Danny & Ron’s Rescue

Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw had always rescued dogs, but things got official when the pair jumped in to save 600 suddenly homeless pups following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That’s when they organized as the nonprofit Danny & Ron’s Rescue.

Based in Camden, S.C., where they work as horse trainers, Danny and Ron have long been providing dogs for Wellington families that they meet at equestrian events. Their story has been immortalized in the documentary Life in the Doghouse, currently available on Netflix.

Danny and Ron have turned their own house into the ultimate safe haven, personally caring for injured and abused animals until they are ready for adoption. Each dog receives a wellness check from a veterinarian, then is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, groomed and loved like part of the family.

Prior to Katrina, Danny and Ron would go to the shelters, save four or five dogs from euthanasia, rehab them a bit and adopt them out to friends in the horse community.

“We’d go to the greyhound kennels, where 150 dogs were scheduled to be put down, pick up six or eight greyhounds and take them home to our South Carolina campus,” Ron recalled. “Since Katrina, we’ve rescued 11,500 dogs.”

The couple were at their second home in Wellington when that deadly storm changed their lives.

“We had just bought a house in Wellington the year before, so we were there when all the chaos began,” Danny said. “Many of our friends were involved with the horse rescue, but when we turned on the TV and saw all the stranded animals, we felt that that was where we could really fit in. It touched our hearts and caused us to take big steps in that direction.”

Since then, they’ve rescued dogs from junkyards, freed animals chained to trees and saved abandoned pets living on the streets. They rescue over-bred, long-caged puppy mill dogs; bait dogs used in dog fighting; and shelter dogs about to be euthanized.

“In Danny’s barn, we used to do cats, too,” Ron said. “We had cages on both sides of the aisles and caging across the aisle and over the tack room. We used to call it the Kitty Hilton. But once we started doing such huge numbers of dogs, well, it’s hard to rescue dogs and cats in that volume and keep them all safe. So, we focused on dogs.”

While they love to place dogs in loving Wellington homes, they also support the work of the many other animal rescues.

“With five airlines showing the Netflix movie, we get calls from California, from Europe, from far away,” Ron said. “We ask them to go to their local shelters and save a life.”

“All we want is awareness in the world,” Danny said. “If each person who appreciated our movie would help one animal or one shelter, that’s total gratification for us.”

Learn more about their mission at www.dannyronsrescue.org.

Panther Ridge Conservation Center Puts Its Focus On The Survival Of Majestic Cats

Cheetahs are the second-largest big cat in the world, right behind the mountain lion. To hear a cheetah purring loudly, all one has to do is meet 14-year-old Charlie when he is around Judy Berens, founder of the Panther Ridge Conservation Center.

“I came to Wellington originally because it was a fabulous place to show horses,” recalled Berens, who competed as a hunter rider until 2010.

Her passion for horses eventually expanded to include exotic cats.

“I started in the early 1990s,” she said. “Then once I had all my appropriate licensing, people would call me and say there was an animal that needed help. I went from being a pet owner to a rescue, and as the years have gone by, we have become much more involved in the conservation of these animals because they are absolutely disappearing from the face of the earth.”

One such case of a rescued animal living at Panther Ridge is Toltec, a 12-year-old ocelot. The cat was living at another facility for wild animals but was severely abused there.

“He kind of wobbles around like a drunk sailor, but he is the first ocelot to ever receive stem cell surgery in the world,” Facility Manager Sadie Ryan said. “We did that for him about three years ago, and it helped, but he will, unfortunately, never walk normally.”

Now Toltec’s life is filled with enrichment training conducted through positive reinforcement, along with a variety of other treats.

“He also gets special CBD popsicles to help with his arthritis and loves his toys,” Ryan said. “Toltec is a fanatic for some expensive cologne, too. He thoroughly enjoys a good scent sprayed in his enclosure.”

Originally based in Wellington’s Palm Beach Point community, the growing nonprofit moved last year to a much larger home in Loxahatchee Groves.

Currently, Panther Ridge houses 19 exotic cats representing many different species, including clouded leopards, jaguars and even a rare fishing cat.

Mateo, a three-year-old jaguar, was transferred from a zoo to Panther Ridge, where he was hand-raised. Now that he is reaching maturity, the team has arranged for a two-year-old female named Onyx to be his future girlfriend, once the facility infrastructure is complete.

“The long-term plan for them is to start a breeding program for jaguars, in association with the Zoological Association of America, so that their cubs can go to other facilities and spread their genetics within captivity to maintain a healthy captive jaguar population,” Ryan said, adding that many years from now, the hope is to once again return jaguars to the wild. “Once there is a protected area for them to thrive in without being poached and hunted.”

Several other cats in the collection came to Panther Ridge from other facilities, some because of the animal’s safety and others for a unique opportunity.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of people in the zoological community, and I have a real fascination with clouded leopards,” Berens said. “Then we were given an unusual invitation — to become part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for these cats. We had to meet stringent regulations, and now have successfully bred healthy cubs. The next group of cubs that we have, the SSP coordinator will come and determine which other facilities they will go to.”

Lura and Malee were the first two clouded leopards born at Panther Ridge, where they were hand-raised and well-socialized. Development Director Kandice Seitz shared the importance of having them.

“This is one of the only places you can go and get up close and personal with cats that are Class 1 endangered species, and we are very lucky to have clouded leopards here,” Seitz said. “It is very rare to see this many clouded leopards in one place. It’s just an amazing place that’s great for small kids, too, because it’s not too big for them to enjoy, even in the summer. Since our move a year ago, we’ve tried to create a more user-friendly facility for the public.”

Having a background in fundraising, Seitz never expected to be so involved with exotic cats.

“I’ve been here about three years,” Seitz said. “I actually went on my first tour with a group of prospective donors, and little by little, I began bringing people here to visit. Once I found Panther Ridge, I knew this is where I wanted to work.”

Seitz, like other docents and volunteers, also provides support for the facility by working directly with staff and even some of the animals. It is a love for the creatures in their care that brings the team together.

As the nonprofit grew in size, Berens made the difficult decision to move the facility and give up her time with horses.

“Horses can be put to pasture, retired or sold. There is no other safe option for these cats. These animals won’t survive without certain care and treatments,” Berens said. “But the quality of life for these special creatures is our priority. Our food bill alone is $45,000 a year for 19 cats.”

Berens, now championing exotic cats for almost 20 years, is hands-on every day — feeding animals and keeping a strong personal relationship with them, even the challenging ones.

“Fishing cats like Minnow here are very rare to see. Not a lot of facilities have them. In fact, they are notoriously difficult to deal with,” said Berens, who personally visits him every day. “He came to us at only five weeks old, and he was injured and had been weaned too young. On top of that, they were using the wrong formula. The long-term plan is I would like to get an unrelated female and breed some more fishing cats.”

Other species that can be seen at Panther Ridge include the caracal, serval and panther (also called mountain lions or cougars). Guests can also arrange personal encounters with a few of the animals.

The Panther Ridge Conservation Center is located at 2143 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves. It is open to all ages, and tours are available by reservation seven days a week. Call (561) 795-8914 or visit www.pantherridge.org for more information about the different programs available.

Protecting Exotic Species Is All In A Day’s Work At  McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary

With a focus on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild animals, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit that melds all facets of this important mission. The eight-acre facility started out as a small, private space for Mark McCarthy and his exotic animal collection.

“At the time, in 1990, there were very few houses,” McCarthy said. “I talked to the neighbors beforehand, and they are my best ally. They never complain — and it gets loud here sometimes.”

The noise level isn’t due to loud music, but the sounds of exotic wildlife ranging from lions to lemurs. The sanctuary is a permanent home for more than 150 animals, in addition to a wide array of temporary creatures there receiving treatment for injuries before heading back into the wild.

While McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary works with many species, the rescue, rehabilitation and release process is for native animals only. Every year, the facility handles countless squirrels and birds, but this past season proved to have some surprises in store.

“We received an otter who was completely nonresponsive,” Office Manager Barbara Drury recalled. “He was unconscious for three or four days. All that time, we were still giving him medicine and treatment, so we were thrilled he pulled through. Eventually, he recovered and grew up enough to be released back into the wild.”

A reptile-guy for sure, McCarthy started his love of animals with snakes. When he was just 16, he moved to Florida by hitchhiking from Michigan to Miami with a backpack full of snakes and a dream to work at the Miami Serpentarium. Some dreams come true. He was hired on the spot.

Throughout his 30-year career working with animals, McCarthy also spent a significant amount of time in the television, film and print production business, during which he collected more exotic species, including birds and big cats. These animals often came to him under scary circumstances.

“I came back from Africa and had just brought back my wife, Aneth, and I get a phone call at 3 o’ clock in the morning from Officer Rick Brown from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission,” McCarthy recalled. “He does the Orlando area, and said, ‘Mark, I’ve got a problem. I just seized a tiger and a cougar out of a Motel 6 up here in Orlando, and I have nowhere to put them.’ We go up there, and sure enough there was this magician who was wanted in Minnesota for abandoning his facility, and he was literally doing magic shows out of his van on International Drive.”

Animals needing to be rehomed is a big concern, as the exotic pet industry often finds uneducated owners in deep trouble dealing with more than they expected. For example, nearly 30 large African spur-thighed tortoises, who grow to weigh well over 100 pounds, lived at McCarthy’s at one time.

“I built this place on birthday parties, and those parties turned into teachers seeing me, and eventually all these school programs on top of the production jobs,” McCarthy said. “I really enjoyed the school shows — it was probably my favorite thing to do. I mostly focused on elementary schools, but this grew so big, I don’t do them anymore.”

Now that McCarthy no longer travels to schools, guests are able to come in person to visit the animals at the sanctuary by calling and reserving a spot in one of the available tours.

Guided tours run multiple times a day, Tuesday through Saturday. Aside from getting the chance to see some rare creatures such as ligers (yes, that is a real thing), another benefit are the guides themselves. McCarthy prides himself in having keeper/guides — individuals who work with the animals every day and are able to share personal stories and insights with guests.

One such keeper/guide is Alexis Opisso, who was happy to share the story of Larry the Nile crocodile.

“Crocodilians have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom, and Larry here was a pet surrender. He was bought as a birthday present for somebody’s daughter. They were keeping him in a bathtub,” Opisso explained. “We got Larry when he was about three years old. We conditioned him not to come up to us for food. When I go in there to change his water or scrub his tub, he never bothers me.”

She then immediately shifted to fun facts about crocs, like why their teeth are so white and how she finds tooth caps that have fallen out on a regular basis as new teeth replace them.

“Education is a big part of what we do,” Drury said. “Between Mark going out to schools all those years, and all the people who come here with their families — some kids have never seen a tiger up close. So, that experience may inspire them to learn about how we can save the tigers in the wild. Then they grow up to be a child who wants to conserve what we have.”

More than 20,000 people visit McCarthy’s every year, and the organization continues a lengthy track record of excellent ratings on Trip Advisor, which also puts them in the top spot for things to do in the West Palm Beach area.

Despite all the attention, staff keeps the tours limited for the sake of the animals’ well-being. “The tours are scheduled in a way that guests are gone late in the afternoon and the animals can have a normal evening routine to finish the day,” Drury said. “All of this started because of Mark’s first impression, and now all of these other children get a ‘wow’ moment, too.”

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 12943 61st Street North in The Acreage. To make a reservation for a guided tour, call (561) 790-2116. For more information about the mission, animals and how to get involved, visit www.mccarthyswildlife.com.

Law Firm Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith Supports Animal Rescues

Tina is a four-year-old terrier mix. She misses her four-legged friends who have found forever homes, but she is also happy for them. She hopes someone will eventually adopt her as well, although she has been rejected time and again.

Tina is blind, but what she lacks in vision she certainly makes up for with a huge heart. She has a lot to give. One local law firm is determined to find Tina, and other dogs like her, a forever home.

Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith is dedicated to giving back to the communities it serves. The personal injury law firm, with 11 lawyers and four local offices, including one in Wellington, still abides by the moral directive of its founder, Joe Lesser.

In 1927, Lesser founded the firm by opening an office in West Palm Beach. He believed in providing excellent representation for the firm’s clients — that was a given. Lesser also believed strongly in giving back to the community, noting, “In the time we have on this earth, we have the opportunity and obligation to make a difference in some way.”

One of the many ways in which the firm tries to make a difference is through its Paws for Patriots campaign. Longtime Wellington resident and law firm partner Mickey Smith is particularly proud of this initiative.

“This program is a partnership with Big Dog Ranch Rescue,” Smith said. “We seek to place dogs from the ranch, ages two and up, with veterans and first responders. The law firm has committed to paying the adoption fee for 100 such placements.”

What he loves about the Paws for Patriots initiative is that he is unsure who benefits the most from it. “Anyone who has ever had a rescue animal knows that the emotional tide quickly turns,” said Smith, who has had several rescue animals through the years. “Initially, we feel the rescue was fortunate to find us. We soon come to realize, though, how truly fortunate we were to find the rescue. That’s a universal truth.”

The initiative began in November 2017, and there are still openings for interested veterans and first responders.

Paws for Patriots grew out of another partnership with Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Every Dog Deserves a Home. Smith said he is extraordinarily proud of firm partner Glenn Siegel’s tireless work with the local nonprofit, and with Every Dog Deserves a Home specifically.

“Glenn created this program,” Smith said. “Every month, the firm uses its social media clout to place the spotlight on a dog that is harder to adopt because of factors such as age or physical disability. Since the program began in May 2017, 27 dogs have been showcased and 21 have been adopted.”

For his part, Siegel humbly calls it “a labor of love.” Every Dog Deserves a Home is also an ongoing program, with the law firm again paying the adoption fee. The firm’s goal is to find a forever home for all of its sponsored dogs, including Tina.

The law firm has been involved in other projects for animals in the western communities. For example, Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith sponsored a room at Big Dog Ranch Rescue that is painted in a courtroom motif. Earlier this year, the firm sponsored the Rotary Club of Wellington’s Kevlar for K9s raffle that raised money to buy Kevlar protective vests for PBSO K9s.

Smith believes that the firm’s affinity with these animal-related projects arises from the personal injury work that is the firm’s focus.

“We fight insurance companies all day long on behalf of individuals and families who are suffering,” he explained. “Our heart is with the underdog and trying to make things better.”

Smith added that the law firm has been very impressed by the tireless work done by the animal rescue groups in the western communities, but they cannot do it alone.

“It is vitally important that local businesses and professionals leverage both their dollars and their contacts to help support these deserving groups,” he said. “After all, Wellington is known worldwide because of its connection with horses, and the local economy certainly benefits from that connection with animals. It’s only fair that we give back to less fortunate animals right here in our midst.”

For more info., contact Smith at msmith@lesserlawfirm.com or (561) 655-2028.

Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue Saves Lives One Dog And Cat At A Time

Wellington High School graduate Justin Bartlett was only 24 years old when he was tragically killed in a car accident. Now, more than a decade later, countless lives are being saved in his honor.

Tucked away in a shopping center at the northwest corner of Southern Blvd. and State Road 7, professional animal lovers work rigorous hours to save dogs and cats at Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue, giving them a new lease on life.

Peter Torres, the organization’s founder, was a friend of the Bartlett family. As a token of his appreciation to the Bartletts for supporting his previous rescue organization, as well as of Justin’s love for animals, Torres named the organization after him. The nonprofit, no-kill rescue consists of an adoption center, an animal hospital and a thrift store.

The organization maintains high standards when adopting out animals. In order to assume ownership of a Justin Bartlett pet, interested individuals must first complete an application and then be approved by one of the rescue’s adoption counselors. Applicants are asked to include information on subjects such as their previous pets, family veterinarians, HOAs, the type of home they live in and references.

According to Torres, the in-depth process applicants must complete is a necessity, as an unfit owner can be detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of the pet. The case isn’t always that the owner is irresponsible, but that the dog and owner may not be the best fit for each other’s lifestyles.

Torres used the example of a newly married couple, living in a one-bedroom apartment, in search of a husky or German shepherd. The couple may be perfectly fit to own a dog, but not one as high-energy as these particular breeds.

The goal of the rescue is to find the animal a loving, permanent home.

“Dogs need someone to look up to, and once they have that trust in you, they’ll do anything for you,” Torres said. “But if today it is you, and six months from now it’s somebody else, they feel that, and they know it.”

Despite the team’s best efforts, Torres said that dogs walking out of their doors don’t always end up staying at its new home. Sometimes the owners decide it’s too much effort to own the dog, and sometimes, to their own disappointment, the dog has behavioral issues.

The rescue has a dog trainer for such cases, and if the owner is willing, the trainer will evaluate the dog and see what can be done. If it’s a fixable issue, he tells the owners what to do, and they decide what action to take from there.

The evaluation is at the cost of the organization. Another amenity they offer is a free vet visit within seven days of the adoption, and if the dog or cat has an ailment, the clinic will treat it free of charge.

In addition to these services, all the pets adopted through Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue have had at least two sets of vaccines, are dewormed, fecal tested, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. While donations and adoption fees are beneficial in keeping the rescue in business, additional funds are always needed.

Justin Bartlett’s CFO Debra Mammino, who is also an adoption counselor, hospital and rescue manager, and “jack of all trades,” is in charge of transferring animals to adoption events. Where a company bus used to be utilized for such purposes, both vehicles are currently out of commission.

The buses, which include crates and supplies for the animals, are expenses that have had to be put on the backburner, as more serious needs must first be met.

“On Saturdays, I have seven or eight dogs, and I’m trying to fit them into a little Xterra because the buses aren’t working,” Mammino said.

Torres must keep the focus simultaneously on saving animals while also carefully watching the bottom line.

“You cannot bite off more than you can chew,” he said. “You cannot rescue more than you can handle — financially, mentally and all of the above.”

According to the nonprofit’s founder, animal rescue workers tend to fight emotional exhaustion because as much as they want to save them all, they simply cannot. It all takes quite a toll on the team.

“And it takes a toll on me,” Torres said, “but at least I always find a way to think positive.”

Mammino also has to battle against the challenges of the work. Her plan of attack? Puppy love.

“When I have a bad day, I go home, sit in the middle of my floor, and get all the puppies out that I’m fostering, and [they] just jump on me,” Mammino said. “And that soothes it.”

Mammino advises anyone overwhelmed by the bleakness and severity of animal suffering in the world to simply “save the ones you can.”

If you’re looking for a new pet, perhaps a visit to Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue is in your future. If not, Torres urges people to visit one of the many available shelters and animal rescue organizations.

“If you want to go to any other shelter, that’s OK,” he said. “You’re saving a life.”

Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue is located at 10405 Southern Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. If you would like to learn more about fostering or adopting through this local nonprofit, call (561) 684-1010 or visit www.justinbartlettanimalrescue.org.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue Where Dogs Get A New Lease On Life

Over the last decade, Big Dog Ranch Rescue has found a home for more than 31,000 dogs, but founder Lauree Simmons clearly recalls her first canine client back in 2008. It was a lab mix named Angel, who was pregnant, homeless and living under a tree in Miami.

Two days later, Angel gave birth to 10 puppies in Simmons’ garage. In many respects, Angel is the “acorn” that blossomed into the tree now known as the Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Today, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is dedicated to rescuing and providing a happy, safe and loving home for dogs while providing families with healthy, loving and loyal canine companions. Located on 33 acres in Loxahatchee Groves, the rescue is a cage-free setting. In fact, it is the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in the U.S.

“We have built a happy environment for dogs,” explained Robin Friedman, Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s director of development. “Our focus is rescue. We save dogs from shelters that are on the list to be euthanized, and we accept owner-surrender dogs. We also try to find homes for rescue dogs by networking with other shelters like us.”

At Big Dog Ranch Rescue, dogs are saved and then given a new lease on life. While the organization’s name indicates that it’s a safe haven for big dogs, in reality, dogs of all sizes can be adopted through the organization.

“We have at least one of every type of dog,” Friedman said.

Currently, roughly 500 grown dogs and 100 puppies live at Big Dog Ranch Rescue. But once dogs arrive here, they are often adopted in less than three months, Friedman said. Puppies are adopted the quickest.

Once dogs arrive, they are fed healthy food and given lots of TLC. “Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the way the rescue experience should be for all dogs,” Friedman said. “We rescue dogs of all sizes, provide the necessary medical care, and find them their perfect forever homes. Big and small, we save them all.”

Most of its dogs come from shelters in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. However, during natural and humanitarian disasters, the organization reaches out to help.

Following devastating hurricanes, Big Dog Ranch Rescue provided food drops and rescued dogs from Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and the coastal U.S. And recently, following a request from monks saving dogs from the Chinese dog meat trade, the organization began work with an Asian counterpart to provide assistance.

The dogs from China are often less than a year old. “Getting healthy dogs delivered from China has its challenges,” Friedman said. “Logistically, it’s difficult, but we figured it out.”

Friedman emphasized that her group remains local-focused, but humanitarian issues and disasters trigger their efforts to save dogs from other parts of the country and the world.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue is also specially equipped to house pregnant dogs,

Canine mothers and their puppies are housed in Puppyland, which features 10 small structures, each one specially equipped to care for mother dogs and her litter. Puppyland is sponsored by Rachael Ray Nutrish, which also donates most of the food fed to the dogs at Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Other programs help senior citizens and cater to military veterans.

According to Friedman, Seniors for Seniors is focused on getting older dogs, which are at least six years old, trained to visit senior citizens living in retirement homes. Seniors, who often want an older canine companion, can also adopt a senior dog.

“Our Seniors for Seniors program improves the lives of senior citizens,” Friedman said. “We are also currently training 24 dogs to become companions for the Veterans Service Dog Training Program. It helps veterans with PTSD.”

If you are interested in supporting Big Dog Ranch Rescue and love to have a good time, the third annual Big Dog Ranch Rescue Valentine’s Night Out helps unite the local horse and dog-loving communities. The next one is set for Friday, Feb. 14, 2020.

“It’s a great time and attracts strong interest from Wellington’s dog-loving equestrian crowd,” Friedman said. “We are fortunate to have many fosters, adopters, donors and friends from the equestrian world.”

Adoption fees vary. For example, puppies are $350, adult dogs are $250 and senior dogs are $150.

While these adoption fees generate money for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the majority of its income comes from outside sources. Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s biggest benefactor is the Fleming Family Foundation.

“We rely mostly on donations,” Friedman said. “Adoption fees cover a fraction of the costs to save a dog. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to further our mission to save more lives.”

Big Dog Ranch Rescue is located at 14444 Okeechobee Blvd. in Loxahatchee Groves. If you feel that you can provide a happy, safe and loving home for a dog, drop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., call them at (561) 791-6465 or check out the list of available dogs at www.bdrr.org.

Students Excelling In New Horizons Dual Language Spanish Academy

The Dual Language International Spanish Academy Program at New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington educates students to become fully bilingual, biliterate and bicultural.

According to Principal Dana Pallaria, the dual-language program at New Horizons allows her students to reach the high standards that are necessary for becoming productive members of the community.

The dual language program at New Horizons has been in place for 15 years. The program partners with the Department of Education in Spain. With this partnership, New Horizons has become an international academy. This means that the school receives resources by way of visiting teachers from Spain, who come to the United States for three years to teach not only the Spanish language, but also the culture of their home country. 

New Horizons was the first of three schools in Palm Beach County to receive this accreditation. For half the day, students receive education in English, while they learn in Spanish the other half.

“At New Horizons, we have approximately 675 students,” Pallaria said. “Approximately 450 students are in the International Spanish Academy in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a full-immersion program. The students learn English and Spanish in both reading and science.

There are multiple benefits to a dual-language program, she explained.

“The reason we see it as being so important is that our students have the opportunity to excel in a foreign language,” Pallaria said. “The research shows that early entry into the International Spanish Academy, or any [foreign] language, produces very high SAT scores, which gives our students the benefit of getting into college. It increases listening skills, memory skills, and they have greater cognitive development.”

Aside from educational benefits, there are many other positive outcomes.

“It gives the student a multicultural appreciation, and they become bilingual at an early age,” Pallaria said. “It also opens up opportunities for careers in their future. Graduates from the International Spanish Academy in Palm Beach County will receive a diploma from Spain, as well as one in the United States, when they complete their high school education.”

The program is aimed at both English-speaking students and those who are from bilingual homes.

“We tell our families that [the programs] support their home language, it values their culture, it values other cultures, especially for our students who are English-speaking, and are in the program to learn Spanish,” Pallaria said. “The program increases their vocabulary and their ability to communicate with more people in the community.”

There are approximately 60 teachers at New Horizons, and 24 are certified to teach the dual-language program. The teachers must pass a language assessment, be certified, and be able to teach reading and science in both languages. Each teacher is responsible for two core subject areas.

Once a student enters the dual-language program in elementary school, they usually continue their dual-language education in middle school and high school.

New Horizons language coach Melissa Arcos explained a normal day in a student’s education. “Typically, a student will start their day on the English side,” Arcos said. “They will receive instruction in reading, writing and math. The students break for lunch, and then switch to go back to learn in their Spanish class. They will receive instruction for reading, writing, science and social studies, but in Spanish.”

In this way, it is a full-immersion program. “When they are in the Spanish classroom, the student will only hear Spanish. The teacher will communicate in Spanish only,” Arcos said. “All of the resources she uses will be in Spanish, as well.”

It is important for a dual-language program to begin early in a student’s education. It is best for a student to be enrolled in kindergarten, but a first or second grader still has a window of time to participate.

“We start as early as kindergarten,” Arcos said. “But we do encourage parents, because it is such a wonderful gift to give our kids, even if they are in first or second grade, it is not too late. By the time we hit third grade, we would have to evaluate the student, because at that point, we are expecting the language to be established, so that we can focus now, not on acquiring the language, but learning with that language.”

Teachers in the dual-language program at New Horizons are from all over the world, including Spain, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela and Mexico.

“All of the mix of cultures represents a different aspect of learning for our students,” Arcos explained. “We are actually teaching the children to listen to it and understand it, so they will eventually start trying it. It’s not a formal language class, like this is how you write a sentence or spell. We are actually teaching the student to listen to the language and pay attention to it, slowly acquiring the understanding.”

Communication can be difficult when visiting another culture. If there are no language skills to communicate, one is forced into having to find a way to speak. “With children, we are tactful, because we don’t want to cause any kind of frustration,” Arcos explained. “This is the beautiful thing about doing this at the elementary stage, where we can use videos and music, where teachers can be silly and act out what they are trying to communicate.”

The lessons are not repeated in a dual-language program. For instance, the student who receives lesson one in English, will move to lesson two in Spanish. They are not receiving the same lesson in both languages. Learning the language this way represents a challenge for the student.

“Students must keep up with what’s happening,” Arcos said. “This is where it is extremely important that both the English and Spanish teachers communicate. This is why we refer to them as partnerships, because they need to communicate what students are struggling with when having difficulty understanding the lessons.”

For those students learning Spanish, the teacher is going to have to give more support in English, Arcos noted, while for those learning English, the Spanish teacher will have to give more support in Spanish. “Our students are also a great tool,” Arcos said. “They are strategically put together so that an English speaker can help a Spanish speaker in English, and vice versa.”

To learn more about the Dual Language International Spanish Academy, call (561) 651-0500.

Synchronized Ice Skating Is Growing In Popularity, Even Here In Florida

Steve Lomax, together with his children (10-year-old Sofia and 8-year-old Austin), have come up with a family-friendly way to beat the summer heat. They leave their home in Wellington and head to the nearest ice skating rink.

“I started coming here when my other daughter, Natalie, was taking ice skating lessons,” he recalled. “She was four at the time. Soon, I was taking them, too. Now, it’s our family’s second home.”

Eventually, Natalie channeled her talents into soccer, but Steve, Sofia and Austin are now practicing every week for a big Theatre on Ice competition coming up on Aug. 17 in Virginia. As part of the Palm Beach Skate Zone synchronized ice skating team, they will present the production number “Arabian Nights,” a nod to Disney’s Aladdin.

“Because the production needs performers of all ages, it’s a chance for me to compete alongside my children,” Steve explained. “It’s a good chance for us to be together. We wear costumes, we have a script, there’s music, and we skate to it. I get to play Jafar. My son is Abu, the little monkey, and my daughter is one of the gypsies.”

Although this is the family’s first trip to the bi-annual competition, Steve has been featured in local Skate Zone shows, appearing as Dark Vader, a Nutcracker and the Grinch.

As the popularity of synchronized ice skating soars coast to coast, Palm Beach Skate Zone keeps pace with the trend by hosting teams for ages 5 to 7, 7 to 11, 12 and up, and the Theatre on Ice group for ages 6 through adult. The program is coached by Debra Fertig.

“Synchronized skating has been around since late 1950s,” Fertig said. “The first team was formed in Ann Arbor, Mich., although, back then, it was known as precision skating. There are 8 to 20 skaters on a team, with 90 percent of them female.”

Ann Arbor’s “Hockettes” team — similar to Radio City Music Hall’s “Rockettes” — was formed to entertain spectators during intermissions of the University of Michigan Wolverines hockey team. Because the emphasis was on precision and timing, it resembled a drill team routine in its early days.

Today, there are about 600 synchronized skate teams in the United States alone, with talk of making it an Olympic sport.

“Synchro offers skaters the ability to compete and immerse themselves at higher levels than individualized skating,” Fertig said. “When you train as an individual, it takes a tremendous amount of time, money and dedication with very slim chances of becoming a national or international competitor. But synchronized skating allows team members to compete at regional, sectional, national and international levels. You’re not doing spins, you’re doing these intricate patterns on the ice. It makes it easier to rise to a higher level.”

Competitive levels include synchro skills, preliminary, pre-juvenile, open-juvenile, juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, open collegiate, collegiate, open adult, open masters, masters and adult. Synchronized skating uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and ice dancing. The discipline is primarily judged on skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, interpretation and difficulty of elements. What makes the sport so unique is the incredible teamwork, speed and intricate formations.

Each level performs a free-skate program that requires elements such as circles, lines, blocks, wheels, intersections, “moves in isolation” and, at higher levels, lifts.

“Moves in isolation” are when one or more skaters separates from the rest of the group and performs freestyle moves. For example, three skaters may separate and go into sit spins, while the rest of the team is in a circle formation. The three skaters will then join the group again and carry on with the routine.

In competitions, teams are required to perform step sequences, ranging in difficulty with each level. In the junior and senior divisions, teams are required to perform a free-skate, also known as a long program, as well as a short program. Generally, the short program is more technical in nature, where the free-skating program is longer and provides an opportunity to showcase expression, emotion and interpretation. Novice, junior and senior programs also include sequences where the whole team does moves such as bellman spirals, 170 spirals, unsupported spirals, spread eagles and more.

Fertig is particularly pleased to see that figure skating, a discipline that formerly focused on one individual, has grown to be so much more.

“The benefits of synchronized skating are that it is a team sport, so it brings together skaters and their families in practice, performing and celebrations. It brings all ages together,” she said.

There’s another benefit as well. “The number of colleges and universities who have synchro skating teams is growing,” Fertig noted. “Skating makes you a standout on your application. If you are a synchronized figure skater, you can aspire to their team.”

Over the years, North American teams have developed more creative and innovative routines, incorporating stronger basic skating skills, new maneuvers and more sophisticated transitions, which naturally necessitated greater speed, style and agility.

Due to this growing interest, the first official international competition was held between Canadian and American teams in 1976. With the internationalization of the sport, it has evolved rapidly, with increasing emphasis on speed and skating skills, and highlight elements such as jumps, spirals, spins and lifts that originally were not permitted in competition.

“I’m all about having kids have an activity,” Fertig said. “You often don’t think about ice skating in South Florida, but when you come to the rink, you make friends. It’s a win-win. I want to give them a sense of belonging. They get together, wear the team jacket, exercise regularly and learn to be a team player. It is similar to Rockettes on ice; we dress alike and do the same things. The challenge is to be as one — making lines, circles and blocks, as one. They learn respect, patience and skating skills.”

To learn more about the synchronized ice skating team at Palm Beach Skate Zone, call (561) 963-5900 or visit www.pbskatezone.com.

The Arc Of Palm Beach County Honored For Outstanding Service

Ralph is about to celebrate his third anniversary at Otis Elevator Company. He stuffs envelopes to help the company with its monthly billing, and the job helps Ralph buy DVDs of his favorite TV shows and movies. Working gives the 45-year-old a sense of purpose.

The Wellington-area resident has been part of The Arc of Palm Beach County’s Adult Career Transition Program since 2008. The Arc staff take Ralph to and from his job at Otis Elevator and help him complete his time sheets and stay organized.

The career program is just one of the many services that The Arc of Palm Beach County has been providing for people with disabilities since 1958. The nonprofit’s ongoing dedication to creating connections and encouraging independence for people with disabilities led the United Way to name it a Community Champion. The honor was bestowed at the Simply the Best Awards ceremony in May.

The Arc’s wide array of services address the needs of all people with disabilities, from infants to senior citizens. Along with educational and recreational activities, the nonprofit also provides group housing and in-home or center-based respite care to help parents find balance as they care for their child. The United Way has funded many of these programs, allowing the nonprofit to serve more than 2,800 families each year. 

“The United Way of Palm Beach County is grateful to be a partner in the incredible work that The Arc is doing in our community,” said Dr. Laurie George, president and CEO of United Way of Palm Beach County. “Like the United Way, their programs were created in direct response to the community’s need for basic services so that everyone can achieve their full potential. The Arc is a champion for individuals in our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it was our honor to recognize them for the significant impact they are making.”

The Arc was also recognized this spring for its fiscal responsibility. In fact, Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps founded the Financial Organization of the Year Award in honor of The Arc. Thanks to a grant from Volunteer Florida, 27 AmeriCorps workers were able to spend a year working at The Arc and learning about the nonprofit. As the AmeriCorps representatives gained experience, they noted the nonprofit’s efforts to document expenses, issue reimbursements and maintain overall financial excellence. 

“This year, there was one organization that we felt was so deserving of recognition, we created the new Financial Organization of the Year Award,” said Tracie Lambright, senior financial analyst for Volunteer Florida. “They have become an exceptional role model for other organizations, and those who are struggling in this area should reach out to them for guidance.”

The Arc of Palm Beach County President and CEO Kimberly McCarten said her organization was honored by these awards.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized for our lifeworks,” McCarten said. “Receiving these awards from those who have entrusted us with their time and resources, reaffirms that our efforts are truly felt in every corner of our community.”

McCarten added that seeing the daily accomplishments of the people they serve keeps the nonprofit’s staff motivated. The impact they have made in Ralph’s life is evident — his smile is consistent no matter how many envelopes he has to stuff. For the staff at The Arc, there is no greater reward.

To learn more about how The Arc is helping to better the community and the future for people with disabilities, visit www.arcpbc.org.

Wellington’s Elbridge Gale Claims Top Fundraising Honors From Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

For years, Palm Beach County teachers, staff, students and families have supported the various campaigns of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to fighting blood cancers. This past year, one Wellington elementary school claimed top fundraising honors in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Funds raised by LLS support lifesaving blood cancer research around the world while also providing free information and support services locally to patients and their families. 

Wellington’s Elbridge Gale Elementary School took the prize for top fundraising school in the region, raising $14,283. The A-rated school located on Royal Fern Drive has an enrollment of 1,070 and has long been deeply involved in the LLS mission. Drew Dawson, a current fourth-grade student at the school, is a leukemia survivor and served as the school’s 2018-19 Honored Hero. He is one of several Elbridge Gale students affected by leukemia in recent years.

Funds raised by more than 29,000 schools nationwide assist LLS in serving patients, as well as funding innovative research worldwide to find cures. In 2019, the LLS Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Chapter had 155 schools participating in the Pennies for Patients Student Series program, with 106 of those schools in Palm Beach County alone. The 155 schools collectively raised more than $235,000 to support the LLS mission.

Palm Beach County schools received thousands of dollars in Amazon gift certificates and engaged more than 70,000 students in hands-on, experiential activities in the 2018-19 school year. LLS would not have seen success like this without the support of Superintendent Dr. Donald E. Fennoy, who has been a huge advocate for LLS and has promoted the importance of community service as part of a well-rounded education.

Several other schools in the Wellington area also did their part for the cause. Wellington Elementary School raised $4,544, Emerald Cove Middle School raised $4,423, Binks Forest Elementary School raised $3,472 and the Renaissance Charter School at Wellington raised $2,635.

The LLS Student Series is a service learning, character education and philanthropy program where students gain the experience of helping thousands of children and adults in their fight against blood cancers like leukemia. Students see firsthand how their involvement can make a difference in helping save the lives of blood cancer patients simply by helping raise money. Through the LLS Student Series, students and educators throughout the United States and Canada have raised more than $314 million since 1993 in support of the LLS mission.

The School District of Palm Beach County has supported two specific Student Series programs. Collect for Cures is LLS’s service learning, character education and philanthropy program where students of all ages gain the unique experience of helping thousands of children and adults in their fight against blood cancers like leukemia by collecting money over a three-week period. There are programs available for each grade level that incorporate the philanthropic program with curriculum areas such as art, math, science, social studies and language arts.

Pennies for Patients is LLS’s year-long program specifically for elementary and middle schools. This science-based, service-learning program connects schools with local blood cancer patients, provides tangible life skills to participants and allows students to see the impact they’re making in the lives of others. Participating schools receive a comprehensive, experiential K-8 STEM curriculum to incorporate into the fundraising campaign. The STEM curriculum covers key Common Core skills and features hands-on, experiential activities. It also includes timesaving patterns and ready-to-use-presentations for teachers.

Elementary and middle schools receive boxes for each classroom and individual boxes for each student to take the LLS Students Series home to their families and provide an easy way to carry change back to school. Donations collected in the form of coins, paper money, checks and online donations are spent on patient and community services, research, public health and professional education.

School donation pages can be accessed at the top right corner of the LLS web site. Each year, prizes and awards are given to students, classrooms and schools to encourage excitement and participation, such as a pasta party hosted through a national partnership with Olive Garden.

For more information about local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society programs, visit www.lls.org/palm-beach-area.