Town-Crier Newspaper December 4, 2015

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DRYSDALE SITE PLANS GET TOWN’S OK SEE STORY, PAGE 3

PZA APPROVES ANNEXATION ALONG SR 7 SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

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

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE

No New Challengers So Far For Wellington And RPB Council Seats

Volume 36, Number 47 December 4 - December 10, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

WINTERFEST RETURNS TO PBIEC

Filing for available mayoral and council seats in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington closes at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 8 for the elections to be held March 15, 2016. Page 3

WWII Vet Seeks Others Who Served In The OSS

Local World War II veteran Sidney Cooper, who served in the OSS — the Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency — is looking to connect with other former OSS members. Page 4

Holiday Hope Tree Program At The Mall Benefits Place Of Hope

Place of Hope is being featured at the Mall at Wellington Green with a Holiday Hope Tree in the mall’s center court. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Holiday Hope Tree program kicked off with snacks, face painting, Santa and more, as shoppers learned about the many children in need at Place of Hope. Page 5

Anniversary Celebration At Oak Bistro & Wine Bar

Oak Bistro & Wine Bar celebrated its first anniversary on Tuesday, Dec. 1. At the event, Oak Bistro debuted a new tapas menu and new wines. Attendees brought toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. There were also raffles with great prizes. Oak is located in the Southern Palm Crossing shopping plaza. Page 18

OPINION The 74th Anniversary Of The Pearl Harbor Attack

Next Monday is the 74th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Indeed, Dec. 7, 1941 is a day which has lived in infamy, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt informed a stunned nation after the deadly incident that dragged the United States into the horrors of World War II. The men and women who fought that war were later dubbed the “Greatest Generation” — a moniker which is both accurate and seemingly shy of the mark. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 25 BUSINESS......................26 - 27 SPORTS..........................31 - 33 CALENDAR............................ 34 CLASSIFIEDS................ 35 - 38 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Large crowds were on hand as the Wellington Chamber of Commerce presented its Winterfest 2015 on Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The evening included a Grand Prix show jumping competition, along with entertainment by superstar Vanilla Ice, winter-themed fun, an ice skating rink, parachutists, a food and wine expo, and drawings to determine 26 of the charities that will take part in the 2016 Great Charity Challenge. Shown here, Vanilla Ice keeps the crowd excited. SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Western Communities Council Learns About GL Homes Plan

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Western Communities Council heard a presentation from GL Homes representatives on plans for the Indian Trails Grove development northwest of The Acreage on Wednesday at Royal Palm Beach Village Hall. The developer is asking the county to change the land use designation on the 4,900-acre parcel from 0.1 to 0.8 homes per acre, similar to the density in The Acreage, where it stands to have the most impact. GL Homes Vice President Kevin Ratterree said that the company plans to dedicate property to Palm Beach County for the expansion of its park to the east, as well as to the School District of Palm Beach County for area schools, and to Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue for an additional station. Also included on the plan are some private civic sites, which could be used for day care facilities and other uses. The project also

retains 1,000 acres on the western edge for agricultural use. About 640 acres will be dedicated to the Indian Trail Improvement District for stormwater management. GL Homes has also offered to become an activated unit of ITID if the district invites them. “In addition to that, we have private recreational and fitness amenities that are afforded to the residents of the community that we build internal to the development,” Ratterree said. “The idea behind that was that it would be a very active, LA Fitness-type of community.” Three commercial nodes will be on 47 acres scattered throughout the site. “We are proposing 300,000 square feet of retail space and 50,000 square feet of office space,” Ratterree said. You’re all familiar with the amount of square footage that was approved with the Minto West/Westlake project. We are not trying to compete with that. These are really designed to be neigh-

borhood centers that will provide amenities to the residents within the development, so that they can go to the grocery store or go to the drug store without having to leave the site.” He added that residents wanting to attend regional activities anticipated at the nearby Minto site will be able to get there via 190th Ave. and 60th Street to Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The project plans four highdensity residential pods nearest to the commercial nodes. “When I say high-density residential pods, I’m referring to zero-lot-line and townhomes,” he said. “We are not proposing any multifamily or rental units in this project.” The project will also have medium density residential pods of zero-lot-line and single-family pods, and lower density pods with a variation of different single-family home lot sizes up to 100-footwide lots or bigger. He said the 0.8 units per acre See GL HOMES, page 4

Melissa McKinlay To Host Town Hall Meeting Dec. 10

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay will convene a western communities forum on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Loxahatchee Groves Town Hall. “It’s going to be a sort of a town hall meeting,” McKinlay told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. The meeting will give county staff the opportunity to speak to residents. Staff members expected to be there include County Administrator Verdenia Baker, Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron and County Engineer George Webb. “They’re going to address some of the development concerns, pending proposals and

the legislative atmosphere in Tallahassee, and how it might affect some of those proposals,” McKinlay said. “It will give the residents an opportunity to ask questions.” McKinlay noted that Webb presented the county’s five-year road plan earlier this week. “He can explain some of the logistics for specific projects and how it will impact different proposals and deficiencies,” she said. The meeting is intended to explain the status of projects and get feedback from concerned residents. “It will be our first town hall meeting in the new town hall building,” she said. “We had this scheduled a couple of times, but because of my involvement with

the Florida Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties, both times it conflicted with the conferences that I had to attend, but we have a date on the books now that I didn’t have to reschedule.” McKinlay noted that Loxahatchee Groves Town Hall — previously the offices of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce — is an accessible setting for all residents of the western communities. “It makes it easy for people to get in and out of, the parking, location, the facilities,” she said. “I think it’ll be a good place.” The building is located at 155 F Road, at the corner of F Road and Southern Blvd. For more information, call (561) 355-2206.

Five-Year Road Plan Puts Focus On Western Areas

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Roebuck Road extension to the State Road 7 extension, although adamantly opposed by the City of West Palm Beach, is back in Palm Beach County’s five-year road plan. Although still years from reality, the controversial roadway is on the plan for design and mitigation purposes as a reliever to Okeechobee Blvd. The planned route runs between the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area and three West Palm Beach communities on the north side of Okeechobee Blvd. Those communities — Riverwalk, Andros Isle and Baywinds — were allowed based on an agreement that Roebuck Road would eventually be extended. However, in more recent years, West Palm Beach has fought against the roadway. On Tuesday, the Palm Beach County Commission approved advertising for a preliminary hearing on the road plan Tuesday, Dec.

15. The latest plan includes major improvements in the western communities in anticipation of several large new developments. Acreage resident Alex Larson questioned the county’s improvement plans for Seminole Pratt Whitney Road north of Orange Blvd., but no plans for work from Orange Blvd. to Seminole Ridge High School. County Engineer George Webb explained that his staff has been working with developer Minto to widen that two-lane segment. “Seminole Pratt Whitney Road has been a focus of the county for years now,” Webb said. “We have two projects in here for 2017. We have been working with Minto’s design engineer since their approval last year for the [Minto West/Westlake] project.” Webb added that Minto is close to receiving a permit to actually build the road. “I had discussions with their representative just a few weeks See ROAD PLAN, page 4

BIG POLO MATCHES AT GRAND CHAMPIONS

The Grand Champions Polo Club hosted two big matches Saturday, Nov. 28. The day led off with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Legends of Polo Tournament, with eight members of the Gracida family taking the field. Next up was the 24-goal USPA International Cup, featuring South African players against Team USA. Shown here, South African Chris MacKenzie and American Marc Ganzi compete for control. SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 21 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Top Honors For Two Wellington PBSO Deputies

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Always working to keep Wellington safe, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies Scott Poritz and Daniel Delia were recently recognized for their hard work and dedication to the community. In July, Poritz was recognized as Wellington’s Top Cop. He was honored at a Wellington Village Council meeting and presented with a plaque. “It is an honor to be recognized for a job that most of the time is a thankless one,” he said. Any deputy assigned to Wellington has the chance to be nomi-

nated and recognized for his or her work in Wellington. Poritz was nominated by Lt. Eli Shaivitz for his work as village liaison, acting as the liaison for the Citizen Observer Patrol and Crime Watch, taking the lead on the Wellington Holiday Parade, and chairing the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. “He is my ‘go-to’ person, and I’m always sending him unusual or complicated assignments,” Shaivitz said. “He is an exceptional employee, and I am honored to make this nomination.” Poritz has worked as a law enforcement officer for 14 years and See DEPUTIES, page 7

SRHS Construction Students Proud Of Habitat Work

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Weitz Academy of Construction students at Seminole Ridge High School will be able to walk away after graduation with the knowledge that they not only excelled academically, but they also truly made a difference in the lives of others. The approximately 180 SRHS teens who are part of the academy program work throughout the school year on two different houses for Habitat for Humanity. During the fall semester, they finish up one house, and start a new one during the spring semester. They build, with their own hands (and, of course, tools and guidance) a home for someone to live in. On Nov. 19, the program’s

fourth 1,206-square-foot, threebedroom, two-bathroom house began a move to its permanent home site in Lake Worth. Seven tractor-trailers arrived, and they brought the house over on Nov. 20 to be assembled starting at 8:30 a.m. By 12:16 p.m., the four house modules and six roof sections were installed and ready for the finishing touches. “From beginning to end, it reinforces everything we teach them. Everything from math and English, we use all of that in here,” teacher Rick Terkovich explained. “Not only is it reinforcing their academic classes, they are learning a skill, a marketable trade. When these kids graduate, I’m able to get them good paying jobs. The ones who want to go on to college and

study architecture or engineering, they’re way ahead of the other students who are going for the same classes.” The seniors getting ready to graduate, he explained, will have worked on five Habitat for Humanity houses. “The academy gives the kids skills they can market,” Terkovich said. “They get used to working in a shop, and they learn viable employability skills.” Senior Samuel Ramirez has enjoyed the program. “My dad is a plumber, and he has worked in construction for years. I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Ramirez said. “It’s a different experience than I really expected it to be. From what I heard, it was really just building See ACADEMY, page 18

Seminole Ridge students work together to install bracing in the Habitat for Humanity House.


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