2018, the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina will be hosting the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and he has already rented a house nearby. He spent his summer traveling and competing, whether in Tryon, Kentucky or Calgary. But for now, he’s back in Wellington, competing at WEF.

“I can’t believe we’re here again,” he said.

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The GREAT CHARITY CHALLENGE, Presented By Fidelity Investments, Highlights Season For Area Charities

The GREAT CHARITY CHALLENGE, Presented By Fidelity Investments, Highlights Season For Area Charities

What if you didn’t have to remain a child to dream of miracles? Once again, the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, will aim to raise more than $1.5 million, which will bring the event’s fundraising and distribution total to more than $10 million over eight years.

Heading into its eighth annual event, the Great Charity Challenge returns to Wellington during the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival circuit on Saturday, Feb. 4. With fun and creative themes over the years ranging from Super Heroes to Fairy Tales, the event has brought thousands of people to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington to celebrate those who have dared to imagine a better community: the sponsors of the Great Charity Challenge, the riders donating their time and horses, and all those involved with the charitable organizations.

To date, the event has distributed more than $9.2 million to more than 200 nonprofits in Palm Beach County. This year, the event has a goal of raising a minimum of $1.5 million to add to this incredible fundraising amount, thereby surpassing the $10 million milestone.

Founded in 2010 by Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo and his daughter Paige, the Great Charity Challenge has seen the equestrian community take charitable giving to a new level through the love of equestrian sport. The event has impacted thousands of lives through its unique equestrian competition, with 100 percent of its proceeds donated directly to Palm Beach County charities. Equestrian Sport Productions, the managing organization of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and the International Polo Club Palm Beach, cover all costs associated with the Great Charity Challenge to ensure that all donations go straight to work.

“We are very excited to also welcome all the public schools in Wellington that evening,” Paige Bellissimo said. “Not only are their PTA/PTOs the only automatic entry in the event, their art departments will showcase their talents in the Animation Ringside Chalk Art Festival. Pairing young talent and philanthropy seemed like the perfect fit for this magical evening.”

With more than 300 applications received for the chance to participate in the 2017 event, 33 lucky charities have been drawn to date, and two wildcard spots will be randomly selected on the night of the event itself. Additional grants will be awarded that evening as well.

While most organizations are supported and funded via the community, the Great Charity Challenge fills a true need to cover operating expenses — expenses that many donors shy away from supporting.

With the initial plans of how the money won will affect these lucky organizations, it is safe to say that the 2017 Great Charity Challenge will have a lasting impact in Palm Beach County.

Grandma’s Place, an organization that provides shelter and loving care to children who have suffered abuse and/or neglect and have been removed from their homes by the Florida Department of Children & Families, is one of them. With growing needs, they are looking to expand support programs for children at the shelter and are also in the process of moving. Funding will assist the nonprofit in serving more children than in the past.

The Light House Café Ministries of the Glades served 54,000 meals last year. Money received from the Great Charity Challenge will assist the nonprofit with general funding and operating costs to ensure that it can continue serving its clients.

“This eighth year is a milestone for the GCC,” Bellissimo said. “As of Feb. 4, 2017, we will have officially surpassed the $10 million donation mark. Our theme of Animated Characters is a perfect fit to acknowledge those who imagine a better community. This event is truly the legacy of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the sponsors involved.”

This year’s event is sure to inspire adults and children alike, with riders dressed as their favorite animated characters, bringing beloved movies to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Costume awards will determine a bonus for the lucky charities.

Equestrian Sport Productions looks forward to a wonderful 2017 event. The competition will offer free general admission, free parking at 13500 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington and will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.

For the latest Great Charity Challenge event information, the full list of charities that have benefited from the event since its debut in 2010, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greatcharitychallenge.

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Jordan Naftal Brings Years Of Restaurant Expertise To Wellington National Golf Club

Jordan Naftal Brings Years Of Restaurant Expertise To Wellington National Golf Club

Story and Photos by Lenore Phillips

Wellington National Golf Club recently announced that well-known Wellington chef and businessman Jordan Naftal has signed on as director of food and beverage services at the club.

Naftal, formally of the acclaimed Jordan’s Bistro, has ambitious plans for Wellington National, including dynamic cuisine, plus putting the final touches on the Champions Bistro, which is scheduled to open over the next few months.

“I am thrilled and honored to be taking on the food and beverage operations of Wellington National. I am confident that we will do amazing things here,” Naftal said. “The potential for this striking space is limitless, and I am excited about continuing to serve many of our guests we know from past years at Jordan’s.”

Naftal made his way to Wellington with his family in 2013, where he opened an upscale steak house, Jordan’s Bistro, known for Florida-grown steaks and unique wines. The Naftals were a consistent presence at the front of their restaurant and developed a warm reputation in the community. After years of working independently, the Naftals decided it was time for a new venture and began exploring their options.

“Wellington is a seasonal town, which presents challenges to local businesses. We would go through 8 months of trying to break even, and then winter would come and we would catch up, and then start all over. That was a tortuous cycle,” Naftal explained. “We are passionate about what we do, and I think we did a great job, yet there just wasn’t enough support. When Doug Marty approached us about partnering with Wellington National, the timing was perfect.”

With the help of his team, including Executive Chef David Guilford and Sous Chef Enrique Noble, Naftal will manage the food and beverage operations at Wellington National, including operating both the Wine Bar and the Champions Bistro.

“The plan is to take the menu we currently offer in the Wine Bar and transfer that to the Champions Bistro,” Naftal said. “The Champions Bistro is going to be such a great experience, with its open kitchen floor plan and beautiful long bar overlooking the magnificent 18th hole. The atmosphere is going to be unlike anything else Wellington currently has to offer.”

Members who dine at Wellington National can look forward to an outstanding menu that will change frequently to ensure a varied and enjoyable eating experience. Naftal also uses locally sourced, fresh ingredients that contribute to the seasonal flavorings of his cuisine. In addition to the steaks Naftal is known for, the Champions Bistro menu will offer daily lunch specials and seasonal dinner entrées. As director of beverage services, Naftal will review and enhance the wine lists and add his own unique infused liquors.

“Among other things, we make our own vanilla and pineapple liquors to make drinks like a Hawaiian martini, which is a delicious cocktail,” he explained. “I also love to make a true Old Fashioned made from scratch.”

Wellington National will also offer full-service catering for member and non-member events on site. The open architectural design of the club is perfect for hosting medium to large charity fundraisers, weddings and events, as well as serving the country club members daily.

“Hosting events keeps it exciting. Each event is different, and it challenges our team to think creatively,” Naftal said. “Ideally, the events we host will help expose Wellington National to new people who are unfamiliar with the great amenities we offer. I am looking forward to doing everything from weddings to charity events to wine tastings or even a cigar tasting.”

Chip Smith and Doug Marty, the club’s founding partners, are excited that Naftal decided to joined the team.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce that Chef Jordan and his team have come on board at Wellington National,” they said. “He brings with him an unmatched reputation of excellence and professionalism, and we think he will establish our restaurants as stand-out dining venues in the Wellington community.”

Naftal isn’t wasting any time settling into his new position. “I see a lot of people who were regulars at Jordan’s, plus I am meeting new people here,” he said. “I have had an incredibly warm welcome here, and I am looking forward to continuing to do what I am passionate about, in this great space.”

Wellington National Golf Club is located at 400 Binks Forest Drive in Wellington. To learn more about membership opportunities, or about hosting an event, call (561) 333- 5731 or visit www.wellingtonnationalgolf club.com.

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Feature Stories

Winter In Wellington With Old Salem Farm

Winter In Wellington With Old Salem Farm

Story by Lindsay Brock • Photos by Jump Media

When snow flies in the Northeast, many show jumping barns begin a pilgrimage south. One of those barns, Old Salem Farm based in North Salem, N.Y., leaves winter behind each year and moves to the ideal training and competition conditions found in Wellington.

Led by top trainer Frank Madden and assistant trainer Stella Manship, Old Salem Farm brings riders of varying levels to Wellington each year to compete in the Winter Equestrian Festival and to enjoy a “winter in Wellington.”

While sunshine and palm trees are better for riding than a New York winter, and make for ideal working conditions for Madden, Old Salem Farm riders also view Wellington as a land of opportunity.

“WEF offers so much, from leadline all the way up to five-star grand prix and everything in between,” Madden said. “I feel that you can get six to nine months’ worth of training for horses and riders in a three-month span of time. When we are done, we come home with much more seasoned horses and riders.”

The Old Salem Farm team will be made up of riders competing in a broad span of divisions, including junior jumpers, equitation, adult jumpers and hunters, and high amateur jumpers, according to Madden.

“This year we have some new horse-and-rider combinations, and I am most looking forward to seeing how those work out,” said Madden, who also puts his judging expertise to use at WEF during the season.

One rider who will be piloting two new mounts, 16-year-old Klee Hellerman, will also be making her first-ever winter trip to the horse haven that is Wellington after having previously competed for the past two years in Ocala.

Hailing from New Haven, Conn., Hellerman has been riding at Old Salem Farm for nearly two years and splits her time in the saddle with her responsibilities as a junior at Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, Conn.

Catching a Wednesday afternoon flight each week with her textbooks and assignments in tow, Hellerman has devised a plan to stay on top of her studies while seeking success in the show ring. “It’s all about being organized and having constant contact with your teachers,” she said.

While this winter marks her first season in Wellington, Hellerman is looking forward to traveling with her fellow Old Salem Farm riders and trainers. “I love the organization and the community at Old Salem Farm,” she said. “I am excited about having one week of shows right after the other for three months. Both my horses are new, so it is an opportunity to get to know them and start being competitive with them in the equitation and junior jumper divisions.”

As Hellerman dips her toes into the Wellington community, Old Salem Farm rider Tegan Treacy, 20, of Needham, Mass., is returning to familiar territory. She joined Old Salem Farm while competing at WEF in 2013 and has called Wellington her winter home since her early teens as a junior rider. Treacy is a sophomore at Duke University in Durham, N.C., and has “winter in Wellington” down to a science.

“I try to be in Wellington for eight or nine weeks during the winter and fly down after my classes on Thursday, and return on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning,” she said. “One year I stayed at school for four weeks straight, and it was actually more difficult to be out of my travel routine. That schedule makes it easier for me to focus on school while I am in Durham and focus on the horses when I am in Wellington.”

Treacy is a regular top finisher in high and low amateur-owner jumper competition, but hopes to use the 2017 WEF season to move into the Under 25 ranks. The Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series was developed as a bridge to the international level of grand prix competition, allowing up-and-coming riders the opportunity to gain experience competing against their peers. “There are so many opportunities to show in Wellington,” Treacy said. “The circuit runs for 12 consecutive weeks and is very competitive with large classes, good footing and beautiful show grounds.”

At home just one hour north of New York City, Old Salem Farm is the site of its own renowned training program, as well as 26 weeks of horse shows from local and regional events to the highest level of international show jumping competition. But for three months, riders like Hellerman and Treacy, under the tutelage of trainers such as Madden and Manship, make up a small piece of Wellington’s booming horse show community that draws from all corners of North America and beyond during the winter months.

“There’s no better environment for competition or training, and we consider ourselves lucky to be able to call Wellington home during the winter,” Madden said. “Myself and my riders love our facilities at Old Salem Farm in New York, but if you have to escape the weather, Wellington is the place to be.”

Old Salem Farm is one of the top equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group. Host of the FEI 2* and 3* Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4* and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena and two all-weather footing rings.

For more information about Old Salem Farm, visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call (914) 669-5610.

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