Strong Services, Smart Investments In Wellington Budget

The Village of Wellington’s adopted budget for fiscal year 2026, which began Oct. 1, ensures that Wellington maintains its high-quality programs and services while investing in the future.

For our residents, the recently adopted budget is more than a set of numbers; it’s a roadmap for daily life in the village. From well-kept parks and stronger public safety to ongoing infrastructure improvements, the spending plan represents both stability and a continued investment in the community’s quality of life.

On Sept. 18, the Wellington Village Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget, a $155.9 million plan that reflects careful stewardship and a continued commitment to excellence in serving our residents. Each year, the budget is developed through a strategic process rooted in our mission, vision, village fundamentals and council initiatives while adapting to economic conditions and community needs. After a series of workshops and public hearings, the adopted budget ensures that Wellington maintains its high-quality programs and services while investing in the future.

For FY 2026, the council maintained the ad valorem millage rate at 2.47 mills. While ad valorem property taxes represent about 20 percent of Wellington’s revenues, most funding comes from charges for services, such as water and sewer, recreation programs and license fees. To balance service delivery and infrastructure needs, residents will see modest increases in certain rates: a $20 adjustment to the Acme Improvement District assessment, a 10 percent increase in utility rates to support system rehabilitation and water treatment improvements, and a $10 increase in residential curbside solid waste collection. These changes ensure that Wellington continues to deliver reliable services, keep our infrastructure strong and fund essential capital projects.

This year’s budget includes an expenditure increase of $6.9 million, directed toward enhanced public safety, capital improvements and continued resident services. Major projects funded in FY 2026 include: Stormwater pump station improvements; Greenbriar Blvd. bike lanes and rebuild; traffic signal component upgrades throughout the village; C-8 Canal pathway connection and multi-modal pathway extensions; Wellington Tennis Center court additions; water plant membrane expansion and rehabilitation; and the water meter replacement program.

In addition to capital projects, the budget prioritizes essential services, such as surface water management, solid waste collection, road and facility maintenance, and employee retention. It also supports community priorities, including the Keely Spinelli education grants, Freebee senior transportation, paratransit contributions, flood control, pathway improvements, Vision Zero traffic safety, and a wide range of recreation and cultural programs.

We are also preparing for the operations and maintenance of expanded community facilities, including the new Wellington Aquatics Center, South Shore Community Park, Greenbriar Community Park and the Wellington Tennis Center expansion, while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

Looking ahead, Wellington is responsibly investing in our future through initiatives like the new Public Safety Annex, environmental preservation projects, long-term traffic control improvements and continued master planning efforts.

Wellington’s financial health remains strong. By maintaining fund balances and reserves above policy levels, the village is positioned to deliver services sustainably while protecting residents from sharp tax increases in the future.

I encourage you to learn more about how your tax dollars are being invested by visiting www.wellingtonfl.gov/budget. There, you can view helpful resources, such as our Budget in Brief, which provides an easy-to-understand overview of this year’s spending plan.

By approving a budget that grows modestly over last year’s, our council aims to balance fiscal responsibility with the services and amenities that make Wellington feel like home.

These investments ensure that Wellington continues to thrive as a premier community, one that provides exceptional services today while planning responsibly for tomorrow.

Honoring The People Who Make This Community Our Wellington!

Congratulations To Our 2025 Recipients

Photos by Denise Fleischman, Kendall Bierer, Aggie Brooks and Coastal Click Photography

Once again this year, we are thrilled to unveil the outstanding individuals chosen to be honored in the Our Wellington Awards 2025, our annual celebration of compassion, commitment and community spirit.

Featured in this month’s issue of Wellington The Magazine, we mark our fourth annual presentation of the Our Wellington Awards to recognize our neighbors who go above and beyond in service to others. These awards shine a spotlight on local heroes who give generously of their time, energy and talents to uplift and inspire. Each honoree this year reflects the very best of what it means to have a deeply rooted desire to make a difference in the Wellington community.

After careful consideration of many inspiring submissions, our editorial team is proud to present this year’s honorees: Marcella Montesinos, who helps students both at the Boys & Girls Club and Palm Beach State College; “serial volunteer” Walter Imperatore, who has quickly become a key leader in the Rotary Club of Wellington; retired teacher Sue Bierer, works to preserve the history of Wellington; equestrian Jackie Ducci, who founded a nonprofit focused on the power of the human-animal connection; “top cop” Dwayne Brown, who makes a difference on the streets of Wellington every day; and Marty Ross, who engages and uplifts his community with a passion for sports and philanthropy.

All of these everyday citizens saw and answered the call — not for recognition, but out of genuine care for their community. Their stories, featured in this special section, highlight what makes Wellington not just a beautiful place to live, but a vibrant and giving hometown full of heart.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who took the time to nominate an extraordinary Wellington neighbor. Your nominations sparked awareness, encouraged hope and celebrated selfless service across our community. Congratulations to this year’s honorees! Your impact is real, and your legacy will continue to inspire.

Marcella Montesinos   

 Marcella Montesinos Helps Students, Both At The Local Boys & Girls Club And Palm Beach State College

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Coastal Click Photography

During the day, Marcella Montesinos serves as the director of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College at Palm Beach State College. After hours, she spends much of her volunteer time serving on the board of directors of the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington.

That is in addition, of course, to her role as mother to daughters Emily, Gabby and Olivia, and wife to Dr. Tyson Tabora, a local podiatrist.

At home, her oldest daughter, Emily, is a senior at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, while her two younger daughters, Gabby and Olivia, are enrolled at Wellington Landings Middle School.

According to Montesinos, one of the highlights of being a mother has been her involvement with the local Girl Scouts.

“I was able to be a troop leader for a few years for Troop 24217 with my daughters in Wellington. That was fun,” Montesinos said. “I would have loved to have been a Girl Scout, but my parents didn’t know much about these things when they immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.”

Montesinos, a native of Palm Beach County, has had roots in Wellington since 1987. While at Wellington High School, she met her future husband during their senior year. Both graduated from WHS in 1997 and later wed in 2005.

Montesinos graduated from the University of Central Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication. After college, work opportunities took her to Washington, D.C., where she worked at the Washington Workshops Foundation, which focused on educating young students through experiential learning and empowering them to be impactful citizens.

In the early 2000s, she returned to South Florida, earning a master’s degree in management with a focus on leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2005.

Montesinos has worked at Palm Beach State College since 2003, and she has served as director of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College for last 15 years. It’s a job which she has referred to as “a privilege to oversee.”

“The Honors College has given me far more than a professional role. It has given me a true sense of community,” said Montesinos, who is also a graduate of Palm Beach State College. “As the director of the college-wide program, it is a privilege to guide students who dare to ‘dream big’ and to support their development into thoughtful, compassionate future leaders. It is deeply meaningful to be part of their journey as an alumnus.”

The Honors College is a program that focuses on its commitment to academic excellence and service learning. It serves more than 380 students and provides nearly $200,000 in scholarships for students who are studying at Palm Beach State College.

The Boys & Girls Club also has special meaning to Montesinos.

“My brother, Marcelo, was part of the Boys Club of Palm Beach County in the 1980s, and the club was a true anchor for our family while my parents worked so many hours,” Montesinos said. “Seeing the impact of the club first-hand, it inspired me to give back to an organization that provided so much for us, to help create the same kind of support and opportunity for other families.”

As a result, Montesinos has been a member of the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club in Wellington since 2018. She served as the chair from 2022 to 2024.

In addition to serving on the board, Montesinos has carved out her own niche at the local club.

“A couple years ago, I created the birthday club at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club to celebrate our kids monthly,” Montesinos said. “Nothing makes me smile more than to see their smiles and get excited about their birthday month. I have become the ‘birthday lady,’ which I am very proud of!”

When she gets a break from her duties at home and at work, Montesinos enjoys unwinding with a good movie or book. “I appreciate the simple moments that bring balance to a busy life,” Montesinos said. “I try my best to slow down but truly enjoy being part of my community in any way I can to serve.”

Walter Imperatore

‘Serial Volunteer’ Walter Imperatore Has Quickly Become A Key Leader In The Rotary Club Of Wellington

Story by Deborah Welky  |  Photo by Denise Fleischman

Walter Imperatore was born on the day, month and year that Disneyland opened, although he insists that he was not named after that other famous Walt. This Walter spent his youth in Whitestone and Port Washington, N.Y., and earned a degree in public relations and advertising from Syracuse University.

He put those communication skills to use in the real estate field, managing a diverse private real estate portfolio, serving as global director of real estate for a Fortune 100 company, and providing commercial brokerage, consulting and development planning.

Imperatore has been involved with Rotary International all his adult life, currently serving as immediate past president of the Wellington Rotary Club. Before relocating to Wellington five years ago, he was president of the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay, vice president and treasurer of the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce, and held several leadership roles in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He moved to Wellington in April 2020, just at the start of the pandemic.

“Our kids were in their early 20s then, and when [wife] Joan and I told them we were moving to Florida, they came back to us and said they would come down here, too,” Imperatore recalled. “My son Jake [now 30] and daughter Katie [now 28] both moved to within a mile of our new Florida home.”

It was not Imperatore’s years of real estate experience nor months of scouting South Florida locales that brought him to Wellington. “Wellington didn’t pop up on any radar,” he said. “I was lucky, and I’ve always said I’d rather be lucky than smart.”

In 2021, Imperatore transferred his Rotary membership to Wellington, and got involved helping people struggling during the pandemic.

“We did weekly food distribution out of the Mall at Wellington Green,” said Imperatore, who described himself as a “serial volunteer.” “We were all masked-up and wore gloves. It was very restrictive and uncomfortable, but a worthwhile effort.”

As the pandemic receded, Imperatore became more immersed than ever in Rotary activities and soon found himself on the board. Earlier this year, he worked with the village to develop the Flags of Wellington program, honoring not only military personnel but also civilian achievements.

“In Wellington, the flags aren’t strictly dedicated to memorials, but are also about spirit and community, so the message is broader,” Imperatore explained. “They range from people who have been in the service to congratulating a family member.”

Imperatore said both the village and local scouts helped with the effort. “The scouts were phenomenal,” he said. “When we were putting the flags up, they were a huge part of that.”

Rotary and the village work together on many projects, something that adds immeasurably to the community feel of the town.

“It’s a win-win,” Imperatore said. “When the tornado went through Wellington in 2024, the village had a plan and resources, but they reached out to Rotary to help. We created a tornado relief fund, partnering with other organizations, and were able to help our residents with everything from debris removal to gift cards to help for first responders. It was a pretty broad program, considering the frenetic pace at which it was created. In some cases, we merely served as a portal for people who didn’t know that village resources were available.”

Imperatore recalled the story of a son pulling his father into their safe room just as a tornado breached the house and tried to suck them out. “The general theme was that people felt like a freight train was going right past,” Imperatore said. “Someone who had served in the military said it felt like explosions going off around him… Myself, I watched the tornado from my home on Lake Wellington. It was like watching The Wizard of Oz. It was really formidable.”

He is also involved in Rotary’s exchange program. “We have a youth exchange program where we send 8,000 students from one country to another for either a short summer program or the entire school year,” Imperatore said. “Watching the looks on those kids’ faces as they participate in this thing, it is so rewarding — it’s an impact point in their lives.”

Learn more about the Rotary Club of Wellington at www.wellingtonrotary.org.

Sue Bierer

A 46-Year Resident, Retired Teacher Sue Bierer Works To Preserve The History Of Wellington

Story by Deborah Welky  |  Photo by Kendall Bierer

Sue Bierer has been serving as the president of the Wellington Historical Society since 2023, which is apropos, since she herself is a perfect example of how Wellington began.

Bierer graduated from Maine South High School in Illinois and was working as a teacher when she agreed to meet some friends for dinner at a restaurant in the Gould Inc. building where they worked.

“I very unexpectedly met Bill Ylvisaker and his No. 2 man, George Millington, who were both in the restaurant at the time,” Bierer recalled. “I started talking to George, and told him I was a teacher, but that I was trying to get a job in Florida because I had been reading Chronicle of the Horse, and there was a tiny little article about a superb new facility opening in the Palm Beaches called Palm Beach Polo & Country Club in a town called Wellington.”

As an equestrian, this fascinated her. “I had been riding all my life, as well as showing hunters and jumpers around the Midwest, and I told him I’d love to move there and bring my horse, but I didn’t have any contacts,” Bierer continued. “That’s when he said, ‘We own it.’ He set me up for interviews at Palm Beach Polo.”

It was a dream come true! She and her horse moved to Wellington in the fall of 1979 and started working in the PR department at the old Palm Beach Polo stadium building. (“It broke my heart when they tore it down,” she said.) Her fiancé, Leonard, followed a few months later. They married and have one daughter, Kendall.

Back then, while Bierer’s horse stayed in the show barn, she was busy coordinating visiting VIP groups and celebrities.

“Merv Griffin had a unit there, Zsa Zsa Gabor had a unit there, and others just came to enjoy the social atmosphere and be ‘seen’ — Joan Collins, Jane Seymour, Sonny Bono… Prince Charles came to play polo, and later he brought Lady Di,” she continued.

Eventually, Bierer realized that she missed teaching and went back to it, teaching at Wellington Elementary School from 1985 until she retired in 2012, 27 years in all.

Then, in 2018, avid reader Bierer saw another small item that piqued her interest.

“There was an announcement in the Town-Crier, asking people who were interested in preserving the history of Wellington to a meeting,” Bierer said. “Len and I went, since we’d watched Wellington grow since 1979. There were a lot of people there. Later that month, I got a call from Maureen Budjinski, who asked me to be on the all-volunteer board of the Wellington Historical Society. We held our first board retreat on March 24, 2018. Laurie Cohen was the president for years and is still very involved but, when she stepped down, I took over in 2023.”

Bierer said that getting the history of Wellington included in the local fourth-grade social studies curriculum as one of the nonprofit’s greatest accomplishments.

“Together, with other teachers from Wellington schools, we worked for years to put together a PowerPoint presentation to present to the Palm Beach County School Board. It covered Wellington’s origins from the Seminole Indians to the present day. They suggested changes, it was reformatted and, finally, it was approved and implemented in all fourth-grade classes,” Bierer said. “We picked fourth grade because they do a unit on Florida Studies. It has been very well received. Teachers enjoy teaching it, and the kids love it. No other schools in Palm Beach County teach the history of their community, although the school board has told us that they wish they would.”

Another important initiative launched by the Wellington Historical Society is its Oral Histories archive. “This highlights many of Wellington’s pioneers who were instrumental in our early formative years and is available for viewing through www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org,” Bierer said. “There’s a plethora of wonderful interviews there.”

The Wellington Historical Society also hosts “Lunch and Learn” talks and several mixers each year. “And every group needs volunteers,” she said. “It’s only $35 to become a member, and we need to raise awareness that we even exist.”

Learn more about the Wellington Historical Society at www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Jackie Ducci

Jackie Ducci Runs A Nonprofit That Focuses On The Transformative Power Of The Human-Animal Connection

Story by Shannon Anastasio  |  Photo by Aggie Brooks
Jackie Ducci’s life embodies purposeful leadership and meaningful service. As the founder of the Human-Animal Alliance, she aims to redefine how modern nonprofits operate — merging business expertise with philanthropy to share the transformative power of the human-animal connection.

“In many ways, my entire life has been connected to this cause,” Ducci explained. “Animals have been my primary source of comfort and strength since childhood. I founded the Human-Animal Alliance in 2022 to help others experience the same life-changing connections. I am very proud of what the organization does, but the animals are the true stars.”

Ducci awards grants to high impact, often overlooked organizations nationwide. These funds support two key areas: programs that offer animal-assisted therapy and initiatives that help keep pets with the people who love them.

“Through our grantmaking, we reach thousands of people and animals each year,” Ducci said. “Since our founding, we have awarded 21 grants totaling nearly $350,000, with an additional $100,000 expected before the end of 2025. These funds have supported a wide range of animal-assisted therapy programs for grieving children, women in crisis, first responders, at-risk youth, survivors of human trafficking and more.  Our grants have also funded pet retention services from families at risk of losing their animals due to financial hardship, military service, domestic violence situations and natural disasters. Every dollar we contribute to these remarkable programs directly touches human and animal lives.”

Ducci grew up on a farm in northwest Connecticut, where her passion for animals developed at a young age.

“My entire family is from that area, and it was a wonderful place to call home during childhood,” she said. “Since then, I have lived in various cities on the East Coast, including New York and Washington, D.C., where I earned my bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America.”

Today, she is settled year-round in Wellington with her horses Westley and Teddy, and her bulldogs Ralphie and Sadie. She has been a full-time Wellington resident for the past five years. Aside from her philanthropic work, she is a United States Dressage Federation gold medalist. “I compete in FEI-level dressage, and also dabble in some low-level show jumping,” Ducci said. “I wouldn’t trade living here for the world. It is a remarkable community that blends the excitement of the global equestrian scene with a small-town spirit and wonderful, animal-loving people. My only regret is not moving here sooner.”

Through the alliance, Ducci helps animals, uplifts trauma survivors and strengthens families in crisis. But it’s not just what she does, but how she does it. Ducci personally funds all the overhead, so every dollar donated by the public directly supports programming and impacts human and animal lives. She applies a rigorous vetting process to ensure that funding reaches exceptional grassroots partners.

Ducci’s personal connection to horses goes back to her childhood. “As a child, I was naturally very quiet and struggled with social anxiety. Horses were my safe place,” she said. “They accepted me without judgment and taught me that my value had nothing to do with how much I spoke, and everything to do with who I was at my core. That tremendous life lesson salvaged my self-esteem during my early years and ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. The Human-Animal Alliance was born from a desire to enable others to experience similar transformative connections and unconditional acceptance through animals.”

Ducci’s career history is equally dynamic: from entrepreneur, talent acquisition expert, author and podcast host to nonprofit leader and advocate, she has built a platform for change that is both strategic and meaningful, proving that philanthropy can be precise, powerful and personal.

Her favorite way to unwind is enjoying downtime with her bulldogs, ideally with a Netflix show on TV and a glass of wine in her hand. “I also love my friends and prioritize quality time with the people I love most, including my fiancé, Mark,” Ducci said, adding that she also loves a good escape room. “I am an escape room enthusiast and have completed nearly 100 rooms! I enjoy the challenge of solving puzzles under pressure and the teamwork it inspires.”

Learn more about Ducci’s nonprofit at www.h-aa.org.

 Dwayne Brown

‘Top Cop’ Dwayne Brown Makes  A Difference On The Streets Of Wellington Every Day

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Denise Fleischman

Every law enforcement agency needs a Dwayne Brown. Fortunately for Wellington, Brown works for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and he’s often seen patrolling Wellington. The daily physical presence of Brown helps keep Wellington such a great place to live, work and play.

Brown’s affiliation with the PBSO started in July 1998 as a drill instructor with the Eagle Academy in Belle Glade.

“I worked with at-risk youth. We worked on getting their lives going in the right direction,” said Brown, now 61. “We used exercise, physical training and various drills to get their attention. It worked. Nowadays, many of those individuals see me, and they thank me for helping them.”

In 2003, Brown became a sworn deputy. For more than 20 years, he has served the residents of Palm Beach County with distinction. In addition to patrolling Wellington, he is a frequent volunteer at many community events and is involved with the Wellington Rotary. His years of service just recently got him recognized as Wellington’s “Top Cop” for 2025.

In addition to his patrols, he makes appearances at schools.

“At the elementary and middle schools, the kids love to meet the cops,” said Brown, who feels he makes the biggest difference in his job with children. “Kids like coming up to me to tell me what they are doing. All kids need guidance and love.”

Brown truly feels his presence in Wellington is important. “I want to make a positive difference in the lives of kids and their families. I like to bring peace to a crisis,” said Brown, who once worked as a SWAT negotiator.

The foundation of Brown’s success can be traced to his six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. After boot camp, he traveled the world to protect American freedoms at home. “I was in Europe six times, in Africa six times and based on three different naval ships,” said Brown, who served from 1982 to 1988.

He rose to the rank of corporal, and Brown’s military experience was filled with positive memories. “I enjoyed my time as a U.S. Marine,” he said.

Brown’s transition to the PBSO would never have happened had it not been for a job he took. “Pratt & Whitney was advertising for somebody to work on its jet engine program who had a military background. I felt that I was qualified,” Brown recalled. “I applied for the job.”

That brought him to Palm Beach County, and he worked on a variety of military jet engines. Unfortunately, after a few years, those military contracts were not renewed, which meant it was time for Brown to find a new professional opportunity. “I had a wife and children at home, plus a mortgage,” Brown said. “I needed a new job.”

He initially did some substitute teaching, before he saw an ad for a PBSO position. As they say, the rest is history.

“In my job, every day is different,” said Brown, who has drawn his gun on many occasions, but only pulled the trigger once.

When he’s not on patrol, Brown is busy helping his family run a foundation focused on sarcoma cancer awareness in memory of his late wife, Juliet, who died of sarcoma cancer.

“In 2021, we started the Julie B. Foundation,” Brown said. “Over the last four years, with the support of generous donors, we have been able to award scholarships to individuals who have been impacted by cancer, in addition to providing care packages to hospitalized cancer patients during the holidays.”

Brown’s 27-year-old daughter Jaelyn leads the foundation. Learn more at www.thejuliebfoundation.org.

In his spare time, Brown likes to exercise and work on his vehicles. “I have a 2017 convertible Corvette. It’s a dark charcoal color with a red interior. I also have a 1987 silver champagne-like coupe Corvette and a Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide motorcycle,” Brown said. “I drive them on sunny weekend days. They are a stress reliever.”

Brown is also a fan of opera, and he plays the saxophone. While Brown has been living in Palm Beach County since the 1980s, he grew up in Sarasota.

“In high school, I played in the band in the fall, played basketball in the winter and I was a designated hitter on the baseball team in the spring,” Brown said.

MARTY ROSS

Marty Ross Engages And Uplifts His Community With A Passion For Sports And Philanthropy

Marty Ross, a fixture at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club, is passionate about maintaining a positive mental attitude and contributing to the active lifestyle in his community.

“My two favorite expressions are ‘great-fantastic’ and ‘positive-positive-positive,’ which I use every day,” Ross said. “Those are my guideline words for life.”

Ross is passionate about the power of positivity, and he firmly believes that the primary purpose of playing sports is not to see who wins or loses. Instead, it allows you to positively impact and connect with people, often for a good cause.

“Sports have always come easy to me, and I was an above-average athlete,” said Ross, now 84. “For me, playing sports was a big part of growing up in New York. I grew up in The Bronx. I was a big fan of the Yankees, the Knicks and the Giants football team. Joe DiMaggio was my idol. I was the captain of my high school tennis team at DeWitt Clinton High School.”

These days, there is very little that takes place at Wycliffe that doesn’t involve Ross and his positive mental attitude. He keeps busy connecting Wycliffe residents with one another by organizing, promoting and participating in many athletic activities.

As a participant, he plays golf, tennis, pickleball, bocce and stickball throughout the year. For many of his daily activities and initiatives, Ross has the assistance and support of his wife, Harriet, whom he married more than 60 years ago.

“I couldn’t have done all that I have done without the support of my wife,” Ross said. “She’s been a great partner and teammate in life.”

They raised their two daughters, Leslie and Alison, in Westchester County, N.Y. Marty worked for 36 years as a professional sales consultant in the wholesale distribution of paper products. They moved to Wycliffe on Aug. 31, 2000.

Ross’ first big initiative was starting the Wycliffe Stiffs Stickball League in the fall of 2002, which earned him his nickname, “The Commish.” Every year, the Wycliffe Stiffs play from November to April on Tuesday afternoons in a corner of Wellington’s Village Park, nicknamed Stickball Boulevard South. It’s an extension of Ross’ childhood, where he played stickball on the streets and school yards of New York. Similar to baseball, stickball uses a long, thin stick and a small, soft rubber ball. In stickball, players don’t run the bases. Instead, there are lines on the playing surface to indicate whether a hit is a single, double, triple or a home run.

“Our stickball league creates goodwill, happiness, fun and competition,” Ross said. “Stickball is now being played at Stickball Boulevard South, which is 1,221 miles from Brooklyn. This league was my vision.”

Ross gives thanks to the Wellington Parks & Recreation Department for supporting the league, which will open its 24th season in November.

“When I had this vision, I was lucky to get in touch with Wellington Parks & Recreation to get their help,” he said. “It’s been a great partnership.”

One of Ross’s biggest fans is State Rep. Anne Gerwig, the former mayor of Wellington.

“Marty actually introduced me to stickball,” Gerwig said. “It was amazing to watch the happiest retired men reliving their youth with the added life’s experience along the way. He didn’t know me, and he was a little worried that the new mayor would not be interested in continuing this sport’s inclusion at Village Park. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more… Getting to know him and Harriet has made life so much better.”

In tennis, Ross founded the annual Wycliffe Generations Tennis Tournament, held in December. He also started an early-bird tennis program on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Wycliffe for anybody who wants to improve. “In sports, I love the interaction and socializing with people,” Ross said.

In addition, Ross has strong philanthropic goals. Two causes that Marty and Harriet enjoy supporting are the Wycliffe Charities Foundation and the Israel Tennis & Education Centers.

This year, the Wycliffe Charities Foundation distributed approximately $325,000 to 33 different nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County.

ITEC provides a safe haven for at-risk children in Israel. For the last eight years, an ITEC delegation of tennis players has visited Wycliffe every March for a major fundraiser, thanks to the work of Marty and Harriet, along with fellow Wycliffe residents Steve and Ellen Wechsler.

At the 24 ITEC centers scattered around Israel, tennis is used to successfully bridge gaps between children of different backgrounds, while promoting diversity, enhancing life skills and transforming lives.

“At ITEC, we feel honored and fortunate to have Marty Ross as our ambassador for the last eight years in his beautiful community of Wycliffe,” explained Yoni Yair, vice president of development for ITEC. “Marty and his wife Harriet play a vital role in leading our campaigns there, and I’m continually inspired by their extraordinary commitment, passion and dedication to our meaningful work. Marty’s efforts in sharing our story and engaging the Wycliffe community are truly remarkable. The number of people he’s able to recruit and inspire to engage with our mission is absolutely exceptional and unique. Through his leadership, we’ve raised a significant amount of meaningful funds that directly benefit the children of Israel and support our mission.”

There’s no doubt that next March’s ITEC event at Wycliffe, and other charitable endeavors there, will continue to be successful, thanks to leadership, passion and positive mental attitude of Marty Ross.

“We’re always on call to help local causes,” Ross said. “We’re always willing to pitch in to help.”

South Shore Park:  Wellington’s Oldest Park Gets A Much-Needed Upgrade

Story by Mike May  |  Photos courtesy the Village of Wellington

Wellington Community Park has experienced a major physical transformation and a name change. It is now called South Shore Park. Located at 3401 South Shore Blvd., the property’s life as a park dates back to 1986. Developed by the Acme Improvement District and Palm Beach County a decade before incorporation, it was the first facility to offer organized recreational programs to young residents of the fledgling Wellington community.

For years, the park served as the original home of the Wellington Boys & Girls Club, as well as one of the main venues for organized youth baseball practices and games in Wellington. For many years, the property was the recreational epicenter of life in Wellington for young families and their athletically inclined children.

In 2013, the Boys & Girls Club moved to a new location on Wellington Trace. As for all those evening baseball practices and games, they have moved to other locations in the Village of Wellington, such as the fields at Wellington’s Village Park, Tiger Shark Cove Park and Olympia Park.

While there were still fields at the old Community Park, they were not in the best of shape and sorely in need of an upgrade.

In recent years, the newly formed Wellington Sports Academy was slated to be built at Community Park, but plans changed, and it’s now nearing completion near the southern entrance to Wellington’s Village Park, off 120th Avenue South.

Instead, Wellington decided to give the fields a much-needed upgrade, and in June, the village celebrated the grand re-opening of South Shore Park. On that day, there were many recreational activities available for children to do and enjoy that showcased the variety of events and activities that can and will be staged at South Shore Park in the near future.

According to Wellington Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett, the grand re-opening was popular, fun-filled and well-attended.

“We had our entire summer camp attend, along with various other Wellington staff, the Wellington Village Council and other dignitaries,” Juckett said. “I would say about 300 people attended.”

The new South Shore Park — which has two entrances and exits off South Shore Blvd. — has more than seven acres of open-play multipurpose fields, two practice baseball fields, two lighted basketball courts, a new restroom building and plenty of open green space, which is perfect for family fun. At the moment, both baseball fields have two batting practice cages situated around their respective home plates.

The parking lot has also been upgraded and resurfaced to make the park more accessible to visitors and their vehicles. The parking lot has four spaces for handicapped drivers and two slots for golf carts, which is fitting for Wellington.

South Shore Park is currently open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to sunset, though the two full-court basketball courts have lights and are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

The athletic fields and basketball courts are currently open for use, but there are no organized teams playing on the grass fields on a regular basis.

“We have no organized teams playing here,” Juckett said. “This is an open-play facility.”

From a safety perspective, it’s nice to know that Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station Number 27 is located immediately adjacent to the park, just in case there’s an emergency on-site.

The newly renovated South Shore Park is a great example of Wellington’s ongoing commitment to creating safe and family-friendly venues for its residents to enjoy and be physically active.

Just as the original Wellington Community Park was the backdrop for great memories for young families in the early days, the newly named and renovated South Shore Park will serve the same purpose for Wellington’s current and future families and their children.

Learn more about Wellington park facilities at www.wellingtonfl.gov/parks.

Plastic Surgery Of Palm Beach Welcomes Dr. Michael Philippe-Auguste

Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach recently announced that Dr. Michael Philippe-Auguste has joined the practice, bringing advanced training and comprehensive expertise in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

Philippe-Auguste is board certified in general surgery and board eligible in plastic surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency and fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, a nationally recognized training program. He completed his general surgery training at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with honors from the University of Miami and received his medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Philippe-Auguste holds memberships in the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association. He has also completed advanced training with Allergan Aesthetics for injectable treatments.

He will maintain hospital privileges at Wellington Regional Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, Jupiter Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center, providing both cosmetic and reconstructive surgical care to patients across Palm Beach County.

Philippe-Auguste has participated in medical mission trips providing surgical procedure services to underserved communities in Haiti. He also has participated in providing free advocacy, education and lifestyle modification services to improve the quality of life of patients.

Beyond his medical career, Philippe-Auguste has played the violin for more than 20 years, enjoys cooking and is an avid basketball enthusiast. He speaks fluent French and Creole.

Philippe-Auguste is excited to reunite with family, friends, colleagues and patients in Palm Beach County, where he grew up. He will be seeing patients at both Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach office locations in Wellington and West Palm Beach.

Clients are welcome to come in and meet Dr. Michael Philippe-Auguste. Cosmetic consultations are free to learn more about cosmetic fillers, lasers and cosmetic surgical or non-surgical options. Insurance consultations are also welcome.

To learn more, call (561) 968-7111 or visit www.plasticsurgerypb.com. Follow Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach on Instagram @plasticsurgeryofpb or Facebook @plasticsurgerypalmbeach.

Don’t Go It Alone:  Joana Donovan On The Secret Of Getting Hired In Today’s Market

By Fiona Slusarev

It’s said that it takes a village to raise a child, but how many people does it take to get one person hired? In a time where online job boards seem to have never-ending position listings, each seemingly already inundated with hundreds of applications, it is easy to feel lost when looking for work.

Wellington’s own Joana Donovan, CEO and founder of Propel Résumé and Career Services, breathes humanity back into the hiring process. From recent college graduates to those making a career pivot in later life, Donovan shows her clients how to tell their own story through résumés, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.

Growing up in New York as the daughter of immigrants from Brazil and Tunisia, Donovan’s life-long passion for learning was ignited as she learned English watching Sesame Street with her family. She credits her upbringing for making her “resilient and scrappy,” both necessary traits for her careers in real estate and finance.

Returning to school, she earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 2022 from the University of Central Florida. In that same year, Propel was launched. From her previous gift basket business based in Wellington, Donovan knew the community would embrace Propel with open arms. She believes the small-town feel of Wellington to be integral to the success of her business.

“I think that Wellington has deep roots, and people value those deep roots,” Donovan said. “And that’s the foundation of how they bring in newcomers, like myself. They continue to grow that foundation.”

Donovan believes that Wellington’s community connection is unique; it is not something she experienced living in New York or New Jersey.

“There is a protective barrier around the town that enriches other people who live [here],” she explained. “They give back to people who live in town. They’re super supportive. No matter who you meet — whether you’re part of an organization or you’re not, I think it’s like a small-town feel, even though we are growing.”

It is this sense of interconnectedness that translates into Donovan’s mission at Propel. She is a strong advocate for networking whenever possible. Simple, everyday conversations might introduce you to a new opportunity you had never thought of.

“Sometimes those discussions, the conversations that you have with people, lead to opportunities, and that networking piece, to me, is the most valuable,” Donovan explained.

While artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to sort résumés, and large numbers of candidates vie for a single position, human interaction stands out. Donovan noted that, “You have to speak to people. You can’t just submit and hope that it sticks. You have to go the extra mile.”

Also, there must be something about you individually that makes you a unique asset. That is, you must have a personal brand. Creating this narrative for employers can be daunting. Donovan is able to meet each client where they are. She shows them how to create their own professional story.

“If you don’t know who you are, and you don’t know what your brand is, neither will the reader,” she said.

At Propel, Donovan shows her clients how to see themselves in a new light. Seemingly mundane tasks are reframed as evidence for personal brands. She reflects on an administration worker’s self-described day: “I came in. I answered the phone. I left.” Donovan works to help the client parse through what they actually do. “They never take a step back and look down at themselves to identify what do they actually bring to the table,” she said.

Organic conversation between Donovan and her clients forms the backbone of Propel. She is invested in discovering what makes each individual tick and what motivates them to get out of bed in the morning. For her, simply rewriting a résumé isn’t enough; she is telling her client’s story.

However, clients have to put in the work. They need to critically engage with the moving pieces of their identity and professional history. Donovan is here to show them how, and to prompt them to reimagine who they are. “They help me, help them, find their brand and their voice,” she explained.

It is this connection to her clients that uniquely positions Donovan as a professional storyteller and advocate. She is able to market job applicants in a more holistic way. They are not just a summary of skills; they are a complete person. Her clients aren’t trying to match their applications word for word to the job description.

“They talk about themselves and are different,” she said. “They give the person who is ultimately going to read the document a better sense of who they are on a team.”

Often, Donovan finds that clients are searching more for a proponent and partner, than pure résumé guidance. With experience across multiple careers, she understands the emotions and challenges that job hunters face.

“They’re looking for that camaraderie, that advocacy, that partnership, that someone is on their side. And that is what makes me different from the next person,” she said.

Donovan provides a refuge in an otherwise isolating process. Everything is intentional in the application process, but she is happy to remind people that “no road is a straight line.” A specific role or responsibility at a job may lead you to a niche that you never knew existed, but nonetheless, suits you perfectly. No time is wasted. Experience becomes evidence for a client’s personal brand.

This ability to appreciate each nuance and become an advocate for her clients is integral to Donovan’s method. It is also what she finds most rewarding.

“I think, having that connection with people, is really the joy,” she said. “It’s not even the writing anymore, it’s really the joy of being able to tell someone’s story and be a support person.”

The interpersonal approach to the hiring process harkens back to the warm reception Donovan received when moving to and starting a career in Wellington. The importance of connection echoes throughout her work, and she intends to further strengthen the community by creating a local educational seminar on writing, coaching and LinkedIn this upcoming January.

For more information about Propel Résumé and Career Services, call (561) 291-8832 or visit www.propelresume.com.

 

Meet The Family Behind Wellington’s Popular Italian Dining Spot Agliolio

Story by Mike May  |  Photos by Frank Koester

Not all Italian restaurants are created equal. In fact, some are truly a cut above the rest, such as Agliolio, a family-run group of restaurants with two locations in Wellington and one in Boynton Beach.

Billed as “a fresh take on Italian,” Agliolio’s original location is in the Wellington Plaza, with others on State Road 7 near Trader Joe’s and on North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach. This Italian eatery aims to make every guest’s experience an outstanding one, which is why customers continue to return on a regular basis.

The husband-and-wife team of Jeff and Donna Duelfer started Agliolio in October 2009. Sadly, Donna passed away in 2022, but Jeff — whose professional background included more than 30 years in the restaurant industry prior to opening Agliolio — remains involved as the CEO. Daily operations are in the capable hands of daughter Stefani Eberhart, who serves as the company’s president, and her husband Nick, who serves as CFO.

Agliolio remains a true family restaurant because of the influence of the late Donna Duelfer, known as “Momma Donna.” She was once quoted as saying, “We want people to enter as guests and leave as friends.” That philosophy remains in place.

“My mom loved to cook and entertain. To this day, we are using my mom’s recipes, and our restaurants are her legacy,” said Stefani, who has worked at the restaurant since the day it opened.

Stefani was the restaurant’s first server and first bartender. At first, she had a day job running a pre-school in Royal Palm Beach and would show up at the restaurant at night. Now, she’s primarily focused on the three restaurants, her three children, her husband and the sizable staff that keeps everything operating efficiently.

“Each employee at Agliolio is truly like a member of our family,” Stefani said.

She knows that the reputation of the three restaurants is on the line with every salad, appetizer, side dish, entrée, drink or dessert that is served, as it was when her parents were in charge.

“We maintain a strict focus on each guest, every visit,” Stefani said. “We try to embody my mom’s presence in the restaurant. She mingled with the guests and got to know them. And we train our team to do the same.”

Clearly, Momma Donna’s presence is still felt at Agliolio, which continues to thrive in South Florida’s challenging and highly competitive restaurant business. It took time and effort to get to where the restaurant is today.

“In the early days, we pounded the pavement through nearby communities, introducing ourselves and handing out takeout menus, inviting guests to visit,” Stefani recalled. “We rose early on Saturdays and Sundays to set up booths at local green markets, then cleaned up and rushed back to the restaurant, hoping to see familiar faces for dinner. Somehow, it worked.”

Today, the Agliolio family takes pride in being an active contributor to the communities they serve, acting as a business partner to many local schools and donating thousands of dollars of food and gift cards to schools and community organizations each year.

The restaurant’s name — Agliolio — is a blend of the Italian words “aglio,” which means garlic, and “olio,” which means oil. Stefani noted that nearly everything on the menu at Agliolio, with the exception of desserts, is made with garlic and olive oil.

Since it first opened in 2009, Agliolio has successfully catered to the wants, needs, desires and appetites of the customers who have walked in the door in search of a classic, tasty, affordable and memorable Italian dining experience.

Keeping with the times, Agliolio offers guests convenient options of dine-in, take-out and delivery. They also have a busy catering division, so if you want a memorable Italian meal for your special event, Agliolio can make it happen. And if you want to buy an Agliolio dining experience for a friend, then gift card purchases are also available.

At Agliolio, the staff, from the employees preparing the food in the kitchen to the servers interacting with guests, truly work together as a team to create a memorable dining experience for every customer.

“We train our employees from the back door to the front door,” Stefani said. “Our team understands that the dishwasher is one of the most important positions in the restaurant.”

One of the most frequently used adjectives on the menu is “fresh.” At Agliolio, the mozzarella is fresh; the vegetables are fresh and locally grown, when possible; the calamari, Scottish salmon and Littleneck clams are freshly caught; the beef and Dutch veal are fresh; the garlic bread is fresh; the chicken is fresh, all-natural, and antibiotic- and hormone-free; and it’s all prepared using California-grown, fresh, non-GMO heirloom garlic and first cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil.

And as for the pasta, it doesn’t arrive in a box. “We make fresh pasta every day,” Stefani said.

It’s made by hand using 100 percent semolina, and sautéed to order with scratch-made sauces. At Agliolio, there are 10 types of pasta to choose from: angel hair, spaghetti, penne, cheese ravioli, linguini, fettuccini, fusilli, spinach linguini, whole wheat fusilli and conchiglie.

For those who want a gluten-free alternative, there’s chickpea pasta, fresh potato gnocchi and a vegetable medley. The highly customizable menu also caters to individuals who are vegans, vegetarians and gluten sensitive.

Meanwhile, there are 20 hand-crafted sauces that you can choose to accompany your pasta, such as marinara, pomodoro, pesto and Agliolio. Two of the newer ones are creamy scampi and creamy fra diavolo.

As you would expect, the thin-crust pizza is second-to-none. There are three types of 10-inch pizzas — original, caprese and white. And to make each pizza personal and special, you can top it off with any combination of 14 toppings.

To accompany your meal, the wine list is hand-selected, the cocktails are hand-crafted with premium liquors, and even the complimentary water service is special, as it’s pure, crisp, chilled and has been filtered five times.

To end your meal, Agliolio offers a selection of award-winning, hand-crafted desserts, which includes zeppole, cannoli chips, chocolate lasagna and tiramisu. Enjoy them with one of eight Lavazza coffee and after-dinner drinks.

Overall, you can probably visit the restaurant every day for a month and not have the same meal twice. When they talk about having endless “pasta-bilities,” they mean it! The menu at Agliolio has depth and diversity, and everything is delicious and delectable.

In keeping with being a true family restaurant, Stefani and Nick try to maintain a family tradition of dinner every Sunday night at the original Wellington Plaza restaurant location with their three children — Bella (13), Blake (9) and Bria (7).

After all, Agliolio’s reputation was built on family dinners, with Momma Donna’s vision of entertaining patrons as though they were guests in her own home. And when you dine at Agliolio, you’ll feel Momma Donna’s presence in their consistent focus on “each guest, every visit.”

Agliolio is open for lunch and dinner every day of the year with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The restaurant opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and closes around 10 p.m.

The Agliolio locations in Wellington are at 12793 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza (561-798-7770), and at 2803 South State Road 7 (561-619-5544). To learn more, visit www.agliolio.com.

Meet Little Blue: Wellington’s New AI-Powered Web Assistant

Wellington honors the past while embracing the future with Little Blue, a cute and cheerful otter powered by artificial intelligence. Using AI, Little Blue helps residents interact with the village through a single click on Wellington’s web site at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Before Wellington was officially incorporated in 1995, the Acme Improvement District oversaw the area, and at the heart of its public outreach stood a cheerful, water-saving otter named Little Blue. With the catchy slogan, “You otter save water,” this beloved mascot reminded residents of the importance of conservation and community.

Now, 30 years later, Little Blue is making a high-tech comeback. This time, not as a furry mascot, but as the name of Wellington’s newest digital team member: an AI-powered assistant designed to make it easier than ever to connect with village services.

Little Blue is now live on our official web site, www.wellingtonfl.gov, offering around-the-clock support to anyone looking for information, services or assistance. Whether it’s finding your nearest park, reporting a pothole or contacting a village department, Little Blue is ready to help — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Developed in partnership with Citibot and powered by artificial intelligence, Little Blue delivers real-time responses using verified content from our web site. Online visitors will find Little Blue’s chat icon at the bottom-right corner of every page. With a single click, users can begin interacting with this smart virtual assistant.

Key features of Little Blue include:

• Direct navigation to specific Wellington web pages based on user questions.
• Guidance for submitting service requests.
• Multilingual support in more than 70 languages.
• Seamless escalation to the appropriate village departments for more complex concerns.

You can also communicate with Little Blue by texting HELLO to (888) 609-9355, making it a convenient and flexible tool for community interaction.

This new tool reflects our commitment to transparency, innovation and improving the resident experience. By streamlining access to information and services, Little Blue enhances how we serve our community in the digital age, while also honoring a charming and meaningful part of our local history.

Wellington has always been a place where tradition meets progress. Little Blue is a perfect example of how the Village of Wellington continues to evolve, using smart technology to better connect with the residents, businesses and visitors who make our village such a special place to call home.

I encourage you to visit our web site at www.wellingtonfl.gov and try out Little Blue for yourself. As we approach our 30th anniversary of incorporation, we’re excited about this next chapter in our journey — and we’re just getting started.

 

PBC Teacher Of The Year Kimberly Stalker Committed To Classroom Excellence

Story by Mike May  |  Photos by Denise Fleischman

Kimberly Stalker, a teacher at Polo Park Middle School in Wellington, was recognized recently for her outstanding teaching prowess and expertise. Out of the more than 13,000 public school teachers in Palm Beach County, she was named as the county’s Teacher of the Year.

Her recognition took place Jan. 30 at the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County’s new Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation, at the “Celebrate the Great” awards ceremony sponsored by United Healthcare. She was also honored at the Wellington Village Council meeting on Feb. 11.

Even though many months have passed since being honored as Teacher of the Year, Stalker remains thrilled, honored and humbled by this recognition.

“When they announced my name, it was an unreal feeling,” Stalker recalled. “For me, it was a Grammy moment. I was overwhelmed. Like all teachers, we take dignity and pride in our work.”

Stalker remains eternally grateful for the recognition, as she realizes that she is one of thousands of great teachers in Palm Beach County. It’s an honor that she doesn’t take for granted.

“It’s truly humbling to be representing the more than 13,000 teachers here in Palm Beach County,” Stalker said. “There are lots of amazing teachers in Palm Beach County who go above and beyond the call of duty every day in their classrooms.”

Even though Stalker was recognized for what she has done in her role as a sixth-grade pre-engineering teacher at Polo Park, she is well aware that the key to her past success has been her commitment to getting better as a teacher.

“When I get better, the students get better,” said Stalker, 35. “It’s a great honor to show up every day and give my very best in the classroom.”

Because of the recognition she has received as a Teacher of the Year, Stalker has used that platform to positively influence the professional lives of other teachers.

“I’m now doing speaking engagements where I get to meet, interact and inspire other teachers,” Stalker explained.

According to Stalker, the job of being a teacher continues to evolve, and it’s important to utilize new resources to get better.

“Learning and teaching are changing,” Stalker said. “And having access to such tools as AI [artificial intelligence] can help us.”

Before coming to Polo Park, Stalker taught for seven years in the Orlando area. During her first two years at Polo Park, she taught eighth-grade science, before moving to her current role teaching sixth-grade engineering.

One key to Stalker’s success is realizing that no two days are the same in her profession.

“Every day is a different day, and I have a different day with every student,” Stalker said. “As the students walk into the classroom, I must read their body language of the day.”

She stressed that every student is different, and it’s important that we recognize that every student comes from a different background.

“I am passionate about student engagement,” Stalker said. “As long as they know that I’m in their corner, and they realize that my classroom is a safe space, they will do well.”

For Stalker, it’s incredibly satisfying to see students achieve their goals in the classroom and to understand what is being taught.

“When you see students learn and are proud of their achievement, it’s a ‘wow’ moment,” Stalker said.

One of the keys to Stalker’s success in the classroom has been the support from her principal, Dr. Jennifer Galindo.

“She’s amazing,” Stalker said. “She is there for all the teachers at Polo Park. She lets us do our best as teachers — and then we shine in the classroom, and our students learn.”

Galindo has similar words of praise for Stalker.

“She is amazing and a ray of sunshine in our school,” Galindo said. “She is passionate about teaching and loves what she does. She is a dynamic teacher who teaches all the design processes and critical thinking in her sixth-grade engineering class. If I could clone her, I would. Every school deserves to have a Ms. Stalker on its staff.”

One of the great aspects of all this attention on Stalker is that she is home-grown talent. She is a Palm Beach County girl who attended public schools within the School District of Palm Beach County. She attended North Palm Beach Elementary School, Independence Middle School and Jupiter High School. She graduated from JHS in 2008.

From there, she headed to the University of Florida, where she earned her undergraduate degree in nutritional science and human nutrition in 2012, and her master’s degree in secondary science education in 2014.

In addition to teaching students in Palm Beach County, Stalker maintains a collegiate education connection.

“I’m an advisor for the Sigma Kappa sorority at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, which has allowed me to further inspire women in the STEM profession,” Stalker said.

Looking forward to the 2025-26 school year, Stalker remains focused on her own professional development. She realizes that she must continue to learn new ideas in order for her students to thrive in her classroom.

When the statewide winners were announced July 17, Stalker was not named as Florida’s Teacher of the Year. That honor went to Mark Harrison of Union County. However, Stalker did win the Educator Legacy Award. This award is presented to a teacher who instills a passion for learning in their students.

In mid-July, Stalker attended the five-day Florida Teacher of the Year Roundtable in Orlando. She was joined by other teachers of the year from counties across the State of Florida.

“It was exciting to be with other great teachers for professional development and to get new ideas,” Stalker said. “Every year, it’s a new reset. As teachers, we must evolve, learn and grow.”

Following the conference in Orlando, Stalker emerged excited and ready for the next school year, which gets underway for students on Monday, Aug. 11.

 

Milestone Anniversary For McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary

By Denis Eirikis

Now recognized as one of the area’s most popular attractions, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is celebrating its 35th anniversary this summer.

From humble beginnings on a 1.25-acre lot, the wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit has grown into the top-rated attraction in Palm Beach County for the past 13 years on Trip Advisor. Along the way, the Acreage-based sanctuary has rescued more than 10,000 native animals and hundreds of exotic creatures ranging from big cats to venomous snakes.

Founder Mark McCarthy likes to tell the story of how, at only 16 years old, he volunteered with the Detroit Zoo and went on a successful snake-collecting adventure in Arizona. He kept a few rattlesnakes for his own collection, which his mother refused entry to the house.

Undeterred, McCarthy bagged his rattlesnakes and hitchhiked for three days from Michigan to South Florida, to seek a job at the Miami Serpentarium, then one of the largest snake exhibitions in the world. He was at first turned down, until director Bill Haast saw the writhing burlap bag of rattlesnakes, learned McCarthy’s snake-loving story, and hired him on the spot.

McCarthy has been in the wildlife business ever since, starting McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary on July 1, 1990. Reservations are required to visit the eight lush acres of endangered wildlife surrounded by a botanical garden situated in the palmetto and pine forest of the western communities.

Visitors from all over the world are attracted by the more than 150 animals, including white tigers, African lions, black leopards, ligers, lynx and Amur leopards, all seen from just feet away. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on experiences with alligators, snakes, tarantulas and a cuddly kinkajou.

Visitors Jackie Toponce and her mom, Keri, loved their visit. Jackie, who wants to be a wildlife veterinarian, came to Florida from Salt Lake City specifically to visit the sanctuary.

“The two places in Florida I wanted to see were Disney World and McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary,” she said. “Neither disappointed, and I love how up close and personal we can get with big cats here. I also loved handling the snake and the tarantula.”

Her mother added, “Jackie loves animals, so we plan trips to major wildlife sanctuaries. McCarthy’s is one of our favorites, and Trip Advisor says it’s in the top 10 percent of attractions globally.”

Kelly Reaves and granddaughter Reagan agree, having traveled from Washington D.C. Five-year-old Reagan especially enjoyed handling the kinkajou but passed up opportunities to handle live snakes. But Allie Rafkin and Parker Zaffarese, visiting from New Jersey, took every opportunity to handle creatures, such a 60-pound albino Burmese python.

Reservations are required, and adult visitors pay $50 while children pay $40 for a comprehensive tour that takes about two hours.

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit wildlife rescue facility that takes in injured native wildlife, orphaned babies and unwanted exotic pets. Donations and admission fees help with the tremendous expense of caring for the animals.

When asked for the most important thing he has learned doing wildlife rescue for 35 years, McCarthy replied, “You can dream all you want, but to make it happen, you have to put in the blood, sweat and tears.”

So, McCarthy put in the hard work and long hours, including one time when the phone rang in the middle of the night.

“I got a call at 2 a.m. from Lt. Rick Brown of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission,” McCarthy recalled. “He is the officer in charge of the Orlando district. He told me that he had just seized a tiger and a cougar from a Motel 6 in Orlando, and he had no place to house them. He asked if I would come and pick them up. I immediately drove up there, and sure enough there was a tiger and a cougar. The owner was not licensed and was illegally exhibiting before he was arrested. So, I named the tiger Slammer and the cougar Repo, because the owner got thrown in the slammer and his cats got repossessed.”

He also recalled the times when his father used to worry about whether McCarthy could make his living as a snake handler and wildlife rescuer. “My proudest moment in this 35-year journey was when my dad asked to be buried in a McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary shirt,” he said.

McCarthy invites interested animal lovers to make a reservation for a visit. Don’t want to get up close with the animals? Well, you can still make a donation.

“Donations are how we get by, and it takes thousands of dollars to keep the facility running and giving the utmost, top care for our animals,” McCarthy said. “We have received a $100,000 challenge grant. Every dollar you donate is matched up to $100,000, and that challenge ends Sept. 30.”

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 12943 61st Street North. For more information, call (561) 790-2116 or visit www.mccarthyswildlife.com.