ROBERT SHORR RUNS FOR LOX COUNCIL SEE STORY, PAGE 3
ITID SEEKING MORE DRAINAGE RIGHTS SEE STORY, PAGE 4
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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INSIDE
Royal Palm Council Gets Update On Senior Referral Program
Volume 40, Number 4 January 25 - January 31, 2019
Serving Palms West Since 1980
CAFCI MLK CELEBRATION IN RPB
The Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 17 included presentations concerning the needs of some of the community’s most senior members, as well as the recent successes of a group of young local football players who just won a national championship. Page 3
On Monday, Jan. 21, the Caribbean-Americans for Community Involvement and the Village of Royal Palm Beach honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the newly remodeled Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The celebration’s performers and speakers embraced the theme “the time is always right to do what is right.” Shown above, the Irie Angels bring the community together with sweet and soulful voices. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10 PHOTO BY CALLIE SHARKEY/TOWN-CRIER
Debi Johnson Found Her Calling Working With Special Needs Students
Four years ago, educator Debi Johnson saw a gap in the local education system for children with special needs when a resource center moved and she chose to remain in the area. This led to the creation of the Connections Education Center of the Palm Beaches. Page 7
Wellington Finalizes Tougher Property Maintenance Rules
By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report With more than two dozen speakers supporting the measure, and just two opposed, the Wellington Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 22 resulted in another unanimous vote to enact an ordinance to improve property maintenance standards in the community. Wellington Planning, Zoning & Building Director Bob Basehart presented the measure developed to improve standards for grass maintenance of vacant, abandoned and unused properties, but also applying to developed properties and water bodies. “This will affect every single private property owner in the village, not just golf courses, [and will] include village land,” said Basehart, who stressed that the ordinance is designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents, as well as property values.
Basehart explained that the ordinance codifies what has always been the village policy. Specifically, the ordinance modifies wording to clarify specific regulations for the control of excessive grass and weeds on developed land and in waterways, lakes and ponds. The initiative has two objectives — to strengthen provisions for maintenance and prevent a property from having a negative impact on its neighbors, Basehart said. Additionally, the new language seeks to clarify any duplications or ambiguities in the existing code. “We want to make standards more uniform and clearer to understand… for the average landowner,” added Basehart, who explained that a table presents the information in an easy-to-follow format. Properties less than a half-acre and golf courses must maintain the entire property at a six-inch height, with the exception of properly maintained, longer decorative
grasses on golf courses shown on the approved plans for that golf course. Basehart said the regulations will not affect operating golf courses, and nothing prevents new courses from being built or existing courses that submit a plan from redeveloping their grounds. While the ordinance covers all land in the village, the boisterous number of residents who were present seemed primarily interested in Polo West, a disused golf course with infrequent maintenance that has become the unofficial poster-child of the measure. Requiring vegetation on unused land be no more than six inches high for 120 feet around the buffer of the property, the new policy is an increase from the currently required 60 feet. The six-inch height is a rule the property apparently has not adhered to until just before the meeting. “This applies to public and priSee MAINTENANCE, page 4
Lox Council Fires Underwood, Plans To Hire Titcomb As New Manager
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council last week initiated a 120day termination process for Town Manager Bill Underwood and his company Underwood Management Services Group. The council then began a process to hire Jamie Titcomb, who is currently manager of the Town of Ocean Ridge, to replace him. Titcomb has a long history in public service, including the longest tenure as executive director of the Palm Beach County League of Cities. He has managed several municipalities and served as a city commissioner and vice mayor in Boynton Beach. He also supported the incorporation efforts of Loxahatchee Groves through his role with the League of Cities. The action was taken on Wednesday, Jan. 16, during the second half of a meeting that began on Tuesday, Jan. 15. During the process, the council agreed to let the new manager decide how to fill staff openings left as a result of terminating Underwood’s company. Councilwoman Anita Kane opened discussion of the termination and hiring, although she did not immediately reveal Titcomb’s name. “I think that we’re all in agreement that we need to move from a contract management style to a manager hired by the town,” Kane said. “I’m pretty sure that’s what a majority of the people in the town and a majority of the council feel, and I’m pretty certain that our contract management at this time would like to sever the relationship.”
Kane said she had met with Underwood to work out terms of separation and made a motion to exercise the 120-day termination clause in the company’s contract, including relieving Underwood of his duties as town manager as soon as a replacement is available. Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia seconded the motion. Vice Mayor Todd McLendon asked what would be done about employees, and Kane proposed two possible options. “One possibility is to move forward with the recruitment that we’ve discussed, and this puts on the time clock, and when I reviewed the recruitments, they run between 60 and 120 days,” she said. “The second possibility is that I have identified a town manager who is currently employed with another municipality, and if we vote yes to this, I will reveal who that person is, and then we can vote on whether to hire that person, who is ready, willing and able to come to the town.” Kane said the new manager could then make decisions about employees. “We have a management contract for 120 days, and those people are being paid for, so they would stay, except Mr. Underwood once the new town manager replaces him,” Kane said. “[The new manager] could then work with those people and make decisions on whether they would stay on as employees after the 120 days or whether they would leave with the contract.” Councilman Dave DeMarois questioned replacing the manager with an election coming up that See LOX MANAGER, page 4
TEMPLE HOSTS GALA
Great Charity Challenge Marks 10th Anniversary On Feb. 2
Wellington Basketball Squad Holds On To Defeat John I. Leonard
On Friday, Jan. 18, the Wellington High School basketball squad hosted district rival John I. Leonard High School and held on to defeat the Lancers 6957, behind Linton Brown’s 23 points. The Wolverines (13-5, 4-1) jumped out to a six-point run and led 10-2 early in the first period. Page 23 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 20 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................... 8 SCHOOLS................................ 9 COLUMNS............................. 18 CALENDAR............................ 20 BUSINESS............................. 21 SPORTS..........................23 - 24 CLASSIFIEDS................. 22, 25 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, returns to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday, Feb. 2 with gates opening to the public at 6 p.m. Now in its 10th year, this popular event has already distributed more than $12 million to more than 230 nonprofits in Palm Beach County. The competitions begin at 6:30 p.m., and general admission, including parking, is free at 13500 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. Every year a new theme inspires unique and fun costumes for both horses and riders on each threeperson team. The intention of this year’s theme of “We Are The World” is to promote unity among cultures from around the globe. “Each team of riders was given the opportunity to select a country that they wish to represent,” Great Charity Challenge Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin
said. “From the USA, the UK all the way to Kenya, we are excited to see them celebrate these countries.” The GCC competition merges the thrill of show jumping with community support at a familyfriendly event. Riders ranging from Olympians to amateurs jump through the courses. “The event is judged as a relay race. For every rail that falls, a set number of seconds are added to their score. The team of riders with the lowest score at the end of the night wins $150,000 for their randomly paired charity,” Valtin said. The chosen nonprofits are all winners, with every participating team guaranteed to bring home at least $15,000. As the GCC has grown, the impact now reaches well beyond the organizations participating in the jumping competition. “We will also be drawing several grants on Saturday, Feb. 2, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
The Ziegler Family Foundation will also be awarding an additional $50,000 through the Grand Prix Society,” Valtin said. This year, the planned $1 million purse will be exceeded as the GCC is on target to present $1.3 million in 2019. The event is about more than just the money. It brings together a community in dedication and support of each other. “One of my favorite quotes of all times is by Margaret Mead,” Valtin said. “‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ This is exactly what we get to witness and experience through the Great Charity Challenge.” Paige Bellissimo, who cofounded the event with her parents Mark and Katherine Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions in 2010, sees the GCC as more than a one-day event. “We don’t give to get,” BelSee GCC, page 20
More than 160 guests were welcomed to the Wellington National Golf Club for Temple Beth Torah’s annual gala held Saturday, Jan. 19. Cool cats and dolls enjoyed cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and a room full of casino games at the “Roaring 20s” speakeasy-themed event. Shown above are Ken and Judy Wolosoff with event chairs Debra and Todd Barron. MORE PHOTOS, PAGES 5 PHOTO BY CALLIE SHARKEY/TOWN-CRIER
Little Free Libraries Are Popping Up All Over RPB
By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report Little Free Libraries are popping up throughout the Village of Royal Palm Beach, thanks to the efforts of local nurse and mother Erin Franklin. Joined by village officials and well-wishers, Franklin cut the ribbon on Saturday, Jan. 19, officially opening the community’s third Little Free Library, this one at Veterans Park. The idea is simple. Little Free Libraries are decoratively painted weatherproof boxes where both adults and youngsters are encouraged to take a book and drop a book. The free book exchange idea has grown so popular, both in the United States and abroad, that the
new little library at Veterans Park is officially the 78,979th library listed at www.littlefreelibrary.org. With the success of the village’s first two libraries, located at Earth Day Park and Franklin’s Sunflower Circle front yard, the community has embraced the concept and plans are being made for more Little Free Libraries in other Royal Palm Beach public parks and in more front yards. Under Franklin’s leadership, the project has become a vibrant community effort. A local grant has been landed; partnerships with agencies, schools and the business community are being formed; and volunteer “stewards” are being recruited to help oversee future little libraries.
“Once I decided I wanted a Little Free Library of my own, it took about a year to get it approved and installed because it was new and unknown to code enforcement,” Franklin explained. She thanked Vice Mayor Selena Samios for helping get the project underway. “She helped me write and obtain the grant, as well as used her contacts to get the high school involved. They will be painting the next libraries for our community,” Franklin said. “I feel if we get the middle and high schools involved, the children helping build and paint them will be invested in the program as much as I am, helping them establish a new hobby and See LIBRARIES, page 7
Village officials and supporters join Erin Franklin for the Little Free Library ribbon cutting at Veterans Park.
PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER