RPB CANDIDATE FORUM SET FOR JAN. 27 SEE STORY, PAGE 3
NONPROFIT HELPS INJURED LOCAL VET SEE PHOTOS, PAGE 13
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE • WESTLAKE Volume 46, Number 2 January 24 - February 6, 2025
Your Community Newspaper
INSIDE
O’Connor: Residents Of Westlake Deserve Seat At SID Table
Serving Palms West Since 1980
HONORING THE LEGACY OF DR. KING
Westlake Mayor John Paul O’Connor said this week that it is time for residents to have a seat on the Seminole Improvement District’s three-member board. “The people of Westlake deserve representation on the SID board to ensure their priorities and concerns are heard and addressed,” O’Connor said. Page 3
World-Class Gem And Mineral Showcase Based In The Acreage
Thanks to his expeditions and discoveries in places like remote Tanzania, Jonathan Bartky is a minor celebrity within gem and mineral circles. He is regarded as the discoverer of new types of green and red quartz, called Tanzurine. Page 7
Wellington Hosts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Of Remembrance
On Monday, Jan. 20, the Village of Wellington held its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Remembrance Event. The featured guest speaker was Judge Danielle Sherriff, who shared her experiences and path to becoming a judge. Page 18
Gil Seidman, 94, Knows The Keys To Living A Long Life
Gil Seidman is truly living his life one day at a time and enjoying every minute of it. For Seidman, physical activity is the key to his existence, longevity and happiness. “I play tennis every morning and then go for an hour’s walk in the afternoon,” said Seidman, now 94 and getting ready to turn 95 in May. 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
CAFCI and the Village of Royal Palm Beach presented their 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 20 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center. The theme was “Unity in the Arts: Bridging Divides with Creativity.” Shown here, Jannette Sharpe-Paul and Dennis Wright thank keynote speaker Dr. Idell McLaughlin. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 16 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
AAL Pushes To Retain Special Sports Status With Indian Trail
By Louis Hillary Park Town-Crier Staff Report Where will little Johnny play? And how long will he or she be able to play there? Those were two of the critical questions being asked of Indian Trail Improvement District supervisors when they held a Monday, Jan. 13 workshop on the future of youth athletics in the Acreage/ Loxahatchee area. “We can’t go season to season,” said Andi Schloesser, director of marketing and social media for the Acreage Athletic League (AAL). “We want to know that two, three years from now… little Johnny
[who is] playing on the peewee team is still going to be here playing on varsity.” The all-volunteer AAL has been the provider of youth sports at ITID parks for some 30 years. The organization currently provides leagues for baseball, basketball, co-ed and girls flag football, soccer, softball and tackle football. The AAL has long operated under a service provider agreement (SPA) with the district that has given it exclusive use of many ITID parks and recreation facilities. After several years of complaints to ITID officials about how the organization was being
run by its executive board, supervisors allowed the SPA to expire in November. ITID President Elizabeth Accomando said this week she had hoped the workshop would be a “think tank” about a range of ideas for youth sports and the use of the district’s 11 parks. However, the workshop and the Wednesday, Jan. 15 regular monthly board session quickly boiled down to whether the AAL would continue to hold a special position in the district, or if the district would shift to a permitting system for field time — especially See WORKSHOP, page 4
Zoning Board Questions Delay Vote On Isla Carroll Proposal
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report A plan to put 40 homes on 79 acres in Wellington’s equestrian area, 35 of them clustered on as little as a third of an acre each, ran into enough pointed questions from members of Wellington’s Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board last week that it prompted the developers to ask to postpone the board’s vote for roughly a month. Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, the board agreed by a 5-2 vote to delay consideration of the Isla Carroll project, with PZA Board Chair John Bowers and Vice Chair Michael Drahos dissenting. “I think the project looks beautiful,” Bowers said. “I have concerns related to the site, because of it being in such a sensitive area.” The board’s next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 19. The postponement followed a 7-0 vote opposing the project from the village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee a week earlier. Regardless of advisory board votes, the Wellington Village Council will have the final say. The project is turning into the latest flashpoint over what de-
velopment should be allowed in Wellington’s economically vital horse country. It follows council approval of the Wellington Lifestyle Partners development plan last year that removed 96 acres of land from the Equestrian Preserve Area for the first time in village history to build a luxury golf community. Developers said it was justified by a consolidated and expanded showgrounds area, part of a larger strategy to build 203 luxury residences and a commercial main street with a hotel, shops, offices and restaurants. With Isla Carroll, the idea is an equestrian-themed club community, but most lots won’t be big enough to stable horses at the site off 120th Avenue South, about 1,350 feet south of its intersection with Pierson Road, and just north of the National Polo Center. Five lots will be at least 1.5 acres, big enough for a stable but short of the traditional two-acre standard. Residents and up to a total of 300 club members would have access to a community barn, 24 stalls, riding rings and other amenities, officials said. Board members grappled with questions such as whether al-
lowing clustered homes on as small as a third of an acre each effectively removes them forever from the conventional equestrianarea model of multi-acre lots. In contrast, having 40 two-acre lots does not guarantee they are all put to equestrian use, but preserves that possibility for future buyers. “We remove usable equestrian acreage to be able to make an equestrian-themed development work, but I think that does sacrifice a lot,” Bowers said. Developers said it creates an incubator for prosperous families who can introduce their members to the equestrian world. Most probably would not be full-time residents. “If you look across our projects, they are largely second and third homes for the homeowner,” said Ed Divita, a partner with Discovery Land Co., part of the development team that operates dozens of communities worldwide focused on outdoor recreation from skiing to golf to seafaring. “It would be wrong not to recognize the seasonality of Wellington as it is.” The club would operate yearround but adjust staffing and See ISLA CARROLL, page 4
Wellington Council Signs Off On Deal To Sell K-Park Land
By Charles Elmore Town-Crier Staff Report Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Wellington Village Council unanimously approved a $47 million deal to sell the village-owned K-Park property to developer Related Ross and an educational partner, setting the table for restaurants, stores, a hotel, hundreds of rental residences and a high-end private school on a prized parcel southwest of State Road 7 and Stribling Way. The contract approved at the meeting remains contingent on Wellington’s final approval of specific development plans in a process that could take 18 months to two years to play out. It includes what Village Attorney Laurie Cohen called “off-ramps” for the parties to bail out, losing parts of deposits in some cases, if things don’t go as planned. “This is the best package with the best people behind it,” Mayor Michael Napoleone said. However, that does not mean everything is quite settled. “We know we have to solve the traffic issue,” he said. In a statement after the vote, Related Ross President Kenneth A. Himmel said, “We thank the Wellington Village Council and all Wellington residents who supported this transformative vision. The project will create a vibrant retail and dining-focused community gathering place, enhance green spaces, provide new residences and establish a world-class, not-for-profit private school at the heart of Wellington.” Discussions going forward are likely to focus on density, traffic and accommodating neighbors. Builders have mentioned about 400 to 550 residences over time, from townhomes to apartments, though one person said the top number is more like 500 at this point. A hotel could feature 150 to 180 rooms, Himmel said at the meeting.
Future public hearings will deal with the details of traffic and perhaps include walls, barriers or landscaping to shield nearby communities, Napoleone said. The mayor said provisions in the contract are designed to make sure that the builders proceed with 50 percent of commercial buildings before starting to build residences. Napoleone downplayed the notion that the village had somehow hurried down this path with K-Park. “This is not a rushed project,” he said. “We’ve been talking for 10 years about this site.” Councilwoman Maria Antuña said it is just the start of a long process. “This is not going to happen overnight,” she said. “The one thing I’m very excited about is I will have the opportunity to, and I’ll use the word, to hammer Related if I have to, to get what we need for Wellington and what should happen.” Public comments ranged from support for new eating, shopping, housing and school options, backed by a developer with an established track record in West Palm Beach and around the country, to worries about traffic along the already congested State Road 7 corridor where it connects with two-lane Stribling Way. Mary Lou Bedford, CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, said her organization supports the project. “The proposed development offers important opportunities for businesses to grow in our region,” she said. Resident Ava Parker said she respects the village’s highly rated public schools but thinks options are welcome for families like hers who send their children to private schools outside the village, often with long commutes. “I think it’s important if we are going to serve our residents, we See K-PARK, page 14
MASQUERADE BALL BENEFITS B&G CLUB
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County held the 37th annual Wellington Dinner Dance on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. The Bridgerton-inspired masquerade ball was a benefit for the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington. Shown above are Marybel Coleman, Tamika Payne, Julie Kime, Dorothy Bradshaw, Sheila Prieschl and Darlene Allen in their ball attire. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
RPB Council Honors Fallen PBSO Deputy Butch Waller
Mayor Jeff Hmara looks over the proclamation with Denise Waller, widow of Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller Jr.
PHOTO COURTESY THE VILLAGE OF ROYAL PALM BEACH
By Joshua Manning Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16 began on a somber note with a proclamation honoring the memory of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller Jr. Waller, a longtime Royal Palm Beach resident, died following a tragic accident on Southern Blvd. on Thursday, Nov. 21. Two other PBSO officers, Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, also died as a result of the accident, when they were fatally struck by a driver traveling eastbound as they were conducting traffic enforcement. The proclamation named Jan. 16, 2025, as Deputy Sheriff Ralph
“Butch” Waller Jr. Day in recognition of his ultimate sacrifice. A large group of deputies and officers were in attendance from the PBSO. Mayor Jeff Hmara presented the proclamation to Waller’s widow, Denise Waller. “He was a man who dedicated his life to protecting and serving others with unwavering courage and commitment,” Hmara said. “We want to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt condolences. Your loss is profound, and we know that words alone cannot ease your pain. Please know that the Village of Royal Palm Beach stands with you, not only on this special day, but well beyond it.” The key action item on the council’s agenda was the approval of a final plat for the 12.28-acre
Lakeside Landings development, located at the northwest corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. It was the final step in a process that began in 2019 for an awkwardly shaped piece of land located behind the Village Royale (Winn-Dixie) shopping center. After a comprehensive plan change, a rezoning from commercial use to multi-family residential use was approved in July 2021. The site plan approval and preliminary plat approvals were granted in 2023, setting up the final plat requirement. The previously approved site plan calls for 100 townhouse units. Doug Murray with the engineering firm WGI spoke on behalf of See RPB COUNCIL, page 4