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Feature Stories, Wellington Education

#1 Education Place Provides Students With Individualized Learning

#1 Education Place Provides Students With Individualized Learning

Twenty years ago, after many years of teaching in large private schools, Anita Kane found herself at a crossroads. Seeing a need in the equestrian community where she and her son, Sean, were very involved, Kane decided to start what she thought would be a tutoring service for young equestrians.

What began as a service for friends quickly grew, and she invited her friend and former co-worker Judy Blake to join her. They soon decided to set down roots and #1 Education Place, opened as a brick-and-mortar school with Kane as the head of the Upper School and Blake as the lead in the Lower School.

Many years and many students later, the school has become a lifeline for parents who find that their children do not fit into the cookie cutter of mainstream education.

“Having a more individualized learning plan helps me to keep my own pace, and the flexible schedule allows me to make time for both school and outside activities,” Class of 2021 senior Abby Estevez explained.

And Estevez has used her time to help her community. In addition to earning her Eagle Scout rank this summer, she was awarded the “My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper” scholarship for her noteworthy community service.

Serving grades 1 through 12, #1 Education Place has successfully navigated many students through what has become an increasingly “one size fits all” educational system.

“Many students need an environment where they can work effectively, successfully and sometimes differently than they are asked to work in a traditional school. This is where we come in,” Kane said.

With graduates heading to colleges throughout Florida and the U.S., it is apparent that the program helps create a culture of success.

The Lower School, which encompasses grades 1 through 8, is divided between elementary and middle school. Here students are encouraged to grow their executive function through decision making and learning from both their teachers and their peers. Students are encouraged to challenge their abilities and explore their interests while emphasizing the basics.

Blake pointed out that parents often comment on the ease of having one school for their child from first through 12th grades.

“It is hard to measure the immense value of having a group of teachers who know and nurture your child throughout their educational years,” she said.

This summer, #1 Education Place will be offering placement both for tutoring to combat the “summer slide,” as well as placement for the 2021-22 school year. If you are looking for a school where students actually enjoy learning and develop skills that help them function in the real world, contact #1 Education Place at (561) 753-6563.

#1 Education Place is located at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 23, in Wellington. For more information, visit www.1educationplace.com.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Education

The NRI Institute Of Health Sciences Educates Future Nurses And More

The NRI Institute Of Health Sciences Educates Future Nurses And More

The NRI Institute of Health Sciences is a licensed and accredited, private degree-granting post-secondary school that offers programs in registered and practical nursing, nursing assistant and diagnostic medical sonography.

The ownership team of Chief Administrative Officer Dan Splain and his wife Dr. Elizabeth Stolkowski, who serves as president and director of the nursing program, work with a highly qualified staff to prepare students as quality medical caregivers, helping these students discover their own opportunities to serve in the healthcare field.

Both Splain and Stolkowski have extensive healthcare backgrounds in the U.S. and internationally, including hospital administration, managed care, nursing education and the international recruitment of healthcare professionals.

“We started out with eight students, and last semester we had 112,” Splain said. “Some go to work at Palms West Hospital and a number go to Wellington Regional Medical Center, as well as various hospitals on the Gold Coast and the Treasure Coast. We even have some teaching in fine institutions all over the country.”

Growing from an initial small location in West Palm Beach to the 13,500-square-foot facility in Royal Palm Beach, NRI offers two post-secondary school degrees: associate of sciences in nursing and associate of applied science in diagnostic medical sonography. The school added a medical assistant diploma this spring.

“Even before the pandemic, there was a nationwide shortage of one million nurses,” Splain said. “County residents are predominately people over 65, with more in season, so the need is great locally.”

He added that the reputation of NRI and the way the school provides personal attention to the students helps them to pass the state license exam, offering them a high level of confidence that they will be employed right out of school.

Stolkowski’s responsibilities focus on the education aspects of the school to deliver the promised education to the student population, orchestrating the right faculty and the right learning to qualify good nurses so they get licensed. “We are small, so we are quick and innovative, and we make sure the students’ success comes first,” Stolkowski explained.

Dr. M.J. Duthie is a highly skilled nursing educator who teaches five classes per week at the NRI Institute in health and anatomy, and also handles the upper level administrative and clinical needs.

“Our instructors were educated at some of the top 10 colleges and major universities in the nation,” Duthie said. “It is so nice to have the responsibilities and rigors of the larger, high-powered schools here in a smaller, more private setting. We have the same standards as the larger schools for our students here in a two-year, four-semester situation.”

The NRI Institute of Health Sciences is located at 500 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Royal Plaza. For more information, call (561) 688-5112 or visit www.nriinstitute.edu.

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Feature Stories, Wellington Education

Wellington Preparatory School Offers A Unique Educational Experience

Wellington Preparatory School Offers A Unique Educational Experience

The Wellington Preparatory School is a coeducational, non-sectarian private school teaching pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Its mission is to deliver a top academic education while providing supportive co-curricular activities.

Looking ahead to the next school year, Wellington Preparatory School will continue to offer face-to face instruction with a commitment to keeping a focus on the health and safety of students, faculty, families and the community.

Wellington Prep is committed to making the school accessible to a wide range of families by not only offering the traditional on-campus classroom experience, but also by offering a distance learning program to approved families with reasons that necessitate virtual instruction.

For the 2021-22 school year, Wellington Prep expects that the school experience will begin to feel more like it was prior to the pandemic. However, many health protocols will still be in place, such as limiting visitors into buildings and limiting large gatherings. The school will continue to follow all recommendations from the CDC and the local health department. Meanwhile, school officials have worked closely with local health partners to ensure that faculty members have been given the opportunity to become fully vaccinated.

The school is planning great opportunities for the 2021-22 school year, including an accelerated academic program that not only concentrates on the core subjects but also on the importance of arts in students’ everyday academic experience.

School hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents can drop off their students in the front of the school with a teacher or administrator. A car line is operated at the end of the day for student pickup. Wellington Prep also offers before care starting at 6:15 a.m. and after care until 6:15 p.m. After care includes homework help, tutoring, outside activities and a snack.

The school operates on a trimester system and does not follow the public-school calendar. All students are required to wear uniforms and must also purchase or rent a violin.

After school clubs and activities vary by trimester, typically operating from 3 to 4 p.m., immediately after school. These opportunities include chess, art, social club, Spanish club, private violin lessons and private language lessons.

The admissions team welcomes all prospective families, including those who are just beginning their search for a unique school community. Wellington Prep is currently accepting applications for grades K through 8. Prospective parents and students are invited to call to schedule an in-person tour. Contact the admissions office at (561) 649-7900 for more information.

Wellington Prep’s main campus is located at 9135 Lake Worth Road in suburban Lake Worth. The high school campus is located at 12300 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. For more info., visit www.wellingtonprep.org.

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Feature Stories

Neighborhood Kids Preschool Now Expanding To Serve More Families

Neighborhood Kids Preschool Now Expanding To Serve More Families

Story By Deborah Welky  |  Photos by Abner Pedraza

Neighborhood Kids, which already operates two preschool locations in Wellington, recently announced expansion plans that will add locations in nearby Royal Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.

The preschool’s owner Frank Toral is pleased to be expanding into the neighboring community after taking over the oldest preschool locations in Wellington in 2019.

“Many of our parents used to be students themselves,” Toral explained. “It’s a real multi-generational community. The children become friends and stay lifelong friends. This faith-based preschool, once operated under another name, is the longest-running, continuously open preschool in Palm Beach County at 43 years. So many of the parents were once students themselves — their relatives and neighbors went here.”

Four decades ago, the western communities were known more as a retirement area with little available for growing families. But “family” is now the name of the game — and Neighborhood Kids aims to serve this growing market.

“We have waiting lists at both of our Wellington campuses,” Toral said. “So, our new Royal Palm Beach location, inside the longstanding Connect Church on Okeechobee Blvd., will offer additional space.”

Following the June 1 opening of Neighborhood Kids in Royal Palm Beach, Toral, together with his wife Olivia, will soon open a fourth location in Boynton Beach.

“It’s a Christian preschool that we’re continuing to expand throughout Palm Beach County,” Toral said. “We get a lot of feedback on the faith-based aspect of the school from our children’s parents. Many of their children will be going directly from our pre-kindergarten to public school, so this will be the only faith-based schooling they will get. We appreciate that the families recognize the value that our pre-K gives their kids for the short time we have them.”

Toral said that one thing that distinguishes Neighborhood Kids from other preschool and pre-K programs in the area is that it’s not attached to another elementary, middle or high school. Yet there’s the same neighborhood feeling throughout all Neighborhood Kids campuses.

“For example, we had a little girl in our three-year-old program. She comes home and tells her mom and dad about her friends, that she wants them to come to her birthday party and that she wants to go to their birthday parties. The point is, the kids form a community. And this has been happening for 40 years,” Toral said.

The two Neighborhood Kids stand-alone locations in Wellington currently serve more than 250 children combined, with 150 at the Greenbriar campus and 112 at the Wellington Trace campus. “The new Royal Palm Beach campus will be a smaller, a more intimate setting for the kids,” Toral said. “We will be able to host 83 children there.”

All the Neighborhood Kids locations will be accepting students starting at eight weeks old and continuing up to the VPK classes at age four.

Toral hopes that the waiting lists in Wellington will grow shorter with the opening of the Royal Palm Beach location. There are about 15 families whose children currently attend at a Wellington campus who are planning to transfer their children to Royal Palm Beach, which will immediately create a few openings at the original two locations.

There will also be a few spots opening up at the Greenbriar campus, as visiting equestrian families from across the United States and beyond leave for the season.

“My wife and I are Wellington residents, so we’re invested in these communities,” Toral said. “We live and work here, and we want to give families this educational and spiritual foundation for their children. It’s going to be the same uniform program throughout and the same curriculum in all four schools — the same mission and the same values.”

Some of the Neighborhood Kids teachers have been with the school for more than 20 years, teaching the internationally implemented Abeka and Creative curriculums, together with the Amazing Athletes fitness program and Go Picasso painting classes, all in a Christian, faith-based environment.

“We’ve heard from multiple parents that they get really emotional when they’re sitting at the dinner table and begin to eat, and their child tells them, ‘We need to pray before we eat dinner,’” Toral said. “We hear this over and over. We have gotten so many positive responses. It’s the joy of their hearts that their child is part of that gratitude of thanking God in a world that doesn’t always value that.”

The schools’ mission statement is to “partner with families to empower their child to discover and realize their potential in a nurturing and supportive environment.”

“To sum up what we do,” Toral said. “We provide an educational and spiritual foundation for your child’s future. In a world that values success, Neighborhood Kids distinguishes itself by teaching your child the value of character, without which, no success can be sustained. That’s the core of who we are.”

Toral also plans an active camp program for this summer.

“We’re looking forward to a robust summer ‘Fun Camp’ in June,” Toral said. “Last year, because of COVID-19, we were extremely limited in what we could offer the children. But this year, field trips are back on the schedule. We’re going to bring Lion Country Safari in. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

The summer camp program is also open to older children. The summer camp is geared toward ages 5 to 12, Toral said. Registration is open now. For parents of older children — or those just looking to see what Neighborhood Kids has to offer — Toral recommends they contact the school or visit the web site to register. And for former Neighborhood Kids students who have graduated, it might be fun to see your former teachers in a camp setting.

Neighborhood Kids is located at 2995 Greenbriar Blvd. (561-790-0808) and 1040 Wellington Trace (561-793-5860) in Wellington. Visit www.neighborhoodkids.net for more information.

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Wellington Real Estate

Exceptional Lakeview Property In Wellington’s Castellina Community

Exceptional Lakeview Property In Wellington’s Castellina Community

This exceptional home is located in Wellington’s Castellina neighborhood, located off Stribling Way just south of the Mall at Wellington Green. Situated on a grand lakeview property, this distinctive home is for those seeking the finest in design elements, materials and quality. Its design features an homage to the grandeur of an Imperial British Empire estate home, reminiscent of the architectural influence of its past Far East history. Highlighted features are three bedrooms and three full baths, plus an office, with a well-executed floor plan totaling 2,561 square feet of living space. Interior upgrades are included throughout each area of the home.

Aerial View: The front elevation of the home shows the expanded three-car garage. The garage itself features soothing, soft blue epoxy-finished floors with coordinating matching color walls. Installed garage cabinets offer valuable added storage.

Great Room: Interior design appointments feature custom millwork and white high-gloss crown molding framing this magnificent home. The coffered ceilings add detail to the great room.

Pool/Patio: The home’s picturesque, screen-enclosed pool and patio area serves as a wonderful private retreat.

Bathroom: Intricate tile going from ceiling to floor is housed within a frameless glass shower. Complementing the shower are two magnificent Kohler sinks set into the granite countertops of the owner’s vanity.

Kitchen: The kitchen features exceptional appointments, such as upgraded granite kitchen counters with a breakfast bar island and sink, a custom backsplash, fine cabinetry, custom shelving and top-level stainless-steel appliances.

Castellina Property Presented By Roger Plevin

Meet Roger Plevin  

Roger Plevin was working as a stockbroker in New York when he and his wife, Andrea, first started coming to Florida regularly. Their parents were aging, and they wanted to keep in touch.

“We were looking for a home in the Coral Springs/Parkland area when someone told us of a lovely area called Wellington,” Plevin recalled. “We decided to take a drive and check it out. We got a very good vibe from Wellington. It felt homey and comfortable, and we recognized that the pricing of the homes made them a better value than those in Broward County.”

The Plevins moved to Wellington’s Grand Isles community in 2001, and living there was what prompted a switch to a career in real estate.

“I observed the vast changes that Wellington was going through in 2001 and 2002. The Mall at Wellington Green was completed and State Road 7 was starting to expand,” Plevin said. “I began noticing rooftops replacing trees on the east side of Wellington, and I would joke with my New York friends that they build a house here faster than they fill a pothole in New York. So I decided not to watch it happen but to become a participant in the growth.”

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Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Enjoy A Traditional Argentinian Experience At Asador Patagonia

Enjoy A Traditional Argentinian Experience At Asador Patagonia

By Meredith Burow

Argentinian steakhouse Asador Patagonia brings an authentic taste of South America to the western communities.

“We wanted to try something different,” said owner Natalia Ayala, explaining why she and her husband, Juan, left Argentina and moved to the United States nearly two decades ago.

Eighteen years, two children, a restaurant and tiki bar later, and “different” is still the family’s mantra.

Bringing a taste of their home country to central Palm Beach County, the couple opened Asador Patagonia, a restaurant nestled quietly in the Royal Inn Hotel plaza at the northwest corner of Royal Palm Beach and Southern boulevards, about 10 years ago. The establishment includes a large dining area, a private events space, an indoor bar, an outdoor tiki hut and a patio overlooking the lake.

The Ayalas wear many hats at the restaurant, cooking, cleaning, managing and serving. It’s a big job, but it is a dream that became a reality.

“You think of something, and God gives you the resources,” Ayala said. “We don’t know exactly why, but it happened.”

But what makes it so different? Unlike other restaurants, Asador Patagonia implements a traditional, Argentinian grilling method: charcoal.

While a typical cooking technique in the food service industry elicits a gas grill, the Ayalas wanted the community to enjoy the rich, unique flavor brought out when grilling with charcoal. Prior to being seared on the grill, the meat is flavored with salt alone, and according to customer reviews, it does not disappoint.

“Nobody knows about Argentinian food, and it’s a different kind of food. At a lot of restaurants, it’s all the same,” Ayala said. “Argentinian food is so different — it’s a lot of meat, but we cook the meat on the charcoal. That’s the difference. It’s a different steak house.”

Hailed by some as “the best Argentinian steakhouse in Florida,” Asador Patagonia is known for both its great food and excellent customer service. Its menu is a collection of meat choices for the asado, the term used for a traditional Argentinian barbecue.

Guests can choose from a traditional Argentinian Grill, including flank steak, skirt steak, short ribs, chicken, sausage and more, or choose their own meat selection from a variety of steaks, as well as filet mignon, chicken and shrimp skewers. There’s also an array of appetizers and side dishes.

Aside from the grilled meats, there’s also a wide array of traditional Argentinian appetizers and side dishes. Argentinian cuisine is uniquely South American, but also has strong influences of European cuisine, especially Spanish and Italian. This creates unique flavors with an emphasis on meat dishes.

If the food alone wasn’t enough to attract patrons, the weekend live music, lakeside view and laidback atmosphere helps to keep the customers coming back.

“It’s always a really nice spot just to hang out,” said Nicole Elizabeth as she sat under the shady tiki bar on the back patio. “Everyone’s always very nice and welcoming.”

First-time guests Syd and Arlene Zudekoff enjoyed their experience eating out on the patio. The couple had been to the location about 15 years ago, before the space became Asador Patagonia. “We knew that the view was nice, and we knew this area was nice, and we’re looking for different places to go,” Syd explained.

They enjoyed the experience and plan to return with others. “It’s a lovely local restaurant,” Arlene said.

The Ayalas have worked hard to cultivate the relaxing environment. Ayala even recalled with amusement a time when they first opened the restaurant, and their two boys, Matias and Lorenzo, were still very young.

“Lorenzo grew up in the restaurant, and sometimes they’d go to the table and take bread, and take the food for the customers, also,” she said. “They’d run through all the restaurant.”

Fortunately, the customers were amused, too.

Like the children, Asador Patagonia knows how to have fun. With a capacity for 250 people, guests can reserve the space for weddings, birthday parties and more. That being said, patrons wishing to use the space cannot bring in outside catering and must use the restaurant’s food and drinks only.

Karaoke lovers can also show up and show off on weekend nights. Customers are encouraged to reserve seats beforehand, however, as these tend to be the busiest times at Asador Patagonia.

Asador Patagonia is located at 675 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. It is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit www.asadorpatagoniawpb.com or call (561) 651-9477.

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Feature Stories

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Thanks Grand Champions Polo Club For Support

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Thanks Grand Champions Polo Club For Support

2020 was a year like no other. Life changed in an instant, leaving companies and individuals trying to plan their next steps. For nonprofits such as the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), this meant pivoting to a completely virtual platform that they had never done before.

The height of the pandemic hit as LLS was starting its Man & Woman of the Year campaign. The candidates and volunteers stepped up to the plate, knowing that even though daily life may have come to a standstill, cancer wasn’t canceled. One candidate and sponsor shined more brightly and made a huge impact for local patients fighting blood cancers — Grant Ganzi and the Grand Champions Polo Club.

Ganzi rallied during the extended 16-week fundraising period to claim the title of 2020 Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Man of the Year.

His persistence and focus on the mission of LLS raised critical funds for blood cancer patients. The Lynn University senior and third-generation polo player utilized his network to support lifesaving research.

On Sunday, May 2, DeAnn Hazey, executive director of the LLS South Florida Region, presented Melissa Ganzi and Grand Champions Polo Club with an award for being the presenting sponsor of the 2020 Man & Woman of the Year campaign in the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast market.

Hazey is looking forward to a longstanding partnership between the organization and the Grand Champions Polo Club.

“Thank you so much to the Ganzi family,” Hazey said. “I know the money they raised is helping families right here, right now, and what they did is truly saving lives. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is so grateful to have such an impactful supporter within the community. The polo club’s sponsorship and support will not only allow lifesaving blood cancer research to continue but will also help patients receive access to medications and other financial needs.”

As a breast cancer survivor, Melissa Ganzi recently finished her final treatment. She is healthy and is back to playing polo. With the start of 2021, Grand Champions is bringing back a sense of normalcy to the area with its spring season in full swing.

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, visit www.mwoy.org/mwoy-palm-beach-0.

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Feature Stories

Wellington To Continue Its Decades-Long Tradition Of Holiday Fireworks On Independence Day

Wellington To Continue Its  Decades-Long Tradition Of Holiday Fireworks On Independence Day

By M. Dennis Taylor

As this summer brings hopes of a return to something approaching normal, the Village of Wellington is planning a community celebration to make residents feel a bit like it is an Independence Day from years past. Included in the festivities will be the presentation of what is possibly the best fireworks display available in Palm Beach County.

Assistant Community Services Director Michelle Garvey is responsible for coordinating this year’s Fourth of July celebration, which will be conducted safely outside at Village Park on Pierson Road. As of May, plans were still underway, with complete details available in June. There are still sponsorships and vendor spaces available, but the biggest news is the magnitude of the Zambelli fireworks display.

Zambelli is renowned as one of the best fireworks display providers, entertaining area residents for generations. Founded in Italy in 1893, the family-owned business is now located in Pennsylvania and has provided the spectacular shows for Wellington throughout the years. These include past celebrations of Independence Day, as well as New Year’s Eve, which is also the anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Wellington.

“Our objective is to put the most shells of anywhere in the county in the air during the 20-minute display,” Garvey said.

The celebration will be a day of family fun topped off by the impressive fireworks display. “Last year, we shot off the fireworks from two locations, but now everything will be at Village Park,” Garvey said.

The 2020 observance included fireworks but little else due to the pandemic.

This year, with restrictions eased, will be different. It will all be done safely outdoors with the restrooms sanitized frequently and sanitizing stations throughout the area. Village staff will likely be masked, but vaccinated attendees to the event are not required to wear a mask, unless regulations change.

There will be many activities that are aimed at making youngsters happy with lots of games. “There will be an obstacle course, parachute races and stilt walkers walking throughout the festivities,” Garvey said. “There will be a petting zoo with all the typical barnyard animals, plus surprises and favorites like the miniature cow.”

Food and entertainment will also be part of the experience.

“There will be lots of food trucks for a satisfying food experience, and there will be live music with the Studio 54 band,” Garvey said, adding that the entertainment will include a singing contest where winners get to sing on stage.

Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department provides the community with exceptional parks, leisure and recreation programs that build strong, healthy lifestyles while contributing to the economic and environmental sustainability of Wellington.

Many popular activities in the usually busy department are returning to the schedule as the summer approaches. Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett noted that the village’s new Parks & Recreation Department newsletter has just published its first issue now that activities are gearing back up. It is frequently updated and lists the most current information on recreational activities.

“We are extremely excited to be once again offering so many programs to the residents of our community,” Juckett said. “Tell the community we are back, and we are super excited.”

The food trucks have returned to the Wellington Amphitheater on Thursday nights, along with concerts and movies on Friday and Saturday nights. Free tickets to the concerts are available on Eventbrite.

“The Wellington Community Center has opened back up, and programs and rentals have resumed,” Juckett said. “Swimming lessons in two-week classes will be taking place at the pool, tennis lessons are in the mornings, the all-day summer camps and academies have returned, and registration and availabilities are all in the newsletter on the village’s web site.

Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/july4th for updates on the Independence Day celebration. For the latest on upcoming community events, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events.

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Wellington Health

Great Ophthalmology Resources Available Close To Home At The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute

Great Ophthalmology Resources  Available Close To Home At The  Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute

The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute offers specialized eyecare services for the entire family. The list of services provided by the institute — which has offices in Wellington, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton — includes just about every possible ophthalmological service, diagnosis and treatment.

The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute offers a full range of comprehensive ophthalmological care, from routine eye exams to advanced surgical procedures. Services include cataract surgery, cornea surgery, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, eyelid tumors, eyelid conditions, pediatric and adult strabismus, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and detached and torn retina treatments, along with general eye care.

At the Wellington office, which opened in 2015, Dr. Jason Gorscak specializes in cataract reflective surgery, medical glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration screening. Dr. Randy Katz treats advanced retinal disease, while Dr. Lee Friedman is the pediatric and adult strabismus specialist.

While the range of services provided by the Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute runs the gamut of eyecare needs, some eyecare issues are more common than others.

“As a comprehensive ophthalmologist, I see a wide range of pathology,” Gorscak said. “I see mostly cataracts and glaucoma, as well as diabetics, who are routinely screened for diabetic retinopathy.”

While diagnosing an issue or a problem is always the primary mission, the staff at the Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute also feel that it is important to create a positive and warm environment for every patient.

“Our staff always strives to create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere where patients can be comfortable,” Gorscak said.

While the institute works in a competitive industry, there are few other outlets, if any, that provide such an array of services at such a high standard of professional excellence.

“The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute is a multispecialty practice that covers a very wide range of ophthalmic pathology,” Gorscak said. “There are not many other ophthalmology practices in South Florida that do that.”

The institute’s doctors include some of the most experienced experts in the field, and residents of the Wellington area are fortunate to have access to such high-quality, one-stop shopping for eyecare services, procedures and treatments.

Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Jason Gorscak attended Johns Hopkins University and then obtained his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He then completed his ophthalmologic residency at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey before joining Florida Eye in 2008.

Originally from New York, Dr. Randy Katz grew up in New Jersey and earned his medical degree at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He completed both his internship and his residency at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey before earning his fellowship in medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous at the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He has been practicing in Florida for most of his career.

Originally from Miami Beach, Dr. Lee Friedman earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. He completed his internship and residency at Tampa General Hospital, and his fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.

The Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute offices are located in Wellington at 2575 State Road 7 near the Mall at Wellington Green behind Whole Foods and TooJay’s. Additional offices are at 1717 Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach and 9980 Central Park Blvd., Suite 204, in Boca Raton.

The Wellington office is open to serve patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phones are live Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and lunch is from noon to 1 p.m.

For more information, call the Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute at (561) 737-5500, or contact the Wellington office directly at (561) 792-1205. Learn more at www.fleyedocs.com.

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Feature Stories

Wellington Garden Club Helps Make The Community A More Beautiful Place

Wellington Garden Club Helps Make The Community A More Beautiful Place

“Gardening Makes a World of Difference” is the motto of the Wellington Garden Club, which has been helping to make the community a more beautiful place for nearly four decades.

Founded in October 1981 by a few local women who held meetings in one another’s living rooms, the club began with lots of good ideas and a few bylaws. Yet the women had the foresight to become part of something bigger, joining the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs just a few months later.

Founding members of the club included President Mary Clark, Vice President Mary Rowe, Treasurer Inge Parrish, Recording Secretary Paula Giambrone, Corresponding Secretary Judy Frank, and members Melinda Beasley, Connie Diforio, Marilyn Elliot, Mary Giovanetti, Phyllis Greenberg, Isabel Johnson, Grace Rocket, Alberta Weldon and Lily Wiggan.

“The club’s original scrapbook is interesting to look through,” said Jan Seagrave, the group’s current president. “The women used to do a bazaar; did landscaping for Habitat for Humanity homes; created little handmade programs; and typed up pages for a yearbook that we have professionally printed today. They did a lot of flower-arranging classes where now we have flower show judges and master gardeners as members, and the judges sometimes do arrangement classes.”

Over the past 40 years, the club has grown quite a bit, and with that growth came changes.

“We have added to what our mission statement and motto are, we’ve added activities, and we meet at the Wellington Community Center now,” Seagrave said. “There’s so much to what we do. The club has evolved over the years from that group of wonderful ladies who got it started to a club with more of a sense of community than we had before.”

Some of its original charter members remain on the roster, linking the past to the present. “It’s about how far we’ve come with the club and what we’ve learned in the past to bring forth to give to the community,” Seagrave explained.

The group continues to invite informative guest speakers to its meetings and hosts a biannual Garden Walk tour of members’ gardens, but it also established a butterfly garden at the Wellington Dog Park, currently maintained by the Boy Scouts; sends kids to ecology camp; offers scholarships to high school students interested in the earth sciences; and even honors the military.

This upcoming Memorial Day, the Wellington Garden Club will unveil a Gold Star plaque at the Wellington Veterans Memorial to honor family members of servicemen who died in the line of duty. This marker joins the Blue Star marker currently in place at the memorial, also donated by the Wellington Garden Club. The Blue Star marker was the result of a club fundraising effort, while the Gold Star marker was underwritten by a club member and her veteran husband.

“The markers are part of a national initiative,” Seagrave said. “We also partnered with the Village of Wellington. They gave us a place to put the marker, they allow us to have our ceremony there and they maintain it — and the beautiful landscaping around it.”

It was incoming President Maria Wolfe who led the marker charge.

“Being the daughter of a World War II and Korean War veteran, and spouse of a Vietnam veteran, honoring our servicemembers is very important to me,” she said. “When I found out that the National Garden Clubs had this program and the village didn’t have even one marker, I took it upon myself to do it. The Blue Star marker was dedicated on Veterans Day 2019.”

Wolfe spoke at the ceremony when the marker was unveiled. “We had 50 club members in the parade — everybody was just so excited to be a part of it and support it,” she said. “And now, as the pandemic slowly recedes, we felt like it was time to put in the Gold Star marker, and we’d like to invite all Gold Star families to attend the dedication, this time on Memorial Day.”

Twig Morris has been a member of the Wellington Garden Club for 15 years, joining just two years after she moved to Wellington.

“The club’s membership grew a lot after I joined. There were so many new communities opening up, and also the club was trying to get into as many local publications as possible,” Morris said. “We attracted new members during our garden tour and the plant sales we held at the Wellington Community Center. People bought plants and found out about the club.”

The Wellington Garden Club also began focusing more on the youth of the area, forming junior garden clubs and establishing a children’s community garden behind the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington together with the Young Professionals of Wellington. “We meet every Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the kids,” Seagrave said. “We weed, trim, cut, plant — but mainly it’s the education, from planting the seed to reaping the harvest. A lot of these kids think that fruits and vegetables only come from Publix.”

Teaching local gardening is a key focus of the club today.

“We want our youth to learn about gardening, to love gardening and to respect the environment,” Morris said. “Our scholarship committee does a lot of fundraising. We donate $5,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing a degree in environmental sciences. We send kids to the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ SEEK [Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge] summer camp. We sponsored one young man for two years, and he was so inspired by the program that he went on to Duke University to study environmental law. That makes us proud.”

The club also provides enough funding to send seven to nine campers to Wekiva Youth Camp, a sleepaway camp near Apopka that is sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and is certified by the American Camping Association.

And although club bylaws prohibit political activity, e-mail blasts do go out informing members about meetings they may choose to attend as interested citizens. A recent Village of Wellington meeting where the future of a wetlands preserve was on the agenda was one such example.

“We are about education in the environmental and ecological areas,” Seagrave said. “As president, I want to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club in 2021 and then, in 2022, the 40th anniversary of our joining the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.”

People and plants — both are important to Wellington Garden Club members. “A lot of club presidents aren’t as lucky as I am,” Wolfe said. “They have so much paperwork to do. My therapy is to get in there and get my hands dirty — plop things in the ground and watch them grow.”

Learn more about the club at www.wellingtongardenclub.org.

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