The Gazette 3/2/23 V10iss5

GAZETTE

THE WILTON MANORS PREPARES FOR STONEWALL

By John Hayden

Hoping to avoid last-minute problems and budget issues that plagued last year’s event, the Wilton Manors City Commission has approved the permit for the annual Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival for June 17.

Commissioners addressed the issue at their meeting on Feb. 14.

Organizers of Stonewall have submitted an early version of their plans and a working budget. Last year, a surge in security costs came in just weeks before the party and threatened to cancel the festival. A deal was worked out at the last minute and the event went on as scheduled.

Commissioners pointed out that while Wilton Manors Entertainment Group (WMEG) produces the event, many people still think the city runs it. Commissioners tossed around ideas of creating a stronger, more identifiable partnership. Those ideas include more funding from the city and thoughts on how to avoid state-sanctioned harassment towards LGBT coming from Tallahassee. They also discussed increased oversight of WMEG’s planning to give citizens full transparency over how money is spent. In the end, no specifics were fleshed out and approved, but the permit was granted.

NEW DIRECTOR OF LEISURE SERVICES APPOINTED

With the departure of longtime Leisure Services Director Patrick Cann, the city named his replacement. Commissioners unanimously voted to make Michelle Parks

the new department head. She has been with the department for about five years working closely with her predecessor, Cann.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Parks said after her appointment. “Wilton Manors is where I’ve always wanted to be.”

She says her first tasks will evaluate all the city’s parks and look for amenity upgrades. Commissioners also asked her to put together a long-term list of projects, such as permanent pickleball courts and a new playground.

They also discussed if they should fill her old position or delegate those duties to others currently on staff. That may be easier said than done. During the last 10+ years, Leisure Services have more than doubled the amount of people served through its programs while staffing levels have remained stagnant.

WASTE REMOVAL

The city is also looking to modify how and when trash is collected. David Archacki, head of Utilities and Emergency Management, said they are working on plans for a more consolidated collection schedule. Maps would be redrawn down from four districts to two. All trash, recycling, and bulk days would be on Monday and Tuesday, with a second pickup for garbage on Thursday and Friday.

The goal is to decrease the time trash sits by the side of the road. Currently bulk is

collected in the middle of the week. While people are only supposed to put waste out the day before, many are only free (or have enough help around) to move bulk on the weekends. By moving bulk to Monday and

Tuesdays, the city expects cleaner streets. Archacki’s presentation was meant solely to be informative for commissioners and citizens, and no motion was made or vote taken.

WILTON MANORS

Stonewall Pride Street Festival on June 18, 2022. Photo by JR Davis.

IN THE BIZ WITH CARVELLE BIKES

By John Hayden

Wilton Manors’ newest bike shop, Carvelle Bikes, is the brainchild of Carvelle Estriplet, who opened the shop at 2917 NE 6th Ave. in Wilton Manors.

“I am feeling overwhelmed. The last month has been a rollercoaster,” she told SFGN.

I visited the space a month before the opening, when it was undergoing renovations and wasn’t sure if she’d be open by mid-October. But she persevered and on Oct. 17 she held a grand opening party attended by local bike enthusiasts and Wilton Manors VIPs.

“Now I feel a sense of relief. Everyone came out. It’s a new shop, a new beginning. Ready to serve the community.”

ELECTRIC AVENUE

Carvelle Bikes is the only bike shop in Wilton Manors and is full service. In addition to selling

traditional bikes, the shop is ahead of the curve on getting people fitted with electric bikes. Her goal is to turn Sixth Avenue into Electric Avenue.

“When it comes to bikes, I am super fired up.”

Electric bikes pair with your phone or watch, go up to 35 mph, are easy to recharge and are the future of urban biking. If you’ve never ridden one, she’ll get you set up and on the road. Carvelle Bikes will also be there for service on any kind of bike.

“Service is always going to be there. I’m always going to be servicing bikes. Repairs are tune-ups and more. I’m still going to be providing whatever you need from flat tires to gears, whatever it is.”

Her original shop was at the back of Wilton Collective. But it was small and her business was growing. The new space is 10 times the size she used to have.

“I have an alley behind [the shop]. The new

alley is the size of the old place.”

With major residential development across the street and sharing a strip mall with restaurants and a wine bar, Estriplet said she’s poised for success.

“This is the hot spot right here.”

COMMUNITY LEADER

Estriplet has long been an advocate for LGBT rights, and as a trans woman herself she serves on boards and advisory panels and leads by example. Naturally she is a big participant in the SMART Ride, an annual bike ride from Miami to Key West that raises money for HIV/ AIDS services.

Now the community can come to her. The space inside Carvelle Bikes is flexible, which means she can hold events and meetings. “The Dolphin Democrats, WMBA events, anything civic, political, or business. It’s going to be a microvenue right on Electric Avenue.”

March 2, 2023 • Volume 10 • Issue 5 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

Editorial Graphic Designers

Julie Palmer•Kyle Willis•Craig Tuggle artwork@sfgn.com

Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor •John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Correspondents

Sal Torre • James Oaksun • John McDonald

Staff Photographers J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires Sales & Marketing

For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com

Co-founders• Norm Kent & Piero Guidugli

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping

To learn more about Carvelle Bikes, visit CarvelleBikes.com.

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. nlgja_logo_6

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Copyright © 2023 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

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Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

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Photo via Carvelle Bikes, Facebook.

OUT-OF-TOWN REVELER DESTROYS BONA ITALIAN WINDOW

By John Hayden

If you’ve walked down Wilton Drive near Five Points last week, you may have seen one of the windows of Bona Italian shattered.

An out-of-town reveler was walking by and punched out the window. The attack happened after the restaurant closed and no one inside was hurt.

Co-owner Glen Weinzimer said that the attacker was in town for a flag-football tournament and appeared to be overserved. Members from the team came over and apologized and promised to pay for the damages. Police were called, but no arrest was made.

Weinziner said the team, the attacker, and the flag-football league that hosted the event, have reached out to apologize again and reiterate that they will pay for the damages.

Tournament organizers also posted a statement on social media: “This was extraordinarily disappointing to us, as our friends who attend our tournament know about how important our local community is to us and how wonderful our local businesses are to our participants.

“We ... will not tolerate visitors who come

WILTON MANORS

WILTON MANORS POLICE SEEK INFO ON AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CASE

By John McDonald

Investigators in the Wilton Manors Police Department are asking the community for help with a recent aggravated assault case.

The incident took place on the evening of Feb. 10 as police officers responded to a call of aggravated assault at the Palmyra Lounge, 2051 Wilton Dr. Two men were involved in a verbal dispute over a parking space which escalated and one man, reportedly, brandished a firearm and fled the scene in a red 2012 Hyundai Sonata.

to Wilton Manors for the Sunshine Cup doing any level of damage to our community … We have to always remember we get what we give — that means ensuring your teammates treat our area with respect, too.”

Bona’s windows are tinted, and that helped keep the glass from completely shattering on impact. If the tinting hadn’t been in place, the attacker could have severed arteries and been in a life-threatening situation.

The new window has been installed. The final tinting will be applied after the pane of glass has settled.

MAN WHO PULLED GUN AT WILTON MANORS BAR GETS PROBATION

By John McDonald

A man who pulled a gun and angrily confronted patrons at a Wilton Manors bar during Pride month has been sentenced to three months' probation.

On Feb. 7, Broward County Judge Melinda Brown sentenced Kenneth Justesen, 45, to three months' probation on a misdemeanor charge of an improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon or firearm.

Police arrested Justesen on June 25, 2022 outside of GYM Sportsbar, 2287 Wilton Dr. where witnesses said he was threatening and harassing patrons while looking for his phone.

In the arrest report, WMPD Sgt. Daniel Plunske stated video from witnesses showed Justesen confronting the victim outside the bar with a gun by his side, warning if the victim came any closer he would shoot.

Plunske located a loaded black Glock pistol on Justesen.

“The firearm was loaded and actively had one round in the chamber along with an additional 8 rounds in the magazine,” Plunske

wrote.

Justesen originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to no contest. As part of his probation, Justesen must forfeit all firearms and is not allowed to possess any weapons or firearms for three months. He must also complete a Direct Hit Firearms Training Course to keep his concealed carry license.

Included in the sentencing is a $293 court fee. Justesen is represented by attorney and Sunrise Commissioner Neil Kerch.

Officers were able to locate and detain the suspect, a 41-year-old white male, not long after the incident was reported. After an interview, the suspect was released.

WMPD is withholding the names of both participants, in the victim’s case, invoking Marsy’s Law, an amendment to the Florida Constitution that shield’s information from the public record in the Florida Constitution.

On Feb. 16 SFGN spoke with the victim who confirmed the incident and added he was called several homophobic slurs. He said it was not the first time he had been threatened in Wilton Manors.

Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker

said his investigators are working with the State Attorney’s Office “to assess all elements to include whether or not bias played a role.”

“Violent crime shall have no comfort in our community and we will use the investigative tools, the laws of our state and our passion to protect and support a safe Island City,” Blocker said.

Blocker is asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information to contact Detective

Frantz Petitpapa at (954) 390-2168 or submit an online tip to CrimeStoppers at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

TAP THAT ASH DRAWS IN NEW CLIENTELE IN WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

There’s a new place to hang out and chat while sipping on a curated wine and puffing on a cigar.

It’s sitting right next to the outdoor bar at Hunters Nightclub, but there’s a good chance you haven’t noticed it.

Tap That Ash opened in January, hoping to cater to an undervalued clientele.

“From your family room to ours,” cofounder Diane Resnick said. “People come and chill out. They can talk to one another and have a conversation. You’re out dancing around at the nightclub and then you want to socialize.”

The Resnicks know what they like, but as the business grows, they’re catering to special requests from customers. They recently ordered a few super fat 90x9 cigars. It’s called the April Fools’ cigar, but this monster is no joke. Fat and thick, this is for experienced cigar aficionados. They sold out in hours, and are ordering more.

They have dozens of varieties on display in

old school display cases that give each cigar an added air of history and new ones are added if customers ask for a specific brand or type. Cigars in stock come from fertile grounds in Central America, as well as from the Dominican Republic, which often uses Cuban seed (the legally closest you’ll come to a Cuban cigar outside of Havana). Tap That Ash has also started holding cigar socials. The Bear community can stop in for a smoke before heading across the street to Eagle Wilton Manors.

Photo via Tap That Ash, Facebook.

WILTON MANORS

Kenneth Justesen. Courtesy of Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Photo via Palmyra Lounge, Facebook.

Photo via Glen Weinzimer, Facebook.

BACK IN BUSINESS COURTYARD CAFÉ REOPENS AFTER FIRE

By John Hayden

Courtyard Café faced a minor disaster recently.

A griddle fire got out of control and forced the restaurant to shut down over Presidents’ Day weekend.

It took days for the restaurant to repair the damage and get everything back in order. After the fire, but before reopening, they had posted this on Facebook. “UPDATE!!!

Courtyard is all cleaned up and we are getting our new kitchen equipment [soon]. If set up goes as planned, we hope to be back open [soon]!”

Long a staple on Wilton Drive, people come midday for lunch or a late-night bite after the bars.

Check their Facebook page for more information.

Photo courtesy of Harrison C. Davies.