WELLINGTON TOP COP, TOP FIREFIGHTER SEE STORY, PAGE 3
COUNTY MANDATES FACIAL COVERINGS SEE STORY, PAGE 4
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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RPB Gives Initial Nod For Townhomes On Land Behind Shopping Center
Volume 41, Number 17 July 3 - July 16, 2020
Serving Palms West Since 1980
VIRTUAL LUMINARIA CEREMONY
The Royal Palm Beach Village Council on Thursday, June 18 approved the first reading of a land use change request from commercial to residential with plans for about 100 townhomes on 12.28 acres north of Okeechobee Blvd. and west of Royal Palm Beach Blvd., north of the Village Royale shopping center. Page 3
School Board Ponders How To Re-Open As The New Year Looms
The Palm Beach County School Board has not yet reached a decision on what the coming school year will look like due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But board members agreed at a Wednesday, July 1 workshop, which followed a series of regional workshops, that it will not be a normal school year. Page 4
The Relay for Life of Western Palm Beach County held a moving Virtual Luminaria Ceremony at the Wellington Promenade behind the Wellington Community Center on the evening of Monday, June 22. This American Cancer Society event honored those who are fighting or have lost their battles with cancer. Approximately $3,500 was raised from the 700 luminaria bags. Shown above, Mandy Minitello explains the meaning of the colored candles. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Tina Polsky, Irv Slosberg Vie In Primary For State Senate Seat
Wellington Attorney Challenging Willhite For District 86 Seat
Wellington resident and attorney Susan Kufdakis Rivera is running as a Republican for state representative in District 86, challenging two-term Democratic incumbent Matt Willhite in November’s general election. Page 7
Radar Signs Coming To Sparrow Drive To Help With Speeding
The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved two speed indicator signs for Sparrow Drive east of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. on Thursday, June 18 after conducting a study in response to a petition circulated by residents asking for traffic calming in the area. Page 7
Roundabout Planned At Greenbriar/Ousley Farms Intersection
A contract for road improvements at the intersection of Greenbriar Blvd. and Ousley Farms Road was approved by the Wellington Village Council on Tuesday, June 23. The improvements include installing a roundabout at the challenging intersection. The project was awarded to D.S. Eakins Construction Corporation in the amount of $622,143.59. Page 7 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE.............................. 8 - 9 SCHOOLS.............................. 10 COLUMNS............................. 16 BUSINESS............................. 17 CLASSIFIEDS................ 21 - 22 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report The surprise decision of State Sen. Kevin Rader (D-District 29) not to seek re-election this year has created an opening for incumbent State Rep. Tina Polsky (D-District 81) and former State Rep. Irv Slosberg, who are vying in a Democratic primary to replace Rader. District 29 includes all of Wellington, as well as Boca Raton and its western suburbs. The district also includes the Glades communities of Belle Glade and South Bay. While District 29 trends Democratic, the winner of the Aug. 18 primary will face a general election campaign against Republican businessman Brian Norton, who is positioning himself as a bridge builder capable of working with both sides on the issues of school safety, climate change and healthcare. Tina Polsky — Polsky gave up her Boca Raton-based District 81 seat to run for the position and entered the race with Rader’s endorsement. An attorney, she was elected to her current position in 2018. Saying that it has been an honor
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, Palm Beach County officials held a news conference on Friday, June 26 to remind residents that the county has a facial coverings mandate in effect. Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner noted that the Palm Beach County Commission voted 7-0 on Tuesday, June 23 to mandate masks and social distancing in public (see related story, page 4). Kerner said facial covering and social distancing have been shown to reduce COVID-19 by as much as 50 percent. Facial coverings include everything from medicalgrade masks to a cloth covering, scarf, bandana or a plastic shield that covers the face down to the chin. They must be worn by patrons and servers in all businesses, restaurants and public facilities that have received permission by the state to open at 50 percent capacity. The rule also applies to all public transportation services, including PalmTran, taxis and ride-sharing services, as well as municipal and county buildings. The order does not contemplate school buildings. Those rules are being developed by the Palm Beach County School District.
“They have to make that decision on their own,” Kerner said, adding that children under age 2 or children in a licensed daycare facility are also exempt. Emergency personnel who operate under their agency’s designated rules and people jogging alone also do not have to wear masks. There are also exceptions, such as removing a mask in a restaurant to consume food, as well as persons with respiratory illness such as COPD. Houses of worship are not exempt from the emergency order requiring masks. Face coverings and social distancing are required while attending worship services, unless they meet criteria under the exemption noted in the county order. “We have Fourth of July coming up, and it’s important that if we congregate in groups, which we do not recommend, that you do so in a healthy and safe way, which includes wearing a mask,” he said. To stop mass gatherings on beaches, Palm Beach County issued an emergency order on Monday, June 29 closing public beaches over the July Fourth weekend. As of Friday, June 26, Florida reported 122,964 COVID-19 cases, with 12,498 cases in Palm See COVID, page 18
ITID Budget Focused On Operations And Maintenance
Tina Polsky
Irv Slosberg
to serve as a state representative from District 81, Polsky said that she is now ready to work for Wellington residents as well in a new position to give all her constituents a voice in government. “I have worked on important initiatives, such as gun safety and a woman’s right to choose,” Polsky said, adding that she has a track record in advocating for public schools, protecting seniors, providing affordable healthcare, supporting equal rights for all and flighting climate change. Polsky said that Florida’s un-
employment assistance crisis is a priority and the state must fix a system that is broken. “The automated system does not work and needs an overhaul,” she said. Polsky she said that she looks forward to more bi-partisan work in the State Senate and that Florida’s COVID-19 response will take precedence over just about all else in the near future. However, she added, recent protests have brought to light inequities and racial injustice that also need to be addressed. “It is See DISTRICT 29, page 4
Royal Palm Rolls Out Plans For New Village Hall Building
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission approved a site plan and architectural modifications for a new village hall and post office building last week, to be built on the existing village hall campus at the southeast corner of Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards. The new 25,000-square-foot, two-story building will have a reconfigured parking lot and landscaping on the 16.58-acre site. Ingress and egress points will remain the same, Planning & Zoning Director Bradford O’Brien told the commissioners on Tuesday, June 23. “All of the other buildings will be reskinned to match the new building,” O’Brien said, referring
County Struggles To Control Mounting COVID-19 Cases
A rendering of the new Royal Palm Beach Village Hall building. to the nearby David B. Farber tants Kimley-Horn, said the village Training Center and the Palm hall complex is a central feature of Beach County Sheriff’s Office the community. District 9 Substation. “It’s anchoring one of the most Site consultant Donaldson Hear- prominent corners in Palm Beach ing, on behalf of architect Rick County,” Hearing said. “It’s a wonSee BUILDING, page 18 Gonzalez and engineering consul-
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Indian Trail Improvement District Executive Director Burgess Hanson presented the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-21 at a public hearing on Tuesday, June 30 following a workshop with the ITID Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, June 24. The total expenditures for the operating budget has decreased to $13,915,624 from $17,525,139 during the current fiscal year due to the removal of allocated funds for both the M-1 Canal inverted siphon at $1 million as part of the county’s expansion of 60th Street North and the R2 roadway repaving project at $2.75 million. “The fiscal year 2020-21 bud-
get serves as a staff blueprint to estimate the necessary funding for personnel, equipment, projects and materials to meet the policy, directives and priorities set by the board of supervisors on behalf of the property owners and citizens of the Indian Trail Improvement District,” Hanson said. “Overall, we will be doing a fund assessment that will remain flat for most of the property owners in this upcoming fiscal year.” The proposed budget shows a slight increase in administration at $2.6 million due to engineering and legal fees, as well as information technology projects being proposed, he said. Parks will have a slight decrease to $3.3 million as See ITID BUDGET, page 18
Argue Secures New ITID Term After Jacobs Withdraws
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Incumbent Betty Argue has secured a new four-year term on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors now that former Supervisor Carol Jacobs, who was challenging Argue for Seat 4, has withdrawn from the race. Meanwhile, Keith Jordano and Richard Heinl are running for Seat 2 to replace Supervisor Tim Sayre, who chose not to seek a new term. That race will be decided during the Nov. 3 general election. Argue, who currently serves as ITID president, said she looks
forward to another term, having recently reviewed a proposed budget plan for fiscal year 2020-21. “We remain committed to improving our infrastructure, the roads and trying to get external funding sources for our projects, and this budget reflects that,” she said. “I think we have proven that we are able to accomplish a lot efficiently and effectively, and save money while doing the many projects that we’re doing in-house.” The budget will be finalized at the board’s July 15 meeting. “The bottom line is that not a lot See ARGUE, page 18
Local Man Fighting For His Life Against COVID-19
By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report News stories about COVID-19 often include the number of cases and deaths nationwide and locally. But such figures can distance us, obscuring the reality that every case is a person with an extended family and a network of friends — a human life forever altered and too often ended prematurely. A little over a month ago, Wellington High School graduate Phillip Renaud was a hardworking family man, a loving husband to his wife Marissa and a devoted father to their two-year-old daughter Mila. Then COVID-19 struck. The day he was admitted to the
hospital, the family also learned that his job had disappeared, and he lost his insurance. It is going on five weeks that Renaud has been hospitalized. He was in a medically induced coma at Wellington Regional Medical Center and spent his 32nd birthday in the intensive care unit, comatose, on a ventilator, a feeding tube and other lifesaving equipment. On the 28th day, Renaud was brought out of the coma and could only move his fingers and toes. He is in isolation, and not even his wife can visit him. Nurses hold a phone up to him so he can see his wife and daughter, even though he cannot yet talk to them.
“We never thought that one of our best friends would be fighting for his life due to COVID-19,” family friend Victor Velazco said. “Although we were well versed in the effects and the measures that we have all had to adapt to, you just don’t think that you could actually be living it first-hand. Phil has a long recovery ahead of him.” The days have been touch-andgo, with many unknowns and plenty of tears, as Renaud receives expensive treatment from doctors, specialists and nursing staff, literally 24 hours a day. “Phil and Marissa were high school sweethearts in Wellington. See RENAUD, page 4
Phillip Renaud with his wife Marissa and their daughter Mila.