YBBII RETURNS TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS WELLINGTON PLANS HOME EXPO AUG. 21 SEE STORY, PAGE 3 SEE STORY, PAGE 4 THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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County Commission Supports Applications For Arden, Coconut Palm
Volume 42, Number 17 July 30 - August 12, 2021
Serving Palms West Since 1980
2,500 BACKPACK CHALLENGE MET
The Palm Beach County Commission approved the transmittal of two privately proposed amendments Wednesday, July 28 regarding the Arden development off Southern Blvd. and the planned Coconut Palm Plaza on Northlake Blvd. Page 3
Dog Day Afternoon For Royal Palm Beach Summer Campers
The Royal Palm Beach Parks & Recreation Program’s Summer Camp has been keeping 72 young residents busy, entertained and safe this summer. On Friday, July 16, however, the entire summer camp population went to the dogs. Well, perhaps it was more the dogs went to them, when a contingent of PBSO canines visited. Page 16
Wellington Chamber Group WOWs The 2,500 Backpack Challenge
On Tuesday, July 20, the Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, known as WOW, came together for a victory celebration after the group’s annual back-to-school endeavor turned into joining forces with the Wellington Community Foundation to deliver 2,500 new backpacks to Wellington students in need for the upcoming school year. Page 18
‘Tennis 101’ And More Being Taught At Wellington Camp
Don’t be surprised if the next tennis sensation emerges from the Wellington area. This summer, roughly 100 children each week have been spending their mornings running around the tennis courts at the Wellington Tennis Center while being taught the basics and fundamentals of this lifelong sport — and many of them are playing the game very well. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS......................... 21 - 23 SCHOOLS.......................23 - 24 PEOPLE................................. 25 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
The Wellington Community Foundation was called on to organize local nonprofits to make a huge impact on children in need through the Village of Wellington’s 2,500 backpack challenge. Many local community partners stepped up to help deliver the 2,500 new backpacks to Wellington students for the upcoming school year. Along with the village and the Wellington Community Foundation, event sponsors included the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, the Wellington Rotary Club, Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, My Community Pharmacy, Premier Family Health, Prominence Health Plan, Baptist Health, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center and Clinics Can Help. Shown above are George Kinoshita, Maggie Zeller, Randy Pfeiffer and Larry Kemp of the Wellington Rotary Club at the Monday, July 19 “backpack stuffing” event at the Wellington Community Center. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5
Challengers Making Plans To Take On Incumbents In 2022 Wellington Election By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report Two seats on the Wellington Village Council are up for election on March 8, 2022, and even though that is more than seven months away, several challengers are already making plans to take on the two incumbents seeking re-election. Up for grabs are Seat 2, currently held by Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, and Seat 3, currently held by Vice Mayor John McGovern. Both were initially appointed to the council and won full, four-year terms in 2018. Local businessman Johnny Meier, a leader in the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and owner of My Community Pharmacy, has filed paperwork to run for Seat 3. Community activist Tony Nel-
son, president of Premier Family Health, has announced plans to run for Seat 2. He told the TownCrier that he is putting together a campaign committee and will be filing next week. Wellington Village Clerk Chevelle Addie confirmed that as of now, only Meier has filed paperwork. However, McGovern and Siskind each confirmed that they are seeking re-election and plan to file soon. With months to go until filing closes, there is still plenty of time for other candidates to come forward. SEAT 2 Nelson said that he has been thinking about running for public office for years. Perhaps not for all of his 34 years in Wellington, “But for quite a while,” he said.
Nelson has raised a family in Wellington, and his children, now in their 30s, have children of their own. “Between me and my kids and the grandkids, we have three generations in Wellington, and I’d like us to have three more,” he said. Nelson, who is Black, said he hopes to bring some diversity to the council. “About a year ago, on a Friday, I was talking to the great Village Manager Paul Schofeld, and he encouraged me to someday run for the council, to add some diversity,” Nelson recalled. He remembered telling Schofield that would consider it. Then an incident with his granddaughter near her home spurred him to action. “Two days later, on Sunday, See ELECTION, page 14
ITID Board Supports First Phase Of Community Center
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors gave direction at its meeting Wednesday, July 21 on what to do with about $3 million that is available from Palm Beach County’s half-cent sales surtax planned for a community center at Acreage Community Park’s southern expansion. “We previously did a resolution as a board requesting those monies to be used for drainage infrastructure, and it was not received well by the county,” said ITID President Betty Argue, who added that the board should decide how to spend the money or risk losing it. ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson said he was not asking for a final decision that evening but to begin discussions on the process of building a community center at the park.
“We can find out what the engineering and architectural costs are so we can plan and get this in the pipeline and try to secure those dollars,” he said. Hanson said that $3 million is not enough money to complete a community center, but his staff would look for other funding sources, perhaps hardening the structure for use as an emergency operations center. He added that the current district meeting hall is becoming too small to hold some events, such as the Feasibility and Charter Review Committee meetings underway, which are drawing large attendance. “It’s $3 million, and I can assure you that if we do not jump on this, the county will reallocate that money to other projects,” Hanson said. The current site plan calls for a 45,000-square-foot structure.
ITID Assistant Executive Director Rob Robinson said the current plan is building the community center in stages when money becomes available. “We’ve outgrown the current location for meetings, especially when there is an issue that drives the public out,” Robinson said. “The first [stage], we would have some meeting centers, as well as additional office staff.” While the $3 million is a great start, it would not go that far, Robinson noted. “Especially when we’re looking at getting additional funding dollars or grants for hardening the building,” he said. “We’re looking at $200 and up per square foot for a building of that magnitude, so the $3 million really wouldn’t go that far.” Argue asked if the current plans could accommodate a basketball See ITID, page 14
ITID Incorporation Feasibility Studies Now Underway
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Hearings are underway by the Indian Trail Improvement District’s Feasibility and Charter Review Committee and will continue through August to work through the details of a possible incorporation of ITID into a municipality. The committee was authorized this year by a local bill that passed the Florida Legislature in April and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June. The FCR committee is made up of more than a dozen residents from different ITID units that make up The Acreage, as well as three members of the ITID Board of Supervisors — Supervisor Keith Jordano, Supervisor Joni Martin and President Betty Argue, who serves as chair. The committee also includes a representative from GL Homes, which has committed to become an activated unit of the district once its large residential project west of The Acreage gets underway. Acreage Landowners’ Association President Bob Morgan
sits on the committee as an ALA representative. “We are trying to get the feasibility study completed in order to see if it is a smart idea to do so, or if our taxes are going to skyrocket,” Morgan told the Town-Crier. Morgan also pointed out that once the study is done, it must get approval of the legislature before it is put to a referendum of voters. The committee already has met several times and will meet weekly on Thursdays through August with specific items to discuss at each meeting. It also has public input meetings set. “We have limited topics on the agenda because there is so much information,” Morgan said. ITID Executive Director Burgess Hanson, who has experience in municipal management from his time with Deerfield Beach, has been on the sidelines as support staff, observing the committee’s meetings, available to answer questions if needed, but does not sit on the committee. “The committee started working See COMMITTEE, page 4
COLLINS RECEPTION
The Village of Wellington hosted a reception for the most recent installment of the Art in Public Places community initiative Thursday, July 22 at the Wellington Community Center. The reception highlighted the work of sculptor Colbert C. Collins, a former Wellington resident. Michael Collins, the artist’s son, spoke at the reception. Shown here is Michael Collins with “Storytime,” designed by Michael Collins and created by Colbert Collins. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 8 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Groves Council Gives Nod To 25 MPH Speed Limit For Town Roads
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday, July 20 to an ordinance that would set the speed limit at 25 miles per hour on all town roads, except Southern and Okeechobee boulevards. Mayor Robert Shorr asked if Folsom Road was included in the ordinance. “Didn’t we agree that the speed limit there should remain 30 [mph]?” Shorr asked. Town Attorney Elizabeth Lenihan explained that Folsom Road is a county road. “If it’s a county road, then this wouldn’t apply,” Lenihan said.
Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia said she felt Folsom Road should be considered for the 25-mph speed limit. “I get a lot of complaints that people cannot get out on that road,” Maniglia said. “I think we should talk about it and see if there’s any public comments.” Former Councilman Todd McLendon said he felt enacting the ordinance would be a waste of money. “If you take these lettered roads like B Road, the speed limit is 30, and people are doing 60,” McLendon said. “Just because you change it to 25, they’re still going to be doing 60.” He added that it would cost a See SPEED LIMIT, page 7
Shakespeare Festival Coming To RPB Park In August
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival is coming to Royal Palm Beach for two weekends in August. The shows will be held at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. The item was approved by the Royal Palm Beach Village Council on Thursday, July 15. Elizabeth Dashiell, co-producer of the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, said that Shakespeare by the Sea has been in operation for 31 years, and they have been asked to bring a similar event inland.
“We are one of the first established in the United States having an annual Shakespeare in the Park,” Dashiell said. “We do a fullscale, professional — that means everyone gets paid — production of one of Shakespeare’s works. Here in Palm Beach County, we have done this festival every summer for two weeks, four nights each time, and for years we have been asked, ‘When are you going to bring Shakespeare by the Sea out to the western communities?” She has worked with the village to organize the first-ever Shakespeare by the Palms.
The Shakespeare Festival kicked off the first Shakespeare by the Sea at Carlin Park in Jupiter 31 years ago. “Every year, we do a different take,” Dashiell said. “We do not touch Shakespeare’s text, but it might be in a different time, in a different setting, and we have an amazing director, Seth Trucks, the son of Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers.” For the first time in Shakespeare Festival history, there will be live music in the production of Twelfth Night in Royal Palm Beach. “It’s a beautiful romantic com-
edy. A tale of a shipwreck and mistaken identity. It’s just simply a beautiful play,” she said. “I’m just so excited to be starting the inaugural Shakespeare by the Palms.” The festival will run for eight nights, Thursday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Aug. 22, and Thursday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Aug. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. “Our mission is to make it as accessible as possible for everyone, and we do that by presenting as it was meant to be, as it was written, and that is onstage with actors who are very comfortable with the verse, but also free of
charge,” Dashiell said. “We have never charged an admission, and we are very appreciative of the partnership that enables us to bring this to the public for free. We are completely donation based, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to bring this out to the western communities.” Attendees are welcome to bring their beach chairs and a picnic basket. Food trucks are also expected to be there. Performances are rain or shine. Councilwoman Jan Rodusky said residents have been talking See FESTIVAL, page 14