WELLINGTON UPDATES HOUSE COLORS SEE STORY, PAGE 3
COMPUTER UPGRADES IN LOX GROVES SEE STORY, PAGE 4
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Conservation Center Offers Unique Animal Encounters In Wellington
Volume 39, Number 47 December 7 - December 13, 2018
Serving Palms West Since 1980
WINTERFEST FUN IN ROYAL PALM
Did you ever wonder what happens to the animals when a roadside attraction closes, or a cash-strapped animal dealer has too much inventory to feed, or when a cute little potbellied pig outgrows her owner’s bed and approaches 200 pounds? Some of these unwanted critters have already become your neighbors at the Wellington Conservation Center. Page 3
Santas On The Run At RPB Park Supports First Responders
Dogs to the Rescue hosted its second annual Santas on the Run 5K and Reindeer Dash 1K on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. The event raised funds and awareness for the mission of Dogs to the Rescue, which provides assistance offsetting the costs of training therapy dogs for first responders. This year’s event had more than 300 participants. Page 10
Royal Palm Beach Basketball Boys Hold Off Broncos 57-53
The Royal Palm Beach High School boys varsity basketball team held off a determined Palm Beach Central High School squad on Friday, Nov. 30 to win their regular season opener 57-53. The game’s lead changed hands several times throughout the evening. Page 19 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................... 8 SCHOOLS................................ 9 COLUMNS............................. 16 BUSINESS............................. 17 CALENDAR............................ 18 SPORTS......................... 19 - 20 CLASSIFIEDS................ 21 - 22 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
Royal Palm Beach Winterfest was held on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. There was live music, a kids fun zone, a snow slide, vendors and food trucks. After Santa joined the Royal Palm Beach Village Council to light the tree, there were photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with free cookies and hot chocolate. Shown above, Alana Montrond mails a letter to Santa. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Education Committee Favors High School Essay Contest
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington’s Education Committee met Tuesday, Dec. 4 and included a summation of activities and successes at many local schools, along with a discussion on future plans for the committee, including the proposal of an essay contest supporting safety initiatives. Ron Herman, the newly reelected chair of Wellington’s Public Safety Committee, presented the essay contest idea to the Education Committee. “We want to increase awareness and attendance,” Herman said. “How do you get them here? By engaging children. We want to create a texting while driving essay contest for high school students.” The contest will encourage high school students at Palm
Beach Central and Wellington high schools to compete amongst each other to create a 300-word essay addressing the problem of texting while driving. “Everyone at a red light, look next to you and everyone is on their phone. It’s a big danger affecting kids and adults in the Village of Wellington,” Herman said. The Public Safety Committee has criteria in place and a rubric to ensure all essays are equally measured. Herman requested support to take the program to the next level. “I think it’s a good idea,” Education Committee Chair John Webber said. The rest of the committee agreed, and the Public Safety Committee plans to begin reaching out to schools directly. Herman and the committee discussed en-
ticing students in all high school grades to participate by offering recognition and possibly prizes. Some of the suggestions mentioned by the committee ranged from gift cards to parking spaces, but it will be up to the discretion of individual school principals to determine what is appropriate. Over the next few months, the essay contest titled “Distracted Driving: Texting Your Life Away” will take place. In other business, the committee welcomed new Committee Member Jana Bolinder. The guidance coordinator has extensive experience working with students at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Spanish River High School. “I’m very happy, very proud to be here. I have resided in WellingSee ED BOARD, page 4
Anita Kane Tapped To Fill Vacant Lox Town Council Seat
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4 appointed former Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Chair Anita Kane to replace former Councilwoman Joyce Batcheler, who resigned from Seat 3 last month less than a year into her three-year term. The council took nominations from the public, which included Kane; former LGWCD Supervisor Don Widing; Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association President Marge Herzog, a former member of the council; and Keith Harris, an unsuccessful candidate for the council who narrowly lost to former Councilman Ryan Liang, then the Seat 3 incumbent, in a 2015 race marred by a controversy over questionable absentee ballots. Town Attorney Michael Cirullo explained that the clerk has a form for anyone nominated to fill out verifying that they are a registered voter and a resident of the town for at least one year. “My recommendation on the process is that you would field nominations from either yourselves or from persons in the audience,” Cirullo said. “Once you get a field of candidates, you would vote on them. Normally what is done is that you vote on them in the order that the nominations are received… and the first person to receive three votes is your councilperson.” Councilman Dave DeMarois was not at the meeting, so the council needed all three votes on the dais to affirm the nomination. The person receiving the three votes would serve until the March
election, when the remaining two years of Batcheler’s term would be on the ballot. The council has never had to fill a vacancy until now. Vice Mayor Todd McLendon said he would prefer to take nominations from the public before the council makes nominations. Mayor Dave Browning said he would prefer to vote on the nominees in alphabetical order so that there is not a scramble to make the first nomination. Former Councilman Ron Jarriel was the first member of the public to speak. “Last week, we talked about Marge [Herzog], and we talked about Don Widing,” Jarriel said. “Both these people are qualified to come on board, but I gave you a résumé for Don Widing… and that resume is unbelievable.” Jarriel noted that Widing has many years of experience managing several municipal fire departments. “He knows management inside and out, and he knows government inside and out,” he said. “So, Don is the one I would nominate, but both Marge and Don are two good people who would do well.” Herzog was the next to speak, and she declined her nomination. “I was honored that my name was brought up,” she said. “I do appreciate the confidence that you have in me, but I feel my nomination is not in the best interests of the town.” Herzog added that her current physical limitations would limit her ability to do the job. “I would like to ask you to consider someone who has attorney See KANE, page 4
CHANUKAH PARTY IN WELLINGTON
Four Terms Is Enough For Lox Groves Mayor Dave Browning
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Dave Browning announced this week that he will not seek re-election to Seat 4 on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council in March after serving 12 years. Browning, 68, was elected to the inaugural council in 2007 in the first municipal election after the town incorporated. He has been re-elected three times. Browning has served as mayor, a position appointed annually from among council members, all 12 years. As such, he is the only mayor that the Town of Loxahatchee Groves has known in its short existence. Before the town incorporated, Browning also served 11 years on the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors.
In the upcoming election on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Browning’s Seat 4 and Vice Mayor Todd McLendon’s Seat 2 will be up for three-year terms, as well as the remaining two years of Seat 3, currently filled temporarily by former LGWCD Chair Anita Kane. Kane was appointed to the council this week to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Councilwoman Joyce Batcheler. “Todd will be running again, but I will not,” Browning told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. As the only remaining member of the originally elected council, he recalls the highlight of his work as being chosen as mayor all 12 years and working with other council members to put details of a new town government together. When Browning was first elected, he got the highest number of
votes of any candidate, which compelled the council to choose him as mayor. But Browning said the pleasure of serving has diminished over the years. “It has gotten to the point that it’s just not as much fun anymore,” he said. “There’s a lot of conflict and people who don’t understand. I decided to step back and let someone else, all these people who have the great ideas, let them step in there. I think the town’s in great shape right now. We have established the assessment and taxes, so there’s going to be finances that are beginning to come in. As long as everything is done correctly, we will be fine.” Browning said that the big issue before he leaves is to get the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s See BROWNING, page 18
Chabad of Wellington invited the community to a Grand Menorah Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Wellington Amphitheater. The celebration on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah offered “Chanukah Gelt” (chocolate coins) thrown from a fire truck, as well as traditional holiday foods latkes and doughnuts. There was live music, a juggler and more. Shown above, Liron, Linoi and Lital Yosef enjoy the holiday with some face painting. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 15 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Holiday Light Show At Okeeheelee Helps Sick Kids
Santa and his reindeer grace the Lights 4 Hope display.
By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report If you are looking for a holiday activity that is fun for the whole family and gives you the warm feeling that comes with helping a great cause, consider driving to Okeeheelee Park and visiting the Lights 4 Hope Holiday Display fundraiser. From the comfort and safety of your car, you can treat your family to a 12-minute drive through a light display, while at the same time your $12 donation per car helps bring toys and decorations to children stuck at local children’s hospitals during the holidays. “You can’t not help kids, especially this time of year,” Rochelle Stryker said. Stryker and her mother Joan Da-
gostino heard about the inaugural event from friends and enjoyed driving through the display last weekend. “I am very proud of what these volunteers did in their first year,” she said. “We showed up because we support the cause, and we are already looking forward to next year.” Lights 4 Hope Inc. is a new nonprofit organization created to help bring happiness and hope to sick children, especially during the holiday season. A team of volunteers, including many first responders, created the wonderful drive-through holiday light display at Okeeheelee Park. Their mission is to generate happiness, joy and hope. Proceeds from the show will go toward providing holiday
gifts and decorations to children in local hospitals, as well as families in need. “Since watching multiple friends and family members struggle through illness and death, we wanted to somehow help children in need while spreading joy to others,” said Dara O’Connor, community relations director for Lights 4 Hope. “With the light show, we are able to raise money to help the children, but still entertain people so they not only are donating their money, but also getting to enjoy our passion for holiday lights.” While there are hopes to expand to other hospitals, children and their families being treated at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. See LIGHT SHOW, page 18