HomeMy WebLinkAboutPoe Poe_Post_06/30/2011 J
4 THE PALM BEACH POST • THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011 N
Derick Velez, 48, and Ashley Velez, 26
Crimefigh tin Te q uesta clow g ns
charit for lids and Giggles
Y j ust
By JODIE WAGNER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Clown spouses Poe'
Poe and Giggles got mar-
ried in April at Tequesta's
Constitution Park, shar-
ing their joy with guests
including SpongeBob,
the Easter Bunny and
Lola the bilingual clown.
"We had a great time,"
said Derick Velez, a con
poral with the Tequesta�
Police Department who
created Poe Poe sevenT
years ago. Giggles is
his wife, Ashley. "It's all
about bringing smiles." `1
Derick Velez, 48, a na-
tive New Yorker who lives
with Ashley in Stuart,
decided to become a pro-
`-
fessional clown in 2004.'
"I wanted to make a
positive impression to 2.
the kids as far as law RICHARD GRAULICH /Staff Photographer
enforcement officers," Derick Velez, a corporal with the Tequesta Police Department, and his wife, Ashley are pro -
said Velez, who attended fessional clowns, Poe Poe and Giggles, who entertain kids at charity events. Derick said he
Treasure Coast Clown wanted law enforcement to make a positive impression on kids.
School in Stuart. "Being
in law enforcement for 26
years, I see most of the entertains with juggling,
interaction children have music, bubbles and clown Q&AD: What are your hobbles?
with police is always puppets. An imaginary Motorcycles, boating, fishing,
negative." dog named Skittles is camping, dancing
To achieve his goal, part of their act, as is a Who would you like to have dinner with?
Velez created Poe Poe's customized golf cart that A: Princess Diana. "I looked up to her when I was a
Precinct, Inc. (wwwpoep features a bubble ma- child. I was born in England, and my whole family is
oesprecinct.com), a non- chine, fogger and siren. British. All the women really looked up to Princess
profit organization whose The pair's colorful Diana. I always watched her, and I always wanted to
members volunteer, costumes and makeup — . be just like her."
educate, and organize their faces are registered What event in history would you like to witness?
fund- raisers for families with Clowns of America D: 18th century pirating. "I do pirating, because I have
and charities. International — reflect the bloodline of a pirate."
Ashley Velez, 26, their own personalities. What is your favorite childhood memory?
became his sidekick two "I'm a princess clown," A: Spending time with her grandfather, Wallace Wright.
years ago, and the pair Ashley Velez said. "I'm "My grandfather was a very important part of my life.
spend much of their free kind of girly, and I love to He used to take me to do everything."
time performing at fes- laugh." Who is your hero or someone who has Inspired
tivals, charity functions Poe Poe, "is fun and you?
and community events goofy," Derick Velez add- D: His dad, Rigoberto Velez. "My father was always a
throughout northern ed. "He's kind of slow. At people person. That's what I am now."
Palm Beach County and times, he gets attacked What do you do to get away from It all?
Stuart. by pterodactyls. When he A: "Laying on the beach in Key West. That is our
"I love to bring smiles patrols, he patrols imagi- getaway."
to faces," Ashley Velez nary clown towns."
said. pjodie_wagner @pbpost.com
Performing as Poe Poe
+ and Giggles, the couple
- 1 `