I HATE rebates. With a passion.

Yeah, yeah I know this isn't something about Wellington. Or maybe it is. But I am venting on this issue.

In August I had to get a new cell phone and naturally upgraded to the latest version of what I use, a Palm Treo. I was eligible for a $150 rebate since it had been 2 years since I last bought a phone. I also had to upgrade my data package due to the phone I bought and was to receive an addtional rebate of $100 for this.

Well I received one of those cards saying, sorry you aren't eligible due to the post mark. Which was wrong but could not get someone to give me a straight answer from the company.

Being a fool (at times), I bought a new phone for my daughter as promised at the end of her 2 year period. Received a card in the mail stating that this phone was not eligible for a rebate, yet the guy in the store told me it was.

Well, I don't know what it was, but I decided to call.

Guess what, I should have received both rebates.We will get those right out to you, the service rep told me. I had to ask, what timeframe qualifies for getting it out "right away"? You won't believe what he told me ... 6 to 8 weeks. I couldn't control myself and started laughing. You know the laugh you get, that one with the overtones telling the other person this really isn't funny.

Told him that this was not good enough. I had been a customer for almost 10 years and that right now I was more than willing to move to a competitor. Today. Well sir, he replies, since you have been a long time customer, I will manually expedite this and you will have your rebate, again, say it with me, "right away".

Well, not too bad, just two weeks. I can live with that, I guess. We'll see in two weeks.

Rebates should be either "instant" or not at all. It is a sham set up for companies to not have to pay you the rebate ... because you forget to send it in. That is just not fair. Just think how much extra money they don't pay out when you fail, for whatever reason, to qualify for the rebate.

When you buy the item, you pay for it right away, don't you? Then why shouldn't the rebate be right away as well?

Now, as much as I hate to say this, and I really don't want to say it, but legislation should be introduced to protect consumers from the fraud of rebates. Either give them to us right away, or don't offer them. No extra paperwork; no sending it out via mail and no 6 to 8 week wait.

If they can't treat their customers fairly, why should we tolerate it?

OK, stepping off of my soap box and I'm through venting for now.

We'll see if the checks arrive as promised.

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Of all things a Wellington freshman basketball game. Man-oh-man, was I impressed.

I arrived as the teams were finishing up their warm-ups and had a seat in the stands, with the 50 - 75 other parents.

Looking over the two teams, two words came to mind ... Uh oh.

I looked over to the Wellington side and I saw basically the same thing I did when I worked on my high school basketball team. Mind you, worked, not played, just so we are clear on this. The team just did what the coach told them to do. Drills, drills, drills. Boring for us to watch.

Looking over to our oppenent's side I have to say I was amazed. The opponent team players had basketball skills that were absolutely incredible for their age. I mean, these kids were fantastic. And I said to myself, well, this just may be our first loss of the year.

Then the horn blew and the game was underway. And it was back and forth and pretty close for the first half.

Then teamwork overtook individual skills. Slowly, ever so slowly, the Wellington freshman began to pull away. It wasn't a blowout by any stretch of the imagination. But it was a great game. Exciting. Fast-paced. Poor officiating both ways in some cases. Overall, a wonderful game. I definitley will be going back to see more.

I think the difference in this game came down to coaching.

One approach was the Cowher (as a lifelong Steeler fan, I love this guy) approach ... jaw jutting out there, spit flying from his mouth when he was yelling ... that whole intimidation thing going on.

The other approach was the Tomlin (as a lifelong Steeler fan, I am loving this guy, too) approach ... quiet, confident and instilling confidence in his players each step of the way. Firmly guiding them down the path he wants them to go.

Guess which one the Wellington coach reminded me of?

If this coach and team stick together for the next four years, basketball at Wellington High School could be a thing of wonder and magic.

I can't wait.

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I read in the paper this past week that the PBSO wants to add a few more deputies to the Wellington sub-station. Of course this would add about $750,000 to the Village's budget. And in times of reducing tax revenues, could this be a burden?

I don't think so. Law and order is always a key issue for politicians and this one will cause more debate. But I support this increase in the Sheriff's budget for a few good reasons.

Maybe a short story will help you understand. A few weeks ago I was out for a morning walk and I saw not one or two Sheriff's cruisers driving around my development, but five of them. That's right, five.

I was stopped by one and was told there was a burglary in the neighborhood and they were searching for two suspects. The K-9 units lost the trail and they were looking for them. Unfortuantely, I didn't see anyone and couldn't help.

Then just the other day I saw a Sheriff pull up to one of my neighbor's homes and get out. What happened was eye-opening. Apparently someone walked into their garage and even attempted to enter the home. While they were there! Not good.

They had one or two things stolen and were filling out a police report.

Just some bored teenagers the deputy said. But still, just a little unnerving.

So, make sure you keep your garage doors closed and your doors locked, even when you are home. Keep your families safe. And don't present an easy target of opportunity.

One portion of this new budget is for traffic enforcement. And I have to say this is something we desperately need.

The utter disregard for traffic laws in Wellington is getting out of control. And, as adults, if we can not obey them, perhaps the Sheriff's office will help us.

As parents we are the primary role models for our kids. And they really pay attention to what we do. Especially when it comes to driving.

If you speed through the Village, expect your children to do so as well.

If you run red lights or roll through stop signs, expect your children to do so as well.

If you do not use your turn signals when you change lanes or make a turn, expect your children to do so as well.

If you tailgate and exhibit road rage, expect your children to do so as well.

We set the example and need to make sure we do. Now, I am not saying that I am perfect, but I try each and every day. It really is easy to obey traffic laws when a deputy is right behind you. The true test is making sure you do it when that deputy is not there.

And speaking of role models, our deputies need to make sure they obey the laws they are paid to enforce. This is probably my biggest pet peeve with law enforcement. Let me give you an example.

About two weeks ago I was driving in another municipality and saw something that really made me shake my head and reduced the respect I had for this particular officer.

I was sitting in one of the two left turn lanes (turn signal blazing away, btw) with a police car about six or so cars back. We had been through one signal cycle already and with the dump trucks ahead of us in both lanes (another pet peeve), it was doubtful we were going to get through on the next cycle as well.

So what does the police officer (not a Sheriff's Deputy) do? Pulls out into the leftmost through lane, pause, throw on his lights and siren, and then make the left turn. Uncalled for in my opinion.

Before you say, well he/she (I am not saying which) was probably on the way to a call. Doubtful, unless this municipality has changed its uniforms to wifebeaters and backwards baseball caps. Maybe we should just not allow our law enforcement officers to have take home cars to reduce or eliminate this temptation.

I'm not saying all deputies and police officers do this. As in most things in life, a few bad apples spoil it for the rest of us.

So, call the Council members and support the budget for the Sheriff's office. I think, in the end, we will all feel more secure.

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That's right, 10 days left until Christmas. Finished shopping yet? Not me. I haven't started. I can hear my grandmother yelling at me from up in heaven. She was done by February or March of each year.

Let me make a few suggestions on those gift giving obstacles you may face.

Remember this -- you are not buying for you. You are buying for someone else. Pick what they like, not what you like. If you can't resist that cute little something from your favorite out of the way shop, make sure you pack the receipt.

Be wary, very wary of giving gifts of food. Unless it's one of those really cool gift baskets. Now my grandfather loved Hickory Farms gift boxes. Not everyone else does. So be careful with this ... you don't want to hear, "remember when you gave us that (insert weird food object name here)" and everyone starts laughing.

Guys your significant other will not enjoy receiving "practical" gifts. It's different for us. Tools, ooh rah, that's cool. Stuff for the car, yeah, babee! Techie toys, boys call the paramedics. Your spouse is not going to enjoy a new iron. Or vacuum cleaner. Not even new pots and pans.

These things send bad, bad, bad subliminal messages. Like, maybe this will help you get my shirts ironed the right way (hint here -- take your shirts to the dry cleaner), or, you aren't doing a good job keeping the house clean, or maybe these will make you cook so we don't go out so often. Get ready for the glare. And cold shoulder. Maybe even the couch.

Speaking of your sweetie, cash generally isn't a good idea either. Jewelry works. Really well. Ladies, see the item about tools, car stuff and techie toys.

Cash is a pretty good gift for everyone else though. It gives them the power of choice. A little impersonal, but who says no to cash? Except for the paragraph above, my guess is no one.

Gift cards are ok. Especially if you have to ship stuff. The lines at the Post Office and the package stores are really long. Slapping a stamp on an envelope that contains a card and a gift card makes life easy and almost everyone happy.

If you are convinced you are getting someone clothes, make sure you get the right size. Especially for the ones you love who rightfully expect that you know this information. Guys, go peek in her closet and jot down the sizes (off of something she has worn recently) before you go out. You'll be the hero, trust me.

Alright everyone (all three of you), go out and finish that shopping early. And, Merry Christmas!

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Someting happened the day before Thanksgiving and I wasn't really sure how to comment on it. On the surface it really didn't appear to be that big of a thing. After a week I have come to believe it is a bigger thing than I could have imagined.

The service at St. Rita the day before Thanksgiving has a special and significant result. Beverly Perham receives thousands of gifts for children in the Pahokee and South Bay areas.

For the month preceding Thanksgiving, parish members take little slips of paper home with them. Each slip has a small request ... to buy socks and underwear for a cetain aged child. The slip just contains a size. No name. No address. No picture. Just a size and sex.

In that thirty days culminating the day before Thanksgiving, Beverly picks up gifts. All told, more than 6,000. And at Christmas she distributes them to each of the children. Wow!

In Wellington we live a lifestyle that runs from middle class to the wealthy. Too often it may be easy to ignore what others do not have when we rush around to take care of our families.

But think of it ... these children are overjoyed (by all reports) when they receive this gifts. Think about it. Not a Wii, or iPod, or the latest Nike shoes.

Just socks and underwear.

To see all these gifts stacked up in the Sancturay brings a tear to the eye of even the most ingrained Scrooge among us. It did to me, but then again, I'm not a Scrooge.

Let's reflect on this season of giving and joy and remember those less fortunate than are we. Make a donation to your favorite cause. Volunteer your time at one of the homeless centers in the area. Take your children and teach them a lesson we so often forget.

Maybe Helen Keller said it best: “Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged.”

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And now is the time to support it.

Yes, the Village Council made the decision to enter into negotiations to sell just over 5 acres on SR441 (the frontage of K-Park) to Sunrise. I wasn't a big fan of this project, but now is the time to support it.

Too often, when Council makes a decision, people tend to want to hold back the progress on getting things done. We can not let this happen to the Sunrise project.

An assisted living facility has been in need for quite some time in the Wellington area. Of this, there is no doubt.

Several years ago a company called Erickson attempted to buy the Lanier property for an ALF. They had no success. In hindsight, this was good as Erickson, to my knowledge, does not operate in Florida any longer.

Now we will have one of the final pieces in the completion of what Mayor Tom Wenham calls the "Wellington Way of Life."

Perhaps it will possible for three generations of families to all live in the same town once again. Regardless of age. An idea who's time has come, I think.

Sunrise needs to be commended for keeping up the battle to meet this need. I trust they will build a visually pleasing building, something that won't overpower 441, but complements it.

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