MORE CANDIDATES FILE FOR ITID BOARD SEE STORY, PAGE 3
FIVE RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEAT SEE STORY, PAGE 4
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Volume 43, Number 13 July 1 - July 14, 2022
Serving Palms West Since 1980
ROYAL PALM BEACH ROTARY AWARDS
Page 23 Economic Shifts Could Bring Big Changes To State Road 7
Facing long-term issues ranging from challenges in retail real estate to talks of new public transit options in the area, the Village of Royal Palm Beach hosted a public workshop Thursday, June 23 with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to share potential design concepts and gain input from the community regarding the future of four major parcels along the State Road 7 corridor. Page 3 The Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club held its 32nd annual awards dinner and induction ceremony on Friday, June 17 at Hilary’s Restaurant & Deli. The officers for 2022-23 were installed, including incoming President Romeo Siquijor. Shown above, incoming President Romeo Siquijor gets a Rotarian of the Year award from outgoing President Steve Epstein. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 16 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Retro Fitness Debuts New Health Club On SR 7 In Wellington
Retro Fitness, one of the fastest-growing health club franchises, held the grand opening of its new club in Wellington on Saturday, June 25. Located at 816 S. State Road 7 in the Shoppes of Isla Verde, the Wellington location features world-class strength and cardio equipment, communal areas, group classes, a smoothie bar, a pro shop and much more. Page 18
Indian Trail Staff Proposes Sizable Budget Increase
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District’s budget for fiscal year 2022-23 could nearly double to $24.3 million under a “wish list” proposal presented by staff to the ITID Board of Supervisors at a Wednesday, June 22 workshop meeting. However, the budget is likely to be pared down before the final spending plan is approved. “I’d like to be driving a Mercedes, too. But these are taxpayer dollars, and we need to figure out ways to make these dollars spread a little bit further,” said ITID Vice President Betty Argue, specifically referring to a $2.1 million proposal to purchase new road and canal cleaning equipment and several new pickups. “We need to make do with what we have where we can.” ITID’s 2021-22 budget was $12.5 million with an average per-acre assessment of $600. Next year’s staff proposal suggested an
$11.7 million increase. Since each $50 per acre/district-wide assessment generates approximately $1 million for ITID’s coffers, a $600 per acre increase would be necessary to fully fund the proposal. That does not include the $53 per acre assessment in some of the district’s units to fund the R3 road program. “While I agree this [proposed increase] is astronomical, residents have been asking for all this [road and canal] work, and it can’t be done for nothing,” said Supervisor Jennifer Hager, who is not seeking re-election this year after 12 years on the board. “Repairing all this infrastructure, paving this and milling that… It doesn’t happen for free.” Supervisor Keith Jordano said he did not want to see residents pay more in assessments but added that supervisors need to stop kicking infrastructure and other major projects down the road. “It’s a hard pill to swallow…
[but] it’s pay me now or pay me later,” Jordano said. With costs increasing rapidly, the same work could cost much more several years from now. “Residents will appreciate if we bit the bullet today for what it will save them in the future,” Jordano said. Argue said that tough decisions will need to be made. “No one in the district, no matter what they’ve asked for, is going to want to pay double while their taxes also are going up with [Palm Beach County],” she said. “So, we need to look at a cheaper way of moving forward.” That could be done by paring back some of the proposed equipment purchases. “Maybe we can cut two million to one million,” Argue said. “If we can do that in several places, then we can put ourselves in a better place until next year.” That process already is well See ITID BUDGET, page 7
RPB Council Takes First Step In Creating New Zoning Category
Standout Season For Shawn Steuerer At Johns Hopkins
Lifelong Wellington resident Shawn Steuerer had a dream season this past spring while attending college at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He played third base for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays baseball team. As a freshman, he put together a season that is normally associated with an all-conference upperclassman. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS......................... 21 - 23 PEOPLE..........................24 - 25 SCHOOLS.............................. 26 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Royal Palm Beach is planning for the future with the creation of a new zoning category called Mixed Use Social Center (MSX). The new MSX zoning is envisioned for the central gathering area of the new Tuttle Royale neighborhood. The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved the first reading of a comprehensive plan text amendment on Thursday, June 16. It was the first step in allowing developers to design taller buildings that will utilize the upper floors for residential space and the ground floor for commercial use, such as retail shops. Vice Mayor Selena Samios dissented in the 4-1 vote for approval. “My concern, three of them for a fact, were noise issues for the residents, so that tips me off. The height density, the traffic — one thing that residents tell us all the time is the influx that is already
on that intersection and what more this will bring,” Samios said. “The size of it scares me, so I’d like to hear why [planning and zoning staff] approved it.” Planning & Zoning Director Bradford O’Brien explained that the density of MSX projects would be limited in their locations to be used based on the size requirement of 40-plus acres. Village Manager Ray Liggins said that growth will happen. The village’s job is to create smarter growth. “Yes, this brings more traffic. A hundred people a day moved to Palm Beach County last year; 1,500 people a day moved to Florida. There is not a law out there you can pass to keep this from happening. They are coming here,” Liggins said. “There’s 22 million people living in Florida now. There will be 35 million people living in Florida 50 years from now. They will come here. Providing them an alternative place to live versus
half-acre or quarter-acre lots in the Everglades Agricultural Area between here and Belle Glade might help minimize that from happening. In the urban areas between us and the coast, projects like this are being done by all the cities to give people, the seniors, the young people an alternative. It is more efficient for Florida. It does have the potential of protecting more sensitive lands by doing this. In the meantime, you will get more traffic.” Other council members were convinced and supported the MSX land use category, as long as it is applied for specific, limited uses. “I love when we have these discussions,” said Mayor Fred Pinto, who likes the idea of providing transportation options to people outside of cars. “To put another context on this situation, this traffic is not going to be generated from the core of our village. It’s on the outskirts. We are embarking down See RPB ZONING, page 7
Council Picks Ramaglia To Serve As New Lox Groves Town Manager
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report After nearly two hours of interviewing five candidates to replace retiring Town Manager Jamie Titcomb, the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council unanimously chose Assistant Village Manager Francine Ramaglia as its top choice to replace Titcomb on Tuesday, June 21. Town Attorney Elizabeth Lenihan has begun contract negotiations with Ramaglia, who is already serving as interim town manager. An agreement is expected to be in place soon and could be finalized at the Tuesday, July 5 council meeting. At the meeting, the council interviewed the finalists one by one with Lenihan overseeing the process. There were supposed to
be seven finalists, but two did not show up. “I want to welcome our candidates and tell them that we appreciate all the time it takes to submit their qualifications and participate in the interview process,” Lenihan said. To keep the process moving smoothly, the candidates were limited to three-minute opening statements, followed by two questions posed by each council member. Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia opted out of the questioning process. Each interview lasted approximately 20 minutes. The candidates were interviewed in alphabetical order, and aside from Ramaglia, also included: Mark Kutney, who has direct experience with the town, See RAMAGLIA, page 4
WELLINGTON ROTARY INSTALLATION DINNER
The Wellington Rotary Club held its annual Awards Banquet and Installation Ceremony on Saturday, June 18 at the Wanderers Club. New board members were installed by Frank Suess, including incoming President Tiffany Rodriguez. Shown above, outgoing President Tom Carreras hands incoming President Tiffany Rodriguez the gavel. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Board Picks Top Cop, Top Firefighter Honorees
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington’s Public Safety Committee heard a presentation on the nominees for the village’s annual Top Cop and Top Firefighter awards on Wednesday, June 22, voting to bestow the Top Cop honor on Deputy Harold Harper and the Top Firefighter award on Firefighter Shane Armstrong. Harper and Armstrong will be formally recognized and presented with their awards at the Wednesday, Sept. 21 meeting of the Wellington Village Council. There were two nominees from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Eli Shaivitz nominated
Deputy Harold Harper, while Sgt. James Benedict nominated Agent Nick Holberton. “We struggle with this every year,” Shaivitz said, “because we have a lot of great deputies. There’s a lot of good going on. It’s tough for us even to bring a few to the forefront. We try to find nominees who have, for the past year, some type of consistent, exemplary work. That’s why these, once again, are some good, good nominations.” In his nomination letter for Harper, Shaivitz noted that Harper has been the liaison to the Village of Wellington since 2020, and with See AWARDS, page 7
Panther Ridge Welcomes New African Leopard Cub
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The Panther Ridge Conservation Center in Loxahatchee Groves recently welcomed its newest resident, a female African leopard cub, which brings the total number of exotic cats living at the haven to 23. Even though the facility is a popular destination for those visiting Palm Beach County, Panther Ridge’s focus is not just to be a wildlife attraction, but to promote education and conservation for endangered and threatened big cats. “Scarlet is a three-month-old, endangered African leopard that came from another facility. She found her forever home at Panther
Ridge, and we plan to eventually introduce an unrelated male to her,” Panther Ridge Head Keeper Sadie Ryan explained. Panther Ridge is part of a highly specialized and regulated network of facilities that work to save these majestic creatures from going extinct. This is why the sanctuary works hard to maintain accreditations with both the Zoological Association of America and the Feline Conservation Federation. Locals and tourists can also explore the facility with a variety of options on just how up close and personal they would like to get with the animals. You can even go for a walk with a cheetah (no direct contact with the animal) and take
home a personal painting from the cats themselves. There are group tours available for schools, and all tours at the facility must be booked in advance. The center does not currently offer walk-ins. Call (561) 795-8914 to set up a visit. If Scarlet the leopard is what draws you to the sanctuary, know that she will be sharing her space with a roommate soon. “Since we also have a one-yearold female Amur leopard, Mischa, that is alone, we will work on introducing the two leopard girls so they can have some companionship,” Ryan said. “We will not be offering encounters with Scarlet due to our accreditation association prohibiting the public to have contact with Class I cats.”
When the weather cools, Panther Ridge will re-open its Twilight Tours program, which provides an opportunity to see the cats after dark, when many species are most active. “We will be getting a new species soon, making Panther Ridge home to 10 species of felines,” Ryan said. “So, definitely be on the lookout for the new addition.” A nonprofit organization, Panther Ridge, located at 2143 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves, is open to all ages, and tours are available by reservation seven days a week. Call (561) 795-8914 or visit www.pantherridge.org for more information on programs, as well as volunteer or internship opportunities.
Scarlet, a three-month-old, endangered African leopard, now calls Panther Ridge her home.