Town-Crier Newspaper February 6, 2015

Page 1

PAFFORD: KEEP INFORMED ABOUT ACTION IN TALLAHASSEE SEE STORY, PAGE 3

COUNTY SELLS WELLINGTON LAND FOR $1.15 MILLION SEE STORY, PAGE 4

THE

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

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE

Growing Coyote Problem Has Lox Council Concerned

Volume 36, Number 6 February 6 - February 12, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

FATHER-DAUGHTER SNOW BALL

Loxahatchee Groves has a coyote problem, and the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council discussed ways of reducing it at a meeting Tuesday. Page 3

Old-Timers Enjoy Reunion At Old Lox Groves Schoolhouse

On Monday, Jan. 26, former students of the old Loxahatchee Groves Schoolhouse gathered for a reunion at the schoolhouse, which is now located in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Page 5

Wellington Zoners OK Plan To Drop Adult Daycare Outdoor Space

Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board recommended approval Wednesday of amendments to the village’s land development regulations eliminating a requirement for open-air activity space at adult daycare facilities. Page 7

Car Wash Benefit Supports WLMS Student Ally Rene

The Wellington Landings Middle School Student Government Association hosted a car wash Saturday, Jan. 31 at Park Avenue BBQ & Grille in Wellington. Donations from the car wash will benefit eighth grader Ally Rene in her fight against brain cancer. Page 18

OPINION

Be Sure To Become An Informed Voter This Election Season

It’s election season in Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves, and both communities will see hotly contested races. Both of these elections, set for Tuesday, March 10, will bring clashes of personalities and policy, but determining style from substance is always the challenge. The races are officially on, and it’s important that all residents sit up and take notice of what each candidate has to say in order to become informed voters. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 8 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 25 BUSINESS..................... 26 - 29 SPORTS..........................33 - 37 CALENDAR............................ 38 CLASSIFIEDS................ 39 - 42 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington hosted its Frozen-themed Father-Daughter Snow Ball on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Village Park gym. More than 200 people were on hand to enjoy an evening of dancing, games and an Italian buffet dinner. Shown here, Arelis hugs her father, Alberto Riaboukha. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 20

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Keith Harris, Virginia Standish File To Run In Groves Election

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Two challengers have emerged in the race for the two seats up for grabs on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council in the Tuesday, March 10 election. Roadway, Equestrian Trails & Greenway Advisory Committee Chair Keith Harris is challenging Seat 3 incumbent Councilman Ryan Liang, and Finance Advisory & Audit Committee Chair Virginia Standish has filed for Seat 1, held by incumbent Vice Mayor Ron Jarriel. Candidate filing for the March election closed Tuesday. Standish is a Florida native who has lived in Loxahatchee Groves for more than 30 years. In addition to her town finance committee post, she is vice president of the Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association. “I believe that government entities should always be questioned

and held accountable,” she said at Tuesday’s Loxahatchee Groves Town Council meeting. “It is shocking to me the lack of concern for safety in this community when so many people claim to work and be concerned for so many citizens.” Standish asserted that in the rush to put down open-graded emulsified mix (OGEM) pavement, the town has endangered the lives of pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians. “Developers on South B Road are getting away with putting in a low-quality OGEM road instead of a road that would have a longer lifespan,” she said. Standish pointed out that at a joint workshop several years ago, the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District and the council agreed to use the OGEM for the roads. “They also agreed that all roads must be OGEMed before they

are turned over to the town,” she said, adding that it was the district’s idea. “Everything was the district’s idea. When I asked why, nobody provided a fact-based, valid answer.” She said that at the last council meeting, during public comments, a family member of a district supervisor incorrectly thanked the town for paving A Road and providing courtesy grading for some roads. “There is no such thing as courtesy grading,” Standish said. “Anytime a road is graded, the town is billed. The town did not pay to have A Road paved. Those landowners are being assessed by the district. The town pays a teeny-tiny portion to the district on an annual basis. Not one of the two district supervisors who sat in the room that night corrected the misinformation that was stated. Not one from the dais corrected See LOX VOTE, page 7

Martha Webster To Challenge David Swift In RPB Election

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report So far, next month’s Royal Palm Beach municipal election is looking like a repeat of 2013. Former Councilwoman Martha Webster announced plans this week to challenge Seat 2 incumbent Vice Mayor David Swift, seeking a return to the dais in the same seat Swift took from Webster two years ago. In Royal Palm Beach, filing closes at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 10 for the election set for Tuesday, March 10. Aside from Seat 2, Seat 4, currently held by Councilman Fred Pinto, is also up for election. Webster, who served as councilwoman from 2008 to 2013, including a stint as vice mayor in 2010,

wants to see her name returned to the currently all-male council. “I enjoyed working for the village and the residents of Royal Palm Beach,” she told the TownCrier on Wednesday. “I just feel that I’ve got a lot more to give to the village, and it’s time to work to get back on the council. I have many, many years of community and public experience, and I just want to continue to serve.” It will be Webster’s third Royal Palm Beach election in two years. After losing to Swift in 2013, she ran for mayor last year, coming in third in a four-way race won by incumbent Mayor Matty Mattioli. Webster, who has lived in Palm Beach County for the past 49 years, and Royal Palm Beach

for the last 19, has worked with a variety of boards, councils, associations and organizations, including the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Health Care District PATCH Board, Habitat for Humanity, the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, Project 425 and the newly formed Western Business Alliance. “I do feel that I have a lot of support within the community, who did like the way that I represented them, and so I’m going to make an effort to come back,” she said. Webster said her decision to return doesn’t stem from a particular issue, but rather from her desire to be involved in the policy-making See WEBSTER, page 19

County OKs Sale Of Chamber Land To Town For $20,000

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report In a 5-2 vote Tuesday, the Palm Beach County Commission approved selling the 1.43-acre piece of land where the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce building sits to the Town of Loxahatchee Groves for $20,000, as long as it remains in public use. County Administrator Bob Weisman said the land was leased to the chamber many years ago at just $1 per year. “They constructed an office building on it,” Weisman said. “They no longer want to keep that building, and the town has offered to purchase the building from the chamber.” He explained that the town wishes to take possession of the building only if the county sells the land or gives the land to the town. Weisman said the county was asking for $50,000, but the town was offering $20,000 if the land could not be granted to the town. Weisman explained that the land is potentially very valuable for office or commercial use, but county staff did not attempt to value it that way, and came up with a $50,000 price if it remains in civic use, or $20,000 as a park. Loxahatchee Groves Vice Mayor Ron Jarriel asked that the commissioners approve the $20,000 price. “I’ve lived in Loxahatchee Groves for 54 years,” Jarriel said. “I think Loxahatchee Groves has made some great improvements in the last few years. We’ve got the state college coming to our town. This chamber building would be a very good benefit and give us recognition.” Jarriel pointed out that the building is in a good location where it will be safe for people to come and do business with the town. “I would like to get it for free as a resident,” he said. “I pay a lot of taxes, but if we have to pay for it, I would appreciate it if we could get it at a reasonable price. This is just another step in putting Loxa-

hatchee Groves on the map, and I think we’re doing an outstanding job for our community, and the residents would appreciate your help in this.” District 6 Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said the sale of the land was one of the first things she has been able to work on for residents in her district. “I think this is great idea for them,” McKinlay said. “Right now, they share their council meeting space with the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District. It’s cramped quarters, and they can’t really provide adequate space for the public to attend their meetings.” She said that selling the land to the town will protect it for the future. “They are in a growing area of the county,” McKinlay said. “This proposal allows this piece of property to stay for a public purpose instead of someday having it sold off to become private commercial property. It still maintains public access to the park space that the county has behind there.” McKinlay made a motion to approve the sale for $20,000 contingent on the town closing on the purchase of the chamber building, and Vice Mayor Mary Lou Berger seconded the motion. However, Commissioner Hal Valeche opposed selling the property for $20,000. “I am not certain why we are essentially giving away the property that’s got an appraisal of $180,000 on it,” Valeche said. “I tend to support the staff’s recommendation of at least $50,000. I’m not even really very comfortable with that.” Valeche said he thought the chamber did not negotiate a good deal, since any price for the land comes out of proceeds of the building sale. “Although I would like to defer to the district commissioner, I’d still want to go with the staff recommendation of $50,000,” he said. Commissioner Paulette Burdick See LAND, page 4

ART SOCIETY PRESENTS ARTFEST ON THE GREEN

The Wellington Art Society held its ninth annual juried fine art and craft show, ArtFest on the Green, at the Wellington Amphitheater on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1. A total of 51 artists displayed their paintings, sculptures, pottery, jewelry, textiles, photography and more. Shown here is best-in-show winner Lisa Strauss. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9

PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Great Charity Challenge To Give Away $1.5 Million

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Superheroes have landed in Wellington and will be joining their equine friends as they soar over tall structures, race against time and bring smiles to spectators’ faces. They’ve swooped in with their capes, masks and costumes to compete in this year’s Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center this Saturday night, Feb. 7, starting at 6 p.m. Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo, co-founder of the Great Charity Challenge, was excited about the return of the popular pro-am event. “Our theme this year is superheroes, which is directed at the riders who donate their time, equestrian families and businesses who contribute funds, our staff who donate their time

and, most importantly, the executive directors of these charities whose passion and commitment to their causes elevates and enhances the community,” Bellissimo said. The pro-am riding teams are paired up with randomly chosen charities to compete in the relaystyle event that benefits not only the dozens of participating charities, but also all the people helped by those charities, who in turn support the community, explained Anne Caroline Valtin, executive director of the Great Charity Challenge. In the past five years, the Great Charity Challenge has supported more than 100 charities through more than $6.2 million in prize money. This year’s participating charities are Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Alzheimer’s Community Care, the American Association of Caregiving Youth,

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, the Blue Sky Foundation, Breaking the Chains, the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, Communities in Schools, the Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation, CROS Ministries, the Equestrian Aid Foundation, Families First of Palm Beach County, Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, the Faulk Center for Counseling/Elizabeth H. Faulk Foundation, First Care Women’s Clinic, Gratitude House, the Helping Hands Assistance Program, Horses Healing Hearts, Jeff Industries, the Kids Cancer Foundation, Leadership Palm Beach County, the National Wheelchair Sports Fund, the Oasis Compassion Agency, Paws 4 Liberty, Propel, Restoration Bridge International, Take Stock in Children, the Arc of the Glades, Urban Youth Impact, Village of Hope, the Wellington

PTO/PTA/PTSA and the Wycliffe Charities Foundation. Two additional wild-card charities will be selected Saturday.

The prize money — and every single participating charity will receive some — varies from the See GCC, page 19

Riders often decorate horses for the Great Charity Challenge in honor of the nonprofit they are riding for. PHOTO BY LEXEY HALL


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