FARM CITY LUNCHEON AT FAIRGROUNDS SEE STORY, PAGE 3
NEW MASSAGE THERAPIST AT ULTIMA SEE STORY, PAGE 7
THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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INSIDE
Children’s Services Council Will Soon Debut A Parenting App
Volume 37, Number 45 November 25 - December 1, 2016
Serving Palms West Since 1980
ROTARY HONORS PAIGE BELLISSIMO RPB Zoners Approve
Daycare Center For Disabled Children
Christy Potter with the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County gave a presentation to the Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week about a new mobile app and web site that her agency is developing for parents. Page 3
RPB Turkey Drive Collects 364 Turkeys
A turkey drive was held Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Publix store at 1180 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Crossroads Plaza. The first 100 people who donated a turkey or $10 received a free half gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream. The Royal Palm Beach location collected 364 turkeys. Page 6
St. Rita Church Forever Young Club Enjoys A Luncheon With Bingo
The St. Rita Catholic Church’s Forever Young Club held a luncheon with bingo on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the church building in Wellington. A buffet lunch was served, including cake in honor of people with November birthdays. Page 9
OPINION Help Our Economy: Shop Local Businesses This Holiday Season
In total, 137.4 million Americans plan to shop for the holidays Thanksgiving weekend. If that includes you, be sure to do at least some of that shopping at locally owned businesses. We promote local small businesses every year at this time, because they are such a key part of our economy here in the western communities. They are usually owned by people right here in our communities, who depend on their success, and who often take part in other activities and initiatives that enhance the lives of their fellow residents. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS................................. 3 - 9 OPINION.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 8 SCHOOLS.......................10 - 11 COLUMNS...................... 12, 19 PEOPLE................................. 13 BUSINESS..................... 20 - 21 SPORTS..........................25 - 27 CALENDAR............................ 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 32 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
The Rotary Club of Wellington honored Paige Bellissimo, co-founder of the Great Charity Challenge, on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Wanderers Club in Wellington. Bellissimo was presented with the club’s annual Community Peace Award. Shown above, Paige Bellissimo holds her plaque, joined by her mother Katherine, brother Matt and Rotary Club board members. STORY & MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Western Communities Council To Reorganize With New Reps
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Western Communities Council will see new faces after the recent election, including a new chair to replace former Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone. The council — made up of representatives of governments from all of the western communities — will probably not meet until January after new members are appointed by their respective councils or boards. Although it has no official authority and has been rebuked as ineffective by some past members, the Western Communities Council under Damone’s leadership has been a cohesive force for joint action on regional issues, including the advancement of the State Road 7 extension under intense resistance from the City of West Palm Beach, and advancing regional approaches for controlling
future development in the western communities. Royal Palm Beach Councilman Dave Swift, vice chair of the Western Communities Council, said the group will reorganize at the next meeting in January, elect new officers and decide on regional issues to pursue aside from the continued effort to see SR 7 completed. “The sober homes issue is mostly a federal issue, and I’m not sure exactly what we could do, working together, but it would be helpful to figure out what the federal government is doing,” he said. “I would like to see [Congresswoman] Lois Frankel invited out to our group to explain what she is doing and what individual communities could do.” Swift credited Damone as a driving force behind the SR 7 extension to Northlake Blvd., which has been approved but is still tied up in litigation. The Western Communities Council was successful in getting its membership to pitch in
to hire legal representatives to fight for the road. “Michelle dug her teeth into this particular issue and spent a lot of time on it,” Swift said. “She really got us to where we are now. She was really the main force behind the whole thing. She needs to be recognized for her work. I will miss her and her interest in this particular issue.” Western Communities Council Administrator Tanya Quickel, who is also director of administrative and financial services for the Village of Wellington, said a definite date has not been set for the January meeting. She will have to wait until the respective governing bodies have selected their members to represent them. “We have new elected officials, and they have to have a meeting to make their appointment for who they’re going to send,” Quickel said. “We’ve had this happen beSee WCC, page 4
Dec. 3 Holiday Extravaganzas In Wellington And Royal Palm
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report The villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach will host fun-filled, family-friendly winter festivals, both occurring on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Village of Wellington, is hosting Winterfest 2016, celebrating 20 years of Wellington and 20 years of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Wellington Chamber Executive Director Michela Green is looking forward to the event, which will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Wellington Amphitheater. Cultural Programs & Facilities Manager Joe Piconcelli is glad to see Winterfest back at the amphitheater, where it originally started. “It’s going to be bigger and better than it ever was,” he said. There will be musical performances beginning at 7 p.m., Green said, including the Palm Beach Opera, Michaela Paige from The Voice, Nicky Greed, the
Wellington High School Chamber Chorus, Alex Shaw, the Palm Beach Mako Cheerleaders, Sarah Spiritual, Alyssa Marie Coon, Aliyah Pike, the Precision Dance Conservatory, the Binks Forest Chorus, Vell P., Latillia Jackson, the Donna Tucci Dancers, Cassie Ortiz, Victoria Hockton, Kayden Muller and more. The headliner of the event is Rob Van Winkle, also known as Vanilla Ice, television star, musical icon, philanthropist, actor and Wellington resident. Van Winkle will again be joined by Wes Kain, also of The Vanilla Ice Project, as the master of ceremonies. There will be 60 vendors, food trucks, shopping, pet adoptions, kids’ crafts, exhibitors and more to peruse while children enjoy a Kids Wonderland Village, zip lining, bounce houses, an obstacle course and snow. “It’s going to be a pretty exciting place,” Piconcelli said. The Potions in Motion VIP Lounge adds another layer of fun for the event.
Because parking is limited, taking the complimentary shuttle from the main entrance of the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. is recommended. Sponsors include the original Wellington Mall, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Grand Champions Polo Club, the Royal Inn Hotel, Palms West Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Palms West, Braman, Arden, Pyra360, the Florida Sugar Cane League, Fusion AV Solutions, Greenstein & Lubliner and Pyra Promotions. For more information, call (561) 792-6525 or visit www.wellingtonchamber.com. Royal Palm Beach’s annual Winter Festival, Winter Fest 2016, will also take place on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 to 9 p.m. at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park, located at 11600 Poinciana Blvd. Something new this year is that Home Depot will be partnering with the village, Royal Palm Beach Community & Cultural See FESTIVALS, page 14
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission approved a special exception Tuesday to allow a daycare center for disabled children at 1402 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. in the Lakeview Center. Site Plan Coordinator Kevin Erwin said the facility, called PediPec, would be in a building located toward the back of the Lakeview Center. “It is most similar in use to a childcare center, which is a special exception use in the commercial office zoning district,” Erwin said. “The property is going to be used for a prescribed pediatric extended care.” The office would be licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration, offering an alternative to home nursing care for children
with unique medical needs that require constant medical intervention and monitoring, he said. “PediPec is staffed by licensed pediatric personnel and offers up to 12 hours per day for families struggling with children who have specific medical needs,” Erwin said, adding that staff recommended approval of the application. Attorney Ellie Halperin, representing the applicant, said that the use is needed in the village. “This is just a fabulous use to meet a need that is unmet in the village right now,” Halperin said. “It’s a great location in the corner of a shopping center.” She said that the children are usually transported by a medical van, with very little traffic generated by the use. Commissioner Richard Becher See RPB ZONING, page 4
THANKSGIVING AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington held a Thanksgiving dinner for participants on Thursday, Nov. 17. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office donated an early Thanksgiving meal for more than 350 children that the PBSO Grill Team cooked and served. Shown above are Triston Gardon and Lael Felisma with their dinners. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
RPB Council OKs Final Reading Of Parking Changes
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved the final reading of an ordinance last week to amend parking regulations for SUVs and boats intended to enable better enforcement and restrict them from parking closer than 15 feet from a roadway. About 50 of the same residents who had shown up for the preliminary reading of the ordinance were back at the Nov. 17 meeting to voice their opposition or ask questions about the amended regulations. The ordinance also regulates boats and SUVs parked in positions considered inappropriate, such as horizontally or diagonally to the street, or otherwise parked in a manner considered inconsistent with the design of the driveway. Boats and RVs must be parked on an approved surface, such as concrete, asphalt, brick or ap-
proved pavers. No mulch, loose stones, crushed concrete or concrete strips are acceptable. Community Development Director Rob Hill said that the ordinance establishes that singlefamily homes will be limited to one RV and one boat, and that they must be parked 15 feet from the edge of the roadway. The front or back of the boat or RV must be perpendicular to the roadway so that the narrowest side is facing the roadway, except for those parked on curved, circular, side-entry or rear-entry drives in a manner that does not block access to another space on the driveway and does not block the sidewalk. A boat or RV can be parked on the side of the house as long as it is on an approved surface. “We heard what was said at the first reading, and we clarified that,” Hill said. Councilman Dave Swift said See PARKING, page 4
Back To Basics Seeks Support In Helping Needy Kids
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington-based charity Back to Basics, which provides school uniforms and holiday gifts to elementary-aged children, could use some help in giving children the basic necessities — new sneakers, socks, underwear and a toy — this holiday season. Founder Beverly Perham was working with volunteers Sunday, Nov. 20 as they bagged up gift packages to go to 6,000 children in 40 schools over the next few weeks. There might even be more in need. She’s waiting to hear back from a few schools and organizations. “Our promise is the four items,” Perham said, and she makes sure
to see that each child receives a pair of sneakers, socks, underwear and a toy. The Back to Basics warehouse has already been emptied and refilled twice, and will be emptied and refilled twice more before the holiday season is over. Gift giving, and receiving, is staggered over the course of several weeks to be more manageable. Conceptually, Back to Basics is simple — provide children with the necessities so they can go to school. Schools and other organizations provide Perham with a list of students who need assistance, along with their shoe and clothing sizes. To schools, Perham says:
“We’re here, we’re available to you. If you need help, call us.” Groups such as the Rotary Club of Wellington, the Great Charity Challenge and Equestrian Sport Productions, Little Smiles and 100+ Women Who Care Southeast Florida, Kiwanis clubs, companies, churches, service organizations and individuals receive the list of what is needed, including the sizes, for however many children the group adopts, and they start shopping. The items are delivered to Perham and her volunteers, who then sort and distribute the items. If anything is missing, cash donations or grants are used to purchase the items. If a child is not adopted, See BASICS, page 14
Denise Miles, Deby Pfendler, Sandy Kline, Keelin Coleman, Rylee Bleakley, Jackie Tedamonson, Beverly Perham and Jeffrey Perham prepare presents in the Back to Basics warehouse.
PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER