Town-Crier Newspaper January 13, 2012

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LOX GROVES FIGHTS MANURE DUMPING SEE STORY, PAGE 4

FOREVER YOUNG LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

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

Your Community Newspaper

Volume 33, Number 2 January 13 - January 19, 2012

Third RPB Candidate To Seek Vacant Seat

INSIDE

Popular Folk Rock Trio Returns To Wellington Amphitheater Jan. 21

Gathering Time, a New Yorkbased folk rock trio, will make a return appearance at the Wellington Amphitheater on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The group was well-received when they performed their “Great Folk Rock Festival” last April at the amphitheater. This month’s “Tribute to Folk Music” show is part of Wellington’s current tribute music series. Page 3

Homeowner’s Woes Lead ITID To Review Seawall Permit Policy

The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors agreed Monday to look into seawall permitting policy after a resident of Parkwood Drive along the M-1 Canal in Royal Palm Beach said her retaining wall and pergola had been cited for code violations by Royal Palm Beach. Page 3

Serving Palms West Since 1980

WEF Opening — Speakers at Tuesday’s event were (L-R) Michael Stone, Mark Bellissimo, Louise Serio, Christine McCrea, Rodrigo Pessoa and Hunter Harrison. PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

WEF Opens With More Horses, More Events, More Prize Money

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival opened in Wellington this week featuring more horses, more sponsors and more intense competition for more prize money than in previous years — and organizers hope the combination will draw more spectators than ever. The festival opened Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, and runs for 12 weeks, through April 1.

On Tuesday, Equestrian Sport Productions President Michael Stone was among several speakers who met with members of the media at the White Horse Tavern. Stone noted that it was the first season-opening press conference in some time not accompanied by the roar of construction equipment. “The showground is all set, all ready to go — no cranes, no bulldozers, not here, anyway,” Stone said. “This is going to be a great circuit. Our prize money is up significantly.”

The last six events will have five world-ranking classes, which will put WEF on the equivalent of the Global Champions Tour in Europe, Stone said, making it the biggest American horse show by far and among the biggest internationally. “I’m not sure of the number of foreign riders who are coming,” Stone said. “We have the complete team from Germany. The British team is using this for Olympic preparation. We have seven British ridSee WEF, page 18

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Marketing consultant Selena Smith has joined the race for Seat 1 on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council. Smith joins previously announced candidates Jeff Hmara and Ken DeLaTorre in seeking the seat vacated by the resignation of longtime Councilman David Swift last summer. The seat has been vacant since August and will be filled during the March 13 election. Candidates have until mid-February to come forward. Smith has been a Palm Beach County resident for seven years, living the past two years in Royal Palm Beach. She said she moved to the village for its family orientation and good schools. “I’ve seen a lot of good that there is, but I also believe that there is a lot of potential,” Smith told the Town-Crier on Tuesday. “I think I’d bring a different perspective to the council and to the village than what we have.” Smith, who is 39, said that de-

mographically, she represents a majority of village residents. At the same time, because she was raised by her grandparents for a long period of time, she sees issues from the perspective of an older person. “I can see an elderly point of view for our residents who are older,” she said. Smith went through elementary school on the island of Antigua in the West Indies, lived with her grandparents in Miami while in middle and high school, and graduated from Barry University with a degree in marketing. She then spent 15 years in the sports and entertainment industry, working for the Florida Panthers, Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins and the National Hockey League. She continued her career in Milwaukee for eight years with the Bradley Center and Clear Channel Radio before returning to South Florida as the marketing director for Roger Dean Stadium. Smith now works in the marketing department at Costco and recently opened her own public reSee SMITH, page 7

POLO SEASON BEGINS

Wellington Election: Al Paglia Switches To Challenge Willhite Second Annual Miracle League Gala Held At Binks Forest Golf Club

Major League Baseball umpire and Loxahatchee resident Angel Hernandez hosted the second annual Miracle League Gala on Friday, Jan. 6 at Binks Forest Golf Club in Wellington. Money is being raised to construct a baseball field for disabled children that will support a Miracle League program in the western communities. Page 9

OPINION The Nation Still Needs Dr. King’s Message

This Monday, the nation observes the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this difficult juncture of our nation’s history, now more than ever, Dr. King’s message must be heeded. While it’s understandable that people are frustrated — indeed, there is much to be frustrated about — this country will never move forward from its cultural morass as long as people keep demonizing each other. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS ............................. 3 - 14 OPINION .................................4 CRIME NEWS .........................6 NEWS BRIEFS..................... 15 SCHOOLS ............................ 16 PEOPLE ................................ 17 COLUMNS .................... 25 - 27 BUSINESS .................... 29 - 31 ENTERTAINMENT ................ 32 SPORTS ........................ 37 - 39 CALENDAR ................... 40 - 41 CLASSIFIEDS ................ 42 - 46 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The race for Seat 4 on the Wellington Village Council heated up last week when former Councilman Al Paglia, previously running for Seat 1, filed papers to run against Vice Mayor Matt Willhite. Two council seats and the mayor’s seat are up for grabs in the March 13 election. Candidates have until mid-February to make the ballot. Seat 1, currently held by termlimited Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Carmine Priore, has drawn two candidates, John Greene and Shauna Hostetler. Mayor Darell Bowen is seeking re-election, and former Councilman Bob Margolis has filed paperwork to run against him. Until last week, Willhite was

unopposed in his bid for re-election. Paglia is a longtime Wellington resident who served on the council from 1998 until 2002. He said he switched seats to oppose Willhite because he thought it is important that there be a contested race. “I think it’s important for people to step up to the plate and be involved,” Paglia told the TownCrier. “I am disappointed when people file for re-election and no one else opposes them. This is a great opportunity for people to serve the community.” Paglia said he chose to oppose Willhite because he believes the incumbent is a force of opposition on the council, voting against projects that Paglia feels are good for the community.

“Mr. Willhite has not been the particular catalyst I thought he would be for planned economic development and smart growth,” Paglia said. Paglia said that in his time on the council, he believed all council members approached projects with an open mind. “When I served on the council, we looked at all projects with an open eye,” he said, noting that he was a councilman when the Mall at Wellington Green was a heated issue. “The projects we approved were pretty huge, and 10 years later we are seeing the same types of projects.” Paglia pointed out that Willhite voted against Wellington’s municipal complex despite it being fiSee ELECTION, page 4

Allen West: Congress Must Fix The Nation’s Finances By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report With one year in office behind him, Congressman Allen West (RDistrict 22) said he is proud of what he’s accomplished but remains concerned about issues of government spending and national security. The Town-Crier sat down with West on the one-year anniversary of his swearing-in to discuss his time in office and his plans for the future. “It has been an interesting experience,” he said. “When you look at Capitol Hill, we have got to get people to have a sense of honor, integrity and character in order to help restore this country. There are too many people who are comfortable with lying. We have to move away from the politics of demagoguery and get back to honest policy.” Despite his concerns, West said that he is proud to serve. “For a young man who was born 50 years ago in the inner city of See ALLEN WEST, page 18

One Year On The Job — Congressman Allen West (R-District 22) during his visit last week to the Town-Crier office. PHOTO BY RON BUKLEY/TOWN-CRIER

The 2012 high-goal polo season kicked off Sunday, Jan. 8 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The Coca-Cola team defeated Villa Del Lago 11-7 to win the Herbie Pennell Cup. Shown here, Coca-Cola team members celebrate their victor y. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 20 IMAGE COURTESY LILA PHOTO

Wellington Reprieve For Equestrians Using Seasonal RVs By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington equestrians will be able to keep a select number of occupied recreational vehicles on their properties this season after the Wellington Village Council voted to enforce modified rules while the issue goes before village committees. At a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10, the council voted 4-1 to send staff’s recommendations to the Equestrian Preserve Committee and the Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board for review. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig cast the dissenting vote. In the meantime, properties following staff’s recommendations will not be cited for violations. Village Manager Paul Schofield told the council that there have been several requests by individual farm owners to allow the RVs. “As the ordinance exists today, we do not allow occupied RVs anywhere within the village,” he said. “Given that we had the requests, there seems to be consensus that

RVs are a significant part of the equestrian lifestyle.” During public comment at a meeting last month, Wellington Chamber of Commerce Equestrian Committee Co-Chair Victor Connor asked council members to reconsider the issue. The council agreed to reconsider, and staff returned with a recommendation for one RV to be allowed on properties of 2.5 to 10 acres, two RVs on 10 to 15 acres, three on 15 to 20 acres and four RVs on properties of 20 acres or more. The RVs must meet setback requirements and be screened from the view of adjacent properties and public rights-of-way, Schofield said. The council had three options: to take no action and strictly enforce the existing RV ban; to send the issue to committees and enforce the existing ordinances; or to send the issue to committees and enforce RVs on a “zoning-inprogress” basis. “At that time,” Schofield said, See RVs, page 18

CAFCI To Observe Dr. King’s Day With RPB Celebration By Jessica Gregoire Town-Crier Staff Report Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement (CAFCI) and the Village of Royal Palm Beach’s 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be held Monday, Jan. 16 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, with this year’s theme being “Living the Legacy.” CAFCI’s annual celebration of the life of Dr. King typically draws hundreds of people from a wide

cross-section of the community. “This is our way of celebrating Martin Luther King with our community,” event coordinator Elet Cyris said. “That’s why we have made it a free event open to the public.” The nation takes one day a year to celebrate the work of Dr. King, and CAFCI members hope citizens will take the time out to honor his memory. “In order for our young people and our community to remember how Dr. King’s strug-

gles affected who we are today, they must celebrate what he did,” Cyris said. Celebrating Dr. King and the struggles of the civil rights movement is a way for the community and younger generations to remember the sacrifices made. “We feel it’s so important for our community to remember because we still have a long way to go, especially black Americans,” Cyris said. CAFCI members are hoping for strong community support. “We

live in such a diverse community, so this is a way for everyone to come together,” Cyris said. This year’s event will begin at 9 a.m. with a free continental breakfast. At 10 a.m., Boy Scout Troop 111 will begin the ceremony with the raising of the flag. Jade Master will sing the national anthem. That will be followed by the featured entertainment, which will include local performers from the Delray Community Choir, Iona Gamble, pianist Copeland Davis,

Demi Master, Beyond Blind,Avery Sommers, Victor Hemans playing the flute, the Palm Beach Dance Ensemble and the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches. Many of the entertainers have been performing at the MLK celebration for years. “Since this year is our 10th year, we have invited many of the performers we have had over the years back,” Cyris said. Guest speakers will include acSee MLK DAY, page 7


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