PALM TRAN BUSLINK CHANGES AHEAD SEE STORY, PAGE 3
GREAT CHARITY CHALLENGE ON JAN. 31 SEE STORY, PAGE 7
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE • WESTLAKE Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
Volume 47, Number 2 January 23 - February 5, 2026
Serving Palms West Since 1980
ANNUAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB WELLINGTON DINNER DANCE
Indian Trail Removing Some Speed Cushions From District Roads
There soon will be less thumpthump from the rubberized bump-bumps that have been the focus of complaints to Indian Trail Improvement District officials for months. ITID recently made the decision to remove the speed cushions from Avocado and Persimmon boulevards. Page 3
Record-Breaking Season Underway At Wellington International
Wellington International promises an exciting 2026 season for the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. More than 31,000 athletes from around the world are estimated to compete over the 13-week season. Page 13
On Friday, Jan. 9, the 38th annual Wellington Dinner Dance to benefit the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington was held at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Shown here, Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, is greeted by the Wellington Elite Steppers. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY FRANK KOESTER/TOWN-CRIER
Nearby Residents Eager For Promised Town Hall Meeting On ‘Project Tango’
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report A town hall meeting about the proposed “Project Tango” AI hyperscale data center near 20Mile Bend has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 by Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter. Baxter said this week that the change from the original date at the end of January was to allow for the gathering of more information and to assemble experts needed to answer residents’ questions about the proposed 1.8-million-square-foot main facility just west of the Arden development off Southern Blvd. “We hope to have experts there who aren’t being paid for by either side,” Baxter said. “Our only goal is to provide accurate information to the community.” Baxter also represents District 6 on the Palm Beach County Commission. Her district includes Arden, the proposed data center
site and most of the county west of State Road 7. However, Arden residents are not happy about the delay. “We were surprised,” said Raymond Penuela, the recently elected president of the Arden Homeowners’ Association. “From our point of view, the sooner the better. It seems like they’re buying time to give us less time to respond.” The proposal came up as part of a no-discussion-required consent agenda at the commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, but it was moved to the regular agenda for discussion. With dozens of opposed Arden residents packing the meeting room, commissioners voted 7-0 to postpone a decision on the project until a meeting on April 23. Penuela said the town hall “should have happened before the project came up in December.” PBA Holdings Inc., which with See DATA CENTER, page 4
Isla Carroll Project Advances, MLK DAY CELEBRATION But Council Remains Skeptical IN ROYAL PALM BEACH Dreams To Action: Wellington Hosts MLK Day Of Remembrance
On Monday, Jan. 19, the Village of Wellington hosted “From Dreams to Action” at the Wellington Community Center. The morning event was designed to recognize and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Page 16
‘Leisure Area’ At New Wellington Aquatics Center Has Quickly Developed A Following
The new Wellington Aquatics Center has been open for business since Jan. 3, and based on the number of daily visitors, it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular recreational outlets in Wellington — particularly the half of the complex that appeals to families and noncompetitive swimmers who just enjoy being in a pool. Page 21 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 18 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 7 SPORTS..........................21 - 24 PEOPLE................................. 25 SCHOOLS.............................. 26 BUSINESS............................. 27 COLUMNS............................. 28 CLASSIFIEDS................ 29 - 30 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report Developers and supporters adorned with stickers with the words “Isla Carroll Forever” tried once again to convince Wellington officials to approve the redevelopment of a property with two polo fields adjacent to the National Polo Center into a luxury polo neighborhood at a Wellington Village Council meeting Monday, Jan. 12. A sharply divided council voted to rezone the Isla Carroll property to a planned unit development on its first reading. However, developers still need a second rezoning approval and the approval of a master plan. Several council members said that they do not have much hope that the project could move forward as currently proposed. Representatives from McCourt Partners and Discovery Land Company have proposed building 40 multi-million-dollar homes and a clubhouse with luxury amenities on the west side of the 79-acre property. The eastern polo field
would be maintained and used for equestrian activities. Billionaire Frank McCourt, founder of McCourt Partners, explained that the project is allowed under the village’s codes and encouraged the council to approve the rezoning request. “When I bought Isla Carroll, I had no idea what I was going to do with it,” McCourt said. “What I did know is that I did not want to see another soulless subdivision in my community — a development that wouldn’t benefit the equestrian sport.” If allowed to move forward entirely, the United States Polo Association (USPA) will enter into a 45-year agreement with the developers, where the organization will maintain and use the field for polo. The USPA will host regular polo matches on the east field during the season, with residents being able to use the field in a limited capacity. Stewart Armstrong, chairman of the USPA, said that Wellington is losing polo fields rapidly, and the
proposed project would not only preserve a field near the National Polo Center, but also help the organization continue to promote the sport in the future. “Approving this project is not simply a land-use decision; it is a statement about the village’s commitment to preserving polo as a core part of Wellington’s future,” Armstrong said. “If Wellington does not work to preserve polo fields going forward, the number of fields inside the preserve will continue to decline.” Before going before the council, developers revised the planned development multiple times. The multi-million-dollar homes and some related equestrian amenities remained fixtures of the project. After withdrawing early proposals, the applicants came back with a new plan that would preserve one of the property’s two historic polo fields, which were originally both going to be demolished. Late last year, Wellington’s See ISLA CARROLL, page 4
CAFCI and the Village of Royal Palm Beach presented the 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The theme was “Mentoring the Dream: Where Do We Go from Here?” The keynote speaker was leadership coach Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, and the program included an array of cultural performances. Shown here, Jannette Sharpe-Paul welcomes attendees. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 18 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Sharps Secures A New Term Town Finances Key On Royal Palm Beach Council In Race For Lox Groves Seat 5
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report Councilwoman Sylvia Sharps secured a new two-year term on the Royal Palm Beach Village Council last week when her opponent dropped out of the race. Candidate Steve Avila, who Sharps narrowly defeated last year, withdrew his candidacy for the Group 3 seat on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Therefore, the race will not appear on the Tuesday, March 10 municipal election ballot. The Town-Crier newspaper will host a televised Royal Palm Beach candidate forum on Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Royal Palm Beach Village Council chambers featuring the one remaining seat on the ballot. In the Group 1 race, Councilman Adam Miller is being chal-
lenged by former Councilwoman Selena Samios. All residents are invited to attend the forum. For those who cannot make it in person, the forum will be broadcast on the village’s Channel 18 and streamed live on the village’s web site and YouTube channel. It will later be available on demand. Since joining the council last year, Sharps said that she is most proud of the village’s new youth leadership program. “We presented it at Royal Palm Beach High School. We had 102 students show up, and 37 seniors from that group signed up,” Sharps said. “They are learning about what we do as council members.” The students are also attending government meetings and visiting each village department to learn what they do. “They will receive
a special cord at graduation and be eligible to apply for a scholarship,” Sharps said. She is also excited about her ability to work in collaboration with her fellow council members, sometimes disagreeing, but always getting along. Sharps added that she is proud of working with the village and La Mancha residents to fix road problems in that community. Over the next two years, Sharps said that she will continue listening and responding to resident concerns, while supporting programs that tamp down on speeding and aggressive driving. She noted that a pilot program is underway to help control speeding on Crestwood Blvd. “I have also been tasked by the See SHARPS, page 3
By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report The two candidates competing for Seat 5 on the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council want to fix the town’s shaky financial situation and help lead the community to a better future. Councilman Todd McLendon and challenger Manish Sood will vie for a three-year term on the dais in the municipal election on Tuesday, March 10. Seat 5 is one of two seats on the March 10 ballot, with candidates Steven Hoffman, Joe Stephens and Robert Sullivan vying for Seat 1. Todd McLendon — McLendon currently holds Seat 1 on the council. Last June, he was appointed to the seat after the resignation
of former Councilwoman Phillis Maniglia. He previously served a three-year term on the dais from 2016 to 2019. With almost two decades living in Loxahatchee Groves, McLendon believes his involvement in the town’s local government makes him the right person to get the job done. “I have a proven track record of getting things done, getting the council to come to a consensus and trying to move things forward in a positive direction,” McLendon said. McLendon’s top priority is costcutting measures and fiscal responsibility to get the town’s finances in See LOX SEAT 5, page 14
Three Vying For Seat 2 On Wellington Village Council
By Patrick Sherry Town-Crier Staff Report Three candidates are seeking Seat 2 on the Wellington Village Council in the municipal election on Tuesday, March 10. Johnny Meier, Elizabeth Pandich and Tatiana Yaques each bring a unique approach and background to address issues faced by the village. Seat 2 is one of two seats on the March 10 ballot. The other is a four-way race for Seat 3 between Lauren Brody, Stephen Levin, Paulo Santana and Joshua Zillmer. Both seats are for four-year terms. The two incumbents, Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind and Councilman John McGovern, are stepping down due to term limits. Johnny Meier — Meier is hop-
ing to bring his diverse business experience to the council to not only promote local businesses but to improve efficiency when using residents’ tax dollars. He supports this experience with knowledge of the community through being a member of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board and the Wellington Rotary Club. Meier is also a former president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Air Force veteran owns multiple businesses, including a pharmacy, a sterile pharmacy, a CBD company and a real estate company. He said that running these businesses has given him the knowledge on how to best See SEAT 2, page 14
Johnny Meier
Elizabeth Pandich
Tatiana Yaques