THE
GAZETTE VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 1 JANUARY 6, 2022
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WILTON MANORS
TWO CHILDREN KILLED IN WILTON MANORS IN
HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT By Christiana Lilly
Broward Sheriff’s Office has arrested the driver who drove through a crowd of six children in Wilton Manors, killing two of them. Sean Charles Greer, 27, was booked into the BSO Main Jail Dec. 28. Police were able to find him thanks to evidence left behind at the scene and “information available,” according to police. Greer’s car was found in Wilton Manors with damage consistent with the hit-and-run accident, including a missing bumper that was left behind at the scene. Greer was by Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response (VIPER) and confessed to the hit-and-run. He faces two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, tampering with evidence, four counts of driving without a license causing death and/ or serious bodily injuries and driving with a suspended license. BSO says he is also on probation for burglary of a dwelling in Broward County.
BSO also announced the names of the children who died and were injured: Andrea Fleming, 6, and Kylie Jones, 5, were killed. Draya Fleming, 9, Johnathan Carter, 10, Laziyah Stokes, 9, and Audre Fleming, 2, are being treated for injuries. “Condolences are with their families,” the city said of the children involved. In a press release, BSO shared that the driver was traveling south on Powerline Road at the same time a Broward County Transit bus was attempting to merge back into traffic after dropping off a passenger. Greer passed the bus, almost hitting the driver’s side, drove in front of the bus, then drove onto the sidewalk and struck the six children. In a letter from Chief Gary Blocker posted to social media, police wrote that bystanders at the accident “sprang into action” to help the children until first responders arrived at the scene. “Our Island City is heartbroken, and our police department stands with you as we support these families in this time of need … We are Island City Strong!” he wrote. Through Twitter, Fort Lauderdale Battalion Chief Steven Gollan said in a video that grief counselors are available to help the families as well as the first responders who were impacted by the “horrific event.”
Police were able to find Greer thanks to evidence left behind at the scene and “information available,” according to police.
Steven Gollan, Battalion Chief with the Fort Lauderdale Fire Dept., updates the community on the night following the hit-and-run. Photo via the Wilton Manors Police Department, Facebook.
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WILTON MANORS
OPINION
Happy New Year 2022
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look to develop a marketing and branding strategy, and engage the community in order to enhance economic development along major commercial corridors. Residents and business owners are encouraged to attend and have their voices heard on the future growth of our city. All work and no play, leaves us a bit dull, so take time on Friday night, Jan. 14, to enjoy “Movies on the Drive” outdoors at Hagen Park. Then on Friday, Jan. 21, head over to Mickel Park for the free concert event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a night of music lounging in the field under the night sky. Check out Leisure Services website at www.wiltonmanors.com/427/ LIVE-Mickel for additional information. A word of caution while out and about the next few weeks, COVID is back with a vengeance. Many have become infected and area hospitals are near capacity once again. The long lines around COVID testing sites tell
a tale of many fellow residents feeling they may have been exposed, fearful for family members and loved ones, concerned for their own health, or in need of a negative test result to be able to travel or return back to work. Frustration and uncertainty are part of our daily routine once again. Get vaccinated, wear your mask and keep your distance from those around you, especially indoors. Who knows where this New Year will take us during the next 12 months. Let us hope we move beyond the current challenges of this global pandemic to become better people. Take time this month to let the teachings and the love of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr reach within and guide us to making a better world, a better county, a better community, and a better place called Wilton Manors. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Coming together, to understand one another, to communicate with one another and to help one another is what Dr. King’s legacy asks of us. By doing so, together as one community, we will make life just better here…
www.WMGAZETTE.com • 1. 6.2022
January 6, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 1
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Let us hope we move beyond the current challenges of this global pandemic to become better people.
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By Sal Torre The New Year is off to a roaring start with a busy January here in our Island City. Special primary elections for Florida House District 94 are underway. This district takes in a large part of Wilton Manors and early voting is going on now through Jan. 9, with the day of the special election on Jan. 11. Registered voters can vote at any early voting site, one is located right here in the Island City at the Women’s Club Building, 600 NE 21st Court, next to the volleyball courts at Hagen Park. Come the day of the election, one will need to vote at their designated voting location. Elijah Manley has received the endorsement from the Sun Sentinel, but don’t rule out the other two leading candidates Daryl Campbell and Josephus Eggelletion, both with very strong credentials and support. Seek out information on all the candidates, make an informed decision — and make sure to vote! Following on the heels of this Special Election will be the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend. Monday, Jan. 17 is also a National Day of Service. The MLK Day of Service is a way to honor Dr. King’s life and teachings by engaging in community action. Volunteering to work together to improve our neighborhoods helps build stronger communities. Here in the Island City, our neighborhood associations have joined this effort and will conduct neighborhood clean-up events in each area of our city. On the Eastside, Three Bridges Neighborhood Association will be conducting a park clean-up at Colohatchee Park and Boat Ramp. In Central, the Central Area Neighborhood Association (CANA) will be conducting a clean-up of Rachel Richardson Park as well as along the eastside of Andrews Avenue. On the Westside, the Westside Association of Wilton Manors (WAWM) will be conducting park clean-ups at Snook Creek Boat Ramp, Donn Eisele Park and the front of Mickel Park along Powerline Road. Reach out to your area association if you would like to volunteer on this special day. Right after the holiday weekend, on Jan. 18, the “Wilton Next” kick-off meeting takes place at the Hagen Park Community Center beginning at 7 p.m. This special meeting is hosted by our city’s Economic Development Division and will
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
There’s A Lot Happening in Your Neighborhood The City of Wilton Manors is small but as a community we are large and very active! From nonprofits to social and sports-related groups, there are plenty of ways to get connected to your community. One great way to meet your neighbors is by getting involved in your local neighborhood association. There is something happening in every neighborhood (East, Central and West) within the next few weeks. Our city has four neighborhood associations: the Westside Association of Wilton Manors (WAWM), the Central Area Neighborhood Association (CANA), Wilton Manors Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) and the Three Bridges Neighborhood Association. Neighborhood association meetings often begin with a “social hour” (albeit, usually it’s in 20-30 minutes) that is a great time to meet your neighbors, and then roll into an agenda that typically includes updates on community issues as well as feedback gathering from residents. Three Bridges, like ENA, is focused on the east side of Wilton Manors. While it is the newest neighborhood association, it has about 100 members already and they are hosting dynamic meetings and events. They are leading a Colohatchee Park & Boat Ramp Cleanup as part of the MLK National Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 17 from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers will split into teams to clean up either the Park or the Boat Ramp area. Their next meeting is being held on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hagen Park Community Center. At the January meeting, residents will have an opportunity to socialize with one another before hearing from both City leadership and Broward County on plans for flood mitigation and roadway improvements on NE 15th Ave and NE 26th St. You can learn about Three Bridges via their website at 3bridgesassociation.com. The Central Area Neighborhood Association (CANA) is holding its next meeting on Jan. 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Hagen Park Community Center. Their meeting also begins with an opportunity to socialize with neighbors, so it’s wise to be on time. On the agenda for their Jan. 12 meeting is hearing from the developers of a new proposed 178-unit complex on Andrews Avenue. This project is the first large scale project since the city adopted new zoning regulations allowing for increased heights and density and, therefore, now is the time to lend your support or raise your concerns. CANA
Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
is also planning a volunteer effort on MLK’s National Day of Service; interested volunteers should email bill@billdesautels.com for details. CANA’s website is www.canawm.org. The West Side Association of Wilton Manors (WAWM) next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The main topic for this meeting is the west side traffic study. Like Three Bridges and CANA, they will have a 20-30-minute social period followed by the formal agenda. For details about WAWM, visit wawm.org. Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) next meeting is on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Woman’s Club. This meeting will be their annual election of officers. ENA did not announce a social hour as part of their meeting announcement in the Town Crier. I hope to see you at one of the upcoming neighborhood associations meetings. I enjoy meeting residents at these meetings and listening to their ideas for our great city. If you can’t attend your neighborhood association meeting, but would like to share feedback with me, you can always email ccaputo@ wiltonmanors.com or text 954.557.2801.
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• 1. 6.2022
— Chris Caputo
WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER