Well, there it is. Sunrise Senior Living wants to buy just over 5 acres from the Village at the front of K-Park. This is fast tracked folks and I have some concerns.

I understand we need to have some affordable senior living facilities. But smack dab on prime real estate on SR 441?

Bad, bad, bad idea.

Do we really want an ALF on SR 441? Do the seniors? Any seniors you know excited about exiting onto SR 441 at any time of day? None of the ones I spoke to are.

Maybe we should ask, why SR 441? Well, it seems that Sunrise says it needs traffic visibility. What? Well, perhaps I should say, For what? I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I drove by and an ALF (on any road, let alone a busy road), smacked my forehead and said out loud, "Doh, I should stop by and get my parents in that facility!" I think any of us would put just a tad more thought into it.

After all, its not like saying, "Doh, let's stop and get ice cream!"

This won't be a small building, either. Is this something we want, esthetically, on SR 441? Five acres is a lot of land to have this on there.

And what a wonderful and relaxing view the seniors will have. I'm sure my mom and dad would love to look longingly out the window and gaze at the breath taking vista of SR 441.

But that wily Village Council. They are absolutely giddy at the $5,000,000 offer. This offer is about $200,000 per acre over the true value. So, why would Sunrise pay so much? They want to take it out of the public bidding process. After all, that's why Sunrise gave the Council a November 28th deadline to accept the deal.

If Council should accept this, we should be stand up and say "No". Why short circuit the system? Why not put it out to bid? Maybe someone will offer more. It's anyone's guess.

Believe it or not, I think it's a pity issue. Yep, they feel sorry for Sunrise after they voted to deny them to be part of the Hospitality Shoppes. This was the right decision, by the way.

So this is the solution? Because they feel sorry for them, give (I should say sell) them the last piece of primo real estate on SR 441? Without getting other bids on the property?

Oh, and the proceeds of the sale aren't going to reduce your property taxes. Nope, not one red cent. You see, the money to buy that property came from the Utilities Funds for water re-use purposes. And the park was being designed to make sure re-use was a big part of it.

So, once the Utilities Fund gets repaid (about $6,000,000), then they can use the money. And without frontage on SR 441, the remainder of the property is not worth nearly as much.

Do what's right for the citizens of this Village ... "Just say no" as Nancy Reagan once said,

But that would take some vision.

There are other, better places for this facility. I'll discuss these in the next few days.

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I was driving around Wellington the other day and I couldn't help notice the state of disrepair into which our medians and canals have fallen.

It seems the canals are getting clogged and look terrible. Just drive along Paddock between Big Blue and Greenview Shores and look at the canals. It looks like you can almost walk across the canal due to all the junk vegetation in the canal. That's not the only place.

Look at any of them. They are all starting to look like nature is taking back Wellington. Where is the Public Works Department and what are they doing about it?

Nothing, apparently. This was never the case before. Maybe we should call the Council on it, but I can already hear the excuse ... budget cuts won't allow us to clean them up.

It will cost less to clean them up now rather than waiting a few months, or years.

And the medians. What is going on here? I understand the one on Greenview Shores heading toward the high school. After all there is road widening going on. But what about the others?

Grass is getting higher. Landscaping needs trimmed. Replantings need to done. Yeah, the major roads, Forest Hill and Wellington Trace are ok but look at some of the others.

Barren in places. Dead trees. Landscaping looking like it's on the last legs of survival. Embarrassing for such a great community.

If you're on Paddock, be careful of that new round about and speed bump. I know the traffic needs to be slowed down here, but did you really have to camouflage that speed bump so well?

I was at the stop sign and watched people go over that speed bump. I swear their heads hit the roof of their cars. It looks like there are two levels and the way they have the road painted, you can't tell there are two levels.

I can't wait to see what changes are going to have to be made to fix this one!

Enough complaining for today. I trust each of you will have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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Well, Thanksgiving is next week.

A week from today is "Black Friday." One place you won't catch me is the mall.

But on to the tents. You know, the ones that sprout up in what seems to be every vacant lot in the Village. They have them at the orange and blue home improvement stores, too.

By Thanksgiving they will be filled with all sorts of unadorned Christmas trees, just waiting for your personal touch. When you are done with all the sparkly and twinkling decorations, don't you just enjoy see the anticipation and happiness in everyone's eyes? I know I do.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, this is my favorite time of year. Having grown up in the Christmas Tree Capital of the World, it gives me pause to look back at my childhood memories.

This time of year was special to me as it was to almost every kid. My brothers and I loved getting that tree up. But parents will probably tell you we got bored with it after about five minutes. Funny, I don't seem to recall that, but I do remember having to put those skinny little icicles on one-at-a-time. I can remember one time we even went out and cut down our own Christmas tree!

Now we have the tents.

I try and get a live tree each Christmas. You just can not replicate the scent of a live Christmas tree. A little messy at the end, but worth every moment in the house.

The tent guys have all sorts of trees, I suppose. My favorite has always been the blue spruce. Hard to get here as Fraser firs seem to be the most popular.

If you are partial to the Fraser, bypass those big tents and head over to St. Peter's on Forest Hill Boulevard. A month ago it was pumpkins, this month it is Christmas Trees. Sold by those ever industrious Boy Scouts.

It is one of their big fundraising events for the year and well worth the time to stop on by. The selection will be good and the service is, well, excellent. What do you expect from the Boy Scouts.

One more thing. My accountant reminded me to remind you to make sure you get a receipt. A bonus from buying from the Boy Scouts is that it may be tax deductible!

Try and get that from one of those tent places!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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We have Memorial Day to remember those that died in war for us. Today we honor all those still living who served for us.

First, a little history. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of hostilities for World War I. The end of hostiities officially took place on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Yet the war was not officially over until about six months later.

In legislation passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day."

As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans. In 1954, after having been through another world war and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans."

With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Veteran’s Day is not a day to be wrapped up in bunting and commemorated as if it were the Fourth of July. Just like that day, our national colors have a prominent place in its observance.

The distinction has to do with what we are celebrating. Not a glorious beginning of a nation, but to those that served that nation with honor, humility and grace.

These efforts should be observed and remembered with solemnity, reverence and thankfulness.

Veterans Day is the day we dedicate to them. To remember those who served in defense of this country and the ideals for which this country stands.

We may want, therefore, some drape of patriotism ... some nod toward a higher motive more than mere circumstance ... but not too much ... lest we trivialize the individual sacrifice each has made.
War should not be the occupation of humankind. To ensure that it is not ... to ensure that it does not touch every household and every living being ... many answered the call to serve ... they chose, or were sometimes required, to live in a manner which brought them all in harm's way. And to that harm, many fell.

Thus, perhaps, we should leave the understanding of the sacrifice in God's hands. Only He can know the full measure of what was lost and what was gained.

Our task is not to validate the sacrifice all of our veterans have made, but to acknowledge it.

To embrace it.

To remember that it was made.

To remember the peace that was purchased by these brave men and women.

To all my fellow veterans, my deepest and heartfelt thanks from a grateful citizen. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

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Sunday is Veterans Day. The Village is holding its annual ceremony at 9:00am and I encourage everyone to attend. This ceremony, along with Memorial Day, are the two that I am the most proud the Village of Wellington holds.

As a veteran and member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, this project was one I was especially passionate about. With the help of many people, to name just a few, Mayor Tom Wenham, Randy Phillips, Al Coe and former engineer Gary Clough, this park and its twice yearly celebrations became a reality.

Veterans Day is important to all of us. And we should celebrate the sacrifices that our veterans and their families have made in support of our way of life.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson summed up why we need this day commemorating our veterans:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Come and join the Village and enjoy the memories of all those who have served.

While we are on this subject, approximately 150,000 future veterans are serving overseas fighting the war on terror.

During the holiday season upon us, perhaps we should all take a moment and thank them in a personal manner.

While I served overseas (in Germany) right after I graduated from college, the most difficult part of the work was enduring the holidays away from my family. And nothing cured it better than a care package from home.

We need to send care packages overseas. To make it easy, just go here.

You can donte cash or buy care packages to soldiers serving overseas. As a community, let's step forward and make a conscious effort to do this. I am.

I know our troops will appreciate it.

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Well, just who is the Cultural Trust ? And what the heck are they doing for us?

Check out their website (link above). It's a great opportunity to find out about the next big thing is in the Western Communities.

Since I moved here in 1988, growth and change have been a constant. Look what we have now that did not exist just a few short years ago (just to name a few):

- Six lane roads that cut our commute to downtown in half
- A regional mall so we didn't have to drive to the Gardens or Boca
- Gourmet supermarkets and upgrades to our old stand-by's
- Restaurants that serve to meet everyone's needs
- Major retailers opening super centers
- Big box wholesale clubs
- More schools
- A multiplex movie theater
- More and better parks

But if you wanted to go to a play, see a Broadway performer, laugh with a comedian or enjoy music at a festival, you had to go somewhere else. Usually downtown West Palm Beach.

No more. The Cultural Trust is bringing all things to us here in the western communities. And the line-up is outstanding and there is truly something for everyone.

Take a look at what the Cultural Trust is offering this year:

- A Caberet Series featuring Christine Ebersol, 2007 Tony Award winner for the hit Broadway show Grey Gardens; Christian Hoff, 2006 Tony Award winner for the successful Broadway show Jersey Boys; Jason Graae performing his critically acclaimed show Graae's Anatomy; and John Tartaglia from Avenue Q and Johnny and the Sprites.

- A Comedy Series that brings strong nationally recognized comedians to the Western Communities such as Artie Lange, the Rev. Bob Levy, Mike Morse and the ever popular Second City.

- A Theater Series featuring the Baby Boomer comedy, The Wonder Bread Years; direct from the York Theater in New York, The Musical of Musicals, The Musical and a community reading event tied into the book and one-woman play, The Secret Life of Bees.

- The return of the Palm Beach Jazz Festival with a special Friday night preview and Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, Acoustic Alchemy, David Sanborn, Spyro Gyra and Buddy Guy taking the main stage on Saturday and Sunday. I'm told two or three more national acts will be announced. Also, several local bands will also perform, including Vanilla Monk from Wellington.

- Returning is the successful and critically acclaimed Sculpture Biennale in March. After attending the last Biennale, I am very excited to see the return of this show.

This is really an exciting and wonderful line-up. The season tickets are only about $500 per person and are now on sale. Get your tickets now and I will see you at the show!

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Well, Halloween has come and gone and now we are staring into the holiday season. Where did this year go?

Thanksgiving is just three weeks from today. Just three weeks!

Christmas is less than eight weeks away.

It seems with each new holiday season the Village of Wellington has to cope with its "Holiday Display."

Oops! Did I just step in the annual brouhaha that is the "Holiday Display" in Wellington? Yes I did. On purpose too. You're probably thinking, "Dude, are you crazy?" When I first started this entry, I thought I was too. But let me explain.

Two things sent me down this path. First, my daughter asked me if we had to do the whole "Santa Claus" thing again this year. More on this later. Second, someone sent me an email that is credited to Ben Stein. You know, he's the guy from TV ("Win Ben Stein's Money"), was one of Richard Nixon's speechwriters, is the author of several books and a staunch supporter of the GOP (although he did give $2,000 to Al Franken's senate campaign, according to the AP).

Let's take a look at Ben Stein's comments in the context of this annual wringing of hands in the sleepy Village of Wellington. And let's hope we don''t make it back on Bill O'Reilly's show.

Here is the text of Ben's commentary.

Perhaps we, as a community, should embrace his thoughts. He doesn't feel threatened or discriminated against because a Christmas tree is displayed. Neither does he feel threatened by the display of a creche or a menorah. Maybe we shouldn't either.

He sums it up best by saying, "It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year." And this time of year gives us the opportunity, as a community, to treat each other as brothers and sisters. Let's hope the Village sees it the same way and continues with the "Holiday Display".

On to my daughter's comment of having to do the whole "Santa Claus" thing again this year.

Ever the clever questioner, she asked me whether or not I still believed in SC. I replied in two terse words, "OF COURSE."

I got one of those looks back. As a parent, you know that look. Not really sure which one it was, but I'm pretty certain I have it narrowed down to two: "Dad, you're an idiot." or "Dad, you're such a dork!"

Frankly, I don't care. But I do have pretty strong feelings on this issue, though.

It really isn't about the jolly, chubby guy in the red and white suit. It is definitely about the spirit of the season.

My feeling is that the spirit of this season is with us all year ... but the season brings it to the surface for most people. In this time of year we feel grateful, thankful and joyous.And we show it much more now than in, say, July and August.

So, let us not forget those less fortunate that are we. Give that homeless shelter some of your time. While you're at it, make a small monetary donation. They will really appreciate it ... the organization and the most important part -- the people they serve.

Let the season be with us all ... And let's remember this as we search for a parking place at the Mall on November 23rd. You know, the day after Thanksgiving.

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