The Gazette 1/19/23 V10iss2

GAZETTE

WILTON MANORS

WILTON MANORS ART SCENE GETS A BOOST

By John Hayden

The growth of Dixie Highway through Wilton Manors has come in fits and starts. A new addition may propel development south of Five Points toward the goal of being an arts and entertainment destination.

On Jan. 7, the Hotspots! Happening Out Art Gallery with Dennis Dean held a grand opening at its new location, at 2401 N. Dixie Hwy. The gallery was packed as was the patio space behind the gallery.

“I can’t believe this crowd,” Dean told

Starting in February, the third Sunday of the month will be performing artists, fashion shows, and authors.

SFGN. “It’s so exciting that they’ve come out to support these local artists in this fabulous neighborhood.”

While that stretch of Dixie remains an eclectic group of businesses, a burgeoning art scene is emerging. The gallery joins a pair of “black box” theaters (The Foundry and Island City Stage), which hosts, among other things, Plays of Wilton and Infinite Abyss Productions. Union Kitchen, which catered the gallery opening, is the main restaurant on that stretch. Union has been gaining popularity, which isn’t easy given that there are so many bars and restaurants on Wilton Drive.

“We are going to make it into a district that everybody wants to come to and see the art.”

WORK OF ART

Sales were brisk at the opening as many of the exhibited artists were on hand to meet and greet guests. Robert Holmes markets unique jewelry and will regularly exhibit his wares.

“I love to sell fabulous jewelry. I have eclectic pieces from all around the world.”

Jewelry, sculptures, paintings, multimedia and more will rotate through the

gallery. A different show will debut on the first Saturday of every month. Each will be carefully curated by Dean.

“I’m all about ‘wow factor,’ and colors and technique. When I do a show I try to plan how the artists complement each

other’s work.”

Starting in February, the third Sunday of the month will be performing artists, fashion shows, and authors.

“We’re tapping into all the arts,” Dean said

Photo by John Hayden.

GYM SPORTSBAR DEALS WITH HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS

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

One of Wilton Manors’ most popular bars was temporarily closed two weeks ago for several health code violations.

According to records from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (BPR), the agency charged with overseeing restaurants and bars, GYM Sportsbar, at 2287 Wilton Drive, had its first public inspection in nearly 11 months.

On Jan. 5, an inspection found 12 violations. Seven of those were low-level, “Basic” problems, such as people eating in the kitchen and a slight gap in a door. Warnings were issued and some were corrected then and there. Two “Intermediate” issues, a lack of hand soap and paper towels at a kitchen sink, were corrected then as well.

However, three “High Priority” violations were found:

1. Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw shell eggs stored over raw shrimp in cookline drawer unit. Operator stored all items properly.

2. Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. One live roach

By John Hayden

between cookline flip top and ice machine. Operator exterminated and removed.

3. Vacuum breaker missing at mop sink faucet or on fitting/splitter added to mop sink faucet.

Warnings were issued for all violations, but the roach issue was noted as a repeat violation.

FOLLOW UP INSPECTION LEADS TO TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN

The BPR returned on Jan. 6 and found some of the same violations. The follow-up report says there were “approximately 12 live roaches under cookline flip top and reach in coolers. One live by back door. Operator immediately exterminated roaches. One live on cookline cutting board. Operator immediately exterminated roaches, removed them and cleaned the areas.”

But what ended up shutting GYM Sportsbar down was a “Stop Sale” order for food safety. The report reads, “Stop Sale issued on time/ temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater

than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooklinedrawers - hot dogs (50F); raw chicken (53F); cheese (50F); hot dogs (52F). Per operator items were held in unit overnight. No items pooled or portioned today. Cookline - low boy - buttermilk (52F); cut cabbage (52F). Per operator items were held in unit overnight. No items pooled or portioned today. Advised operator to refrain from using units until such time all TCS items are maintained at 41F and below.”

SHORT SHUTDOWN

GYM Sportsbar took immediate action to address all the violations, including the food safety issues. On Jan. 7 the establishment resumed full bar and food service, with the BPR declaring GYM Sportsbar “met inspection standards during this visit.” A pair of technical violations were given more time to be addressed.

During a visit on Jan. 10, one staff member said everything was good. On Jan. 7, their Facebook page posted, “Open ready ……. And willing.” One person asked in the comments, “Are you actually open?” Their moderator responded with a “thumbs up” gif.

For a day-by-day look at the reports, visit myfloridalicense.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.

Photos via Facebook.

Most-Read Stories of Oakland Park

OAKLAND PARK COMMUTER TRAIN STATION STILL IN PRELIMINARY STAGES

By John McDonald

Although still of significant interest to developers, there was not much movement in the Oakland Park train station storyline in 2022.

Here’s where we last left off: The Florida Department of Transportation favored Oakland Park over Wilton Manors in a study on commuter rail service. FDOT cited Oakland Park’s pedestrian connectivity and facilities, station visibility, street layout, on-street and public parking and planned development as convincing factors. Designs were presented showing a station on 12th Avenue between 36th and 38th streets, south of the Funky Buddha Brewery.

That was August of 2021.

Fast forward to present day and not much has changed although Brightline, the privately-

funded, high-speed passenger train, travels through Wilton Manors and Oakland Park in between stops in downtown Fort Lauderdale and its newly opened station in Boca Raton.

The proposed Oakland Park station is for commuter rail service traveling north and south on the FEC railway corridor, east of I-95 and the Tri-Rail tracks. Currently, the county’s focus appears to be on the southern end of the corridor from Aventura in Miami-Dade County to stations in Hollywood, FLL airport and Broward Health Medical Center.

COLD CASE SOLVED AFTER 12 YEARS

By John Hayden

With enough time, even the most vicious crimes eventually fall out of the headlines and become another folder in a drawer jam-packed with cold case files, unlikely to ever be solved. But sometimes, with fresh eyes and a little luck, a case gets solved and justice gets served.

Aaron Dobbins was arrested in September and charged with premeditated murder for the 2010 killing of Chad McMurray. The cold case became red hot when DNA under McMurray’s fingernails was matched to that of Dobbins.

In 2010, friends discovered McMurray dead

in his Oakland Park home. His truck was missing and eventually found abandoned in Lauderhill. The crime may have been driven by jealousy and sex work. Dobbins was working as an adult entertainer under the names Trace Hunter and Trace Michaels. According to police records, a fellow adult worker, John Navarro, had met McMurray several times and likely introduced him to Dobbins.

Dobbins is charged with premeditated firstdegree murder, and he remains in the Broward County Jail without bond.

CIRCLE HOUSE COFFEE IN OAKLAND PARK IS LEASING BUILDING TO NEW SANDWICH SHOP

By Christiana Lilly

Circle House Coffee in Oakland Park (or is it Wilton Manors? We’re still not sure and readers were very upset about this) opened with much ado in October 2021, offering a drive-through option from a local coffee shop in town.

Unfortunately, the business owned by former NFL player Steven Tulloch has since been leased to Charleys Cheesesteaks, which will be opening its doors in March, Circle House Coffee’s PR firm shared.

The building at 119 W. Oakland Park Blvd. was La Molienda Latin Restaurant before Tulloch’s company purchased the building in 2020.

Fans of Circle House Coffee need not

worry, though, as the original location in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village is still going strong, drive-through included.

DRIVERS CONTINUE TO IGNORE BRIGHTLINE WARNING SIGNALS

By Christiana Lilly

Brightline made waves in 2022 with the opening of its Aventura and Boca Raton train stations, but also for its ongoing vehicle-versus-train incidents.

While we don’t know exactly how many collisions occurred in 2022 — Brightline did not respond to multiple requests for the number of crashes involving its trains — we did report on many of them in the Wilton Manors and Oakland Park area.

In March 2022, a man survived a collision with the train at an Oakland Park crossing — a witness said that the gates were down when the man managed to run out of his car. Another vehicle was involved in a crash when a truck carrying a trailer was on the tracks in Wilton Manors when the arms were down; the driver also got away unscathed.

It appears that for the most part, drivers have been trying to beat the train — which moves at around 79 miles per hour — rather than wait. In response to the rash of accidents, in June Brightline partnered with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to launch Operation Crossing Guard. The initiative cracked down on drivers and pedestrians who ignored the warning signs of an arriving train and tried to cross the tracks.

“Despite the high publicity of these tragic events, it has not resulted in any deterrent of

the careless behavior going on at the railroad crossings,” said BSO Col. Steve Robson during a press conference. “In almost all cases, people are ignoring and circumventing the warning lights, sounds, safety signs, and crossing gates … the odds of beating the train are not in your favor, and the results are just tragic.”

More than 500 tickets were given in a twoweek period. Unfortunately, a woman died four days after Operation Crossing Guard began when she crossed the tracks and collided with a Brightline train.

To kick off 2023, we wanted to share the Top 5 most-read stories in Oakland Park.

Courtesy city of Oakland Park.

Alfred “Chad” McMurray. Courtesy photo.

Courtesy of Circle House Coffee.

A car is taken away by first responders after a train-versus-vehicle crash in Oakland Park. Photo submitted by Scott Herman.

STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HANDLING TEEN WHO BROUGHT GUN TO OAKLAND PARK SCHOOL

By Christiana Lilly

Almost a year ago, a 16-year-old student brought a fully loaded gun to his Oakland Park high school — but because he is a minor, we can’t know the outcome of the case.

A representative from the Broward Sheriff’s Office said that the case is being handled by the State Attorney’s Office. When SFGN reached out to their media team, they said that they do not comment on cases involving minors.

However, SFGN managed to retrieve the arrest report and learned more details about the case.

Fernando Vanancia-Garcia, now 17, was arrested Jan. 19, 2022, at Northeast High School after the vice principal found that he had a fully loaded gun in his backpack. The vice principal had called VananciaGarcia into his office to discuss his grades when he said he smelled marijuana. After searching the student’s backpack, he found a Smith & Wesson with 15 live rounds inside.

His confession was blacked out from the

arrest report, but according to the original news release by BSO, Vanancia-Garcia told investigators he “had no intentions of using the firearm on school grounds and that it was for protection on his walk home from school.”

He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property — since it’s a felony, his name was not redacted from the police report.

WEST SIDE TRAFFIC CALMING IDEAS

Rolling through a stop sign, going a touch above the posted speed limit, taking a shortcut only you know about. Turns out that a thousand other people know that shortcut and are also rolling through stop signs and hitting the gas. Now Wilton Manors is telling drivers to calm down.

During the city commission meeting on Jan. 10, consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates presented their findings from a study of traffic patterns on the city’s west side. The area covered is Middle River to the south and west, Andrews Avenue to the north, and Powerline Road to the east. The firm was hired to identify problem areas and suggest “traffic calming” solutions.

The firm said they first analyzed 140 comments from 90 residents and eventually identified 30 spots to investigate. Criteria included speeding issues (going at least six miles above the speed limit), volume of traffic (at least 1,000 vehicles a day), how many cars cut through an area as a shortcut,

WILTON MANORS

and traffic impact on livability.

Proposed solutions include speed tables, which are like speed humps but wide enough so all four tires can be on it at once. Speed tables are also preferred by first responders. Speed tables are the same but encompass an entire intersection. Textured pavement, which is a scaled down version of the rumble strips on the breakdown lanes of interstates, are on the table, as are flashing stop signs and neighborhood gateway signs.

It was pointed out that some areas can’t have calming measures, as they would potentially distract drivers more than necessary.

OMNIBUS BILL INCLUDES MILLION-DOLLAR EARMARK FOR WILTON MANORS

By John McDonald

A closer look at the recently passed $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill shows former Congressman Ted Deutch delivered a parting gift to Wilton Manors.

In Division G of the bill, Deutch requested a $1 million earmark on behalf of the City of Wilton Manors for a stormwater improvement project. The request was made to the Environmental Protection Agency under an account titled Cleanwater State Receiving Fund.

The federal earmark comes amid state orders to upgrade aging local infrastructure. Wilton Manors is currently under a consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with civil penalties valued at $288,588.

“The DEP has been engaged in ongoing enforcement with the City of Wilton Manors for several years concerning the chronic unauthorized discharges by its wastewater collection system,” said Jon Moore, spokesman for FDEP’s Southeast District.

To offset the penalties, which are required to be paid in cash, Wilton Manors proposed an in-kind project with an estimated cost of

$2,652,575. The project’s purpose, Moore said, is to install a new primary force main pipe from the city’s master lift station to a new interconnect with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s backbone force main.

At the Oct. 11, 2022, commission meeting, David Archacki, Wilton Manors Emergency Management and Utilities Director, said the in-kind project would improve the pump capacity to Fort Lauderdale and would travel underneath Northeast 15th Avenue. Archacki told commissioners all 12 of the city’s lift stations would be getting a thorough review.

“We have some leaks and we haven’t found them yet,” Archacki said.

Photo via Pixabay.

Photo via Pixabay.

WILTON MANORS By John Hayden

Photo via Facebook.