Town-Crier Newspaper November 23, 2018

Page 1

WCF GETS $10,000 QUANTUM GRANT SEE STORY, PAGE 3

CHAMBER HOSTS EQUESTRIAN LUNCH SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

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

Your Community Newspaper

INSIDE

Lox Groves Council Agrees To Advertise For New Manager

Volume 39, Number 45 November 23 - November 29, 2018

Serving Palms West Since 1980

ROYAL PALM BEACH TURKEY DRIVE

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council agreed earlier this month to begin advertising for a new manager, although the current manager’s contract was recently extended for two years. At the Nov. 6 meeting, Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia made a motion to begin the process of interviewing manager candidates, rather than seek another management firm contract. Page 3

Thanksgiving Party At Boys & Girls Club

On Thursday, Nov. 15th, the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington hosted an early Thanksgiving dinner for the kids in attendance. Page 13

The Royal Palm Beach Unilocal Turkey Drive took place on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Publix store at the Crossroads Plaza. A total of 700 turkeys were collected. Shown above are PBSO Sgt. Daniel Dudek, Deputy Jim Mackey and Deputy William Feaman with turkeys. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Wellington Holiday Food Drive Brings Community Together

By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report The holiday season is stressful and busy for many people, but for those who struggle with additional challenges, the season becomes a time of worry more than a peaceful time with loved ones.

To lend a hand to its residents, the Village of Wellington organizes its annual Hometown Holiday Food Drive during the fall months, and on Saturday, Nov. 17, the village distributed thousands of pounds of food to those who need it most.

Broncos Advance To Regional Finals With Shutout Of Western

The Palm Beach Central High School varsity football team made school history on Friday, Nov. 16 by shutting out Davie’s Western High School. The 38-0 win propelled the Broncos to their first ever regional finals. Page 19 Tristan Forsythe, Nathan Miriki and Alex Ruehrmund volunteer at the food distribution event last Saturday.

PHOTO BY CALLIE SHARKEY/TOWN-CRIER

Residents pre-registered to receive one of 250 bags of food, plus a turkey. A large number of these residents were waiting outside the Wellington Community Center before 9 a.m. on the day of the distribution. A team of five staff members and 35 volunteers worked with smiling faces and full hearts as they passed out food bags filled with all the fixings needed to have a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. Many workers were a part of this event for the first time, like Wellington Community Services staff member Helen Archer. “This is amazing, giving back to the community,” she said. Christie Greenspan and her son Parker are first time volunteers, too. “We found out through an e-mail from the Village of Wellington and thought it would be a great way to give back,” Greenspan said. Over the past nine years, the See FOOD DRIVE, page 18

Wellington Boy Helping Zulu Women, Rhinos In South Africa

Beacon Of Hope 5K Returns To Wellington’s Tiger Shark Cove Park

On Sunday, Nov. 18, the Beacon of Hope 5K, held in memory of Kevin P. Enterlein, returned for the second year to Tiger Shark Cove Park in Wellington. Hundreds of people came out to help raise money for the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope (CAHH). Page 20 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 PEOPLE................................... 8 SCHOOLS................................ 9 COLUMNS............................. 16 BUSINESS............................. 17 CALENDAR............................ 18 SPORTS......................... 19 - 20 CLASSIFIEDS................ 21 - 22 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report While many area residents were out enjoying the cooler weather or preparing for the holidays, 13-year-old Caiden Erskine spent last Saturday morning at Royal Palm Beach’s Fall Fantasy Craft Show where he helped create jobs for poor women in South Africa while simultaneously helping scientists preserve the majestic African rhinoceros. Not a bad morning’s work from Veterans Park. Erskine, of Tree Tops in Wellington, marches to a different drummer. Maybe it’s the daily meditation that he practices. Maybe it’s because he has seen South African poverty first hand, with trips home to the birthplace of his parents. Maybe it’s because he is so empathetic to the plight of poor women, and animals hunted to near extinction. But one thing is clear, Erskine is making a difference with his micro business selling handicrafts manu-

Caiden Erskine (center) with his mother Bridget and brother Ash at last Saturday’s craft fair in Royal Palm Beach. factured by Zulu women under the nonprofit Zimele and using all his profits to donate to the Global Exploration & Oceanographic Society (GEOS), a nonprofit that

PHOTO BY DENIS EIRIKIS/TOWN-CRIER

helps conserve and protect African rhinos. “I get to help two nonprofits at the same time,” he said while sellSee ERSKINE, page 18

Child’s Letter Puts Focus On La Mancha Traffic Concerns By Denis Eirikis Town-Crier Staff Report Speeding and running stop signs in the La Mancha neighborhood took center stage at last week’s meeting of the Royal Palm Beach Village Council. The entire Bibey family from La Mancha showed up on Thursday, Nov. 15 to ask the council to do something about speeders and stop-sign-runners along Ponce de Leon Street near its northern intersection with Galliano Street. “God help them if they hurt my kids,” mom Rachel Bibey said as she hand-delivered a letter to Mayor Fred Pinto, written and signed by her daughter, nine-yearold Savannah Bibey. She explained that about 15 children live in the immediate vicinity and routinely cross the street to visit and play with each other.

“I live on Ponce de Leon Street. Lately a lot of people have been speeding, running the stop sign or both,” Savannah wrote, adding that she feels unsafe crossing the street to see her friends. Her letter went on to ask the council for speed bumps or another traffic-calming measure. She said that she is especially scared for her seven-year-old brother Noah, who also has friends across the street. Savannah’s father, Thomas Bibey, told the council that speeding is very bad at the intersection. “Speeders will actually zoom around cars that do stop for the intersection,” he said, adding that a neighbor has the intersection on a security camera and video documentation is available showing how often motorists blatantly See LA MANCHA, page 4

FARM CITY LUNCHEON

The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce held its Farm City Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center. Farm City is an annual event that brings together key leaders from across the county to discuss agribusiness issues affecting Palm Beach County. Shown above are Vicki Chouris, Anthony Alvarez and Jessica Cecere with boxes of fresh produce. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

ITID Staff Reports Progress On Drainage Projects

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Indian Trail Improvement District staff reported last week that culvert replacement and repair is getting underway with the new in-house crew, but there may be a need to create another crew in order to keep up with the need. At the Nov. 14 meeting, Director of Operations & Maintenance Jason Lester said that the clearing of a quarter-mile section of 83rd Place North east of Banyan Blvd. by a contractor will start on Nov. 26. “This project had some fallen trees that were from Hurricane Irma, so this has been a challenge for us,” Lester said. “We have sent notifications to all the homeowners on that street, and we have given homeowners the option to relocate trees, because some are planted, nice palm trees, within

the easement. On Nov. 26, we will be going in there, and we will be clearing that section.” Lester said that four surplus graders have been sold. “They have been here for a while in the surplus auction yard,” he said. “We were able to get those sold for $7,000, which is more than we originally anticipated. The contract has been finalized, and the machines have all been picked up.” A mini excavator to be used by the culvert crew approved by the ITID board is on order and should arrive soon, he said. “That mini excavator is going to be used primarily in the maintenance zones to dig the swales out and make sure that we have positive drainage along our streets,” Lester said. A front-end loader approved by See CULVERTS, page 4

Longtime Wellington Parks & Rec Director Retires

By M. Dennis Taylor Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington recognized retiring Parks & Recreation Director Bruce DeLaney with a proclamation last week, honoring him for his 24 years of service to the community. “This is the last time you will see Mr. DeLaney officially,” Village Manager Paul Schofield told the Wellington Village Council. “Bruce has been a phenomenal parks and recreation director. He has come through some difficult times and is exemplary in every way. Our Parks & Recreation Department is truly amazing, and that is a reflection of its leader.” Schofield thanked DeLaney directly for his service. “I cannot tell you how much you

mean to me, and I am truly, truly sad to lose you,” he said, setting the tone for the comments from the council. Mayor Anne Gerwig leveled high praise on DeLaney. “We’re going to have some parting shots for you, but really, they’re going to be shots of gratitude,” she said. “One thing people always talk about with Wellington is how well recreation runs around here in the village. I realize that commitment that you’ve made, and I appreciate it, because it makes our job a lot easier.” Gerwig added that DeLaney has touched the lives of so many Wellington residents. “You’ve made such an impact in the community,” she said. “So many kids have grown up thank-

ful for the experiences, and our program is the envy of so many other communities. Every time I’ve interacted with you, you were such a pleasant guy and so easy to deal with. You always got the job done, and you did it with a smile on your face.” Vice Mayor Michael Drahos echoed Gerwig’s comments and noted that everyone he speaks to knows of DeLaney and his dedicated work with the Parks & Recreation Department. Councilman Michael Napoleone agreed. “Everyone speaks so highly of you because you’ve done such an amazing job,” he said. “You will be missed.” Councilman John McGovern noted that he first met DeLaney See DELANEY, page 18

The Wellington Village Council salutes Bruce DeLaney at last week’s meeting. (L-R) Village Attorney Laurie Cohen, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, Councilman John McGovern, Mayor Anne Gerwig, DeLaney, Councilman Michael Napoleone, Vice Mayor Michael Drahos and Village Manager Paul Schofield.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Town-Crier Newspaper November 23, 2018 by Wellington The Magazine LLC - Issuu