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Wellington Takes Steps To Fix 40th Street Water Main Problem
Volume 37, Number 43 November 11 - November 17, 2016
Serving Palms West Since 1980
LOX GROVES ANNIVERSARY PARTY
The Wellington Village Council awarded contracts to replace the entire water main and a culvert on 40th Street South on Tuesday to fix mistakes in the project, and approved a budget increase of about $471,000 to cover the increased cost. Page 3
Binks Forest Elementary School Hosts Fall Carnival
Binks Forest Elementary School held its fall carnival at the school on Saturday, Nov. 5. There were bounce houses, carnival games, a rock-climbing wall, raffles, vendors, food, performances and more. The carnival is a fundraiser for the school’s PTA. More than $20,000 was raised, and somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 people attended. Page 6
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves held an old-fashioned carnival on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Loxahatchee Groves County Park to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the town’s incorporation. There were pony rides, popcorn, ice cream, snow cones, a baking contest, lunch, snacks, games and more. Shown above, Amadeus of the PBSO Mounted Unit with Paislee Cook, Mariah Cook and Cheyenne Schlosser. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Matt Willhite Elected State Rep
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Democrat Matt Willhite defeated Republican Laurel Bennett on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in the race for State Representative in District 86. Willhite garnered 41,848 votes (57.58 percent) to Bennett’s 30,833 votes (42.42 percent), according to unofficial results.
Willhite will replace term-limited State Rep. Mark Pafford, also a Democrat. District 86 includes all of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee Groves, as well as several communities to the east. “I feel good,” he said Wednesday. “I’m happy. I’m relieved. I’m ready to get to work. I’ve been
Youngster Fiona Mae Lashells Gets An Early Start In The Saddle
Three-year-old Fiona Mae Lashells is no ordinary toddler. She rides horses, hangs out with her farrier father Heath Lashells, competes, has won pageants and even models. Page 7 Matt Willhite (center) with Geraldine Pierre, Marty Koonter, David Mowry, Alexis Willhite and Mary Willhite.
PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
in this race for two years. It was a long time, a long campaign — longer because of all the national politics and the things affecting people. But I’m excited and anxious to get to work. It’s a new challenge.” While Willhite served eight years as a Wellington councilman, the transition from representing one community to many in a much larger district is not something that has gone unnoticed. “I think the biggest election I had in Wellington was probably 6,000 people,” he said. “This is a much larger number, a lot more people that I’m responsible to who have high expectations of me. Obviously, I don’t want to fail. They put their trust in me. I want to fulfill that trust that they’ll be offering me in this position and be their voice in representing them.” There’s no down time, either. Willhite’s first meeting took place Thursday, Nov. 10. He has orientation next week, and he must set up an office with staff as he learns See WILLHITE, page 15
RPB Council Gives First OK To Boat And RV Parking Revisions
St. David’s Episcopal Church Women Host Fashion Show Luncheon
St. David’s Episcopal Church Women hosted its Fall Fashion Show & Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Breakers West Country Club. Dress Barn provided casual, career and dressy clothes and accessories for the fashion show. Page 10 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 10 LETTERS.................................. 4 PEOPLE................................. 11 SCHOOLS...................... 12 - 13 COLUMNS.......................14, 21 NEWS BRIEFS....................... 16 BUSINESS..................... 22 - 23 SPORTS..........................27 - 29 CALENDAR............................ 30 CLASSIFIEDS.................31 - 34 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report About 80 residents packed the Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting last week for the preliminary reading of an ordinance designed to keep RVs and boats off sidewalks and front lawns, so as not to be an eyesore. Also on the agenda at the Nov. 3 meeting, the council approved the preliminary reading of an ordinance intended to control junk vehicles. Code Enforcement Director Rob Hill said the junk vehicle ordinance is aimed at preventing the storage of inoperable or dilapidated vehicles that don’t move and create blight. The ordinance regarding RVs and boats parked in front yards drew the most outcry from residents. Hill said that the two ordinances were the result of council workshops where members were concerned about the growing number of dilapidated vehicles, boats and RVs in people’s yards. “There’s nobody taking away
your ability to park your boat or RV, one boat and one RV, onsite, but there were discussions to bring this forward,” Hill said, explaining that the intent is to protect property values. The vehicle ordinance proposes that all front area parking must be on a non-dusting permanent surface such as concrete, asphalt or approved pavers, with no mulch, loose stones, shell rock, crushed concrete or concrete strips. Allowable vehicles include cars and personal trucks up to 1 ton, service and cargo trucks less than 10 feet tall and 20 feet long without exposed equipment or materials, one boat or boat trailer any length, and RVs and campers of any length. The proposed vehicle ordinance states that canvas and tarps are not considered concealment; the vehicle cannot have flat or missing tires or missing or disassembled essential parts; cannot be 50 percent or more rusted or have extensive body damage; or be missing or have disassembled interior parts
such as seats or steering wheels. “We’re trying to identify anything that’s rendering that unit inoperable,” Hill said. Councilman Dave Swift made a motion to approve the first reading of the junk vehicle ordinance, which carried 5-0. The more controversial ordinance would provide new requirements for boats and recreational vehicles parked on front and side lots of residences, and regulate their orientation so that they are consistent with the design of the driveway. “We are not banning the ability of people to park their boat or RV in their driveway,” Mayor Fred Pinto said. “We are making some adjustments to this code to have a way that is more fitting and appropriate, maintaining property values and looking at neighbors being able to enjoy their homes and surrounding environment.” Hill said that one boat and one RV would be allowed on an approved surface when kept a See RPB RULES, page 4
ITID’s Gary Dunkley Re-Elected, Argue Replaces Damone
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Incumbent Gary Dunkley and challenger Betty Argue claimed seats on the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors after the votes were counted on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Dunkley, the ITID Seat 2 incumbent, won a second four-year term, tallying 10,044 votes (57.53 percent) to challenger Steve Roberts’ 7,416 votes (42.47 percent). ITID Seat 4 challenger Argue defeated longtime incumbent Michelle Damone. Argue took 10,448 votes (57.51 percent) to Damone’s 7,719 votes (42.49 percent). “I’m really excited and looking forward to getting to work for the residents of the Indian Trail Improvement District,” Argue said after results came in Tuesday night.
Returning ITID Supervisor Gary Dunkley with ITID SupervisorElect Betty Argue after returns came in Tuesday night. PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Dunkley, who was first elected in 2012, thanked his supporters. “I will continue serving the people and representing the people See ITID VOTE, page 15
WELLINGTON CARES ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Wellington Cares hosted its second annual luncheon on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. This year’s keynote speaker was bestselling author Kathleen Grace. Shown above is Wellington Cares Executive Director Kathy Foster, author Kathleen Grace and Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Wellington Delays Binks Vet Clinic Variance To Study Turn Lane Funding
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Wellington Village Council on Tuesday postponed approval of a variance for a veterinary clinic at the Binks Commercial Center at Binks Forest Drive and Bent Creek Road until it can get answers about how an entrance planned on Binks Forest Drive will be funded. Councilman Michael Napoleone recused himself because his law firm does work for the Wantman Group, which is the engineer on the project. Planning, Zoning & Building Director Bob Basehart said the request is for a conditional use permit to build a 3,600-square-foot veterinary clinic on the 0.73-acre lot 9 at the back of the Binks commercial project, including a new access and turn lane to Binks
Forest Drive at the applicant’s expense. Basehart said the condition for the applicant to pay was mitigated by a provision that if Wellington can find funding, the applicant would be eligible for reimbursement of up to 90 percent of the cost of the entrance and turn lane. The 90 percent solution came from a suggestion by Wellington traffic consultant Andrea Troutman that the amount of traffic generation would account for about 10 percent of the project’s traffic. Basehart said that each lot is eligible for a 3,600-square-foot building on each of the 15 lots, including four lots acquired by the Home Away From Home daycare center and preschool at the northwest corner of the commercial center. The daycare center See VET CLINIC, page 15
Wellington Pilots Help Out To Save Animals In Need
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Ailsa Cutting, an Aero Club resident and founder of the Wellington Flying Club, registered with Pilots N Paws several years ago. Pilots N Paws is a national nonprofit made up of pilots who bring animals that are often slated to be put down to rescue organizations in more populated areas, thus saving their lives. It’s an interconnected network of pilots, all volunteering their time, planes, fuel and efforts to save animals by flying them to their new homes. Cutting recently found the opportunity to organize a trip to bring about 120 dogs, many of them
puppies, from Alabama and Georgia to Palm Beach County, where, rather than face euthanasia, the dogs could find potential families. “They sent out an appeal to members to see if anyone was interested in organizing a multipleplane flyaway to get these dogs, and so I did,” she said. Joining Cutting on Nov. 19 for the journey to pick up her precious cargo are 19 other pilots, some from the Aero Club, some from the Wellington Flying Club, some from the 99s — an international organization of women pilots founded by Amelia Earhart — and some from the community. “All of these pilots are willing to take their time, their fuel, their planes, and all of that,” Cutting
said. “The cost of operating these airplanes is not insignificant, and the fact that all of these pilots are willing to do that is tremendous.” Each plane has a unique configuration, she said. Some planes will be able to take more dogs than others, and different crates will fit in different planes better. The end goal is to bring these dogs to Palm Beach County and pair them up with rescues that will provide them the opportunity to be adopted. “I’m very excited,” Cutting said. “We’ll be able to do it together now in one large group.” Richard Kane, who has been flying for 30 years, is one of the participants. “I’ve completed 10 missions for See PILOTS N PAWS, page 4
Pilots Richard Kane, Tom Griffith, Kenneth Kopp and Ailsa Cutting in front of Cutting’s plane at the Aero Club.
PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER