Local ‘Council Of Dads’ Takes A Unique Look  At Community Service And Charitable Giving Dedicated Dads

Wellington husband and father John Sitomer had survived his first bout with cancer, but the second was really taking a toll. He was one of a few people chosen to participate in an experimental trial, but several years in, things still looked grim.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it or not,” Sitomer recalled. “A friend of mine brought me a book, but it was eight, maybe 10, months before I could even open it up and turn a page.”

The book was The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler, a college professor with a young family who had already walked in Sitomer’s shoes. He battled bone cancer, worried about what would become of his children if he died, eventually assembling a group of people — the Council of Dads — to help look after them if he didn’t make it.

Each “dad” had unique knowledge or skills that Feiler knew his children would need to learn someday. He told the men that he knew they had their own lives; that he wasn’t asking them to adopt his children, but what he wanted was for them to take the thing they were proficient in and pass it on to his children.

Feiler survived, and when he did, he realized that his children could still benefit by associating with the other dads. In fact, many children could.

Sitomer took the book to heart.

“I got so nervous that I wasn’t going to make it, that I got out a pen and legal pad and started making a list of 50 or 60 names, friends I had in the community who I’ve always had tremendous respect for — an athlete, a banker, a motivational speaker — people I knew who might be able to help guide my son.”

In April 2018, Sitomer founded the local Council of Dads. He began by taking each of his first nine contacts to lunch, where he explained the group’s mission and asked them if they would be willing to pass on their skill set to children who are underprivileged and “could use this positive push.”

To his surprise, the response was 100 percent positive. “Almost every one of them started crying,” Sitomer said. “They not only said yes, but they told me they’d been waiting for a vehicle like this their entire lives. The thing that — pleasantly — surprised me the most was that those with the most skills, who had done well in their lives and were so, so busy, were absolutely open to giving back. They had just been waiting to be led to the right scenario.”

The first Council of Dads project was sports related.

“In 2018, the first thing we did was a basketball summer camp for underprivileged children with former NBA player Marcus Hubbard. For anyone who couldn’t afford it, it was free,” Sitomer said. “After that, we started a mentoring program that another of our dads, Dr. Gordon Johnson, spearheads. If a child has problems at home — disciplinary, behavioral, depression — if they need a shoulder to lean on, we’re there. Gordon heads up our mentoring program. He will take the child to dinner or meet them at the library or Panera Bread to talk things out. Especially with parental problems, we’ve been that middle ground where we’ve been able to solve a lot of family issues.”

Johnson, a pathologist and retired chief of staff at Wellington Regional Medical Center, currently sits on the boards of Wellington Regional Medical Center and the Wellington Community Foundation, as well as being a key player in the Council of Dads. Last month, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Palm Beach County Medical Society. He and his own son, Grant, are both financial planners with Merrill Lynch. Johnson saw a specific problem he wanted to address.

“I’d see these kids who are good at basketball and their ‘plan’ is to get recruited by UCLA and then play for the Boston Celtics. They didn’t know what an SAT was; they didn’t know how to apply for college; and they had no backup plan,” Johnson said.

Sitomer agreed that many underprivileged kids need tutoring, but tutoring is very expensive. So, he met with Robin Carrier, the director of college services at The King’s Academy.

“We had a series of meetings, and I don’t know how we pulled this off, but we did,” Sitomer said. “The students in TKA’s exceptional student program need community service hours to get into college, and we offered to document that in exchange for them tutoring our children in need. Now in its third year, this is probably the most exceptional program we’ve done to date. The kids are tutored in English, math, social studies, Spanish and science for two hours a night, twice a week (now via Zoom). They are even tutored for free during SAT and ACT season, something that usually costs $100 for course work. Last year, the grades of the students who accepted the free tutoring went up by more than 100 points across the board.”

The Council of Dads also hosts an annual dinner. It was held at Walt Disney World last year. It recognizes any student in their program who has maintained a 4.0 GPA. Last year, 20 to 25 students were honored with scholar achievement awards, cash, gift certificates and more.

“We’ve got nine men and one woman in our council,” Sitomer said. “They’re upstanding members of the community. But I wanted the youth of the community — the ones we’re helping — to work with us in some of these initiatives and try to do good. We hooked up with the Wellington Wolves Basketball Association, one of the largest and most successful basketball organizations in the state, even though 20 percent of families that play are underprivileged already. We worked with In Jacob’s Shoes, a charitable organization that provides refurbished sneakers and shoes to the underprivileged.”

Sitomer asked the organization what their biggest donation of shoes, ever, had been. The answer was 2,000 pairs. “We’re going to beat that,” Sitomer said, and a year later, the children of the Council of Dads families had donated 3,563 pairs.

“Everyone was pitching in,” Sitomer recalled gleefully. “The kids asked their neighbors, friends and relatives.”

The children and their families also help the Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach, especially at Thanksgiving. For the past three years, they have donated dry goods, diapers and other baby needs.

When Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas, the Council of Dads held fundraising drives to buy generators, blankets, food, tents, lighting, batteries, flashlights, medical supplies and more for Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands.

“I personally brought over five cargo planes filled with every kind of supply and six 40-foot containers filled with roofing supplies,” Sitomer said. “I hate to put a dollar figure on it, but it was way in excess of $1 million.”

Sitomer’s son — the very first child he set out to help — will soon be 17 years old. “I tell him not to embrace the melancholy,” Sitomer said. “How I’m here is a medical miracle, and I’m really determined to make good use of my time. My son and wife were traumatized by years of medical struggle, but we can’t look back, we’ve got to look forward.”

Every day is a blessing to him, and extra time to help others.

“Every waking day, I literally try to do good for someone else,” Sitmoer said. “I’m able to piggyback on the good works of so many other people who want to do good. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with charities, it’s that people very rarely say no to a charitable request. They just need to know what the vehicle is and what you want them to do. It’s also important that you make sure that what you’ve told them you’re going to do actually happens.”

Sitomer sometimes marvels at the company he keeps within the Council of Dads.

“No one left us, even through COVID-19 and their own struggles in their own lives,” he said. “We still have the original 10. Gordon Johnson is one of the most spectacular men I’ve ever met in my life, and I pale in comparison to my other members as well.”

Johnson, however, thinks Sitomer sells himself short.

“I just come in when John Sitomer tells me to come in,” Johnson explained.

Aside from Sitomer and Johnson, members of the Council of Dads include: Gerry Stumm, vice president of City Fire Inc.; Howard Eisenberg, director of Solution Services; Grant Johnson, wealth manager at Merrill Lynch; David Kane, senior practice director of Application Consulting; Dr. James Shecter, an emergency room doctor at the VA Medical Center; property developer Jeff Sitomer; Robin Carrier, director of college advising at TKA; and Chris Fratalia, president of the Wellington Wolves.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what our group has done to date,” Sitomer said. “Without this dedicated group, I would have no council. And when we see the end of the virus, we’re going to perfect what we’re doing and bring the Council of Dads ‘Theory of Movement’ around the United States.”

Designer’s Touch Jewelry Where Wellington Gets Its Sparkle

Designer’s Touch Jewelry is a family owned and operated jewelry store that has offered top-notch service since 1986. Whether you’re looking for custom jewelry, jewelry repair, engagement rings or “just because” gifts, this Wellington store is sure to carry something that will be a perfect fit, including men’s jewelry, women’s jewelry, and fine watches such as Michele Watches.

A longstanding creator of some of the finest jewelry in Wellington, Designer’s Touch can partner with you to create the perfect engagement ring, anniversary gift or birthday gift. If you’re searching for a custom piece to gift yourself, the jewelers are happy to help. They work one-on-one with each client to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that offer beautiful style and lasting elegance.

Designer’s Touch knows that fine jewelry and quality jewelry repair are the cornerstones of a great jewelry store. When you’re searching for immaculate, stylish and impressive custom jewelry, check out the store, located in the plaza with Trader Joe’s.

Whether you want to browse the beautiful jewelry ready for selection throughout the showroom or stop by and chat with one of the designers to learn more about your custom options, visit Designer’s Touch at 1035 State Road 7, Suite 122 in Wellington or find them online at www.designerstouchjewelry.com.

Wellington’s Tanya Quickel Honored By The Florida Association Of Special Districts
Outstanding Leadership

Wellington’s Director of Administrative & Financial Services and Assistant Village Manager Tanya Quickel was recently honored by the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) as the group’s Most Valuable Member. At the same time, Wellington’s Acme Improvement District earned the District of the Year award from the organization.

Quickel’s award is presented to an FASD member who has demonstrated commitment, contribution, leadership and support of the association over many years. Quickel’s hard work during her time with the association is evidence of that dedication.

In Wellington, Quickel’s responsibilities include the management of the annual operating budget, along with strengthening and aligning administrative and financial functions with the village’s core missions. She oversees a broad range of departments, including finance, purchasing and contracting, budget, information technology and communications, and she is frequently seen at council meetings presenting budgets and financial information.

To understand the acknowledgement Quickel recently received, it is important to understand what she does for the village’s own special district, and maybe even what the special district does.

One frequently asked question in Wellington is, “Just what is this Acme Improvement District fee on my tax bill?” Not only is it a special district operated by the village that keeps you safe from storm water, but it does it in such an exemplary manner that it won the District of the Year award for the entire state.

Acme got its start in 1953 as the Acme Drainage District with a focus on flood control. When Wellington began as a residential community in the 1970s, Acme took on more responsibilities, such as managing parks, roads and recreation programs. Essentially, it was Wellington’s pre-incorporation government.

“Acme was here first, and that’s how Wellington got started when it incorporated in 1995,” Quickel explained. “Acme still exists as a dependent district of Wellington, and it’s very important because of the stormwater management, roads and the infrastructure of the parks that it is responsible for.”

Quickel should know. Although humble about her accomplishments, she is the immediate past president of the Florida Association of Special Districts and a member since 2005. She has long served as a board member and served as treasurer for several years before becoming president. She now provides guidance as a past president.

“The stormwater management part is huge because of where we live. That is the focus for Acme, and that is a very critical part of the annual budgeting process and the infrastructure and big projects that we do every year,” she said. “These big projects go through Acme and are paid for by the assessment that taxpayers pay.”

Quickel has been with the Village of Wellington since 2013.

“I started just the end of July, so it will be seven and a half years. I lived in Wellington when I started and for many years afterward. Then my husband and I built some houses, and now I live right outside the village,” she said.

Their home includes two furry pets. “I have an English bulldog named Elvis and a Boston terrier named Blue,” said Quickel, who enjoys reading, walking and traveling when she is not putting in long hours at the village. “I also love cooking.”

Special districts are not a new concept to Quickel. Before coming to Wellington, she worked as deputy director of the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District and manager of the Indian Trail Improvement District.

The way Acme works is similar to many other special districts in Florida.

“Many other municipalities have what is called the stormwater utility, which is in some ways very similar to Acme’s responsibilities for stormwater management,” Quickel said. “Sometimes other places you will see a separate assessment or charge for the stormwater utility, and Acme sort of fits that bill. It has a separate focus just like a utility is a separate focus. It has funds that we allocate the revenue and the expenditures to. This is managed very strictly, and it is very transparent, so one can see what Acme does and what it costs.”

The FASD is important to municipalities, counties and state government across the State of Florida. “The Florida Association of Special Districts is an educational organization throughout the state from the Panhandle to the Keys,” Quickel said.

There are about 150 entities involved and some 400 individual members. “The membership ranges from districts such as Acme to the South Florida Water Management District, and we also have a large number of memberships of districts for fire-rescue, districts for libraries or recreation, for hospitals, stormwater and mosquito control,” Quickel said. “These districts are a separate governmental form authorized by the Florida Legislature and established for special purpose government.”

The award earned by the Acme Improvement District is presented every year to a district for exemplary performance over the past 12 months.

“What we have seen here with Acme, in particular, is we have invested heavily in telemetry so we can remotely manage our pumps and our infrastructure,” Quickel said. “This helps us be able to operate during emergencies. We can turn pumps on and off, raise and lower water levels, check those levels and set warnings. It’s very important to our efficient operation and planning because these emergencies can come at any time, and we are alerted to take action remotely.”

Acme has been quick to introduce new, cutting-edge technology. “Another thing that we have done more recently is adopt drone technology that is helping us oversee what is going on in managing some of our very large projects. We use the drones every day to see the status of the work,” she explained.

Quickel said the FASD is an important resource for Acme.

“They are a great group of down-to-earth people with a lot of valuable knowledge and experiences. Usually, they’re a lot like Acme, very quiet, working behind the scenes, managing all kinds of things to keep a municipality, county or the state government functioning smoothly,” she said. “It really is meaningful to have their experience and expertise to help us determine things that we need to focus on or things that need to be changed or worked on.”

Quickel feels that these recent FASD awards signify the village’s commitment to safety and to important infrastructure projects, as well as effective planning and execution. “We do our work responsibly and in an effective manner,” she said.

Learn more about the Florida Association of Special Districts at www.fasd.com. Learn more about the Acme Improvement District at https://acme.wellingtonfl.gov.

An Entirely New Dining Experience Awaits At The Clubhouse At Palm Beach Polo
Innovative Cuisine

As the equestrian season kicks into high gear, so does an entirely new experience at the Clubhouse at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, including a freshly created dinner menu and a themed outdoor dinner series throughout the restaurant’s charming surroundings for all to enjoy, whether a seasonal equestrian or a year-round resident.

“It’s a beautiful location in Wellington that not only allows you a beautiful venue, but beautiful views. In our new menu, we’re focusing on new things to present to people based on what they loved in the past and what we wanted to feature,” owner Sheila Motley said.

Motley and her husband Chef Mat Allen are back open for the season and ready to jump into a new adventure, with bold innovative dishes and a variety of new wines, all soon to be unveiled.

“We’re very excited for this outdoor dinner series, because we can really do some fun new themed nights and get people out around the property they maybe haven’t seen,” Motley said. “Our beautiful pool overlooks the sunset. We have great grass pads down by the driving range and the front of the building. What everyone wants to do in Florida is be out on the beautiful balmy winter nights, and we want to make more use of that than we’ve been able to in the past. I’m looking forward to it, and I think it’ll be a way to give people something to look forward to.”

The plan is to launch the series with several themes a month, including al fresco events poolside, on the front lawn, or on the upper terrace overlooking the golf course, as well as a regular dinner service. All with social distancing in mind.

“We want to really highlight safety and people being outside. The inside of our restaurant is scaled down, even though regulations have opened up, with less tables inside,” Motley said. “I’ve made an additional private dining room, so we’ve been able to build out our terrace and offer these other outdoor dinners to supplement the opportunity for people to safely be able to go out and dine. And we still offer our to-go meals as well.”

The number of indoor tables may be scaled back, but the elegant ambiance remains throughout the property and all its rooms.

“We made some small changes to our lunch menu,” Motley said. “We kept a lot of the favorites. Our lunch business is focused on people who come in after riding or who are out on the golf course. It’s certainly a smaller group of people, so the lunch menu is fairly small, but I think it hits all the marks of what people are looking for.”

Classic American cuisine is featured, like the tuna salad sandwich with roasted fennel and lemon aioli, or the polo burger with white cheddar and tomato jam.

The roast chicken on a bed of romaine lettuce topped with feta, corn, tomato, cucumber and white balsamic vinaigrette is a favorite. For something new, try the grilled chicken sandwich with herb mayo and fresh avocado.

“It’s the flavors and styles people really look to,” Motley said “It gives them comfort, and they enjoy the experience. That’s why we love inviting people to our venue. Come enjoy great food and company, an escape for that hour of the day.”

It’s an escape with flavors that are all creations of Chef Mat Allen, who hails from England and is classically French trained. He even once worked for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at Windsor Castle. Motley, an accomplished event planner for 20 years, combined their passions, including her love of all things equestrian.

“It has been a nice place for us to base, and we’re so familiar with the equestrian community here, it’s like we’re having dinner with our friends and family every night,” she said.

Motley grew up coming to Wellington as a young girl in the mid-1980s. Her parents were horse owners.

“It was the best of all childhoods, and I still ride,” she said. “So, it’s great — all familiar faces. I see people in the day, and they ask me for a reservation at the horse show or at polo, and then they come in at night. That’s what I always loved about Wellington, even as it has grown, there’s a community feel.”

It’s the community that’s so important to them. They now live here full time with their 9-year-old son Collins. After running the Patio at Polo for three years, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take over the Clubhouse at Palm Beach Polo last year, marking their first season there.

However, after the equestrian season abruptly ended due to the pandemic, so did the Clubhouse, until the fall. But the meals never stopped. The husband-and-wife team continued to spread their love of food to those greatest in need by partnering to help feed the homeless with the nonprofit A Different Shade of Love.

“We worked with the group at a park in West Palm Beach to support the homeless,” Motley explained. “We were delivering breakfast three times a week where different vendors were donating food. It was great. We’d make it in the morning and deliver it ourselves. We got to see the people who were affected and able to see their needs. It made a difference for us to be able to give back, especially in the beginning when everything was shut down.”

With much back open now, Motley is hopeful many equestrians will return this upcoming season.

“I don’t think anyone wants to stay in the cold weather. I’ve been lucky to take part as a judge at a few of the small horse shows that take place in the fall, and they’ve been managed expertly and run beautifully, and we’ve felt safe with the temperature check and all of the staff keeping people distanced,” she said. “I’m very hopeful that everyone can flourish in a safe environment this winter.”

And if you visit Motley at her restaurant, it will be a winter filled with a renewed excitement to bring the community back together to enjoy camaraderie, cuisine and all things equestrian.

The Clubhouse at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club is open to the public and located at 11630 Polo Club Road in Wellington. It is open Tuesday through Sunday with lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner service from 5 to 11 p.m. For reservations, call (561) 660-3300 or visit www.theclubhousepbpcc.com.

Elbridge Gale’s Nicole Crane Named Florida’s Outstanding Art Educator Of The Year Teaching Art

The old adage goes, “Choose a career you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” That’s what Dr. Nicole Crane, art teacher at Elbridge Gale Elementary School in Wellington, has done, and she has enjoyed every day of her vocation.

The award-winning teacher recently garnered her latest acknowledgment, the Florida Outstanding Art Educator of the Year award.

Crane has been teaching for 23 years, the last 14 at her current post.

“I have been at Elbridge Gale since the school opened in 2006,” said Crane, who added how satisfying it is to work with all the students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Elbridge Gale Principal Gail Pasterczyk is extremely proud of Crane and her accomplishments.

“I try to hire the best as an administrator, and this is verification that Crane is indeed a superstar, and she continues to choose to teach and make an impact on children’s lives,” Pasterczyk said. “She believes so much in art that she wants to instill the love of it at an early age when she can make a difference in students’ lives.”

Pasterczyk still recalls when she first met Crane so many years ago.

“When I interviewed her for the job, I pointed out her impressive qualifications and that she has a PhD, and the pages of accolades and awards on her curriculum vitae, and she said, ‘To be honest, I’ve been offered other jobs such as the curator of a museum, but that’s not where my heart is. I like educating students and showing them options for the future. That is what’s important to me,’” Pasterczyk remembered.

The Outstanding Art Educator of the Year award is presented annually by the Florida Art Education Association (FAEA), which is a nonprofit organization of some 700 members dedicated to ensuring the highest quality visual art education instruction possible to all students in Florida. Crane is a past president of the organization.

Crane explained the award process. “A teacher is nominated by a peer, then a committee including past winners provides a blind assessment to make the determination of the winner,” she said, adding that all art teachers in Florida are eligible for the award.

Crane’s education and activities are extensive. She earned her bachelor’s degree in photography from Virginia Intermont College, followed by her master’s degree and doctorate in art from Florida State University. She has a program evaluation certification, is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, is a national STEM-certified instructor and is clinical educator certified. She is also an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University and an elementary art instructor, responsible for instruction of art education for classroom teachers, including the arts-integrated curriculum.

“The best part is working with kindergarten through fifth-grade students,” Crane said. “Because I teach art, I come into contact with all the students in the school, and I get to meet and teach siblings, and I have even had a student where I taught her father my first year when he was a fifth grader. I enjoy the interacting with and knowing the students.”

Typical art instruction for elementary school students includes a variety of mixed media projects. “Because I am a STEM teacher, science is incorporated into the projects,” Crane said.

These projects include drawing, sculpture, sewing, photography, painting and more.

“We try to have each project use a different media and material,” said Crane, who added that some of the older students are working with 3-D printing. “We try to expose all the students to a variety of art mediums.”

Many who remember back to their own days in elementary school art classes might still be wondering what makes an “A” project and why another would be marked a “D.”

“I grade on the process versus the product,” Crane said.

She explained that it involves the thinking, the creativity, the collaboration and originality, as opposed to being product oriented. She pointed out that it is important to expose students to different opportunities for activities and even careers for the future.

Pasterczyk stressed the significance of Crane’s most recent award.

“This is not her first award. Many of them are national, and she came from Sarasota, where she was Sarasota’s Teacher of the Year for the whole district, and she was a finalist here [in Palm Beach County] as well. She has a multitude of incredible accomplishments, and it is important the way she shows students there are multiple careers and opportunities available for all kinds of students,” Pasterczyk said. “On a personal level, my daughter was not the academic kind of student. She was the artist, and it’s near and dear to my heart because I believe so strongly in art education, that we provide a well-rounded educational environment for children, and I am glad that [Crane] is being recognized for her outstanding achievement.”

WCF’s Red, White & Blue Jeans  ‘A Salute To Our Heroes’ Fundraiser Goes Virtual

The Wellington Community Foundation and its donors are not going to let the COVID-19 pandemic stand in the way of helping Wellington’s seniors, children and veterans in need.

Throughout Wellington, this local nonprofit has continued to support and improve the quality of life for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents by providing food, home repairs that enable seniors to age in place, school uniforms, backpacks, summer camp programs, equestrian riding programs for disabled students, school grants, college scholarships, as well as beautifully wrapped gifts that include the essentials, such as socks, underwear, sneakers and an age-appropriate gift for young children to open on Christmas, many of whom would go without if not for the generous donations, sponsorships and volunteers.

This year has been a challenge for everyone due to the pandemic, which has forced the foundation to cancel its one annual in-person fundraiser. Expectations for this event were to surpass last year’s $100,000 accomplishment. But the needs of the community have not been canceled. So together, foundation supporters must find a way, and will go above and beyond to continue helping Wellington residents in need.

This year, the Wellington Community Foundation’s Red, White & Blue Jeans “A Salute To Our Heroes” fundraiser has gone online, converting the in-person event into a virtual experience. Meet up with foundation supporters on Facebook to show your support and help spread the word beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Grab a flag and wave it proudly, snap a selfie and post with the hashtag #wellathon2020 in support of the foundation’s fundraising efforts.

Traditionally, this event brings the community together under one roof to share in the honoring of our heroes. This year, the foundation is dedicating the event to its “superheroes,” the donors. “Without their generous support, the efforts of the foundation would not be possible,” WCF Chair Tom Wenham said.

The WCF board is urging the community to rally behind those in need, now more than ever. Join them in supporting the Wellington Community Foundation and help them keep their commitments to the community’s most vulnerable seniors, children and veterans.

“Over the last four years, the foundation has been able to help hundreds of those in need through the generous support of our donors, just like you,” said WCF Board Member Jim Sackett, who will serve as master of ceremonies for the Nov. 10 event. “Together, we have made an impressive impact in the lives of hundreds of our neighbors, adding enormous value to our community and its most vulnerable.”

Supporters can donate online during the Wellathon 2020 fundraiser beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10, visit www.wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org, or drop a check in the mail to: Wellington Community Foundation, 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 19F, Wellington, FL 33414. Either way you choose to give will help the foundation, so together you can continue “Building A Stronger Community.”

Meanwhile, the Wellington Community Foundation looks forward to once again hosting everyone all under one roof at next year’s Red, White & Blue Jeans “A Salute To Our Heroes” event.

Gauntlet Of Polo Action Returns For 2021 Season Watch From Wherever You Are Around The World Through A High-Quality Livestream Experience

Thundering hooves, the race of the horses, the whack of the mallet, a score. This season, polo fans can enjoy everything about the sport of kings right from their own living room.

With the pandemic making it difficult for some fans to watch from the sidelines, the United States Polo Association and its partners are making sure that polo comes to the fans when the Gauntlet of Polo series returns to the International Polo Club Palm Beach in February 2021.

First there was broadcast, then cable and satellite television. Now there is the over-the-top (OTT) media service hosting by Global Polo TV. This exciting livestreaming media service uses the internet to bring all the action of polo matches as they occur.

“In January 2020, we launched a new OTT network called Global Polo TV,” said Shannon Stilson, assistant vice president of marketing for Global Polo Entertainment and USPA Global Licensing.

Available on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Hulu, spectators are now able to access high-quality polo media using any of these applications simply by visiting www.globalpolo.com.

Timely and convenient, Global Polo TV will allow fans to enjoy the Gauntlet of Polo when it returns to Wellington with a full roster of the best teams and best horses from around the world.

But only the team with unsurpassed stamina, talent, determination and strategy can endure three full months of competition and win the entire series of tournaments. A winner of all three will earn not only world-renowned bragging rights but substantial prize money.

Global Polo TV fans, new and old, can watch these incredible games as they unfold, up close and personal, featuring the most talented equestrian athletes in the world.

“The number-one-rated tournament in the United States is the U.S. Open Polo Championship,” Stilson said.

The U.S. Open is overseen by the United States Polo Association, the governing body for the sport of polo in the U.S. It will be held March 31 through April 18, 2021 at IPC in Wellington.

“The U.S. Open has been contested more than 110 times,” Stilson said. “It is the final of the three events that comprise the Gauntlet of Polo, the $1 million prize tournament series only won by Team Pilot in 2019.”

The other two tournaments are the C.V. Whitney Cup, scheduled for Feb. 17 through March 7, 2021 and the USPA Gold Cup, scheduled for March 10-28, 2021.

“Together with the USPA communications department, we film more than 110 games during the polo season,” Stilson said. “The amount of games depends on how many teams are in the tournament. In 2019, we had 16 teams, 14 in 2020, and we expect 8 to 10 teams in 2021.”

Many spectators enjoy expert broadcast coverage of sporting events as much or more that being there in person. No inclement weather, no heat and all the comforts of home.

“We cover the events with multiple cameras, five in total: one in the center, two in the goal mouths, an aerial drone and one roaming,” Stilson said. “We have been livestreaming games in Wellington for more than eight years with ChukkerTV, our production partner, and founder Melissa Ganzi. The emphasis has been to provide instant replay for quality umpiring. Now, we have a new, better, global platform to showcase every game and utilize the game footage to build great feature stories on the players and horses who are a central part of the game.”

The shows seek to extend the traditional on-field polo experience. “Our goal is to continue to provide ‘Polo 101’ explanation to teach new viewers, so they can enjoy the games as well,” Stilson said. “For the final U.S. Open, scheduled for April 18 at the International Polo Club on the U.S. Polo Assn. stadium field, we film the game with an additional production crew, so we have six additional cameras on site, professional broadcast talent, and this is carried on CBS Sports, CBS Sports Network, Eurosport and Dsport, to an audience of millions.”

Initial feedback and pending COVID-19 developments, IPC and the USPA are working on opening in January at 50 percent capacity.

The broadcasting of the games gives fans an opportunity to enjoy brunch at home with their family and then watch a match in their living rooms, if they are not able to make it to the stadium.

Global Polo Entertainment is the for-profit subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing that manages the media and broadcast rights for the USPA. U.S. Polo Assn. is the USPA’s global apparel brand and the only official apparel brand for the sport of polo in the U.S.

The polo season will begin at IPC on Sunday, Jan. 3 with the Joe Barry Memorial Cup, which launches the 18-goal series. The 18-goal series also includes the Ylvisaker Cup and the Iglehart Cup.

Prior to the start of the 22-goal 2021 Gauntlet of Polo series, the remainder of the 2020 USPA Gold Cup, which was postponed due to COVID-19, will be played. The semifinals will commence Wednesday, Feb. 10 and culminate with the final on Sunday, Feb. 14. The Gauntlet of Polo will return for the third year to the U.S. Polo Assn. Field on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with the start of the C.V. Whitney Cup.

IPC will also be welcoming back the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship beginning on Wednesday, March 10 and concluding with the final on Saturday, March 20.

Plans regarding spectators, stadium seating and brunch are still being finalized and will be released soon. The safety of staff, players and spectators are of the utmost importance, so IPC will have various safety protocols in place. Visit www.internationalpoloclub.com for updates regarding these new procedures.

Visit www.uspolo.org to learn more about the upcoming winter season and the Gauntlet of Polo series. Visit www.globalpolo.com to check out all the polo action available to view.

Wellington Looks Forward To Top High-Goal Polo Action This Winter Season

Seventeen years ago, longtime Wellington resident and renowned polo player Hector Galindo was lining up at midfield ready to play in the inaugural game at the new International Polo Club Palm Beach stadium.

Then, Galindo was an 8-goaler and leader of Tommy Lee Jones’ San Saba team against Bob Daniels’ Pony Express foursome. Now, the 2016 Hall of Fame inductee plays and umpires year-round.

Then, Pony Express defeated San Saba 13-9 in that first stadium game before a large, boisterous crowd on that Sunday in early January.

Now, after almost eight months of uncertainty since being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, another season of world-class polo is planning its return, but it is unknown if any fans will be allowed at the games.

The tournament schedules for both high-goal polo clubs in Wellington have been released, and several plans for having fans attend games are in place, depending on what the local government and health officials will allow.

“As we begin to re-open the International Polo Club Palm Beach, we look forward to seeing the sport of polo and special events return to the facility,” said Vaneli Bojkova, vice president of event operations for IPC. “We are working closely with county and local officials, as well as the United States Polo Association and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to make sure that everyone on property has a peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to re-open safely.”

At IPC, a triumvirate of 22-goal tournaments celebrated as the Gauntlet of Polo is shaping up to be another riveting competition, featuring many of the world’s top players. Last year, 14 teams competed for the coveted trophies. Officials expect 8 to 10 teams this season.

In an interesting twist, the postponed 2020 USPA Gold Cup is scheduled to be concluded prior to the start of this year’s trio of tournaments. The semifinals — Pilot vs. La Indiana and Daily Racing Form vs. Las Monjitas — are set for Feb. 10, with the final on Sunday, Feb. 14, closing the chapter of a shortened 2020 season.

The UPSA’s U.S. Open, considered the most prestigious polo tournament in North America, did not get started last year and will not be rescheduled. It is the first time that it has not been contested since World War II. The U.S. Open was first played in 1904.

The 2021 Gauntlet begins in earnest with the C.V. Whitney Cup (Feb. 17 through March 7) followed by the USPA Gold Cup (March 10-28) and finishing with the U.S. Open (March 30 through April 18). The winners of the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Gold Cup will receive $125,000 each, while the U.S. Open champion will earn $250,000. If the same team wins all three tournaments, they will receive a $500,000 bonus.

Prior to the Gauntlet, IPC will host a series of 18-goal tournaments, beginning with the Joe Barry Memorial Cup (Jan. 3-17), followed by the Ylvisaker Cup (Jan. 20 through Feb. 7) and concluding with the single-elimination Iglehart Cup (Feb. 10-21).

The club is also hosting the U.S. Open Women’s Championship from March 10-20 with some of the top players in the world expected to participate.

In addition to the featured Sunday games at 3 p.m. at the stadium, there are numerous weekday games spread among the club’s several fields. While there is world-class polo on the immaculate fields, action off the field usually presents an equally impressive atmosphere.

There is the Mallet Grille for members and their guests that features a lavish Sunday brunch. The club also has 7,000 square feet of indoor event space, highlighted by the grand marquee pavilion adjacent to the stadium field. Normally, hundreds gather every week to enjoy a delicious Sunday brunch. The venue also hosts numerous private affairs, such as weddings and charity events. At this time, it is unknown whether the Sunday brunch will be available this season.

“We are hopeful that once all of our updated protocols and safety practices are implemented throughout the various departments, guests will feel confident to attend events at the facility, whether those are charity fundraisers, weddings, private gatherings or sports competitions,” Bojkova said. “IPC is committed to investing in resources and continued employee training to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all. While we understand some events and activities may look different for a while, we are excited to re-open and welcome guests back to our facility safely.”

IPC also has four tennis courts, where, in 2008, Rafael Nadal and David Nalbandian played an exclusive charity exhibition match for members only. Several polo players, including Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, and Nic Roldan also showed off their skills on the courts with the two tennis stars.

To learn more about the International Polo Club, including season updates, visit www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Also this polo season in Wellington, the 26-goal World Polo League, which plays at various area clubs, is still in the planning stages for its third season that kicks off in early February.

“We’re looking forward to a great season of high-goal polo in 2021,” said WPL co-founder Melissa Ganzi of Wellington, owner of the Grand Champions Polo Club. “We’ll be continuing the safety protocols we followed at Aspen Valley over the summer, and we’ll adapt our policy regarding spectators as conditions allow. As always, we’ll adhere to recommendations by the CDC and local public health regulations. Despite any pandemic-related restrictions, we’ll welcome a full roster of top players from around the world and continue to play at the highest level in the U.S.”

The World Polo League offers the highest level of polo outside of Argentina. There were up to 10 teams in the various tournaments last season. The WPL was co-founded by Ganzi and Valiente Polo owner Bob Jornayvaz, whose idea for the league filled the void when 26-goal polo was about to be eliminated in the U.S.

Using the last two years as benchmark, among the polo superstars expected to compete include 10-goalers Juan Martin Nero (who missed most of last season with an injury) and Pablo MacDonough, along with 8-goaler Nic Roldan of Wellington.

The season begins with the All-Star Challenge (Feb. 5-21), beginning with a Draw Party in which team owners will randomly choose their players — reminiscent of choosing sides when in school or the neighborhood.

The season continues with the Founders Cup (Feb. 19 through March 7), the Palm Beach Open (March 3-21) and concludes with the Triple Crown of Polo (March 24 through April 17).

Featured games will be Saturday at 4 p.m., usually at Valiente, and Sunday at 4 p.m., usually at Grand Champions.

For more information, including weekday game times as well as tickets for the Sunday featured game, visit www.worldpolo.org. All games are open to the public.

As it has been for decades, IPC and the World Polo League will make sure that Wellington is the center of high-goal polo action during the winter season.

Plans And Preparations Underway For An Exciting
2021 Winter Equestrian Festival 

With the vast changes across the world in 2020, planning and preparing for the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has been a complicated and fluid process. Working closely with the Village of Wellington, Palm Beach County and State of Florida officials, with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the national governing body for equestrian sport, U.S. Equestrian, Equestrian Sport Productions was able to start back with competition at the Equestrian Village show grounds in June after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the final two weeks of the 2020 WEF.

The 42nd Winter Equestrian Festival has expanded to include 13 weeks of competition starting on Jan. 6 and running through April 4 with world-renowned hunter, jumper and equitation competition.

Twelve of the 13 weeks will feature FEI-sanctioned competition, welcoming some of the most talented and highest-ranked show jumpers in the world.

As of late October, the management company for WEF, Equestrian Sport Productions, is following current guidelines that prohibit spectators at the show grounds. But while the local community won’t be allowed to view the shows in person, the impact of the equestrian industry on the local community will still be impressive.

“We at Equestrian Sport Productions have been working every day in order to provide safe competition for the competitors and our staff while also providing a way for those in the industry to continue making a living during this incredibly difficult time,” ESP President Michael Stone said. “We are certainly very cognizant of the serious and heartbreaking toll of the pandemic, and we have kept safety our number one priority as we held shows this summer and fall and planned for the 2021 winter season.”

In a 2018 economic impact study, it was shown that visitors to Wellington and Palm Beach County contribute to a “very positive economic stimulus” for the local community. Some of that impact includes filling 88.6 percent of Palm Beach County’s available hotel rooms, paying more than $6 million in state and local taxes, and spending an estimated $89 million on equine expenses in Palm Beach County.

With the growth in the past three years of WEF since the report, it can be expected that these numbers have only increased along with the influx of more competitors, their families and support staff at the horse show.

“WEF is the economic engine that powers Wellington,” said Michela Green, executive director of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. “Our businesses now, more than ever, need the bump in economy that our seasonal equestrians bring.”

Seasonal equestrian visitors are part of the fabric of Wellington.

“From a business perspective, the equestrian season brings national and international guests to our village who patronize our local businesses for a good part of the year,” Green said. “Our businesses have formed lasting relationships with them and rely on them each year as they call Wellington home for the season. From our medical to our retail community and everything in between, our seasonal guests make Wellington what it is today — unique and vibrant.”

Jose Gomez, owner of horse show sponsor Wellington Agricultural Services, not only provides a service to the horse show with livestock waste removal but is also a horse owner whose family competes at WEF.

“Horse shows have resumed since June of this year and since then, I have seen everyone making 100 percent effort to run a safe operation,” he said. “I feel comfortable knowing that ESP is very serious about protecting everyone by strictly adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. I am confident that WEF will run smoothly because ESP does not take shortcuts and is clearly committed to the best interests of everyone involved.”

Gomez recognizes the great influence that WEF has on the community.

“Wellington as we know it would not be here without the horse shows and polo,” he said. “We all work together to maintain our community by fulfilling our respective roles. WEF gives context to my business. Horse sports are a great passion, and that shapes lives, homes, lifestyles and businesses. WEF has a massive economic impact on the local area as well, making it a critical part of the community.”

The 2021 WEF will begin with a new week, WEF Premiere, on Jan. 6-10 with nationally rated competition. WEF weeks 1 (Jan. 13-17), 2 (Jan. 20-24), 3 (Jan. 27-31), 6 (Feb. 17-21) and 10 (March 17-21) will host CSI 3* competition. CSI 4* competitions will take place during WEF weeks 4 (Feb. 3-7) and 12 (March 31 – April 4). Week 8 (March 3-7) will once again welcome the international CSIO 4* and will host the historic Nations Cup, where teams of three or four riders represent their countries in a thrilling display of team sports. The beautiful grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village, a true horse and rider favorite, will see action this year during weeks 2, 4, 6 and 12.

The schedule is tentative and venue guidelines are subject to change. Be sure to check www.pbiec.com for the most recent venue updates and schedules.

The 2021 Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, will be held during the fourth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival. The GCC is a relay-style equestrian jumping competition with teams consisting of two junior/amateur riders combined with one Olympic or world-class rider. The 20-plus rider teams are randomly paired with charities that serve Palm Beach County.

The GCC has distributed more than $14.8 million to 256 local Palm Beach County charities and nonprofit organizations since its inception 11 years ago. The theme for 2021 will honor the everyday heroes who have stepped up and helped everyone through the worldwide pandemic.

Hunter competition will also take place throughout the 13-week span, including during WCHR week, a favorite among the hunter community, during WEF week 6 (Feb. 17-21). The season will continue to feature international and national hunter derby competitions, along with top equitation and hunter classes offered for children, juniors and adults of all levels.

The 2020 season is set to include four weeks of CSI 5* competition on WEF weeks 5 (Feb. 10-14), 7 (Feb. 24-28), 9 (March 10-14) and 11 (March 24-28). The $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* will be held during WEF week 11 featuring the best riders of the season.

Despite these challenging times, WEF will still welcome thousands of horses competing throughout the winter circuit, and everyone looks forward to a safe and successful season.

Keep up with your favorite athletes and horses by watching all of the competition on the live stream, along with keeping track of results. Learn more at www.pbiec.com and by following WEF on Facebook and Instagram.

2021 Adequan Global Dressage Festival Ready To Welcome Top Competitors From Around The World

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2021, and while things will look different at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, hundreds of the best dressage horses in the world will still come to Wellington to compete from Jan. 13 through April 4.

AGDF is the largest and longest-running dressage circuit in the world. There are 10 weeks of competition, with seven of those weeks offering international, FEI-level classes. While current health guidelines will not allow for spectators this season (as of late October), fans of dressage can watch the best of the best on the livestream.

“With all the changes that have happened in the past year, Equestrian Sport Productions has been working very hard to produce an event that will strive to keep everyone safe while still offering the same high level of competition and quality experience,” AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur said.

Two of the anticipated divisions at AGDF will feature young horses ready to make their names on the world stage. The $15,000 Lövsta Future Challenge/Young Horse Grand Prix series and the $10,000 Future Challenge/Young Horse Prix St. Georges series will return for another successful year. Due to last year’s cancellation of the final week of AGDF, both series will hold their 2020 finals during the 2021 circuit.

The $15,000 Lövsta Future Challenge/Young Horse Grand Prix series idea, originally set up by seven-time Swedish Olympic dressage rider Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Louise Nathorst in Sweden as a talent development program, is for horses age eight to ten years old at the Grand Prix level.

“We want to give them a platform to develop, and with this series, help them take the step toward the highest Grand Prix level,” Vilhelmson Silfvén said. “We hope that the interest for educating and producing young Grand Prix horses will grow. Our goal is that this series will be successful so we can take it to an international level in the future.”

The $10,000 Summit Farm Future Challenge/Young Horse Prix St. Georges series has been popular for horses seven to nine years old.

“Trainers and riders can enter a horse in this series and get notoriety. In Europe, young horses get a lot of praise and press, with financial gain by showing young horses and developing them,” said U.S. Pan American Games gold medalist Sarah Lockman of Summit Farm. “To support that idea in the U.S. and give that incentive and reward meant a lot to us at Summit Farm.”

The 2021 AGDF lineup features three CDI-Ws, two CDI 4* weeks, a CDI 5*, as well as a CDIO 3* and CPEDI competition.

With the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, AGDF will once again serve as preparation for horses and riders vying to represent their country in Tokyo next August.

One of those riders is Sabine Schut-Kery. Originally from Germany, Schut-Kery moved to the United States in 1998. She helped the U.S. team win the team gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

“I am continuing my quest to earn a spot on the team for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” she said. “To be in one place for an extended period of time [at AGDF] with so many team members, coaches, [everyone] looking out for you, helping you, cheering you on, is an important part of that journey.”

Competing at the AGDF is a crucial part of her schedule.

“It makes me a better rider to be competing with the best in the country in one place, and AGDF is it,” Schut-Kery said. “For me, the next step would be Europe. I do look at Florida as the focal point of dressage here in the United States, and I believe that it’s important to ride at that caliber. It makes me a better competitor, it makes my horses better and it makes the discipline better here in America. On top of that, it is a wonderful way to get more recognition for our sport. AGDF does a great job of bringing horses from all over the world into the public light.”

Schut-Kery appreciates the opportunity and all of the work that goes into a 12-week horse show circuit like AGDF.

“It’s very amazing to accomplish it all so successfully,” she said. “I go because it is so professional, the setup is wonderful and the show grounds are lovely. There are so many blood, sweat and tears moments in this sport. It’s important to me to be able to go somewhere where I don’t have to worry about injury because of footing or poor setup. I am extremely lucky that I have the opportunity to spend time learning and competing in Florida.”

The AGDF season begins on Jan. 13-17 with CDI-W competition. It is followed by the first CDI4* on Jan. 27-31 that runs concurrently with CPEDI classes, which is competition for para-dressage riders. AGDF 5 will once again offer CDI-W classes on Feb. 10-14. The highest caliber of international competition, CDI5*, will be at AGDF 7 on Feb. 24-28. The schedule is tentative and venue guidelines are subject to change. Be sure to check www.globaldressagefestival.com for the most recent venue updates and schedules.

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby features CDI-W classes during AGDF 9 on March 3-7. In AGDF 10, nations go head to head in the CDIO3* Nations Cup competition and the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships (FIYDC) will be featured.

FIYDC competition is for riders in the under-25, young rider, junior, children’s and pony divisions, offering them a chance to compete on a larger scale, with events throughout the week to increase camaraderie and sportsmanship. Young riders wishing to compete internationally are provided with an opportunity to showcase their talent at one of the largest dressage shows in the world.

Wrapping up the 2021 AGDF will be the final week of competition, a CDI4* on March 31 – April 4.

For more information about the 2020 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.