The Fight For Wellington’s Incorporation 
The Narrowly Decided 1995 Referendum That Created The Village Capped A Six-Year Effort

Story by Joshua Manning  |  Photos courtesy the Wellington Historical Society

What if the Village of Wellington was never created? It almost happened! It took six years, three votes by residents and an unexpected victory in Tallahassee to make incorporation a reality. This month, we chat with incorporation activist Mark Miles and others on a battle that divided the community but set Wellington residents up to control their own destiny.

It’s not easy to create a new municipality out of a mostly residential area already home to more than 20,000 people. The creation of the Village of Wellington took six years, three votes by the residents, a legislative tussle in Tallahassee and a final campaign that divided the community.

Looking back nearly 30 years later, it’s almost impossible to imagine what Wellington might be like today if it had never seized its own destiny. However, the vote that finally created the village passed by a slim margin.

When all the votes were counted late into the night on Nov. 7, 1995, a total of 3,851 Wellington residents voted in favor of creating a new municipality, while 3,713 opposed the measure — a margin of 138 votes that made all the difference as far as Wellington’s future was concerned.

On that day, Wellington — the huge development approved by Palm Beach County 23 years earlier — moved in a new direction. It was in control of its own future.

The fight for incorporation began as Wellington grew from a developer-controlled patchwork of subdivisions to a living, breathing community. While strong voices could be heard calling for incorporation as far back as the early 1980s — Town-Crier founder Bob Markey Sr. for one — it wasn’t until 1989 that the first mechanism was in place to get a plan into action. That was when the Acme Improvement District, Wellington’s pre-incorporation government, voted unanimously to support the idea.

When Acme’s bylaws were changed in 1990, wording was added that specifically allowed for the district to lead an incorporation effort. That effort led to an initial charter prepared by Acme attorney Charlie Schoech, among others, that went to the voters on Nov. 6, 1990. It failed by a slim margin — a failure that many attributed to the fact that the impetus for incorporation came from Acme, rather than from Wellington residents.

That was the opinion of the late Michael McDonough, an attorney who later served on both the Acme board and the inaugural Wellington Village Council. He sent a personalized letter to residents days before the vote, criticizing Acme’s role in the effort and a tax cap he felt was too high. Many on the pro-incorporation side cited McDonough’s letter when 53 percent of voters rejected that first referendum.

While Acme remained in support of the incorporation goal, they took a back seat to resident involvement in the future attempts to incorporate. That residential input came from groups such as WISE and POWER.

WISE — “Wellington Incorporation Study and Education” — was founded in 1992. Its leader was Mark Miles, a local business leader and later a member of the Wellington Village Council. The group’s stated goal was to revive the incorporation question and put it to a vote in 1994.

Miles ran a series of well-attended meetings to discuss the idea. His goal was to provide a public discussion where residents could determine what was best for the future.

“[County Commissioner] Ken Adams asked me to lunch one day. He sat me down and explained what it would be if we were incorporated. He asked me to take on the project, and I agreed to it,” Miles recalled. “I took out an ad in the Town-Crier asking people to join me for a community meeting to discuss the possibility of incorporating.”

For Miles the crucial issue was the millions in state money that Wellington was losing each year by not being incorporated.

“People were overpaying property taxes, and Palm Beach County was keeping all of it and returning nothing to us,” Miles said. “We had to prove to people that, in fact, it would be in the best interest of the community and that it would save them money.”

By 1993, WISE representatives were running from community events to civic group meetings, pitching the benefits of incorporation. WISE even went so far as to commission an accounting firm to study the financial impact of incorporation. That report bolstered the claims that incorporation would bring a financial windfall to the new village.

“The most important thing was that we were not receiving our property taxes back, and it simply was unfair that our tax money was going to other communities and improving their parks and facilities and infrastructure. I thought it should be coming back to us,” Miles said.

WISE used the slogan, “Vote facts, not fear.”

“Debbie, my wife, came up with that slogan to use,” Miles said. “We had the facts that we would literally get tens of millions of dollars back that we were losing to other communities. People were frightened of change.”

In 1994, another group stepped in to help push the incorporation plan as well. It was led by Linda Bolton, a community activist who also later sat on the Wellington Village Council.

Bolton had just been one of the leaders opposing the controversial “Town of Wellington” project west of Flying Cow Road. She had been successful in rallying her neighbors against that project. Her new goal would have to rally a whole community in favor of incorporation. The group she led was called POWER, which stood for “People of Wellington for Educated Residents.” Like WISE had done, POWER conducted town hall meetings, which drew a strong response from residents.

The combined attempts led to a non-binding “straw poll” on Nov. 8, 1994. For the first time, a vote showed that a majority of residents (57 percent) supported Wellington’s incorporation.

That successful straw poll allowed the incorporation supporters to draft a charter and try to get it approved by the state legislature. After comparing dozens of different charters, from communities as diverse as Boca Raton, Key Biscayne and Daytona Beach, the pro-incorporation forces drafted a document that was unique to Wellington. Protecting equestrian interests was a crucial factor, as was eliminating points that residents said would make them oppose incorporation. There was a much lower tax cap included, and the government was set up with a council-manager form of government with what was initially an appointed mayor. Term limits for council members were also added.

“It took many meetings to write, rewrite and study it,” said Miles on the proposed charter. “In the end, I think we put together one of the best charters in the whole state.”

The charter was also careful in designing the boundaries for the new village. Pro-incorporation supporters poured over the results of the 1994 straw poll and noted areas that voted strongly against the idea, the Wycliffe neighborhood for one. Although part of the Acme Improvement District, Wycliffe was left out of the boundaries of the new village after its residents voted 2-1 against incorporation during the straw poll.

With a plan for incorporation in place, the proponents took their cause to the legislature in Tallahassee, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Minton, who wrote the bill. But when the plan went to the legislature, it almost didn’t make it. The village’s incorporation did not get to the floor during the lawmakers’ regular session. Many people thought the entire effort had failed, and those opposed to the idea celebrated. But their relief was short-lived. A special session was called, and Wellington’s incorporation was one of the few items on the agenda.

Pro-incorporation supporters travelled to Tallahassee to lobby legislators, including Acme Improvement District Supervisor Dr. Carmine Priore, who later served on the Wellington Village Council. “I lobbied the legislators,” he recalled when interviewed in 2001. “I walked the halls in an attempt to get the legislators to support incorporation. It was one of the few items on the agenda. When we were able to get it approved, we were thrilled.”

The late Ken Adams, whose political career took him from the Acme board to the Palm Beach County Commission, was another key supporter. He had a large hand in writing the charter approved by the legislature in 1995. “We got a unanimous vote of the Florida Legislature,” Adams recalled when interviewed 20 years later in 2015. “That doesn’t happen very often, and I’m awfully proud of that, not just for me, but for all the people who participated.”

The Village of Wellington’s charter was approved by the legislature as House Bill 1439 on May 11, 1995. But the fight for incorporation was not over. The supporters still had to convince the residents to accept the charter and make incorporation official.

Groups such as “Safeguard” and “Citizens Against Incorporation” spent months disputing the benefits of incorporation, notably the financial benefits, which opponents said were likely to be offset by the extra services that the village would require. Some remained suspicious of the motives behind incorporation.

In the end, the voters — by a very slim margin — chose to become Palm Beach County’s first new municipality in more than 30 years.

“I stood up on top of a table at Cobblestones restaurant and held up the returns that night from the vote and said, ‘Finally, finally, finally.’ I had been working on the project for more than four years,” Miles recalled.

After the vote on Nov. 7, 1995, the village came into existence on Dec. 31, 1995. That set off a mad scramble with 27 candidates seeking the five seats on the inaugural Wellington Village Council, which met for the first time on March 28, 1996.

Miles is proud of his work, along with many others, to make the Village of Wellington a reality.

“It is certainly my legacy for the community,” he said. “I built more than 300 homes in Wellington during my career, and built many friendships, but it doesn’t compare to the net result for the community as my participating in the incorporation effort.”

What would Wellington be like today if the effort was not successful?

“It would not be as beautiful as it truly is,” Miles said. “When I drive through Wellington today, the mirror still shines. If anything, it shines even brighter. The quality of life in Wellington is far superior today than it would have been without incorporation.”

Diane Gutman Organizes A Team Of Volunteers To Help Local Seniors

By Mike May

If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity where you will get more in return than you give, call Diane Gutman today. She is the director of operations for the nonprofit Our Community Cares, formerly Wellington Cares. Gutman oversees a group of volunteers who provide free help to senior citizens in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach.

Gutman’s corps of volunteers provide free transportation to medical and non-medical appointments; give rides to the library, church and common destinations; and assist with grocery shopping and prescription pick-up for an expanding list of seniors who are not as mobile as they had been. But the volunteers do much more than that.

“If our seniors need an air conditioning filter replaced or a new battery in their smoke detector, our light home maintenance team of volunteers provide that service,” Gutman said. “If a senior needs somebody to speak with or requests a social visit, our volunteers provide those services. Some of our home-bound seniors do not have interactions with others for an extended time. These personal phone calls and social visits make a big difference in their lives. On one occasion, a volunteer arriving to pick up a senior for an appointment found that she had fallen and couldn’t get up. That volunteer probably saved the person’s life by being there at the right time and calling emergency responders.”

Our Community Cares also provides paper products like plates, napkins, paper towels and toilet paper, also at no charge, thanks to community residents and organizations such as Women of the Western Communities, who donate to the cause.

“The average age of our participants who receive assistance is 84 years old, and the average age of our volunteers is 67,” Gutman explained. “In many respects, it’s seniors helping seniors.”

In 2023, these volunteers provided more than $140,000 in goods and services to local seniors while driving more than 15,800 miles around the community.

Our Community Cares welcomes families who want to volunteer together, and Gutman’s own family is a perfect example. “Back in 2013, my husband and I, and our two sons, got involved as volunteers because the boys needed volunteer hours to graduate from Wellington High School, so we started volunteering with this group,” Gutman recalled. “I started as a volunteer, and since 2014, I have evolved into being the director of the group.”

Gutman encourages all residents of the western communities to become volunteers. It’s a win-win for everyone.

“All of our volunteers are truly receiving more than they are giving,” Gutman said. “Being a volunteer generates great joy for both the volunteer and the participant receiving services… You also develop great friendships with seniors and fellow volunteers. Volunteering with Our Community Cares is fulfilling, purposeful and you get more in return than you give.”

In addition to catering to the needs of seniors, the volunteers almost become family members. “Our volunteers become the eyes and ears for family members who live outside Palm Beach County,” Gutman said. “In many cases, our volunteers will call a family member if there’s a need for somebody to come visit them or take care of a pressing medical issue.”

While Our Community Cares currently focuses on Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, the nonprofit would love to replicate its services elsewhere. “However, for us to grow and expand, we need monetary donations and sponsorship,” Gutman noted.

Our Community Cares is grateful for the annual support received from a number of sponsors, such as the Quantum Foundation, the Palm Health Foundation, Comfort Care Homecare, the Wellington Community Foundation and Think Big Healthcare Solutions. Other key supporters include the Town-Crier, the villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

and Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue. Our Community Cares also has an affiliation with Grace Chapel, which provides perishable foods such as meats, fruit, vegetables, bread and desserts, which are personally delivered to the homes of participants in need.

While Gutman runs the day-to-day operations, she’s guided and assisted by a nine-member board, which includes the organization’s founder, Kathy Foster, as well as Chair Cheryl Anders, Vice Chair Bill Maher, Treasurer Marion Frank, Secretary Marge Sullivan, and board members Leonard Baer, Allison Negri, Petra Pitkonen and Shelley Swartz.

When Gutman is not guiding Our Community Cares, she enjoys traveling with her husband Ken, visiting her children, volunteering at church and spending time with friends. She is also one of the latest residents to start playing pickleball. “I just started a few weeks ago. I only play doubles, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Gutman, who graduated from York College in Pennsylvania with a degree in recreational therapy.

To get involved with Our Community Cares, as a volunteer or a participant, call Gutman at (561) 568-8818. Learn more at www.ourcommunitycaresfl.org, where there is also information about providing donations.

Julie Kime
Has Supported The Local Boys & Girls Club Since The 1980s

Because of effort, energy and enthusiasm from people like Julie Kime, Wellington has become and remains a special place to live, work, play and raise a family. Kime, supported by her husband John, has been strongly connected to the Wellington community for decades. For Kime, it’s a bond that remains as strong and vibrant as it has ever been.

The roots of Kime’s affiliation and support for Wellington can be traced back to 1982 when she opened her Allstate insurance agency, which she operated in the community for more than 30 years. Kime, who is of Cuban heritage, was the first Hispanic female in Palm Beach County to operate an Allstate agency.

Decades ago, Kime realized that Wellington is a special place.

“Wellington is a great community, especially for families with kids because of the schools. I love Wellington and its sense of community,” Kime explained. “I enjoy the people here and especially the children.”

When it came to making a charitable contribution to Wellington, Kime was laser-focused with her support. “I felt I would make the greatest impact by choosing one charity and staying with it,” Kime noted.

She chose the fledgling Wellington’s Boys & Girls Club as the recipient of her time, money and energy. Her decision to support the club was a case of love at first sight.

“In 1987, when the little Boys & Girls Club opened for approximately 100 kids, I was invited to the grand opening,” Kime recalled. “I was really moved by the kids, the needs they have, and food insecurity.”

As a result, she joined the club’s local board of directors. That was 36 years ago, and she’s still on the board today.

“I received a national award last year for 35 years of service,” Kime said. “I’ve stayed because these are Wellington kids who need us. Neil S. Hirsch helped us 11 years ago to build the new, larger club at which we are now serving at least 218 kids. It is a safe place for kids after they get out of school. They get a snack and a hot meal before they go home.”

Over the past three decades, Kime has been one of the strongest supporters of what is now the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington. She is such a strong supporter that when you walk into the current facility on Wellington Trace, you will enter the John and Julie Kime Welcome Center. Kime’s support has now expanded to include support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, where she also serves on the corporate board of directors.

Kime’s ties have continued with her involvement in the Wellington Dinner Dance, which is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the local Boys & Girls Club. She and John have yet to miss a Wellington Dinner Dance event. In addition to attending, she has served on the event’s committee and has been a tireless solicitor of auction items. Other special events on the local Boys & Girls Club calendar that she supports include its Cinco de Mayo celebration, summer bash, Thanksgiving meal, holiday party and more.

For Kime, her giving nature has resulted in her being the recipient of many accolades, such as the Central Palm Beach County Chamber’s Business of the Year Award, the Palms West Community Foundation’s Women of the Year Stiletto Award, the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches’ Leadership Award, the Women of Worth Award, an award as a Hispanic Woman of Distinction and the Portrait of a Woman Award.

Despite these honors from other groups, Kime’s heart, soul and time remain with the Boys & Girls Club in Wellington, where she can invest in an organization that mentors at-risk students and emphasizes the importance of working hard in school, being honest and the value of lifelong friendships.

Bella Eberhart Young Wellington Resident Bella Eberhart  Enjoys Giving Back To The Community

By Mike May

To say that 12-year-old Wellington resident Bella Eberhart is food-motivated is an understatement — and the lives of many residents of Wellington and Palm Beach County are better for it. While Eberhart understands the importance of a good meal, she is more interested in making sure that others are well fed and well looked after, too.

For someone so young, Eberhart acts far older than her years. “Community service has always been a big priority to me, especially food charities,” she said.

As a result of her charitable mindset, Eberhart has been recognized by Hormel Foods for one of its 10 Under 20 Food Heroes Awards. On May 29, Eberhart was informed that she was being honored by Hormel for her work supporting food charities and for her outstanding contributions to her community and beyond.

Last month, Eberhart and the nine other award recipients visited Hormel Foods’ global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, where the food giant celebrated those 10 changemakers by connecting them with industry leaders in order for them to share their stories. As a further form of encouragement, Hormel provided each of them with a financial grant of $2,500 to further support their initiatives back at home. Eberhart plans to give her grant money to the Quantum House in West Palm Beach, a caring and supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment for a serious medical condition.

For the first 12 years of her life, Eberhart’s charitable work has come in many forms. One of her first unselfish endeavors has been to use her birthday to put the spotlight on others in need. All her life, Eberhart and her parents, Stefani and Nicholas, have used Bella’s birthday to help other organizations in need of assistance. She has been giving back since her first birthday through these “Parties with a Purpose.”

Ever since she was old enough, Eberhart has always picked a charity and asked her friends to support it in her name rather than buy a birthday gift. Eberhart often provided a list of charities that have been and remain important to her. The list includes Quantum House, Chasing a Dream Foundation, the Lord’s Place and Pet Haven Rescue, among others.

Her charitable giving took a different direction in 2023 when she coordinated the first student-run community service club at her middle school, the Greene School in West Palm Beach. There, she organized a series of successful “serve-together” opportunities for her and fellow students. She led various initiatives, which included a school-based food drive, sorting non-perishable items at the Palm Beach County Food Bank, gleaning fresh produce at a local farm with CROS Ministries, cooking for Quantum House families and implementing a food distribution day with Restoration Bridge International.

Right now, Eberhart is in the process of founding “Be3 Powerful,” a nonprofit group that will connect individuals and families of “all ages, stages and abilities” with service opportunities in their communities.

In addition to her charitable endeavors, Eberhart is busy at school as co-president of the Junior National Honor Society and president of her school’s speech and debate team. Outside school, she’s a member of an aerospace club called Wolfpack.

When she has a spare moment, Eberhart enjoys playing tennis, volleyball and running track & field.

As for her appreciation of a good meal, one of her favorite places to go for dinner is Agliolio, an Italian restaurant in Wellington that happens to be owned and operated by her parents. “My favorite dish is chicken parmigiana,” she said.

Eberhart has already amassed more than 300 community service hours since she started logging them in middle school. As she continues to lead by example with her charitable endeavors, the lives of many area residents will be better for it.

Reginald Myers Principal Reginald Myers Is Positively Impacting Lives Through Education 

Reginald Myers is making a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of students, teachers and the entire staff at Palm Beach Central High School. As principal, he’s doing a job that he thought he would never do again, after retiring as principal at Park Vista High School in 2021.

His retirement concluded a tenure of 42 years with the School District of Palm Beach County. But sometimes, life takes us along a different path than we expected. Myers was two years into his well-deserved retirement when he received a surprise phone call. In the summer of 2023, the district asked him to come out of retirement, and step back into the realm of educational leadership.

Palm Beach Central was a school that suddenly found itself in desperate need of a strong, experienced leader just days before the new school year began. He embraced the challenge and joined the Bronco family. Since taking over the reins at Palm Beach Central, Myers has brought stability to the campus. As he reflects on his last 12 months in charge, he feels that his leadership has helped the school continue its mission of “Every Student Counts, Every Moment Matters.”

“My biggest contribution was demonstrating my shared passion for education and ensuring that teachers and staff had the support, resources and materials needed to help our students succeed,” Myers said. “When I arrived last year, I focused on building trust and establishing positive relationships with students and staff. This foundation allowed us to concentrate on our primary goals: increasing student achievement, preparing students for post-secondary paths and ensuring that every student has the tools they need for success after high school.”

His years of experience served him well. “Being a high school principal is a way of life that requires full commitment in order to be successful,” Myers explained.

Now that year one is in the books, he has some specific goals for this new school year. “Our focus will be on continuing to raise student achievement, increasing our graduation rate, maintaining a safe learning environment and expanding opportunities for students to engage in extracurricular activities,” he said.

His commitment means being present during the day for classes, as well as on nights and weekends to support the school’s athletic teams, clubs and other organizations. “Over the past year, I’ve attended numerous junior varsity and varsity games for most of our athletic teams,” Myers said.

He is a passionate supporter of academics but also a huge fan of the Bronco football team, which is why he is conspicuously present at all home games. “Typically, I am near the sidelines during varsity football games,” Myers said. “However, at various times throughout the event, I am mobile, working with our security team to monitor and supervise both the inside and outside of the stadium. It is important for me to connect with the students, the fans and the community.”

Looking back, Myers never would have guessed that his life would take him to back the halls and classrooms, but this unexpected professional experience has been a blessing in disguise.

“The Palm Beach Central High School ‘family’ consists of some of the most passionate and dedicated faculty and staff that I have had the opportunity to work with,” Myers said. “They arrive at work each day prepared to give their very best to our students and their families… The student body is very spirited with students who are eager to take on leadership roles that benefit not just the school, but the larger community, as well.”

Rather than thinking about his delayed retirement, Myers stressed that his current focus is on the education, health and welfare of his students.

“My focus is on making sure that each student walking through the doors of Palm Beach Central has every opportunity to succeed and ultimately graduate,” he said. “My commitment to each student is to give them the opportunity to experience positive outcomes daily, while also acquiring the skills necessary to pursue their dreams beyond high school.”

Honoring Amazing Changemakers Who Help Our Community Thrive

Step into a world where greatness knows no bounds and join us in celebrating the changemakers who help our community thrive! For the third year in a row, Wellington The Magazine is presenting our annual Our Wellington Awards, honoring remarkable individuals who have given of themselves and helped to shape our beloved village into one of the top places to live in the country. In this issue, we shine the spotlight on our 2024 award recipients. You will get to know some remarkable individuals, discovering the motivations behind their journeys, and learning more about the organizations they champion.

This year’s Our Wellington Award honorees include four amazing people who are helping to make Wellington a great place to live, work and play. We have Bella Eberhart, a middle school student who has been raising money for nonprofit organizations all of her life. She recently won a national award for her work with food-related charities. Next is Julie Kime, a fixture in the Wellington community since the 1980s. She attended the grand opening of Wellington’s first Boys & Girls Club in 1987 and has been a consistent volunteer and supporter of this vital nonprofit ever since. Also honored is Palm Beach Central High School Principal Reginald Myers, who came out of retirement to take over a school in crisis last summer and has since steadied the ship, allowing his students to soar. Finally, we honor Diane Gutman, director of operations for the nonprofit Our Community Cares. In this role, she marshals an army of volunteers to help local senior citizens in need stay in their homes and thrive.

The selfless acts of these unique changemakers are sure to inspire us all! Together, let us continue to build a community that thrives on compassion, generosity and the spirit of making a difference. Hopefully, the stories of this year’s Our Wellington Award honorees will spur others to get involved, embrace a worthy cause and be a catalyst for positive change. Together, we can then transform lives and create a brighter future for Wellington.

Expanding A Natural Paradise The Village Is Adding An Additional 45 Acres To The 365-Acre Wellington Environmental Preserve Passive Park

Story by Mike May  |  Photos By Frank Koester

One of Wellington’s most unique outdoor recreation destinations, a huge, passive park on the western edges of the community, is going through what is expected to be a seamless and significant expansion.

Thanks to the village’s recent purchase of the 45-acre Moncada property in western Wellington, the Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat will be getting larger, which is great news for those who currently enjoy this recreational paradise, popular with walkers, runners, bicyclists, bird watchers and anybody who simply enjoys mingling with Mother Nature.

The existing park includes a boardwalk, butterfly garden, learning areas, an observation tower, a trellis, walking trails, equestrian trails and restrooms. The good news is that this outdoor destination for nature lovers will continue to be available free-of-charge during the current expansion and after it is completed.

The Village of Wellington has had an eye on purchasing the Moncada property, which lies just north of the existing preserve, for many years, but it took some time to arrange both the sale agreement and the financing. The village spent $4.5 million to buy the 45-acre property, but $3.4 million of that was paid for by the Florida Communities Trust Program, which means that the village paid roughly $1.1 million for the land.

In addition to being a well-designed passive park, home to an impressive array of native Florida flora and fauna, the current 365-acre Wellington Environmental Preserve, located off Flying Cow Ranch Road, serves as a complex engineering project that is critical to Wellington’s drainage infrastructure.

According to Scott Fletcher, senior maintenance technician with Wellington’s Public Works Department, there are three positive aspects to understand, as it relates to the Wellington Environmental Preserve and its expansion into the Moncada property.

“Firstly, this is part of Everglades restoration. Secondly, we will be able to expand Wellington’s current ability to handle more water storage. And, lastly, we want to expand the current passive park, which will be a great enhancement,” Fletcher explained. “By adding the Moncada property to the existing Wellington Environmental Preserve, it makes it all complete and helps top it off.”

Having access to the Moncada land will help add roughly 30 million gallons of offline water storage to Wellington’s existing capabilities.

According to 20-year Wellington resident Garry Gruber, a senior vice president for the West Palm Beach-based engineering firm Mock-Roos, which is the lead engineering firm and engineer of record on the Moncada expansion project, the current undertaking by the village is a win-win-win for the environment and Wellington’s ability to expand its water storage capacity, as well as expanded access to passive outdoor recreation for Wellington residents and visitors.

“The Moncada expansion embraces the goals that inspired the original Wellington Environmental Preserve, providing the village with additional rainfall storage, drainage system resiliency and water quality treatment, while offering a great opportunity to provide the general public with access to connect with nature and wildlife flourishing in its natural environment,” Gruber said.

Gruber is pleased that the Village of Wellington is making sure that the preservation of the environment is its main priority.

“The Moncada expansion project is a wonderful example of the village’s local leadership in continuing its efforts to restore the Everglades back to its natural state,” Gruber added. “The original 365-acre Wellington Environmental Preserve was the final piece to the Wellington Basin B Plan. Since the early 2000s, the Basin B Plan has been the village’s framework toward restoring, protecting and preserving the greater Everglades ecosystem.”

Before the Basin B Plan, stormwater in southern Wellington drained directly into protected Everglades lands. The Basin B Plan “replumbed” the entire area, rerouting Wellington’s stormwater. The preserve serves as critical water storage and also functions as a native Florida habitat that helps naturally cleanse the water.

When the Wellington Environmental Preserve was first completed back in 2011, Mock-Roos was the lead engineering firm, while Gruber was the project manager for that job.

Right now, crews are transforming the Moncada property by removing all the invasive plant species so that it can become a natural extension of the current preserve.

“We are reshaping it, draining it, putting in trails, and it will blend in with the current Wellington Environmental Preserve,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher agreed that the overall goal of the project is to respect the fact that this is a natural wetlands area. It will become a piece of property that will also enhance and complement the natural environment.

What’s great about this current project is that the existing Wellington Environmental Preserve will remain open and fully operational during this construction time period on the adjacent Moncada property.

According to Wellington Village Engineer Jonathan Reinsvold, one of the goals of this expansion is to complete the work without negatively impacting the general public’s access to the Wellington Environmental Preserve in its current state.

“The recent purchase of the adjacent Moncada property will not affect the day-to-day operations of the existing preserve,” Reinsvold said. “We have taken and will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that impacts to the local community during construction remain minimal. Our primary focus is on maintaining the current status quo while integrating the new property into the overall plan.”

Not only is Mock-Roos working with the Village of Wellington again on this expansion of the preserve as the engineer of record, but H&J Contracting has returned as the construction company on the project. Mock-Roos’ current role is serving as the village’s representative, assisting H&J Contracting in understanding the intent of the design and providing services to determine if the project is being constructed in accordance with the contract.

While a project like this is always subject to change, the scheduled completion date is July 8, 2025.

When all is said and done, the Village of Wellington will have seamlessly integrated the 45-acre Moncada property into the existing Wellington Environmental Preserve to create one single hydraulically connected and common passive park, which will become the new and improved 410-acre Wellington Environmental Preserve — even bigger and better than ever. And it will be accessible and available, free-of-charge, to the general public.

The Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat is located at 3491 Flying Cow Ranch Road. Learn more at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Quick Action Saves Lauren Knopp’s Foal The Team At Palm Beach Equine Clinic Was Integral To The Positive Outcome

By Alice Collins/Jump Media

Keeping an eagle eye on foals in their first weeks of life is not only fun, but close monitoring can also be lifesaving, as FEI dressage rider Lauren Knopp discovered in July. Luckily, quick action from Knopp, her home veterinarian, her reproduction veterinarian and the team at Palm Beach Equine Clinic (PBEC) in Wellington all came together to bring about a positive outcome.

Knopp noticed that something wasn’t quite right when her two-month-old Hanoverian foal-at-foot Poof started having diarrhea. She called her reproduction vet Dr. Erin Newkirk, who handles her foals’ wellness care, and asked her to look at the filly, who is by Dark Pleasure out of Knopp’s Dancier mare, Dakota.

“Dr. Newkirk came on the second day of diarrhea and did an exam, pulled blood and gave her Bio-Sponge [an equine health supplement designed to help support healthy gastrointestinal function] and probiotic, and within a few minutes she became ataxic, meaning that her coordination and balance became really abnormal,” Knopp recalled.

That is when they contacted the experts at PBEC.

“As soon as Poof exhibited neurological symptoms, Dr. Newkirk and I got on the phone with PBEC,” Knoff said. “We immediately rushed Poof and Dakota to the clinic, where the clinician in charge of her care, Dr. Candelaria Chunco, and her team were waiting for us. Poof was diagnosed with central neurologic dysfunction of the brain due to low blood sodium.”

When Poof arrived at PBEC, she had a fever and neurological symptoms resulting from an electrolyte imbalance caused by 48 hours of diarrhea.

“Upon arrival, we carried out a physical exam, neurological exam, and an abdominal and thoracic ultrasound was performed,” explained Dr. Santiago Demierre, the referring veterinarian. “Poof was severely ataxic, hyperresponsive to stimuli, exhibiting compulsive behavior, and had proprioceptive deficits, unilateral circling, head tilts and tremors.”

He noted that blood work revealed severe dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance.

“Intravenous fluids were immediately started to correct imbalances, and within a few hours, Poof’s neurological signs began to improve. She was maintained on intravenous fluid therapy, antibiotics, Bio-Sponge and probiotic paste,” Demierre said

Knopp was thrilled with the care the foal received at PBEC.

“The team at PBEC went above and beyond to care for Poof. They were all extremely professional and kept me informed every step of the way. I visited a lot and was always greeted by a tech and given an update,” she said. “Aside from their quick action to get fluids into Poof and working tirelessly for six days — especially the first night — I really appreciated the care and attention my mare Dakota also received during her stay at PBEC. They always made sure she was calm and well-fed. Both Poof and Dakota are used to turnout with the option to come in and out as they please, so the staff made sure Dakota was just as comfortable as Poof during their stay.”

After almost a week of monitoring and treatment, Poof was passing normal manure, acted bright and alert, had no fever, and her normal appetite had returned. She was ready to return home.

“Even though the experience itself was immensely stressful, the team at PBEC made me feel secure knowing they were doing everything they needed to,” Knopp said. “No stone went unturned. The service was amazing, and they provided me with a detailed list of aftercare and checked in with me to make sure Poof settled in well at home.”

Knopp extended her thanks to the entire PBEC team.

“I am so grateful. It can make all the difference when an owner is paying attention to their horses, and the littlest details matter. Because of everyone acting so quickly, we were able to get Poof the care she needed. The moral of the story is not to wait to call your vet, because the outcome may have been different if I had waited,” she said.

To learn more about Palm Beach Equine Clinic, call (561) 793-1599 or visit www.equineclinic.com.

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
Wellington’s Commitment To Student Success On Display Through The SWAG Program

By Jim Barnes, Wellington Village Manager

This month, we take a look at the Students Working to Achieve Greatness (SWAG) program, which the Village of Wellington runs in partnership with the Crowned Pearls of Wellington. This unique program assists rising high school juniors and seniors in their pursuit of higher education.

As the school year kicks into high gear, it’s not just classrooms that are buzzing with activity, the village’s youth programs are also revving up. Among them, the Students Working to Achieve Greatness (SWAG) program stands out as a gateway to opportunity for Wellington’s high school students who face significant challenges. Since its inception in 2017, SWAG has been more than just a program; it has been a lifeline, offering mentorship, academic support and real-world experiences that shape futures. Let’s dive into how SWAG is empowering our young people to break barriers and achieve greatness, one success story at a time.

As a key part of the SWAG program, the village partners with the Crowned Pearls of Wellington, the program’s sponsor. The Crowned Pearls is an official graduate chapter of the international Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the nation’s oldest sorority for African American women.

One of SWAG’s primary goals is to assist rising juniors and seniors in their pursuit of higher education. The program supports students’ career objectives and broadens their horizons through employment opportunities and cultural experiences. As program sponsors, the Crowned Pearls of Wellington also serve as mentors, create a life skills curriculum that includes financial management and professional development, and provide academic, intellectual and community support. Cultural outings and a paid summer internship are also integral components of the program.

The SWAG program is structured around three core elements: tutoring, internships and mentoring, with the following key objectives: demonstrating gains in academic achievement; acquiring leadership skills; boosting confidence; increasing school attendance and graduation rates; preparing students for advanced education; and enhancing community and civic responsibility.

Since the program’s inception, participation has steadily increased each year. Students are referred to the program by guidance counselors at Wellington’s two high schools. To qualify, students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.

SWAG participants who need academic assistance receive tutoring from the Crowned Pearls of Wellington, a nonprofit partner that includes retired educators. These educators offer weekly tutoring sessions, tailored to meet the diverse educational needs of the students. The program’s academic support includes supplemental instruction, facilitated workshops, and access to textbooks and other materials relevant to the students’ educational needs. This tutoring component strengthens subject comprehension, boosts confidence and builds important learning skills through individualized attention.

Students in the SWAG program are also awarded paid summer internships with local community partners. These internships are assigned based on the students’ skill sets, interests and compatibility with work assignments. The internships are designed to help students transition from school to the next phase of their lives, offering real-world experience that integrates school studies with workplace demands, preparing students for the expectations of the working world. The students also get opportunities to make informed career decisions by assessing their aptitudes and interests while exploring potential career paths. This internship program serves as a valuable link between schools and the local community. The internship component benefits both the student participants and the local business partners, which include organizations in healthcare, nonprofits, commerce and local government.

The mentorship aspect of the SWAG program, designed by the Crowned Pearls of Wellington, addresses the social and emotional needs of the students, while also fostering life skills that contribute to personal development and future success. The strong bonds formed between students and mentors cultivate leadership skills, a sense of belonging and community involvement, creating lasting connections. The broader community benefits from having strong, homegrown role models. Mentors work one-on-one with students throughout the program, offering academic support, assistance with college applications and financial aid forms, and emotional guidance.

Since its launch in 2017, more than 250 students have completed the SWAG program, with 71 students receiving internships. Impressively, 100 percent of SWAG participants have graduated from high school, and 80 percent have gone on to attend a four-year university — a significant achievement, well above the average among Wellington High School graduates. SWAG students have also been featured on local news channels and in newspaper articles.

The SWAG program is more than just a tutoring or internship placement initiative; it’s about building relationships that make a meaningful difference. The Crowned Pearls of Wellington provide gentle yet firm guidance, imparting life lessons that will stay with the students for the rest of their lives.

Wellington is proud to partner with the Crowned Pearls to make the SWAG program a resounding success. Together, we’re not just supporting our students — we’re investing in their futures, fostering a community where every young person has the opportunity to shine. As we look ahead, we remain committed to empowering our students and nurturing the next generation of leaders in Wellington