RPB COUNCIL DENIES SIGN VARIANCE SEE STORY, PAGE 3
RUNOFFS IN NOVEMBER FOR ITID SEATS SEE STORY, PAGE 4
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Shopping Plaza Redesign Could Ease Tensions With Neighbors
Volume 43, Number 17 August 26 - September 8, 2022
Serving Palms West Since 1980
NEW FIRE-RESCUE LADDER TRUCK
The latest plan for commercial development of the 28.7-acre property at the southwest corner of Northlake and Coconut boulevards may ease the concerns of nearby Hamlin Blvd. residents. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, shopping center builder Konover South came before a special meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors seeking support for the proposal that would shift the retail properties to the front of the parcel near Northlake and create a larger buffer between building backsides and nearby homeowners. Page 3
St. David’s Episcopal Church Hosts IslandThemed Dance Party
St. David’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church held a Caribbeanthemed dance party on Saturday, Aug. 13 to raise money for church programs. Featuring live music by Kool Vibes, there were also prizes, raffles and more. Page 13
Local Chamber Gives A Lift To Five HispanicOwned Businesses
Five Hispanic-owned Palm Beach County small businesses are each getting a “lift” through a $6,000 check, as well as business mentorship through an initiative called “Elevate Together.” Page 16
Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Station #29, located at Belvedere Road and State Road 7, brought PBCFR’s new 100-foot ladder truck to visit Station #28 on Royal Palm Beach Blvd. on Thursday, Aug. 18 just before the Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting. Several members of the council went up in the ladder truck and remarked about the spectacular view. Shown above, Councilman Jeff Hmara and firefighter/paramedic Randal Wipf ascend the ladder. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Incumbent Andrews And Challenger Showalter Head To School Board Runoff
By Callie Sharkey Town-Crier Staff Report Palm Beach County School Board District 6 incumbent Marcia Andrews narrowly missed being elected outright during the Tuesday, Aug. 23 election. Missing the 50 percent mark by just over one percentage point, Andrews will advance to the November ballot along with Wellington parent activist Jennifer Showalter, who placed second. In the five-way primary race, Andrews took 15,524 votes (48.7 percent), while Showalter took 5,756 votes (18.1 percent). Showalter edged out fellow parent activist Amanda Silvestri, who took 5,309 votes (16.7 percent), along with businessman Jeff Browning, who took 4,149 votes (13 percent), and schoolteacher V. Deanne Ewers, who took 1,123 votes (3.5 percent). Andrews is not deterred by the
upcoming round two of the race, and instead is thankful to the many people and organizations that have endorsed her, particularly groups like the classroom teachers and the bus drivers, and elected officials from Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, all the way out to the Glades. “One thing I learned, and I already knew, is that when you have five people running, it is hard not to be in a runoff. It is very difficult,” Andrews said. “I was really proud that I had almost 49 percent of the vote with that many candidates. Usually, it would not be that high. I was only a few points away from being elected. I felt really good that I might be able to do it, and I almost did.” Being on the school board throughout some unprecedented challenges adds to Andrews’ background as an educational public servant, she said, offering a clear
message for the families who rely on the school district. “I want to make sure they know of my record of accomplishments over the years as a school board member, as well as an employee of the school district, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of human resources and chief of human resources,” Andrews said. “I have a cadre of experiences that help me be able to be on the ground and do the work that is necessary.” Moving forward, Andrews has a plan to get back out into the community she serves. “I am going to be knocking on doors, introducing myself to people again who may not know the work that is being done by me, as well as the School District of Palm Beach County, with an emphasis on school safety as the No. 1 priority, unfinished learning from the pandemic, mental health, See SCHOOL BOARD, page 7
McGovern Wins Democratic Nod For County Commission
Wellington Girls Volleyball Primed For Another Strong Year
The girls varsity volleyball squad at Wellington High School has all the ingredients necessary for a successful season this fall, according to head coach Duane Carroll. It all starts with experience. Wellington’s roster features seven seniors, five juniors and three sophomores. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS......................... 21 - 23 PEOPLE..........................24 - 25 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report Michelle Oyola McGovern secured the Democratic nomination for the District 6 seat on the Palm Beach County Commission during the Tuesday, Aug. 23 primary election. She will now move forward to November’s general election, where McGovern will face Republican nominee Sara Baxter. McGovern finished well ahead of her two opponents, taking 9,926 votes (56.9 percent) to State Rep. Matt Willhite’s 5,644 votes (32.4 percent). Community activist Sylvia Sharps was third with 1,864 votes (10.7 percent). McGovern is aiming to replace term-limited County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay representing the western communities.
McKinlay endorsed McGovern in the race. “I am really honored by the wide-spread support we were able to garner in the race,” McGovern told the Town-Crier. “It really showed in the numbers. There was a good turnout, and we really had great support across the district. I feel good about it. I’m looking forward to becoming Palm Beach County’s first Latina county commissioner.” A Palm Beach County native of Puerto Rican heritage, McGovern worked for former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson for 18 years as his state director. She now works for Baptist Health. Married to Wellington Councilman John McGovern, she is the mother of two teenage daughters.
McGovern believes that her strong showing was based on her deep roots in the community. “I think it says a lot about my history of working in the district,” she said. “The voters felt like they can rely on me to listen and deliver on their behalf.” Looking beyond the Democratic primary to the general election, McGovern plans to keep her focus on bread-and-butter issues. “I think the issues are the same,” she said. “This is a very diverse district with strong family values. What we worry most about are keeping our families safe, being able to afford the homes we live in, effective transportation and clean water. I think the issues are no different than in the primary. Those See McGOVERN, page 7
Katherine Waldron Victorious In State House 93 Primary
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Current Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Katherine Waldron narrowly won a four-way Democratic primary on Tuesday, Aug. 23 to secure her party’s nomination to represent central Palm Beach County in Tallahassee. Waldron will now advance to the general election ballot for state representative in District 93, where she will face Republican nominee Dr. Saulis Banionis, who was unopposed for his party’s nomination. District 93 is an open seat that covers all of Wellington and Greenacres, as well as parts of suburban Lake Worth. The incumbent would have been State Rep. Matt Willhite, but he chose to run for the Palm Beach County Commission instead. Waldron, who received 4,639
votes (31.2 percent), narrowly edged out Wellington community activist Shelly Albright, who garnered 4,490 votes (30.2 percent). Tom Valeo, a former Willhite staffer, took 4,137 votes (27.9 percent), and social worker Seth Densen finished with 1,591 votes (10.7 percent). “I think that anybody who wants to run for office, it’s great that they want to give back,” Waldron said of her former opponents. “There were three good people I ran against, and I’m proud to be the winner… District 93 would’ve been well served by any of us.” Waldron ran an aggressive campaign, she said, knocking on doors, making phone calls, walking around neighborhoods, talking to people and working to learn as much as possible about each See DISTRICT 93, page 4
NRI INSTITUTE COMMENCEMENT
The NRI Institute of Health Sciences held its 10th annual commencement exercises on Friday, Aug. 19 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. A total of 34 new registered nurses graduated with associate of science in nursing degrees. One graduate received an occupational associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Shown above is Elizabeth Stolkowski, director of the nursing program, with honors graduate Kellyan Hillman. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Lox Groves Rolls Out New CodeRED Notification System
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report After years of planning, the Town of Loxahatchee Groves is rolling out its new CodeRED notification system. Members of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council got an overview of the system on Tuesday, Aug. 16 and urged all residents to make sure they are signed up. “This has been many years in discussion, and it is nice to see something as important as this coming to fruition,” Mayor Robert Shorr said, noting that council members and town staff were wearing red in honor of the new system.
Public relations consultant Carlos Perez took the council through an overview of CodeRED, which the town plans to use to keep residents informed of important town news and special events, as well as emergency situations. “We have now finished the configurations, and we are ready to start using this communications tool to inform town residents of any alerts or messages that we want to send out,” Perez explained. He showed step-by-step how people can register for the program, adding that there is information on the town’s web site exSee LOX COUNCIL, page 4
ITID Board Urges Residents To Support Land Swap
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report Whether via e-mail, phone or petition, the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors is urging area residents to reach out to the Palm Beach County Commission and support the latest proposal by GL Homes that would move 1,285 planned housing units out of the area. “It’s really important for the community to support this,” ITID Vice President Betty Argue said during the board’s Wednesday, Aug. 17 meeting. “If we can reduce those units by 1,285, that’s essentially 12,850 less cars on our [district] roads every day.” The plan requires approval by county commissioners of a controversial land swap between the Indian Trails Grove tract located northwest of The Acreage and what is known as the Hyder West
property that GL Homes owns off State Road 7 west of Delray Beach in the county’s so-called Agricultural Reserve. On Aug. 12, the Palm Beach County Planning Commission voted 8-4 against the move, but the proposal goes before the sevenmember county commission on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The Palm Beach County Commission can overrule the planning commission’s advice and move the land swap concept forward, as they did earlier this year to begin the process. The final showdown then would likely come in late October when the county commission would be asked to vote on changes to the comprehensive plan that would allow the swap. ITID supervisors voted 4-0 to direct staff to send a letter of supSee LAND SWAP, page 14
The proposed land swap would not only lead to 1,295 fewer residential units, but would also leave 974 additional acres of land preserved, rather than part of the residential development.