Town-Crier Newspaper February 8, 2013

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LOX COUNCIL GETS COMMERCIAL UPDATE SEE STORY, PAGE 3

REP. PAFFORD HOSTS TOWN HALL IN RPB SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

TOWN - CR IER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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INSIDE Students Invited To Play Dodgeball For A Great Cause Feb. 15

Volume 34, Number 6 February 8 - February 14, 2013

FUN AT FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE

Students who want to dodge, duck, dip and dive while raising money for a good cause are invited to participate in the annual thinkPINKkids Wellington Dodgeball Tournament set for Friday, Feb. 15 at Wellington High School. The event, a fundraiser for breast cancer programs, is open to middle school and high school students. Page 3

Fathers and their special little ladies enjoyed a night out at Wellington’s annual Father Daughter Dance held Saturday, Feb. 2 at Village Park. Girls ages 5 to 14 were escorted by their fathers to an evening including dancing, games and photos. The theme for the evening was “Every Little Girl is a Princess.” Each girl was given a crown and wand, and met with Disney princesses. Shown here are Brian and Julia Govier with Jessica and Andrew Margolies. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5

Wellington Zoners OK New Master Plan For White Birch Farm

Members of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend approval of a master plan that will allow for two estate homes at White Birch Farm with permanent access to Pierson Road. Page 4

PHOTO BY LAUREN MIRÓ/TOWN-CRIER

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Group Opposed To Campus Turns In Petition Signatures By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Loxahatchee Groves residents circulating a petition to stop the construction of a new Palm Beach State College campus have collected enough signatures to draw a referendum. The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council was told Tuesday night that the petition has been sent to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, which is in the process of validating the signatures. Town Attorney Mike Cirullo said the petition committee had turned in about 260 signatures to the town clerk Monday, which is the first step in the process for a citizens

initiative provided for in the town’s charter. “The town clerk is working with the Supervisor of Elections Office to confirm the signatures to see they meet the minimum requirement, which I believe is around 207 signatures necessary to move forward, and also to confirm any other issues there may be with sufficiency of the petition,” Cirullo said. “That is ongoing as we speak. The town clerk has up to 20 days to provide that information to the committee.” If the petition is deemed sufficient, it would head to the council, which would have the option of either rescinding the ordinance See PETITION, page 4

BUCK OFF COMPETITION

Latest Wellington RV Proposal Wins Zoning Board Approval World War II Veteran Honored At Wycliffe

The Combat Infantrymen’s Association held a luncheon honoring Dr. Harold Berkman on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Berkman was awarded the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge for serving in combat. Page 9

#1 Education Place Hosts Open House

#1 Education Place held an open house Friday, Feb. 1 at its new location in the original Wellington Mall. In celebration of National School Choice Week, the school opened its doors to anyone interested in learning about its programs. Page 11

OPINION Immigration Reform, Wage Theft Program Help Those On Margins

With the renewed possibility that President Obama and Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform, as well as local efforts to put an end to wage theft for undocumented workers, there may finally be hope for the millions of people living — and working — in the shadows. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 13 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS........................ 8 SCHOOLS .....................14 - 15 PEOPLE ............................... 16 COLUMNS .................... 25 - 26 BUSINESS .................... 27 - 29 ENTERTAINMENT .................31 SPORTS ........................ 35 - 37 CALENDAR ...................38 - 39 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 40 - 44 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report After years of discussion surrounding recreational vehicles in Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve, a plan has begun to take shape that will allow use of the temporary homes during the winter season. On Wednesday, Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board unanimously approved recommendation of several measures that would permit but tightly regulate the use of RVs in the preserve. “Currently they are prohibited,” Equestrian Master Plan Director Mike O’Dell said. “This would allow them as a temporary housing during the equestrian season.” Despite being prohibited, O’Dell said that there are a number of RVs in the area illegally. “There were

82 found at the time [when the survey was done],” he said. The proposed regulations would allow one RV on 2.5 to 5 acres, two RVs on 5 to 10 acres and three RVs on properties of 10 acres or more. Property owners would be able to have RVs only for two consecutive equestrian seasons before going before the Wellington Village Council for special approval. Additionally, the property owner would have to provide electric, sewage and water, and get all required inspections and permits before someone could live in the RV. But Board Member Marcia Radosevich felt that homeowners should build permanent structures for their employees. “They are, frankly, too cheap to invest money into this communi-

ty to build permanent housing for grooms,” she said. “They want to do it on the cheap, and they want to turn it into a trailer park.” Radosevich said she felt it could have negative consequences for the community. “It’s tacky,” she said. “It siphons off money from people putting grooms up in homes. It creates a temporary, transient community, which is only negative.” She was also concerned by the lack of code enforcement on the issue already, let alone when they are allowed. “I would consider something like this, but with great trepidation,” Radosevich said. Board Member Mike Drahos was concerned about allowing the vehicles in Wellington, but noted that it seems to be a continually pressing issue. “You keep coming See PZA BOARD, page 20

The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center held its “Buck Off” mechanical bull-riding competition Thursday, Jan. 31 at Polo West Cantina. Teams of riders competed in a series of competitions, in order to participate in the final round at Vinceremos’ annual fundraising gala on Feb. 8 at the International Polo Club. Shown here, Grand Champions team members Malicia von Falkenhausen, Riley Ganzi and Cinderella von Falkenhausen register to participate. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY JESSICA GREGOIRE/TOWN-CRIER

McLendon Challenges County Inks Pact With Legal Aid Rockett In Lox Groves To Operate Wage Theft Program

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach County Commission approved a $100,000 contract Tuesday with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County to assist workers who feel they have been unfairly denied their wages. On Dec. 4, the commissioners established a policy condemning the denial of lawful wages to an employee and established a procedure for employees to recover back wages through a program administered by Legal Aid. For members of People Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE), who have lobbied more than a year for a wage theft ordinance, the resolution fell short of what they advocated. PEACE representatives wanted an ordinance based on one that exists in Miami-Dade County, but Palm Beach County staff thought the Legal Aid Society could address the issue more effectively than Miami-Dade’s setup. County staff asserted that the MiamiDade model has lagged in actual-

ly collecting unpaid wages because of legal holdups. On Tuesday, Commissioner Jess Santamaria said PEACE had asked for a 30-day postponement of approval of the contract with Legal Aid in order to work out remaining issues, and questioned county staff why an extension shouldn’t be granted. Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman said it would delay implementing the program. “We reviewed the e-mail that was sent, and we are satisfied by the response from Legal Aid that those issues were resolved, so we don’t feel it’s necessary for any further delay,” he said. Merriman added that entering into a contract with Legal Aid remains the best solution because it has proven successful, advocating at no cost to clients, which would not be the case with a county ordinance. According to the county staff report, involved parties did agree that Legal Aid’s Wage Dispute Project will assist county residents

with the collection of unpaid wages. The Legal Aid program will cover the salary and benefits of a staff attorney assigned to the program, along with the support services, investigative needs, court processing and other costs. The program and its funding will be reevaluated in a year. The Wage Dispute Project will also utilize the 15th Judicial Circuit’s Wage Dispute Docket and Wage Dispute Division created by an administrative order in December designed to increase fair and efficient resolution of those types of disputes. Santamaria said he has seen the commissioners postpone numerous items in order to work out issues and for all parties to express their thoughts. “We have done this quite often,” he said. “I just felt it fair and proper to give a 30day extension.” Commissioner Priscilla Taylor made a motion to approve the Legal Aid contract, which carried 6-1 with Santamaria opposed.

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The race for Seat 4 on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council will pit community activist Todd McLendon against Vice Mayor Jim Rockett, who is seeking a second three-year term. The election qualifying period ended Tuesday, and since both available seats are contested, a town election will be held Tuesday, March 12. Also on the ballot, L.W. Lucas has qualified to run for Seat 2 against Mayor Dave Browning, who has served on the council since the town’s incorporation. McLendon, 38, has lived in Loxahatchee Groves since 2006 with his wife and two children. He is known in the community for his vocal opposition to the town’s speed hump policy and more recently his leadership in a petition drive aimed at overturning last year’s approval of a Palm Beach State College campus on Southern Blvd. McLendon told the Town-Crier that he is concerned about the direction Loxahatchee Groves is heading, with too much commer-

cialization and too much government. “We have totally changed the direction of where we are supposed to be developing commercial property from the comprehensive plan,” he said. “The comp plan is what the citizens put together years ago as to where they wanted the town to go. We were only supposed to develop from C Road east on Southern Blvd. We have now developed 200 acres outside of that for commercial use.” He said that commercial uses were supposed to extend north from Southern Blvd. only about 660 feet, to Tangerine Drive. “They created basically a rectangle along Southern where commercial was supposed to happen,” he said. “They have now gone almost 1,400 feet north from Southern for those two parcels.” McLendon asserted that the Simon property, where Palm Beach State College is planning to build a new campus, was to remain residential. “Our comp plan said that was not supposed to happen,” he said. “Only from C Road heading east were we supposed to allow See MCLENDON, page 7

Area Kids Enjoying New Goldenrod Park In Wellington By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report More than a year after Wellington closed Goldenrod Road’s access to Azure Avenue, children in the community have a new park. Goldenrod Park was completed in January and will be officially dedicated later this month, Wellington Community Services Director Nicole Evangelista said. “The park is currently usable by the community,” she said. “But the official grand opening and dedication ceremony is being planned for later this month.” In July 2011, the Wellington Village Council voted to close Goldenrod Road at the C-6 Canal. The controversial decision cut off access by children in the Goldenrod community to nearby Azure Park, concerning many residents.

The new park was part of the road closure plan, Evangelista said. “The council wanted a park for the community that would be a safe place for children to play,” she said. Constructing the park, located on a formerly vacant piece of property on Goldenrod Road just east of Hyacinth Place, cost nearly $200,000. It features a playground with two slides, monkey bars and a climbing apparatus. There is also a covered pavilion and a half basketball court. “They really did a great job,” Evangelista said. “There are also water fountains and benches so the community can go out and enjoy.” She said the amenities were chosen based on what residents wanted.

“We went out to the community and asked them what they wanted to see on the site,” Evangelista said. “We tried to incorporate them into our design as much as we could.” The park provides much-needed recreational relief for the area. “There are lots of kids in the area,” Evangelista said. “We hear they’re using the park quite frequently, so we’re anxious to have the dedication ceremony.” Information about the dedication ceremony will be available at www.wellingtonfl.gov once a date in finalized. Until then, the park is open and ready for use. “We’re really excited about it,” Evangelista said. “It’s beautiful, and we’re excited to see that the children are already making great use of it.”

One of the play structures at Wellington’s new Goldenrod Park.


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