Town-Crier Newspaper April 8, 2016

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NEW BEGINNING FOR OLD RPB CHURCH SEE STORY, PAGE 3

FRIENDS OF GREYHOUNDS FUNDRAISER SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 8

THE

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

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE Wellington Rec Board Supports New Provider For Tennis Center

Volume 37, Number 15 April 8 - April 14, 2016

Serving Palms West Since 1980

ROYAL PALM BEACH RELAY FOR LIFE

Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board ranked tennis pro Jeff Bingo first in its recommendation for a new Wellington Tennis Center operations and maintenance contract last week after hearing presentations from current provider Tommy Cheatham, Tennis Exclusive, Bingo and Plantation Pro Shops. Page 3

Roldan’s Sunset Polo & White Party Raises Money For Brooke USA

More than 500 guests gathered at the Wanderers Club on Thursday, March 31 for polo star Nic Roldan’s first Sunset Polo & White Party. The event featured a pool-side party and a four-chukker polo exhibition. The event was hosted by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo to benefit Brooke USA. Page 4

‘Mary Poppins’ On Stage At Palm Beach Central High School

Palm Beach Central High School’s Bronco Players presented the classic Disney musical Mary Poppins from Wednesday, March 30 through Saturday, April 2 at the school’s theater. Page 9

OPINION ‘Panama Papers’ Leak Is An Amazing Story, But Not Surprising

One of the most surprising things about the entire “Panama Paper” fiasco is the lack of surprise we have in what has been discovered. Yes, the sheer volume of data and individuals involved is pretty amazing. But is anyone actually shocked that the wealthiest individuals in the world have been afforded (for a price) the opportunity to hide their earnings in order to not pay taxes on said financial gains? It is amazingly ironic that this disclosure came within days of April 15. 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 American Cancer Society’s Royal Palm Beach Relay for Life took place from 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 until 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 3 on the field at Royal Palm Beach High School. There were games, entertainment and activities all through the night. Luminaria bags lit the track at night to remember lost loved ones. Shown here, Chris, Nicolle and Todd Wax were walking in memory of brother Gary Wax and mother Judy Plants. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

30 Apply For Open Seat On Wellington Village Council

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report When the deadline passed on Monday, Wellington had 30 applicants for the vacant Seat 2 on the Wellington Village Council. Seat 2 was vacated last month by Anne Gerwig upon her election as mayor. Next week, the council has set aside three times to discuss the extensive list of applicants and decide upon a new council member. On Monday, April 11, after the council’s agenda review meeting concludes, the applicants have been invited to give brief presentations. The agenda review meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. At the regular council meeting on Tuesday, April 12, public comments will be taken regarding the candidates, after which the council will select three applicants to come back to a special meeting on Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m., when they’ll be interviewed. Council members will ask questions of each finalist for about 10 minutes. Then the council will discuss the finalists and appoint a new council member. That council member will serve until the next municipal election in March 2018. The applicants for the vacant seat are: • Kerry Baron, a Wellington resident since 1990, was an assistant U.S. attorney from 1989 to 2013 and was assistant district attorney for Kings County, N.Y., from 1977 to 1989. In 2015, he received the Palm Beach County Federal Bar Association Hon. Kenneth Ryskamp Award and was the first non-member of the judiciary to be so honored. • Todd Barron, vice president and senior portfolio manager for UBS Financial Services, is active with several philanthropic organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington (chairman), the Young Friends of the Palm Beach Symphony (founding member) and the Young Professionals of Wellington (member). He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida. • Jefferson “Jeff” Browning is a general contractor and 25-year owner of Browning & Becker Construction, with 37 years of

experience. He moved to Florida in 1985 and began developing multifamily units in Wellington in 1988, then moved his family here in the mid-1990s. He has served on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, coached recreational sports and has been a sponsor of various village sports, including Wellington High School teams. • Tomas Bueno is a certified airline transport pilot with more than 15,000 hours in aircraft and several instructor ratings. He is active with the Young Professionals of Wellington (member), the Wellington Aero Club (director) and Vision of Flight (advisory board member). He has been chief pilot for several major airlines, including Valhalla Aviation where he works. He is also the owner and founder of IGT Graphics. • Jane Cleveland, a competitive dressage rider, has lived in Wellington since 2012 but has been coming here to ride and compete since 1999, and has attended equestrian events since 1990. Cleveland owns Centaur Equities in Wellington. She was a real estate investment manager in Nashville, Tenn., and was active in the arts and music industry, including as director of marketing for the Nashville Symphony. She served on the Nashville Board of Zoning Appeals and holds an MBA from Belmont University. • Carol Coleman chairs Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board and is an executive member of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. She is a former member of the Equestrian Preserve Committee. Coleman owns Stud Tree equine fitness and is the former owner of Fancy Feet Dance Shoes Extraordinaire, which was purchased by the Fred Astaire Company. She is a United States Equestrian Federation “R” judge and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Wellington in 2010. • Charles Gardner, a Wellington resident since 1992, is senior managing director for WeiserMazars Valuation and Consulting Services Division in West Palm Beach, where he is responsible for building and maintaining client relationships and new business generation, specializing in multifamily assets. He holds a bach-

elor’s degree from Jacksonville University and is a state-certified real estate appraiser. • Annabelle Garrett is founder and managing partner of Pitario Capital Management. A lifelong equestrian, she started riding at age 5. A year ago, she started playing polo and now plays around the world. She is an active participant in advocacy and charitable efforts, including the Everglades Foundation, JustWorld International, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, the Kids Cancer Foundation and Wellington Regional Medical Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. • Bernard Godek is CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, overseeing financial management, budgeting, resource development, contract and grants compliance, home construction and rehabilitation, family social services support, volunteer coordination and retail operations for the well-known nonprofit. • Sergio Guerrio is an officer in the Florida Department of Health and a member of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Licensure Board. He holds degrees from the College of Audiology at the Pennsylvania School of Optometry (doctorate), the University of South Florida (master’s) and has made numerous presentations and written many publications on audiology. • Marcia Hayden, who chairs Wellington’s Education Committee, is a communication professional with 40 years of experience in corporate and agency public relations, advertising, publishing and marketing. She is project manager and lead navigator for the Health Council of Southeast Florida. Hayden was appointed by the governor to the Palm Beach County Housing Authority in 2008, which she chaired from 2013 until last year. • Jesse Kearney was a real estate broker associate with Keller Williams Realty for 11 years before his current position as a real estate broker with Kearney & Associates Realty. He previously worked as a massage therapist, athletic trainer and chiropractic See 30 APPLICANTS, page 7

Western Council Braces For A Long Fight Over SR 7 By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Western Communities Council heard news Wednesday that the fight for the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd. could go on for as long as another 18 months. Western Communities Council Administrator Tanya Quickel reported that the organization, made up of representatives from several local governments, has more than $12,000 in its account, but it had exhausted its SR 7 fund. Attorney Bob Diffenderfer of Lewis Longman & Walker was on hand to give an update, which was moved to the top of the agenda. Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone, chair of the Western Communities Council, said that West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio had filed a lawsuit with the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Transportation. Damone had spoken on a conference call with Diffenderfer, County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, County Engineer George Webb, County Adminis-

trator Verdenia Baker and FDOT Secretary Jim Boxold to discuss the situation. Diffenderfer said that the project has finally moved along to the point where the SFWMD had given a notice of intent to issue a permit for the extension from 60th Street North to Northlake Blvd. “Under state law, that action is not final unless it goes unchallenged for some period of time,” Diffenderfer said. “The City of West Palm Beach, as predicted, showed up to challenge that permit. They filed a petition challenging the issuance of the permit, so until that challenge is resolved, there is no permit. That challenge is basically the beginning of litigation.” He said that the SFWMD reviewed the petition and found it sufficient, referring it to the Division of Administrative Hearings, where it has been assigned Judge Bram Canter, who has done many similar cases. “As of Monday, he has issued an initial order asking the parties to make certain disclosures, how much time they think the hearing See SR 7, page 17

GAY POLO TOURNEY

The 2016 International Gay Polo Tournament took place Saturday, April 2 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. Tailgating party tents and guests on both sides of the field were decorated with flair for an elaborate competition. Shown here are Claude Bouvier, Brian Sare, John Turgeon and Jill Kravitz. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 19

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Lox Groves Council Inks New Contract With Underwood

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The newly seated Loxahatchee Groves Town Council approved a new contract Tuesday with Underwood Management Services Group that indicates a desire to move toward hired staff rather than contracted employees. Mayor Dave Browning reclaimed his Seat 4, and newly elected Councilman Todd McLendon was installed in Seat 2. After the swearing-in ceremony, Councilman Tom Goltzené nominated Browning to serve again as mayor. The council agreed on a 4-0 vote with Councilman Ryan Liang absent. McLendon nominated Goltzené to serve as vice mayor. That motion carried 3-1 with Councilman Ron Jarriel opposed. Town Manager Bill Underwood

noted that the management contract had been carried over from the February meeting, and nothing had changed in the contract since then. It extends Underwood’s contract until Sept. 30, 2018, with a retroactive start date of Oct. 1, 2015. “We will budget appropriately annually,” Underwood said. “It includes a 2 percent raise in pay, based on other entities.” Jarriel said he did not favor the contract. “I disagree with doing this contract now,” he said. “April is too early. We’re at the last year of a five-year contract. It was a three-year contract, and we had the option of doing two additional one-year contracts.” Jarriel pointed out that the town See GROVES, page 17

Wellington Rotary Club To Host 5K Event On April 24

The father-son team of Jim and Michael Sayih will take part in the Outrun Cerebral Palsy Wellington 5K Run & Wheelchair Race.

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report The Outrun Cerebral Palsy Wellington 5K Run & Wheelchair Race, presented by the Great Charity Challenge, the Rotary Club of Wellington and United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida, will take place Sunday, April 24 at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Drive, Wellington). According to event co-chair Larry Kemp, the Rotary Club wanted to create a 5K race in cooperation with another nonprofit. “We decided we’d work with the United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida and put a 5K race together, including wheelchair races,” he explained.

Children and those in racing wheelchairs can be pushed by either their parents or an athlete provided by the race organizers, or travel throughout the race on their own. Anyone in a wheelchair is welcome; the race is not limited to those with cerebral palsy. “One of the things we’re promoting with this in terms of the wheelchair side of it is making the CP kids feel like athletes for the day,” Kemp said. “That’s the big intent of this.” Rotarian Dr. Jonathan Chung of Keystone Chiropractic is excited to be working with Kemp on the event. “We’re most excited about giving these kids an opportunity to

participate in this athletic endeavor. When I was a kid growing up, sports were a big part of my life, and they really shaped a big part of the fabric of who I am,” Chung said. “I think that every child deserves the opportunity to be an athlete, even if it’s only for a day.” He wanted to help do something good to help those in need. “It’s something I’ve always been really passionate about, and I thought this would be a fun and interesting way to make it happen,” Chung said. “The race was like a pie-in-the-sky idea — I didn’t know if it was going to be possible, but the Rotary Club really made it happen. I’m very grateful for the See ROTARY, page 17


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