SCHOOL BOARD PONDERS RE-OPENING SEE STORY, PAGE 4
GROVES TO KEEP ‘THING-A-MA-DIGGER’ SEE STORY, PAGE 7
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Volume 41, Number 16 June 19 - July 2, 2020
Serving Palms West Since 1980
NIC ROLDAN’S VIRTUAL PIZZA PARTY Census Competition
Pits Communities In Friendly Rivalry
Christ Community Church Breaks Ground For New Building
Christ Community Church held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, June 17 at its future home along Lake Worth Road in front of the Wellington Shores neighborhood at Barefoot Lake Drive in Wellington. Page 3
Health Director: Social Distancing Needed Until There’s A Vaccine
The COVID-19 virus is here to stay for at least a year, and the population will have to wait until there is sufficient immunity before it can relax, Palm Beach County Health Department Director Dr. Alina Alonso told the Palm Beach County Commission on Tuesday, June 16. Page 3
Westlake Approves Plat For 424 Homes Off Persimmon Blvd.
The Westlake City Council approved a plat Monday, June 8 for a single-family residential development of about 424 units on 116 acres on the south side of Persimmon Blvd. east of Green Lane. Page 4
ITID Lobbyist Paints Bleak Picture For Future State Revenues
Indian Trail Improvement District legislative lobbyist David Ramba told the ITID Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, June 10 that Florida faces a serious revenue shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will make getting money for projects difficult. The money shortage will have an obvious impact not only on ITID, but statewide, Ramba said at a meeting held virtually. Page 7
Pediatric Patients Enjoy Cars For A Cure Parade
Pediatric patients at Palms West Hospital were in for a surprise on Saturday, June 6 when a fleet of vintage cars paraded the hospital grounds. Former patients and their families were also invited for the “driveby event” held in celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day. Led by Anthony Millimaci, candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year Award, the parade featured classic cars, muscle cars and high-end cars. Page 19 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 19 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................... 8 SCHOOLS................................ 9 BUSINESS............................. 15 COLUMNS............................. 16 CLASSIFIEDS................ 21 - 22 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
International polo star Nic Roldan handed out pizzas from Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza to club families on Friday, June 5 at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington. Families then went home to enjoy the pizza while joining the famous polo star and model during a virtual dance party via Zoom. Shown above, Nic Roldan hands a pizza to Armani Massey. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Dozens Of Black Lives Matter Protesters Air Grievances At Wellington Council Meeting
By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report There’s an old adage that sometimes a “good listen is more important than real action,” but the scores of protesters who spoke during the public forum portion of the Tuesday, June 9 meeting of the Wellington Village Council consistently demanded tangible action from local officials to make Wellington a more welcoming place for black residents and other minorities. In mostly polite, three-minute segments, the meeting went on for more than four hours, as local residents and others from across the region offered public comment relative to the growing Black Lives Matter national movement. Some speakers cited America’s hundreds of years of institutionalized racism, along with current issues of systemic racism in the country, white privilege, white supremacy, white entitlement, white silence and the genocide of indigenous people. Others advocated banning choke holds and racial profiling, defunding the police and investing
more in opportunities for people of color, and many demanded an apology for a recent comment on Facebook by Mayor Anne Gerwig. One asked the council members to hold up their arms in support of the concept of Black Lives Matter, while another brought a banner with the names of people who have died in police custody in Palm Beach County. While there have been protests and marches throughout Palm Beach County since the shocking May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the protest at the Wellington meeting appears to have been brought on by a June 1 comment by Gerwig on social media that some felt downplayed the growing national protests. The mayor apologized several times and said that her words were misinterpreted. “I made a poor choice of words,” said Gerwig of her comments, clarifying that she was only against violent protests and was attempting to express concerns about large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. She apologized for the specific
part of her comment that raised the most objection, namely that she thought the cause of the protesters’ anger was due to “something that happened far away.” Many of the speakers told Gerwig and the council that while the Floyd incident happened far away, Wellington is not a welcoming place for minorities. People all skin tones, from teenagers to seniors, offered comments that were often touchingly personal, delivered through tears, anger and hope, punctuated with applause, despite Gerwig reminding the crowd that outbursts were not allowed. Several speakers related their stories of misbehavior inflicted upon them by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Wellington. Others referred to the civil rights movement and the Stonewall riots in New York City that gave birth to the modern gay rights movement. Still others quoted the Bible and Confucius, and many repeated phrases by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While many speakers were from See PROTEST, page 4
Wellington PZA Board Supports Covered Arenas In Winding Trails By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report Developers were joined by several real estate agents at the Wednesday, June 10 meeting of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board to speak in favor of a proposal to lift the prohibition on covered arenas in Winding Trails, a nine-lot subdivision in western Wellington geared toward equestrian estates. In the end, the board agreed to recommend removal of the prohibition on the structures. Winding Trails is known as Subarea F of Wellington’s Equestrian Overlay Zoning District (EOZD). It is an oddly shaped area being developed on a defunct golf course off Aero Club Drive. Winding Trails it is not contiguous with the rest of the EOZD. It was added to
the EOZD when Winding Trails was approved in 2017. The buildable area of the lots range from 2.43 to 4.45 acres, of which 20 percent would be able to be covered by a permanent roof. No tents or temporary roofs would be permitted. The covered area must match the materials of the main home. Under the proposed changes, even the smallest lot can accommodate a dressage arena. The ordinance would amend Wellington’s Land Development Regulations to allow covered areas in Subarea F and make setbacks consistent throughout the EOZD. The measure will need a second hearing before heading to the Wellington Village Council for final approval. Developer Patricia Holloway said that sales have been slow
because of the prohibition. “Due to weather, buyers want covered arenas to use the property yearround,” she explained. The prohibition of covered arenas was not mandated by the village originally; the applicant had volunteered the restriction. Holloway said that her firm made a number of concessions to secure the change in zoning, but no one on the applicant’s side recalls how the prohibition had come about. PZA Board Member Salvatore Van Casteren was concerned that since sales were not going well, the applicant was coming in asking for a concession. “Will you come in again later asking for still more?” he asked. Holloway felt this would be all that is necessary to spur on sales. See ZONERS, page 18
By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report While the census may seem abstract to some, everyone should know the importance of the oncea-decade population count. It impacts funding for programs and facilities for schools, public safety, and parks and recreation. It is also used to add or subtract congressional seats and determine congressional boundaries. To add interest to Census 2020, the Palm Beach County Census League is inviting municipalities with a population of over 30,000 to participate in a friendly competition to boost the number of responses to this year’s effort. “The census is of paramount importance,” Royal Palm Beach Mayor Fred Pinto said. “[The competition] is an effort to make it more real for residents and to make them aware of the census.” Wellington Planning, Zoning & Building Director Tim Stillings said that there are three ways to respond to the census: online at www.my2020census.gov, by phone at (844) 330-2020 or by responding by mail. He said that if you don’t respond, census workers will come to your home and knock on your door to ask the questions. “The objective is to count everyone, even babies, as to where you rested your head on April 1, 2020,”
Stillings said. “It is completely confidential and no financial information is gathered.” A higher census participation means more federal funding for needed social, community and neighborhood programs over the next decade. “This is it for 10 years, there is no redo,” Wellington Village Councilman John McGovern explained. “It determines who gets funding that is allocated and makes sure that we get all that we deserve. That includes tax money coming back to us and how many state and federal representatives we get.” McGovern expects there to be 11 communities vying for the championship trophy and bragging rights. “The better each community does, the better it is for the county as a whole,” he said. “It is a win, win, win situation,” Pinto added. The competition began Wednesday, June 17 and runs until Oct. 31. It is expected to be friendly but fierce. The winning municipality will be determined by the greatest percent increase of responses in the census during that period. The winning community also gets the honor of having a representative from each of the other municipalities attend its council meeting to present personal See CENSUS, page 18
WHS BAND CAR PARADE
The Wolverine Band Boosters Association, a nonprofit organization that supports the Wellington High School Mighty Wolverine Sound Band, hosted an end-of-year car parade celebration for all of the band members on Saturday, June 13 at the Wellington Community Center. There was a live DJ to announce each band member and play music. Approximately 150 band members earned awards. Shown above, band family Kevin, Jeannine, Keenan and Kaden Krieger join in the festivities. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Four Candidates File To Seek Two ITID Board Seats
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Two candidates have qualified for each of the two open seats on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors. Since only two candidates qualified for each seat, there will not be a primary election, and the races will be decided at the Nov. 3 general election. Current ITID President Betty Argue is being challenged for Seat 4 by former Supervisor Carol Jacobs, while Keith Jordano and Richard Heinl are running for Seat 2 to replace Supervisor Tim Sayre,
who chose not to seek a new term. Argue was elected to the board in 2016 when she defeated longtime Supervisor Michelle Damone. She moved to The Acreage in 2011 with her husband and three children, seeking to live in a rural environment. She decided to run for the ITID board after realizing that the district faced challenges with the developments growing around it, and issues with roads, drainage and parks. She was a founding member of ALERTS (Acreage Loxahatchee Engaged Residents Taking a Stand), a group See ITID, page 18
Abruzzo Likely To Succeed Bock As County Clerk
Joseph Abruzzo
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Former State Sen. Joseph Abruzzo appears to have a clear shot to be the next Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller, as he will face only write-in opposition in November’s general election. Abruzzo will succeed fourterm Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock, who announced in March that she would not seek a fifth term. Abruzzo announced his candidacy just days before the filing period ended June 12, supported by a full slate of endorsements from local and county officials. Until then, Bock’s Chief Operat-
ing Officer Shannon Chessman, who had been endorsed by the incumbent, seemed Bock’s likely successor. However, Chessman withdrew from the race when Abruzzo entered, and she did not qualify for the ballot. Abruzzo now only faces token opposition in the form of write-in candidate Engracia Bondonese. “There is a write-in candidate, so that means that the name does not appear on the ballot,” Abruzzo told the Town-Crier on Wednesday. Abruzzo has been a longtime presence in the western communities, having served as the Wellington-area state representa-
tive for District 85 from 2008 to 2012 and state senator for District 25 from 2012 to 2016. When the districts were redrawn, Abruzzo ran for state representative again in District 81, based in southern Palm Beach County, where he served from 2016 to 2018 before declining to seek re-election. He is currently working as director of communications for a Boca Raton law firm. As clerk, Abruzzo’s many responsibilities will include monitoring the county’s financial activities. “That’s what initially got me interested in the position. I was audit chairman for the entire
state,” he said. “This position is multi-faceted, with more than a thousand statutory duties, one being leading auditing for our county. This is really a safety, custodian and watchdog [position] for everybody. I would say what I did in Tallahassee is very much geared toward this position. I am very much excited to be transitioning to a local role.” He said the local position will help him return to public service while keeping his priorities in the community, which include raising his son. “This position as clerk of the court is essential to keep the court See ABRUZZO, page 18