Town-Crier Newspaper June 16, 2017

Page 1

MOTOWN GROUP ‘PAYS IT FORWARD’ SEE STORY, PAGE 3

SIMMEL ENDS LONG SCHOOL CAREER SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE

LGWCD Board Approves Bank Line Of Credit For Emergencies

Volume 38, Number 24 June 16 - June 22, 2017

Serving Palms West Since 1980

WOMEN’S CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS

The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a $200,000 revolving line of credit with Floridian Community Bank to cover the immediate cost of emergencies until it can get refunds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Page 3

Mall At Wellington Green Presents Indoor Summer Green Market

The Mall at Wellington Green hosted its first monthly indoor farmers’ market on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 in the City Furniture court. Vendors featured cheese, orchids, fresh juices and cookies, breads and candy for sale. There was honey, specialty oils, jams and jellies, and more. Page 5

Summer Festival Honors Philippine Independence Day At The Fairgrounds

The 18th annual Philippine Summer Festival took place on Saturday, June 10 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. The event, hosted by the PhilippineAmerican Society of West Palm Beach, celebrated Philippine Independence Day with food, music and dance of the islands. Page 13

OPINION

Conversion Therapy Ban Should Be Enacted By County And State

A year ago, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council pushed for the Palm Beach County Commission to take up the issue of banning “conversion therapy” for minors, the practice in which therapists attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation. For the past two legislative sessions, State Sen. Jeff Clemens has introduced legislation to prohibit conversion therapy statewide. We are glad to see Wellington enact a ban and urge both the county and the state to ban the practice. Page 4

DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 13 OPINION.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 6 PEOPLE................................. 14 SCHOOLS.............................. 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 23 BUSINESS......................24 - 25 SPORTS..........................31 - 33 CALENDAR............................ 38 CLASSIFIEDS................ 39 - 43 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Women of the Western Communities held its end of season meeting, officer installation and scholarship presentation on Thursday, June 8 at the Wanderers Club. There was a buffet dinner and a program that featured guest speaker Kathy Stackhouse. Four students received scholarship awards, and the 2017-18 board was sworn in. Shown above are scholarship recipients Sydney Meve, Kianna Anderson, Adriana Serrano and Jocabed Martinez. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 19 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Consultant: RPB Should Form Group Like Wellington Cares

By Jack Lowenstein Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Senior Citizen Ad Hoc Advisory Board last week approved the Senior Needs Assessment Study completed by PMG Associates. On Thursday, June 8, economist Phil Gonot of PMG Associates gave his report on the company’s findings and research into senior needs in Royal Palm Beach. “One of the things in our role that we like is clarity. We didn’t have much problem whatsoever finding out what you thought,” Gonot said. “Sometimes you have to figure it out, translate it. You were incredibly clear, and that’s very important.” Gonot proposed a nonprofit organization dedicated to senior needs in Royal Palm Beach. He met with Wellington Cares Volunteer Coordinator Diane Gutman and recommended a similar nonprofit serving the Royal Palm

Beach area. “That’s what Wellington Cares is. They are separate from the Village of Wellington government,” Gonot said. “And, Wellington Cares said they would help in setting up the same kind of program.” He also recommended the hiring of a professional staff person to facilitate in the operations of a potential senior program. “Somebody who focuses on these things will probably add to the kind of services that you get and the amount of services that you get,” Gonot said. “That particular person can also work with some of the volunteers who can help in that particular program.” Before completing the study, PMG Associates met with the board and was told that transportation is a big focus for the improvements and addition of services to meet senior needs in Royal Palm Beach. Gonot discussed door-to-door

services, door-through-door services and a service called a STAR (senior transportation and rides) system, which are subsidized taxi rides that are supposed to bring people together, giving them reduced-price rides on a monthly basis. “The cost is not excessive, and it is basically volunteer-driven,” he said. Wellington Cares uses a STAR system, and it is financed in part by the Village of Wellington. “What you would need to do locally is establish the parameters,” Gonot said. That includes age, number of rides each month, destination and cost. Wellington Cares charges $5 for eight escorted rides each month. Volunteer services were discussed. Including transportation services, much of what was proposed to the board called for the See SENIOR STUDY, page 4

By Randa Griffin Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington’s annual Fourth of July celebration will return this year with even more fun activities and fireworks for the whole family. “We pride ourselves on these hometown events — safe and traditional events that residents can plan for every year. There’s something for every member of the family,” Community Programs Manager Michelle Garvey said. The celebration begins at noon on Tuesday, July 4 at the Wellington Aquatics Complex with a Patriotic Pool Party. Everyone is welcome to swim in the pool and participate in different aquatic games, contests and activities. “The pool closes at 5 p.m., which will give everyone time to get over to Village Park for the activities there,” said Garvey,

noting that regular pool admission rates apply. The rest of the day’s activities begin at 6 p.m. at Village Park on Pierson Road. A free shuttle service will provide transportation from the Mall at Wellington Green to the park from 5:15 p.m. until 10 p.m., after the fireworks show. The shuttle stop will be located at the bus stop outside of Nordstrom. The celebration at Village Park provides something fun for the whole family. Traditional games such as sack races, hula-hoop competitions, pie-eating contests and an egg toss will go on throughout the night, as well as free bingo games. There will also be numerous bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, games, a petting zoo, pony rides and face painting, spon-

sored by Promise Life Chapel. Many of last year’s family favorite games and activities are returning, with the addition of different bounce houses, which can be enjoyed by all age groups. “We have tiny bouncers for the littlest kids, all the way up to dual racing slides for the older ones,” Garvey said. The band Studio 54 will provide live music throughout the evening and more than 20 food trucks and local vendors will be selling food, drinks and ice cream. Vendor space is limited, so anyone interested in a vendor booth should call Garvey at (561) 791-4082 as soon as possible. At 9:15 p.m., the popular Zambelli fireworks show is set to begin. Rain has threatened the show in the past, but Garvey said that every See HOLIDAY, page 17

Wellington Gives Initial OK To Ban Conversion Therapy

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council approved the preliminary reading of an ordinance Tuesday that would ban conversion therapy on minors. Conversion therapy is a controversial treatment of gay people that aims to make them heterosexual. The two-hour discussion featured public input for and against the measure by several dozen people, and presentations by parties of both viewpoints on the practice. Wellington’s ban, once finalized, would ban licensed mental health professionals in Wellington from using conversion therapy on minors under age 18. It does not prohibit those over 18 from seeking out conversion therapy, nor stop religious leaders who are not licensed mental health professionals from engaging in the practice. Non-professional groups, which do not require state licenses, are also not covered by the ban. Several municipalities in Palm Beach County have approved

similar ordinances banning conversion therapy by mental health professionals. The matter is also under discussion by the Board of County Commissioners regarding a countywide ban. Dr. Rachel Needle, a licensed psychologist at the Center for Marital Health of South Florida, director of the Whole Health Psychological Center and CEO of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute, represented the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council and spoke on behalf of a ban on conversion therapy and its dangers. “The practice of conversion therapy began when homosexuality was considered… a mental disorder,” Needle said. “Mental health professionals aimed to cure homosexuality with a number of barbaric techniques, including electroshock therapy and castration.” She pointed out that in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the See BAN, page 7

ONCE UPON A CHILD

Once Upon a Child held its grand opening Thursday, June 8. Located in the Wellington Marketplace, the new store is part of a unique national recycling retail chain that specializes in merchandise for infants to pre-teens. The store buys and sells quality, gently used children’s apparel, shoes, books, baby equipment and furniture, and more. Shown above are owners Taina and Kalvin Williams with sons Isaiah and Isaac. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

LGWCD Supervisors Popular Wellington Festivities Ponder Assessment Set To Return On Fourth Of July Increase In Budget By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report It appears that a hike in assessments is likely for property owners in the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District after the initial round of budget workshops. LGWCD supervisors discussed the possibility when they met Monday. The increase might be necessary due to failing equipment, particularly if the district continues to do its job of maintaining roads and canals. The supervisors said the revenue increase would be used to purchase or lease a new grader and water truck. The question is complicated by the unresolved transfer of the district’s remaining roads to the town. LGWCD Administrator Steve Yohe said that after budget workshops May 9 and May 25, the

board recognized that an assessment increase for the 2017-18 fiscal year is warranted, either to supplement the loss of gas tax money from the town if the district does not continue to maintain roads, or to obtain a new grader and water truck if the district continues road maintenance. After the transfer of South D Road and Collecting Canal Road to the town, which is in process, the district will still have 10.6 miles of unpaved roads to maintain. A new Caterpillar grader costs $193,418, with an annual payment of $41,500 for five years. A new Caterpillar water truck costs $136,500, with an annual payment of $29,300 for five years. “Due to the road maintenance uncertainty, staff conducted alternative budget analyses for fiscal See LGWCD, page 4

Chamber Lunch Focuses On Deadly Opioid Epidemic

State Attorney Dave Aronberg speaks at last week’s luncheon.

PHOTO BY JACK LOWENSTEIN/TOWN-CRIER

By Jack Lowenstein Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg was the keynote speaker at a Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce economic forum luncheon held at the Breakers West Country Club on Thursday, June 8. The focus of the luncheon was “the Economics of Addiction.” Aside from Aronberg, the luncheon featured the chamber’s Medical Board of Governors. “We spent a lot of time deciding on what the best activities [were] for the Central Palm Beach County Chamber to be involved in. We have heard from all of you that these economic luncheons are very valuable, so we’re very excited that all of you are here

today,” said Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee, vice chair of the chamber and a member of the Medical Board of Governors. Aronberg brought to light how close to home and the workplace opioid abuse hits in the country, the state and, specifically, in Palm Beach County. “This is an issue that resonates no matter where you are. Yes, ‘ground zero’ is Palm Beach County. We have more rehab facilities in Palm Beach County than anywhere in the state, especially in Delray Beach, which has a long history of having a very robust recovery community. We also have more opiate deaths than anywhere else in the state. It’s really not even close.”

Aronberg said it is important for community leaders to come together to get a handle on this issue. “A lot of people think… this is just another drug issue, where users are always going to use, and you can’t do anything about it except for maybe get more money for rehabilitation,” Aronberg said. “But it’s more than that. You need a law enforcement response, which we’ve done. But you also need laws to help us out.” Aronberg said arrests can’t be the only solution to the problem of drug abuse in the state, but also the help and support of the state and federal governments. “If one person dies, it’s a tragedy; if 2,700 people die, it’s a statistic. People get dehumanized See CHAMBER, page 17


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.