Town-Crier Newspaper March 27, 2015

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STATE BILLS WORRY CONSERVATIONISTS SEE STORY, PAGE 7

AUDI WINS USPA GOLD CUP IN OVERTIME SEE STORY, PAGE 17

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

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RPB Council Wants More Public Input On Charter High School

Volume 36, Number 13 March 27 - April 2, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

AUCTION SUPPORTS THE RPB RELAY

While a full discussion and decision is not expected until next month, the Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week briefly discussed the status of a proposal to build a charter high school on 10 acres of villageowned land right across the street from Royal Palm Beach High School. Page 3

FAU President Lays Out Vision For A New Educational Model

Florida Atlantic University President Dr. John Kelly was the featured speaker Wednesday at an economic forum luncheon presented by the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce at the Breakers West County Club. Page 7 A Quarter Auction to benefit the Royal Palm Beach Relay for Life was held Wednesday, March 18 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. A large crowd was on hand to try their luck at getting their numbers picked to win merchandise. Various vendors such as jewelry, home decor and food were on offer. Shown here is the RPB Relay for Life Breakfast Club team. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 20

PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Sheriff’s Foundation Presents Scholarships

On March 22, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation held a celebration to honor the recipients of its inaugural youth scholarship program. Recipients included David Bannister Jr. of Royal Palm Beach High School and Anisa Kornegay of Seminole Ridge High School. Page 9

Quarterly Acreage Community Music Fest Brings Crowds To Park

The quarterly Acreage Community Music Fest was held Saturday, March 21 at Acreage Community Park featuring live bands, a car cruise-in, food trucks, kick ball, vendors, a kids zone and more. Page 20

OPINION

Get Involved In Local Relay For Life Events

This time of year is relay time here in the western communities, and as we have done often in the past, we urge all members of the community to get involved in this worthy cause. In April, there will be three American Cancer Society Relay for Life events here in the western communities. Page 4

DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 8 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 25 BUSINESS......................26 - 27 SPORTS......................... 33 - 35 CALENDAR............................ 38 CLASSIFIEDS................ 40 - 43 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

RPB Zoners Review Expansion Plans For Al Packer Ford West

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Al Packer Ford West, located at 10601 Southern Blvd., is planning a number of upgrades to its facility, and the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission discussed several items related to the project at a meeting Tuesday, March 24. While the commissioners were generally supportive of the overall project, they did not agree with all of the requested variances. The dealership presented a multi-part application requesting variances to the parking code, to only have to provide parking for enclosed and covered areas in the dealership and not for the outdoor service area; to include more than 10 percent of the total parking in the rear of the facility; and to not have a sidewalk connecting the rear parking area to the front, public entrance of the building. Chairman Richard Becher decided that the commission should address each section individually. Based on current code, Development Review Coordinator Kevin Erwin explained, the outdoor service storage area requires 21 parking spaces. The applicant did not want to provide those

spaces for the outdoor service storage area, which is counted the same as enclosed and covered areas of the dealership under the village’s code. “We are requesting not to provide it in that area because we feel, at the end of the day, that area does not generate additional parking demand,” said land planner Michael Sanchez, representing the dealership. “We’re already providing parking for the enclosed space, and there’s nothing taking place in that outside storage area that’s going to bring more cars and require more parking at the site.” Commissioner Felicia Matula made a motion to approve the variance request, which passed, 4-1, with Commissioner Jackie Larson dissenting. Village staff supported the next part of the request, allowing more than 10 percent of the parking in the rear due to the location of the building and the nature of the business. Sanchez said that there would be 65 percent of the parking in the rear, which allows for 41 parking spaces in the front of the building. Commissioner Michael Axelberd made a motion to accept that variance, which was approved 5-0. Village staff recommended

denial of the third variance, regarding a sidewalk connecting the rear parking to the front of the building. The village, from a health and safety standpoint, did not recommend approval on that variance, explained Village Attorney Jennifer Ashton, noting that though the variances are separated, they are related. The layout of the parking requires that employees would park in the rear, walk through a building, and then enter the main building on the property. “They’re asking to allow the provision of parking in the rear of the building without providing the rear required 6-foot-wide sidewalk leading to the front of the building,” Erwin said. The applicant contends that only employees will be entering and using the rear, Erwin said. However, village code does not differentiate between parking for employees and customers. “We see this as a pretty straightforward request,” Sanchez said. “We don’t have any customer parking in the rear. We have 41 parking spaces in the front for customers; that’s double what we have in there today. We’re only See RPB ZONING, page 7

Wellington Drops Adult Day Care Outdoor Space Rules

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a zoning amendment to remove requirements for outdoor activity areas, aimed at enabling the development of an Alzheimer’s daycare center at St. Michael Evangelical Lutheran Church. Planning & Development Services Director Tim Stillings said that village staff recommended the amendment because the village’s requirement dates back to a county

code that the county eliminated in 2003. “We initiated this amendment after a recent conditional use application for adult daycare here at St. Michael, where they indicated that our current rules were a little bit more stringent than what the county and even the Agency for Healthcare Administration required,” Stillings said. “We found that for this particular instance, not for children, but for adults only, that the amount of outdoor space would be best determined by the facility and by the marketplace.”

He said the current code requires 100 square feet of outdoor space per person, or a minimum of 1,500 square feet, whichever is larger. “We found that in talking not only with the current provider coming into Wellington, but also county staff, that adults don’t need the same amount of space as children because they’re not going out all at once,” Stillings said, explaining that the space could be better determined by the facility’s particular needs. “The fact that it’s adult daycare suggests they have See DAY CARE, page 19

Big Dog Shares Plans For Lox Groves Facility

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Big Dog Ranch Rescue led an informational meeting for Loxahatchee Groves residents and community leaders on Tuesday at the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce building, outlining plans to build a new facility for the nonprofit organization at Okeechobee Blvd. and D Road. Big Dog officials explained that the current facility in Acme Ranches is a former wildlife sanctuary and not well suited for use as a dog shelter. “Unfortunately, where we are right now, we moved into a wildlife preserve,” Big Dog President Lauree Simmons said. “Fifty percent of the kennels have roofs on them, but they’re open-air chainlink. When you have a dog caged and you walk by that dog when it’s caged, it’s going to bark.” She explained that Palm Beach County would not allow Big Dog

to rebuild the facility to suit its needs. “We are an accessory use to the wildlife,” Simmons said. “We can only use four acres of the 28 acres that we have. We’re stuck with what was there. Our new place is not like that at all.” She explained that the new facility would have cottage-like buildings to house the dogs, with fenced enclosures where the dogs are let out and supervised by attendants during the day. Although the site is 34 acres, the buildings would be on only 4 acres, mostly surrounded by thick vegetation. Special Events & Marketing Manager Lauren Ellis said the new facility will be modeled after the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue facility, which is enclosed. “This is the same kind of building that we are planning,” Ellis said. Director of Operations Jeff Jacob said the dogs tend to bark See BIG DOG, page 4

NEW WELLINGTON CHAMBER PRESIDENT

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce swore in its 2015-16 executive board members and directors during a luncheon at the Wanderers Club on Wednesday, welcoming Johnny Meier of My Community Pharmacy (above) as the chamber’s new president. SEE STORY, PAGE 3

PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

Flavors Returns To PBIEC On April 9

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report It is almost time for the 12th annual Flavors of Wellington Food & Wine Festival, which will return to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Thursday, April 9 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Produced by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the event allows the best chamber restaurants, catering venues, wholesale markets, gourmet markets and country clubs to showcase their menus, products, businesses and staff. Wellington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michela Perillo-Green has a few tricks up her sleeve to make this year’s event bigger and better than Flavors of the past.

“We’ve added an illusionist who has performed in front of Celine Dion, Regis Philbin and Chevy Chase, and he’s going to be roaming the venue, reading people’s minds, performing illusions and street magic,” she said. Returning to the popular event is Music Masters International, the 20-piece big band that has delighted guests for the last 11 years, Perillo-Green added. “I’m most excited about showcasing our local restaurants, catering facilities and chefs. I’m excited about our live 20-piece big band. I’m excited about the venue, for sure. It’s a lot of different pieces that come into a beautiful evening,” she said. As April 9 nears, excitement is building for the juried food festiSee FLAVORS, page 4

Up-And-Coming Singer Has Big Plans For The Future By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report At just 14 years old, local singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, model and photographer Adrianna Siena is getting attention and recognition for her talents. “When I was younger, my mom wanted me to try everything just to see what I like, and I enjoy doing everything else, but singing kind of stuck with me,” Adrianna said. While she has been singing since age 2, the turning point for Adrianna was a few years ago, when she used to sing with her mother, Lani, and her older sister, Annelisse. Annelisse decided she was no longer interested in singing and chose to pursue golf. Adrianna almost changed her focus to golf but chose a different direction. She only dithered “because I

used to do everything my sister did,” but decided she liked singing more and didn’t want to stop. “I like singing more than I like anything else because it allows me to express my emotions in not so many words… it just feels like a big weight lifted off of me. I just feel free when I sing,” Adrianna explained. Her parents, Lani and John Siena, are thrilled with her decision to stay in the performing arts. “One of the joys of being a parent is having the opportunity to see that your child has been blessed with a tremendous amount of talent,” Lani said. “We are very proud of Adrianna and her commitment to her art. Adrianna has been performing since she was a baby.” While improving her singing and acting, Adrianna would also like to accompany herself by add-

ing different instruments such as piano and guitar. Her grandmother, Kathy Siena, also has a talent in the performing arts, and has been helping Adrianna. “I think she’s a very good performer. She knows how to perform when she gets onstage,” Kathy said. “She’s confident and amazing, has an incredible memory, and she can get up on the stage and perform even if she’s sick.” Kathy, a performer too, has been Adrianna’s piano teacher and is focusing on teaching her chording. “I’m a singer, too, and that was very helpful to be able to coach her a little bit on some things,” she said. Kathy moved to Florida almost seven years ago, within weeks of when Adrianna moved here. Previously, Adrianna had lived

in London and Chicago, and was born in Hong Kong. For the last two years, she has been working with voice coach, manager and producer Mike Soper of Mike Soper Music, honing her skills, practicing and competing. “I look at Adrianna as someone who has the full package,” Soper said. “She has the talent, her voice, she has a range that soars, and she can also hit the low notes that a lot of female vocalists are unable to do. She is a music theater major at her school. What I love about Adrianna is her drive and passion to become the best. I think her future is limitless.” The Voice and American Idol auditions are in her future, Soper said. “We’re preparing her for that and taking the right steps for when she is old enough to be able See SIENA, page 19

Adrianna Siena recently won the Starz of the Future competition at the South Florida Fair.

PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER


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