GOVERNOR VETOES LOCAL PROJECTS SEE STORY, PAGE 3
USPA BUYS INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB SEE STORY, PAGE 7
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Volume 43, Number 12 June 17 - June 30, 2022
Serving Palms West Since 1980
POOCHES, PEARLS & PROSECCO
Page 23 Wellington Approves Higher Solid Waste Fee For Upcoming Year
The Wellington Village Council set its Truth in Millage (TRIM) rate for solid waste collection and recycling on Tuesday, June 14. The rate, which is based on the village’s new contract with vendor FCC Environmental Services, is higher than last year. Page 3
The Women of the Wellington Chamber held its annual Pooches, Pearls & Prosecco event on Thursday, June 2 at Fred Astaire Studios in Wellington. The event included a fun fashion show featuring furry friends ready for adoption, along with prosecco, networking and philanthropy. Shown above, Wellington Chamber Director Lisa Banionis walks the red carpet with one of the many dogs in need of a forever home. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18 PHOTO BY MELANIE KOPACZ/TOWN-CRIER
Crunch Fitness Opens Wellington Location
Crunch Fitness held a grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 11 at its new Wellington location in the Wellington Plaza at 12799 W. Forest Hill Blvd., occupying the space of the former Ultima Fitness. The event included tours of the facility and health-related vendor booths. The 30,000-squarefoot fitness facility was completely renovated and includes state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Page 5
Retired Basketball Ref Looks Back On A Remarkable Career
On your next trip to Wellington’s Village Park, take note of the older gentleman sitting behind the desk at the recreation center. He answers the phone and greets visitors to the gymnasium. His name is Joe Cassiere, but he’s not your average Joe. In fact, he’s a very unique Joe. He’s one of the most accomplished, experienced, well-traveled referees in the history of professional and college basketball. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS..........................21 - 24 PEOPLE................................. 25 SCHOOLS.............................. 26 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
Wellington And RPB Planning Fun Fourth Of July Festivities
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Fourth of July events in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach this year are going to be bigger and better than ever as the western communities celebrate Independence Day. “It’ll be a great time. We’re looking forward to this annual event that really brings the community together in a safe, family environment,” Wellington’s Assistant Community Events Director Michelle Garvey said. Wellington will start its celebration with a Patriotic Pool Party, on Monday, July 4 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Wellington Aquatics Complex. With contests and activities scheduled on the hour, it’s sure to be a splashing good time for the kids, allowing them to get moving and active, Garvey said. Admission is free for those under two years old, $3 for those up to 17 years old, $5 for adults, and $2 for the 55-plus crowd. Following the Patriotic Pool
Party is the main event: the Fourth of July Celebration at Village Park, which comes with some new, exciting additions. Eagles tribute band the Long Run will be providing live music, while approximately 20 food trucks will offer gourmet sweets, treats and fun eats. Activities abound, including favorites such as the petting zoo, inflatable bounce houses, an inflatable farm maze, inflatable slides, crazy games, bingo, bounce houses, a climbing wall, eating contests, challenges and races. New this year is the U.S. Ninja Warrior Warped Wall & Ninja Steps Obstacles. “They loved the covered roller hockey rink. They looked at how their items would work out in there, and they said it would be the perfect location,” Garvey said. “Our hope is, in the future, to have a bigger Ninja Warrior event here, but this is a little sampling so people can try it out and get to experience what the Ninja Warriors get to do.”
Parents will need to accompany their children, and there is a waiver, but the sampling will be family friendly. Around the park, children and adults alike will be delighted by stilt walkers, as well. And at 9:15 p.m., the fireworks will begin. “This year, we do have, according to Zambelli Fireworks International, the largest fireworks display in Palm Beach County,” Garvey said. “We’re very proud of that.” Attendees are encouraged to take the free shuttle from the Mall at Wellington Green to attend this free event, which kicks off with entertainment and activities at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/july4th. Royal Palm Beach Commons Park Event & Facilities Manager Sylvio Pierre Louis is looking forward to his village’s whirlwind of festivities spanning four days at Commons Park. “With Fourth of July being See HOLIDAY, page 14
Lox Council Picks Candidates To Interview For Manager Position
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council bid a fond farewell to departing Town Manager Jamie Titcomb at a meeting Tuesday, June 7. Also at the meeting, the council finalized its list of replacement candidates to invite in for interviews. Titcomb, who took over as town manager in 2019, announced his intention to leave in April. He plans to semi-retire while retaining a small private practice. Previously, the town had a contract form of government, where the council hired a management company, which in turn hired the staff. Titcomb was the first person to hold the job working directly for the town. Titcomb, who had served as the longtime executive director of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, helped the town transition to a government led by a staff employed directly by the town.
At the meeting, the council approved a temporary agreement with Assistant Town Manager Francine Ramaglia to serve as acting town manager until a permanent manager is selected. Ramaglia, who joined the Loxahatchee Groves staff in 2018, previously worked as an assistant village manager in Wellington. A total of 11 people applied for the vacant manager position. Each council member was asked to choose two people to invite in, with two candidates automatically invited in for an interview due to the town’s veterans’ preference policy. Due to duplications in choices, the council will interview seven candidates for the job, including Ramaglia. The other candidates are Timothy Day, Patrick Jordan, Mark Kutney, Lynne Ladner, Larry Tibbs and Chandler Williamson. Kutney also has direct experience with the town, having served as manager for several
years during the previous contract with Underwood Management Services Group. The interviews are scheduled for Tuesday, June 21 at 6 p.m. The council showered Titcomb with compliments for his three years of service to the town, each noting that they were sad to see him go. “I wish you a lot of luck and success on whatever adventure you seek from here on out,” Councilwoman Marge Herzog said. “Hopefully, it’s more relaxing.” Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia said she is glad that Titcomb was there when the town needed him. “The job you took on was something that not everybody could do,” she said. “You took it with grace and poise, and there was a lot of stress and pushback. We were a mess, and you were definitely the right person for the job at the time.” Vice Mayor Laura Danowski See TITCOMB, page 14
Wellington Council OKs Framework Of An Agreement With Pro Sports Group
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council approved the framework of a comprehensive agreement with the Wellington Athletics group on Tuesday, June 14 that aims to turn the old Wellington Community Park into a nationally recognized sports training facility. The project is being led by professional football player Jon Bostic, a graduate of Palm Beach Central High School who played for the University of Florida and several NFL franchises, most recently with the Washington Commanders. He is leading a business group that includes a number of other professional athletes. “I’ve grown up here and played a lot of different sports here,” Bostic said. “We’ve always thought about how we could give back to these kids. We followed the blueprint, and now we want to give the blueprint to these kids.” Wellington Community Park, located 3401 South Shore Blvd., is the former home of the Wellington Boys & Girls Club. Dating back to the 1980s, it has not seen
any major renovations and has been underutilized since the Boys & Girls Club built a new facility elsewhere in 2013. The only building on site is currently used for storage. Looking to give it a new lease on life, Wellington put out a request for proposals last year and received a proposal from Bostic and his group. The village and Wellington Athletics have been working toward a comprehensive agreement ever since. “As this project came together, we saw how valuable it could be for these kids and this community,” Bostic said. “Going forward, this is something we really believe in. If we give these kids the resources, the coaches and the facilities, a lot more of them can go and do what they always dreamed of doing.” Assistant Village Manager Ed De La Vega gave the council a summary of the framework agreement. The framework is for a publicprivate partnership. The term is for 30 years with two optional See FRAMEWORK, page 4
ROTARY’S WELLINGTON FAMILY AUTOFEST
The Rotary Club of Wellington held its first Wellington Family AutoFest at Village Park on Sunday, June 5. The family-friendly event raised money for local charities and included 20 different vehicle categories for people to enter. The club plans to hold additional car show events regularly starting in the fall. Shown above is Robert Nealis with his fan favorite 1983 Cadillac. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 8 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
RPB Board Supports New Land Use Plan
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission, meeting as the Local Planning Agency, heard a request Tuesday, June 14 to create an entirely new future land use designation of Mixed-Use Social Center (MSX). The developers of Tuttle Royale, located on the south side of Southern Blvd. just west of State Road 7, hope to use the new designation for the project’s central gathering area. Urban Design Studio, on behalf of Main Street at Tuttle Royale LLC, provided a presentation on the request for the large-scale comprehensive plan amendment. Lentzy Jean-Louis, a planner with UDS, provided examples in other parts of Palm Beach County where this new designation is already in
place, including Abacoa in Jupiter, Mizner Park in Boca Raton and the Square (formerly CityPlace) in West Palm Beach. “The addition of this future land use designation will allow a local possibility for entertainment, cultural opportunities, community gatherings and other valued amenities that these mixed-use centers offer,” Jean-Louis said. “The Square has been around for 20 years. It’s a primary landmark. This lets residents live, work and play in the same area. It will provide a community with authenticity.” Planning & Zoning Director Bradford O’Brien said that the applicant was not requesting the maximum allowed density for such a project. The proposal is for See RPB ZONING, page 14
Crestwood Middle School Prepares To Share Campus
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report Crestwood Middle School in Royal Palm Beach will be the temporary home to hundreds of displaced elementary school students from West Palm Beach when schools resume in August. Melaleuca Elementary School on Gun Club Road is undergoing a complete renovation project, and Melaleuca’s students will be bused to Crestwood for 2022-23 school year since their school will be a construction zone. The following year, 2023-24, students from Wynnebrook Elementary School on Drexel Road will have their turn being bused to Crestwood as their campus gets its renovation.
“This is not something unique in our district. We actually, three years ago, did the exact same concept for Addison Mizner Elementary School and then moving on to Verde Elementary School,” said James Farrell, senior project administrator with the school district, when he explained the concept to Royal Palm Beach’s Education Advisory Board earlier this year. Melaleuca’s students are going to be on the southwest corner of the property. “It’s an old maintenance facility yard that we utilized and are able to put the modulars on there,” Farrell said. “There are three structures in Crestwood, three different pods, that will open
11 classrooms. The bus loop will drop right into the holding school.” Essentially, there will be two independent schools operating on the same campus. They will have separate administrative offices, school resource officers, fencing and points of entry for buses. Parents of the 600-plus students enrolled at Melaleuca were informed that all students would be provided bus transportation to Crestwood and were encouraged to take advantage of the offer. “From a congestion standpoint, it is no different from what Crestwood is seeing right now,” Farrell said. “We are going to try to have all the buses come off Crestwood Blvd. onto Sparrow. We are hop-
ing that will alleviate some of the congestion.” Crestwood Principal Dr. Stephanie Nance said that the two schools will not overlap in their start or end times, which will help keep traffic in the area manageable. “Melaleuca Elementary begins its instructional day at 8 a.m., and Crestwood Middle School begins at 9:30 a.m. It will be staggered, and our buses will be on the opposite side of the campus in terms of drop off as well as pickup,” Nance told the Town-Crier this week. “At the end of the day, our goal is always about school safety. It is always about creating a safety plan in which safe transitions occur for our students from the time
they step on to the campus until the time that they leave.” Regional Superintendent Valerie Zuloaga-Haines sees hosting Melaleuca and then Wynnebrook students as a chance to entice families to enroll in one of Crestwood’s choice programs. Currently, the middle school offers a Pre-Business IT Academy, a STEM Pre-Engineering Academy, and a Multimedia, Music & Communications Academy. “We want to be able to expose our younger students that typically wouldn’t have access to Crestwood to become a Crestwood Eagle. That could help us in enrollment, and we are looking for this to be See CRESTWOOD page 14
