Town-Crier Newspaper April 15, 2016

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WIZARDS RUGBY HOSTING TOURNAMENT SEE STORY, PAGE 3

LGWCD DEEDS MORE ROADS TO TOWN SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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Wellington Scraps Bids, Plans To Bring Tennis Program In-House

Volume 37, Number 16 April 15 - April 21, 2016

Serving Palms West Since 1980

TASTY SAMPLES AT FLAVORS 2016

Wellington Village Manager Paul Schofield informed the Wellington Village Council on Tuesday that he has thrown out all of the recent bids for operation and maintenance of the Wellington Tennis Center due to disparities in the responses. Instead, he proposed running the program in-house. Page 3

Acreage/Loxahatchee Relay For Life Supports American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society’s Acreage/Loxahatchee Relay for Life was held at Acreage Community Park on Saturday, April 9. Participants, volunteers and supporters took part in the relay from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. doing activities to raise money while supporting cancer survivors and caregivers. Page 5

Record-Setting Year For Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auto Auction

Barrett-Jackson returned April 8-10 for its 14th annual Palm Beach Auto Auction at the South Florida Fairgrounds. More than $23.2 million in sales were generated during three days with an attendance of more than 65,000. Page 8

OPINION Earth Day Network’s Focus This Year Is On Planting Trees

This year, Earth Day falls next Friday, April 22, with the theme, “Trees for the Earth.” According to the Earth Day Network, trees will be the first of five major goals they are undertaking in honor of the five-year countdown to Earth Day’s 50th anniversary. The concept is to plant 7.8 billion trees by the 50th Earth Day in 2020 — or one tree for every person on the planet. According to the Earth Day Network, there are several major reasons that trees are a key focal point. Page 4

DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 6 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 23 BUSINESS......................24 - 25 SPORTS..........................31 - 33 CALENDAR............................ 36 CLASSIFIEDS.................37 - 40 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce presented its Flavors Wellington Food + Wine Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Friday, April 8. Dozens of great local restaurants and caterers were on display offering tasty samples. Awards were given to Bolay Restaurant and Chef Shannon Atkins of Grand Champions Events. Shown here is the team from Bolay, which won Best Display Area, Best Plate Presentation and Best Dessert. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 19 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Jan Rodusky Takes Empty Seat On Royal Palm Council

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council appointed resident Jan Rodusky to a vacant seat on the council last week. Rodusky emerged as a compromise candidate after two previous selection rounds resulted in deadlocks. Seat 4 was vacated by Fred Pinto upon his election as mayor. Rodusky, chief grants officer for the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and a 20-year resident of the village, will fill out the final 11 months of Pinto’s term. At the April 7 meeting, council members each voiced personal preferences for who they thought were the strongest candidates. Village Manager Ray Liggins pointed out that the village charter and code of ordinances do not specifically address how to fill council vacancies. However, anticipating the vacancy, the council worked out a proposed system in February. “I derived this process from that meeting and Robert’s Rules of Order, reviewing it with the attorney… and put it in writing here,” Liggins said. The vacant council seat drew 11 applicants. Council members were able to interview the applicants

individually before the meeting, and each member was able to vote for his or her choice on folders provided by the clerk. “There’s three ballots there if we need them for all three rounds,” Liggins said. “If any of the council members care to discuss their preferences prior to casting the first ballot, they would need to make a motion and receive a second prior to such discussion.” In the first round, council members selected one choice to fill the vacancy. In the second round, council members were required to select a first and a second choice, with the first choice receiving two points and the second choice receiving one. In the third round, council members named three applicants in order of preference, with the first choice receiving three points, the second getting two and the third choice receiving one. “The applicant with the most points becomes the appointee,” Liggins said. “After completing the process, [if] an appointee is not selected, the council will need to agree by majority vote on one applicant, or agree to leave the seat vacant.” During public comment, sev-

eral residents said they believed that former Councilman Richard Valuntas, who applied for the vacancy, should not be chosen because he had lost in the March election. Councilman David Swift’s motion to discuss the candidates’ qualifications carried 4-0. “I’d like to thank all of the candidates who submitted an application and participated in this process,” Swift said. “Most of our applicants are politically active in the village. They have attended council meetings, speaking their minds on important issues.” Swift said his first preference would be Felicia Matula. “She is a chief financial officer, an accounting professional for a major hotel making financial decisions for 22 national branch hotels. She has a master’s degree in accounting from Nova Southeastern University,” he said. “Felicia is well-known to many residents in the village. She is a community leader with Royal Palm Beach’s Relay for Life, she is a board member and coach for community softball, she is a member of the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission. She has run See RODUSKY, page 17

Acreage Pines Elementary School Celebrates 25 Years

By Jason Stromberg Town-Crier Staff Report Acreage Pines Elementary School celebrated its 25th anniversary on Friday, April 8. Principal Amy Dujon called it a “pictureperfect day.” “Celebrating 25 years is really a testament to the community,” Dujon said. “To have all the past administration come back and celebrate with us was an excellent way for us to share our school’s story.” Dujon’s favorite part of the day was the learning walks, which took place after the morning ceremony, where the students had the opportunity to share their learning with the guests. Assistant Principal Darline

Drama teachers Christie Lavigna and Karen Williams with their performing students, standing with a display of school principals. Karbowski got emotional during her ceremony speech. “I have the unique perspective

PHOTO BY JASON STROMBERG/TOWN-CRIER

of seeing the school as a parent, and then as an educator,” said See ACREAGE PINES, page 7

Wellington Council Appoints Siskind To Fill Vacancy

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council added Tanya Siskind as its fifth member Wednesday after interviewing 10 applicants narrowed from a field of 30. The council’s Seat 2 was vacated last month by Anne Gerwig upon her election as mayor, and the council held three meetings this week as part of its process to fill the vacancy. On Monday, the 30 applicants were invited to make brief presentations to the council following its agenda review meeting. On Tuesday, the council took public comment on the applicants and chose 10 finalists. On Wednesday, the finalists were interviewed, and Siskind emerged as the consensus pick. The council reached a consensus in the second round of naming preferred applicants. Siskind is a member of Wellington’s Education Committee, president of the Binks Forest Elementary School PTA and vice president of the Palm Beach County Council of PTA/PTSA, where she conducts leadership training. Siskind also has served with

the Junior League of the Palm Beaches for the past 10 years. She has an MBA from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. Siskind is involved with the equestrian community through her children and used to ride herself when she was younger. During her interview on Wednesday, Siskind spoke about the great relationships she made after moving to the village and raising her family. “People come from all over the world, and we do still have that small-town feeling,” she said. “It’s a really special place.” Vice Mayor John McGovern asked Siskind how she would fit being on the council with her other activities. “My question to you is you are very involved as a mother, in our schools and the county PTA,” he said. “Tell us your broader view. What are you involved in… and how you are going to fit this into a very active lifestyle.” Siskind said she has three children each going in three different directions. “Life is busy, but it’s balanced,” See SISKIND, page 17

GLORIOUS GARDENS

The Wellington Garden Club held its Glorious Gardens garden tour on Saturday, April 9. Guests were invited to visit five beautiful private gardens in the Wellington area. Shown here are Regina Smit-Sio, Leilani Kianna Sio with Olivia and Carlos Sio in their garden. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

County Sends GL Homes Project To State For Review

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report GL Homes’ Indian Trail Groves project took a major step forward Tuesday when the Palm Beach County Commission approved the transmittal of text amendments to the state that would allow up to 3,900 homes and 300,000 square feet of non-residential uses on the 3,592-acre tract north and west of The Acreage. At a public hearing, residents were divided over the proposal. The proposal asks for a density increase from one home per 10 acres to one per 0.8 acres. It also dedicates a 640-acre stormwater impoundment area to the Indian Trail Improvement District and pledges several million dollars more than its required proportional share for road improvements.

The project also sets aside land for a fire station and keeps about 1,200 acres on the west side of the property in agricultural use. Engineer Mike Guinaugh, an Acreage resident who worked for the Indian Trail Improvement District during the Tropical Storm Isaac flooding in 2012, said the impoundment would make muchneeded drainage improvements in the area. Some residents added that commercial services are needed in the area and that they are weary of driving long distances for basic needs. Other residents said that the GL Homes development, along with Minto West/Westlake and Avenir, would disrupt their rural lifestyle. Residents along Hamlin Blvd. See GL HOMES, page 17

Palms West Hospital Honors Frist Award Winners

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Palms West Hospital CEO Eric Goldman presented the hospitallevel HCA Frist Humanitarian Award to employee Kim Bass and physician Dr. James Goad on Friday, April 8. At the ceremony, Goldman announced that Bass had also been selected for the national-level Frist Humanitarian Award. “I’m a firm believer that everyone we have here is spectacular in their own right,” Goldman said, noting that there are approximately 950 employees and 580 physicians at Palms West Hospital. “I really feel that way, because if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t want them

caring for my family or the people of this community.” The Frist Humanitarian Award was established in 1971 to honor those with outstanding volunteer and humanitarian activities. The award is in recognition of the late Dr. Thomas Frist Sr., founder of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), parent company of Palms West Hospital. Honorees are recognized at the local level, and recipients are selected from around the country. An employee, a physician and a volunteer from each hospital are recognized each year. Last Friday, the hospital recognized the physician and the employee, choosing to recognize the volunteer during

Volunteer Week, Goldman said. Bass, who has been at Palms West for 25 years, is a prime example of what the hospital strives for in nursing and patient care, Goldman explained. Her passion and dedication have been instrumental in the success of the New Life Center and play a large part in the hospital community. An expert clinician, Bass is a resource and mentor for colleagues, and is integral to the success of the women’s services at the hospital, Goldman said. She contributes to the hospital’s reputation, in particular while working with the Centricity Perinatal Network, an obstetric documentation system, See FRIST, page 4

Palms West Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Silvia Stradi, Frist Award winners Kim Bass and Dr. James Goad, and CEO Eric Goldman. PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER


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