Town-Crier Newspaper May 23, 2014

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WELLINGTON CHARTER TASK FORCE SET CHANGES MADE AT CYPRESS KEY IN RPB SEE STORY, PAGE 3 SEE STORY, PAGE 4 THE

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

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Steckler Recounts Past Four Years As Inspector General

Outgoing Palm Beach County Inspector General Sheryl Steckler reviewed the challenges and successes of her past four years as the county’s first public watchdog at a meeting Wednesday in Wellington. John Carey was hired this month as the county’s new inspector general. He will begin his job June 23, at the start of a four-year contract. Steckler’s last day is June 27. Page 3

Lox Groves Elementary Holds Spring Carnival

Loxahatchee Groves Elementary School held its annual Spring Carnival & Silent Auction on Saturday, May 17. Attendees enjoyed food, vendors, bounce houses, games and a silent auction. Page 5

New Posch Boutique Opens In Wellington Green Commons

Volume 35, Number 21 May 23 - May 29, 2014

Wellington Seeks 486 RPBHS Grads Urged To To Craft Vision For Discover Their Unique Talents Equestrian Future GRADUATION 2014

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Each of us has a unique talent or skill to offer — that was the message bestowed upon Royal Palm Beach High School graduates Monday at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. As they turned their tassels, the 486 graduates were encouraged to find their passion and share it with the world. “In my years attending Royal Palm, I have observed a multitude of talented athletes, dancers, singers, actors and mechanics, to name a few,” Salutatorian Alexa Aguilar said. “Whatever your talent is, find it, own it and learn to love it. Finding your talent and having the passion for it is the key to your success.” The Class of 2014 will hold a special place in the heart of Principal Jesus Armas. “On Aug. 17, 2010, you and I walked the halls of Royal Palm Beach High School for the first time together,” he said. “Each of us had our own sets of

Twins Nathan and Aaron Ehly, Parker and Garrett Johnson, Theresa and Alicia Morales, and Bayley and Brianne Cook all graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School on Monday as part of the Class of 2014. expectations for how the next four years would go.” Four years later, Armas said, he couldn’t be prouder. “You’re all here, and I am, too,” he said. “I am proud to say that for the first time in the 17-year

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report On Tuesday, May 20, 564 students from the Class of 2014 graduated from Seminole Ridge High School in a ceremony at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. Lines wrapped around the build-

ing at 7:30 a.m. before the crowd began surrendering their tickets at the door to find a seat for the 8 a.m. ceremony. The constant stream of parents, family and friends filing through the doors carried a feeling of excitement, pride and celebration. “Pomp and Circumstance”

OPINION

For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer, celebrated with barbecues and family gatherings. Although there’s nothing wrong with a Memorial Day barbecue, it’s important to take the time to remember why it is that you’re free to celebrate. It’s not too much to ask for each of us to take a moment and give thanks to those who lost their lives. Page 4

DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 12 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 PEOPLE................................. 13 SCHOOLS.......................14 - 15 COLUMNS...................... 16, 23 NEWS BRIEFS....................... 18 BUSINESS......................24 - 25 SPORTS..........................31 - 33 CALENDAR............................ 36 CLASSIFIEDS................ 38 - 42 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

history of this school, a class will graduate from Royal Palm Beach High School having had only one principal.” He said that getting all 486 graduates there that morning was See RPBHS GRAD, page 19

Seminole Ridge Bids Farewell To Impressive Class Of 2014

Posch Boutique Palm Beach held its grand opening party on Saturday, May 17 at its new store in the Wellington Green Commons shopping plaza. Guests enjoyed food, drinks, music and giveaways, as well as browsing for beautiful clothes and accessories. Page 9

Take A Moment To Recall The Meaning Of Memorial Day

Serving Palms West Since 1980

Seminole Ridge High School graduates Samuel Smith, Sydney Shivers, Victoria Simmons and Monique Costner.

played by the band greeted students as they descended into the room and to their seats, in a wave of young men clad in silver graduation garb and young women in red. The Army JROTC captivated the crowd with its Presentation of Colors before attendees said the Pledge of Allegiance. On stage, Principal James Campbell was joined by Superintendent E. Wayne Gent, Area Superintendent Dr. Matthew Shoemaker and class faculty sponsors Tamara Licavoli and Kay Matthews, as well as other Palm Beach County School District officials. Gent addressed the audience, announcing that the Palm Beach County School District will be graduating more than 11,500 seniors this year, who have earned more than $110 million in scholarships. The graduates will be attending the top colleges and universities across the country. “We’re all individuals, and See SRHS GRAD, page 12

Palm Beach Central Salutes Its 671 Graduating Broncos

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach Central High School sent 671 graduating seniors into the world Wednesday, bidding farewell to a senior class that made numerous contributions to the community and earned wide recognition for their personal accomplishments. Principal B.E. “Butch” Mondy Jr. said that the 2014 senior class had been awarded millions in scholarships and that many of the graduating seniors will begin their college careers as sophomores or juniors due to their completion of Advanced Placement courses. Their participation in St. Baldrick’s events raised more than $35,000, and the National Honor Society Dance Marathon raised almost $25,000 to fight childhood cancer. “That is the most in the State of Florida,” Mondy said, adding that those and other initiatives raised more than $73,000 in the fight against childhood cancer.

Seniors donated 545 units of blood, and a fundraiser for Together Against Genocide raised $24,500 toward its Darfur Dream Team sister school program — the No. 1 fundraiser for that cause in the nation. The Senior Ensemble won the Critic’s Choice award and 18 su-

perior ratings at the district level, three at the state level, while the play Beauty and the Beast drew the highest ticket sales in the history of the school. A PBCHS senior placed first in the state in technical drawing, second in architectural drawing, See PBCHS GRAD, page 7

Maria Gomez, Andrea Pelaez, Manuela Guerrero, graduate Miguel Ortega, Jaquelin Adendando and graduate Christian Gomez.

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Struggling to maintain a balance between Wellington’s growing equestrian industry and preserving the area’s character, members of the Wellington Village Council asked its staff this week to draft recommendations for changes to the Wellington Equestrian Preserve. At a workshop Tuesday, May 20, council members asked village staff to bring forward specific issues so that the council can craft out a future vision for the Wellington Equestrian Preserve. “We just want a starting point,” Councilman Howard Coates said. In the two-hour discussion, council members stressed the need to balance the competitive equestrian industry that is already here with the interests of more casual, year-round residents who wish to have access to bridle trails and other safe places to ride without congestion. “We want to help benefit the industry, but we need to make sure we’re balancing that,” Councilman Matt Willhite said. “We don’t want to choke what’s already out there.” Wellington Projects Manager Mike O’Dell told council mem-

bers that there are 1,703 parcels on more than 8,000 acres of land that is privately owned in the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District (EOZD). About 240 parcels are vacant. Of the remainder, 729 of the properties are used for equestrian purposes, and 636 that are singlefamily homes with no barn or other equestrian use. O’Dell said there is the possibility for the number of properties with equestrian uses to double, effectively doubling the intensity of the equestrian preserve. “There are 815 stables with 9,257 permanent stalls,” O’Dell said. “We average between 2,500 and 3,000 temporary stalls during season. Right now, we have in permitted use 12,300 stalls during peak season.” Councilwoman Anne Gerwig asked for clarification. “Are you suggesting that number can double?” O’Dell said there is that possibility, though it is not likely. “I want you to understand that although not all parcels that are vacant or single family will convert, we could raise another 4,000 to 6,000 stalls,” he said. “We could See HORSES, page 4

INTO THE WOODS

Elbridge Gale Elementary School Aftercare presented Into The Woods Junior on Friday, May 16 to a packed house. Aftercare counselors Andrew Spinelli and Ashlley Rodriguez, along with Hallie Kamen and Denise Halperin, put together the play, which the children worked on for six months. Shown here are Hermione Williams, Abraham Gordon and Fernanda Morales as Grandma, the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 8 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

ITID Unveils Budget For Next Fiscal Year

By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Residents of The Acreage will see an average 9 percent increase — or about $40 per acre — in their Indian Trail Improvement District assessments next year, with some units seeing an increase as high as $92 per acre. At a budget workshop Monday, ITID staff said the increase can be attributed to an increased Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office budget, as well as needed drainage improvements, notably along the M-1 Canal. ITID Finance Director Donald Rinzel said the most current version of the budget will be about $12.97 million, down from $13.11 million last year. The 2014-15 budget includes an increased administration cost of $78,000. “That is basically the cost of

the increased sheriff’s patrols,” he said. About $72,000 would pay for 40 hours more in patrols, as well as the cost of insurance for the deputies. The total administrative budget is about $1.68 million, as proposed. Rinzel said about $850,000 is being carried over from the current year to pay for maintenance and upgrades to the M-1 Canal. In the meantime, ITID has decreased its spending on parks and maintenance. The parks budget dropped slightly, from $1.5 million to $1.49 million, while maintenance decreased by about $750,000. “Our focus is going to be mainly on canals and drainage improvements,” he said. “We will be doing improvements to pump stations, See ITID BUDGET, page 18

Royal Palm Council Moves Aldi Grocery Store Forward

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council gave final approval Thursday, May 15 to rezoning and land use changes so Aldi can build its flagship grocery store on approximately 2.25 acres on the west side of State Road 7, just south of Okeechobee Blvd. The council also gave site plan and architectural approval for the 17,018-square-foot grocery store after discussion of the need for a deceleration lane on SR 7. Access will be provided at three points, including one on SR 7. The Royal Palm Beach Planning

& Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval last month but advised that the council consider a deceleration lane at the SR 7 entrance. Councilman Fred Pinto asked about the lane, and Planning & Zoning Administrator Bradford O’Brien said it had not been required by the Florida Department of Transportation but that the council could request it. Village Manager Ray Liggins said that the entrance did not meet the projection of 75 turns per hour to warrant a deceleration lane, although every other right turn on SR 7 has a deceleration lane.

Aldi representative Jeff Williams said he supported further research into the lane as a safety issue. “If there is any safety issue, we want to alleviate it and make it safe for the customers, the neighborhood and our employees,” Williams said. “Our request would be to allow FDOT to make that decision.” Pinto said he would not want to make the deceleration lane a condition of approval, and Williams suggested that they put the application in as is and ask FDOT if the lane is warranted. Williams said the additional cost would be an estimated $100,000,

which would require him to resubmit the site plan through Aldi. “I would have to resubmit it because it’s a major cost and a major change to our site plan,” he said. “It would also have additional implications on our time frame.” Pinto said his concern is for the safety of the residents, but at the same time he did not want to hold up the project. “There’s nothing that says it has to be done day one when you open your doors,” Pinto said. “If it’s not a day-one requirement, your project can proceed as it is, and this can be done after the fact.” Liggins agreed that the project

could be done without having the deceleration lane immediately, but Williams said his hesitation would be if they had a grand opening and then had to tear up the frontage again to build the deceleration lane. He added that there is also the possibility of installing a traffic light at that intersection, and that a deceleration lane could impede their ability to get the signal. Liggins said the light is not warranted currently, but might be when the 53 acres across the street is developed, which he said is unlikely in the next several years. Councilman Richard Valuntas See ALDI, page 18


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