The Gazette 11/3/22 V9iss21

GAZETTE

WILTON DRIVE SAFE AFTER BOMB THREAT

By John Hayden

Police from Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale swarmed the heart of Wilton Manors after a man stormed into Wilton Manors Dental on NE 9th Avenue with a device he said was a bomb.

This is more than a story of a bomb threat though. This is a story of heroism and bravery by police, the staff at Wilton Dentistry, and residents forced from their homes.

SFGN was the only media outlet inside the perimeter throughout the day, and at one point was only about 10 feet from one of the SWAT trucks that were called to the scene.

WILTON DENTAL TARGETED

Around 3 p.m Oct. 27, a man showed up at the Wilton Manors Dental building at 2517 NE 9th Ave. between Wilton Drive and NE 26th Street. One of the dental assistants told SFGN he showed what appeared to be a bomb and told her to call the police or the FBI. Staff recognized the man, saying he had been in the building three days this week asking when they open and close.

Within minutes Wilton Manors police

ONCE THE BUILDING WAS SECURE, THE BOMB SQUAD MOVED IN. THE DEVICE TURNED OUT TO BE FAKE, BUT ONE MEMBER OF THE BOMB SQUAD TOLD SFGN IT LOOKED REAL.

were surrounding the building. By 4 p.m., a SWAT truck was outside the building, a bomb squad truck was down the street, and Fort Lauderdale officers were helping secure the area and setting up a mobile command center. Officers went door to door at surrounding buildings forcing people to evacuate.

From 4 p.m. to about 5:30 p.m., SFGN was at the gas station across from the scene. The SWAT truck withdrew from the Wilton Dental lot and was sitting on 9th Ave. feet from where SFGN was. A police drone briefly buzzed overhead while surveying the area. SFGN saw the man walking past the glass front door. A robot was deployed to the front door, where the suspect was placing notes. A camera on the robot let the police read them.

The robot also brought a phone to the door, which the man rejected and eventually threw back. A person in the SWAT truck, now just off the property, began asking the man to pick up the office phone. He appeared to refuse. They kept asking him his name. He appeared to want a message conveyed because the police announced they wouldn’t deliver the message and that the person didn’t want to talk to him.

At about 5:30, Police also asked “how much time” was left on the device. At this point they were cordoning off more of the area and SFGN moved next door to Rosie’s.

WAITING FOR SUNDOWN

Attempts to get the man to surrender failed. Around 8:30, police shot a canister through the glass front door and smoke filled the foyer. Police quickly moved in and arrested the man

Once the building was secure, the bomb squad moved in. The device turned out to be fake, but one member of the bomb squad told SFGN it looked real.

CALM IN THE CRISIS

The dental practice was still open, and patients were being treated as this all began. Tammi, who declined to give her last name,

said, “The gentleman walked in with these big canisters with a light blinking. He says ‘I have a bomb, call the police and the FBI.’” The staff has actually been trained for this type of emergency and managed to clear the building and avoid a hostage situation.

“We grabbed the patients and directed them outside the backdoor, came around front and went to the end of the block.”

Photo by John Hayden.

WILTON MANORS

identified as Brian Koller. His motive for the attack is still unknown.

Tammi said the man is not a patient and didn’t know who he is. She was still in shock and said it hadn’t hit her yet.

“It really hasn’t. I’m just glad everyone got out safe.”

‘THEY SAVED OUR LIVES’

Vinny Peragine and Arron Barnes are patients, and Barnes was in the exam chair as this all began.

“One of the nurse practitioners said to me ‘Can you come with me, sir?’ Once we got to the back of the facility we were told there was a gentleman inside with something. Then they said a bomb,” Barnes said.

“We came out of the back of the office and came around the front,” Peragine added. “We saw him through the glass. It didn’t seem he wanted hostages. But when we came around the front he opened up the door and screamed he wanted the FBI, very aggressively.”

Barnes said the man then slid the bomb over, turned it on and it started flashing red.

SCARED & STRANDED

Early rumors suggested there were hostages. But that was incorrect. All of the employees and clients evacuated from the

building early on in the crisis.

The people inside Wilton Dental were grateful to be safe, but they were also stranded. The staff left their purses, car keys, and other personal items behind when they evacuated.

Eventually they went to Rosie’s to wait, and were joined by neighbors who were forced to leave their homes and weren’t being allowed back in.

Eventually some left, while others waited. They made the best of it by going to Rosie’s, having a drink or dinner, and commiserating with others in the same predicament. The restaurant closed early at around 9 p.m. when just about everyone had left. Rosie’s management said they were glad to be able to be a place people could come to at a time like this.

Shortly before 11 p.m., the last of the police cars left and most of the streets were reopened and people were being allowed back into their homes.

Koller was booked into the Broward County main jail on three charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and a $20,000 bond, criminal mischief over $1,000, and manufacture/possession/ selling/delivering/displaying/or using a weapon of mass destruction and a $50,000 bond. If he is released on bail he will also be required to wear an electronic monitoring device. He has been in custody as of Oct. 31.

WILTON MANORS’ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER RESIGNS

By John Hayden

At a critical juncture in the growth of Wilton Manors, one of the people tasked with guiding the city into the future is leaving.

Kim Allonce, the city’s Economic Development Manager, has resigned.

Allonce said he plans to take time and explore his professional opportunities.

“I really enjoyed collaborating with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders that truly fostered economic growth for our city. I also am very proud of the new and existing businesses I have had the opportunity to work with. Supporting and empowering them is my favorite part of economic development.”

Allonce’s tenure has seen lots of new business activity in Wilton. City Commissioner Chris Caputo praised his accomplishments, saying, “I am happy to report, as a result of great collaboration and hard work between Kim, city leaders and our very engaged community, we’ve attracted quality developers and the right sort of mixed-use projects to the city as well as having increased the overall number of active businesses in the city. There have been over 200

new businesses in 2022 already!”

Despite the aforementioned accomplishments and a steep increase in private business, multiple people inside city hall were expressing concern. They say the city’s needs were changing and some wondered if he could continue effectively addressing the community’s evolving needs. Despite those concerns, Allonce said he wasn’t pressured to leave.

Mayor Scott Newton noted that occupancy in the city is at about 95%. Henderson said that gives the city leverage when bringing new development to the city

MANORS

ADAM HATTERSLEY, CFO CANDIDATE, VISITS WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

Adam Hattersley is the Democrat running for CFO. The job isn’t headline grabbing or high profile like a governor or senator. But the office affects everyone who lives and works in Florida. From budgetary oversight to home insurance, the CFO and their staff are in charge.

“If people knew the effects these offices have on their day to day lives, there’s no way they’d vote in a single incumbent back to Tallahassee,” Hattersley said during a visit to the Get Out The Vote Center in Wilton Manors.

He is a former state Representative who served in the Navy and says his campaign is common sense that cuts across party lines. “I’ve been focusing on an economic message. The state’s property insurance crisis is costing everybody money. The message is resonating everywhere we go. Not just Democrats but Republicans and independents.”

He believes there is plenty of bipartisanship that doesn’t make the news and there’s lots of consensus.

“My two years in the legislature, 89% of the bills we passed were either unanimous or nearly unanimous. It’s only that 11% that was contentious.”

Republicans have long considered themselves conservative. Hattersley said the record shows that’s no longer the case.

“Republicans added a $1 billion online sales tax last year. That’s not very conservative, raising taxes. They’ve been preempting local powers to the state, getting away from local and home rule. They’ve been inserting their ideologies and the government into how small businesses run themselves.”

WILTON MANORS

COUPLE ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC SEX AT HAGEN PARK

By John Hayden

Pickleball, tennis, sex, and arrests. Two men were arrested in Hagen Park in Wilton Manors and accused of having sex acts in public.

Robert Kates, 54, and Brian Brooke, 61, are charged with lewd/lascivious exhibition where the accused is over 18 but the victim (or, in this case, a witness) is under 16.

“Upon arrival we came across a witness to this who pointed us in the direction of two individuals,” Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker told SFGN. “We encountered two individuals involved in a sexual act.”

Blocker said the two were busted on Oct. 20 at a time when the park is extremely busy.

“It was a time when we had a lot of [people using] our pickleball courts, our tennis courts over there,” he said. “That activity is not legal in that area.”

They were booked into the Broward County jail. During arraignment the judge set their bail at $500. As of Oct. 26, jail records say both are still in custody.

Photo via Pixabay.

Image courtesy of Marc Martorana.

Hattersley at Tampa Pride in 2022. Image via Facebook.

GAZETTE

THREE REFERENDUMS ON WILTON MANORS BALLOT

Voters in Wilton Manors have three ballot questions to answer this election cycle.

Amendments to the city charter must be approved by voters. Commissioners are seeking to repeal articles and sections of the city code while establishing term limits for elected officials.

Michael Rajner, who chaired the Charter Review Board, recommends a no vote on two of the three questions. The first referendum would eliminate the Civil Service Board, a measure Rajner believes would be harmful to city employees. The Charter Review Board, which included Mayor Scott Newton, recommended keeping the Civil Service Board intact. The ballot measure does not provide any alternative for recourse, said Rajner.

The five-member board is chaired by Scott McCoy, Interim Deputy Director of LGBTQ Rights & Special Litigation at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“That particular city board with final decision-making authority should have more regular training in the event they need to adjudicate a matter,” Rajner said.

Rajner also recommends a no vote on the third question concerning term limits, citing

THE BALLOT REFERENDUM WOULD LIMIT ELECTED OFFICIALS TO 12 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE MAYOR CAPPED AT SIX TWO-YEAR TERMS AND COMMISSIONERS MAXED OUT AT THREE FOUR-YEAR TERMS.

a potential dearth of qualified candidates.

“A supermajority of the Charter Review Board did not support strict lifetime term limits and proposed a compromise that ensured the pool of qualified candidates remained as large as possible and any institutional knowledge would not be lost,” Rajner said.

The ballot referendum would limit elected officials to 12 years of service with the mayor capped at six two-year terms and commissioners maxed out at three four-year terms.

Michael Sansevero, Chair of the Community Affairs Advisory Board, recommends yes votes on all three ballot referendums, including dissolving the Civil Service Board.

“I would eliminate that Board,” Sansevero

said. “Its mission could be accomplished elsewhere.”

The second ballot question deals with vacancies and, if approved, provides a smoother transition of power in the event a mayor or commissioner resigns, is removed or dies in office as was the case when former Mayor Justin Flippen died unexpectedly in February of 2020.

“Filling vacancy is needed as we found out after Justin’s unfortunate death,” Sansevero said.

Election day is Nov. 8. Early voting began Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 6. The Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, 600 N.E. 21st Court, is the city’s early voting site. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The last day for voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 29.

November 3, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 21 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

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By John McDonald

Photo via Adobe.

WILTON MANORS REWRITES VACATION RENTALS CODE, LOWERS AGE REQUIREMENT

By John McDonald

In their recent meeting, Wilton Manors commissioners did some fine tuning to the city’s much rehearsed vacation rentals ordinance.

In changes to chapter 10 of city code, the commission agreed to grant an exemption from registering with the city if the owner of the vacation rentals resides on property. Commissioners also lowered the age requirement for vacation rentals customers from 25 to 21.

The amendments were discussed for over an hour at the Oct. 25 meeting, which included testimony from attorneys, real estate groups and business owners. Christopher Mangi, co-owner of Solstice At Wilton, expressed concern regarding how his business would be designated.

Attorney Ryan Abrams of Fort Lauderdale argued on behalf of an anonymous client that a homesteaded property owner would incur an inordinate burden if required to register as a vacation rental with the city.

“The exemption definitely currently applies to my client,” Abrams said. “He bought the

Photo via City Of Wilton Manors, Facebook property when it applied. If it were to no longer apply and he would have to register, in my opinion that would be an inordinate burden and he would have a Bert Harris claim and I suspect there are many other property owners just like that.”

New registration fees for vacation rentals in Wilton Manors are $500. Renewals are $300 and a business tax receipt is also required. Rates for business tax receipts vary depending on the season.

City Attorney Kerry Ezrol said Abrams’ points were well taken and advised the commission to table the ordinance after discussion to be brought back at the Nov. 25 meeting.

PAUL ROLLI WOULD NOT CAMPAIGN DIRTY

The negative campaigning going on in the local election is unconscionable to me and I do not condone such behavior.

There are a lot of unfounded accusations about Vice Mayor Paul Rolli and his campaign team (I am a member of Rolli’s campaign team). Rolli publicly denounced being involved and said there was no place in our city for this kind of thing.

I have spoken in person with Rolli about the flyer. When I asked Rolli if he sent the flyer he spoke plainly and never broke eye contact with me when he said, “Absolutely not.”

Personally, I am certain that Rolli would not do something like that because I have known him for many years and he has always been completely honest with me.

As a political activist for more than 40 years I see no need for Rolli to suddenly change his ways because he is the incumbent with a high probability of winning re-election.

Why would he go through the time, trouble and expense to put out a poorly written flyer with poor English and

Paul Rolli, photo via Paul Rolli/Facebook.

spelling errors, so not up to his professional standards?

I will be glad when this election is over and maybe we can all get back to being nice to one another

- Butch Rowley, Wilton Manors

WILTON MANORS CAMPAIGNS GET UGLY

PETTY POLITICS TO HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN CLOSING WEEKS OF ELECTION

By John Hayden

Wilton Manors markets itself with the slogan “Life’s Just Better Here.” Life may be better here, but the politics are not. Three candidates for city commission, Roy David Walker, Don D’Arminio, and incumbent Paul Rolli are vying for two seats. The spirited campaign has had many familiar political features including ads, appearances, and a televised debate, which is still available to watch online on YouTube.

The city of around 13,000 residents is also being subjected to a full complement of dirty campaign tactics that are growing more and more slimy as early voting begins ahead of the Nov. 8 final day of voting. The most recent comes in the form of a flier attacking candidate D’Arminio.

One of the attacks purports to use a quote from someone close to him in order to paint him as being against heterosexual employees in Wilton Manors’ government. D’Arminio, in no uncertain terms, denies this and all allegations made in the flier calling them “outright lies.”

This bit of gay bashing attempts to divert votes from D’Arminio to other candidates. However, both of his opponents are also LGBT.

“The accusations are false,” D’Arminio told SFGN. “I’ve run a clean campaign and they’re trying to skew the election results rather than allowing residents to decide without bias. It’s inexcusable.”

The bigotry-filled flier comes on the heels of other petty political maneuvers. Someone got in the ear of Code Enforcement and had political signs removed despite some/ many being placed legally. That resulted in

a compromise that seemed to satisfy most parties involved. Stickers declaring doom if one certain candidate is elected have been popping up along well-traveled areas in Wilton.

COMMISSION MEETING CHAOS

The campaign bled into the city commission meeting held on Oct. 25. During public comment, Doug Blevins, a D’Arminio supporter, stood up to rebuke the fliers, saying many of the tactics were used by Rolli previously. He used coded language to insinuate that Rolli is responsible for the flier and seemed to impugn the motives for Walker’s candidacy.

Traditionally, commissioners don’t respond directly to public comments. However, after Blevins’ comments, Rolli was allowed to go out of order and respond. As he was denying any connection or involvement with the fliers, Marc Martorana, D’Arminio’s partner, shouted “Not true!”

Mayor Scott Newton admonished him, saying the public may not speak.

Martorana shouted back, “He’s not allowed to respond to us. That’s not true!”

At this point Newton asked Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker to step in and remove Martorana if he wasn’t quiet. Martorana stopped talking and was allowed to stay.

ANONYMOUS HIT JOBS

Similar accusations have been made on social media, and many of the inflammatory

posts have been removed. But those come with a face and a name (yes, some could be “bot” accounts but the ones in question are from known residents).

The difference here is that most of the attacks come from anonymous political hacks. The return address on the fliers is “123 Concern Citizens, Wilton Manors.”

SFGN couldn’t find any PAC by that name. It’s just one candidate’s supporters taking shots at another candidate. The stickers? They didn’t come with any attribution. Who called code enforcement? Who knows. While the other campaigns seem like obvious choices to lay blame, nothing has come to light showing a connection to either the Rolli or Walker campaigns.

SFGN saw one flier and its envelope, which shows it was mailed from Miami.

SFGN can’t reach out to an organization to defend the flier’s accusations since no public (or private) group is claiming responsibility.

D’Arminio said he stands by his record of 25 years of community service, including his

tenure on the planning and zoning board.

LOW BLOWS SHAKE CITY

SFGN reached out to Walker and Rolli to gauge their reactions. The first question was: “Are you, your campaign, or a supporter of your campaign (even if you weren’t aware the fliers were going out) responsible for this flier?”

Rolli’s response echoed what he said during the meeting, saying, “Neither I, nor anyone on my campaign, was responsible for the negative flier on Don D’Arminio. I have never done anything anonymously; I face all issues head on. Campaign ethics rules prohibit anonymous literature.”

Walker also denied any role in the fliers, telling SFGN, “I feel bad for Don since he is the target of the attack. It is a shame that politics has come to this.”

Walker and Rolli say their campaigns have been bullied online as well and shared evidence of a text/email smear campaign.

Photo by Jessica Chesler, via Wikimedia Commons.

GLAM HORROR!

‘BIG EASY QUEENS’ MOVIE SHOOTS IN WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

Jennifer McClain and Miss Bouvèé are lovely in real life. But on the big screen?

They’re cut-throat queens of horror. Wilton Manors’ dynamic duo is in the middle of shooting their first big-screen feature titled “Big Easy Queens.”

The movie is just wrapping up an intense, 10-day shooting schedule in and around Wilton Manors.

Eric Swanson plays Miss Bouvèé in the movie and in his cabaret act in Wilton Manors. He gave us a look inside the story.

“I run a very successful club, but the club is a front for the mafia. I’m a queen of a certain quarter. My arch-nemesis is Jennifer McClain’s character, Poodle Makenzie. At the start of the movie I’m taking out some of her top-tier men to reclaim some territory.”

“Poodles Mckenzie is a tough, no BS boss in New Orleans,” McClain said about her role. “She’s spent the last 20 years building an empire, which she runs out of a salon. She’s been arch rivals with Minnie Bouvèé since she arrived on the scene.”

If it sounds campy and crazy and a little over the top, that’s the point. Director Erynn Dalton said this movie could be one for the ages.

Now that principal photography is wrapping up, they hope to have it edited and ready by early next year. They haven’t set a premiere date yet, as they want to see which film festivals will pick it up during the 2023 season.

A shot of “Big Easy Queens.” Photo via Jennifer McClain, Facebook.

SUNSERVE OFFERS COUNSELING AFTER BOMB SCARE IN WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

When a man walked into Wilton Dental threatening to detonate a bomb, the staff remained calm and quickly got everyone out of the building before the man could decide if he wanted to take hostages. Eventually police stormed the building, arrested the man, and confirmed the device was fake.

The situation turned out as well as one could hope (no deaths, hostages, or physical injuries), but it is still a traumatic event. While the standoff was still going on, the staff and patients made their way to Rosie’s since they couldn’t get to their cars or personal items left in the office. Everyone seemed fine, but were likely still running on some level of adrenaline.

That’s why SunServe reached out to them and offered counseling.

“Those at Wilton Dental are our neighbors in Wilton Manors and it is important to support and lend a hand when we can,” Ryan Papciak, SunServe’s Director of Mental Health Services, said.

Once things calmed down they, like many other people who experience workplace traumas, may feel it “hit” them. And each will

be affected differently.

“Traumatic events can trigger reactions that are very unique to each individual. Some folks may ‘feel fine’ and others may not in reacting to the same event. If they are noticing that they are feeling anxious about returning to work after some time has passed, they could benefit from talking to one of our clinicians at SunServe. Other signs could include avoidance of the workplace, feeling distracted while at work, and/or feeling ‘on-guard’ while working.”

LETTER TO THE EDITORWILTON MANORS

Dear Editor

There is no place in Wilton Manors for negative campaigning and personal attacks.

Neither I nor anyone on my campaign team was responsible for the negative flyer sent around about another Wilton Manors candidate running for office. I have never done anything anonymously; I face all issues head on.

I am deeply disturbed that negative campaigning has infiltrated our town although not surprised when you look at the larger Federal and State campaign environments.

My message to the voters is that we need to be respectful of each other, help one another when someone needs help and only speak in positive and factual terms. Wilton Manors is well-known for community and inclusivity. It’s up to the Commission and the residents to foster a positive climate like we have always had.

I reached out to Don D’Arminio and stated if

we were both fortunate to be elected, I would work with him and everyone else on the dais as our hearts are the right place. D’Arminio was receptive and reiterated same saying our views are very much aligned. We both agreed to work collegially and respectfully with everyone on the commission in the best interest of the city and the residents. I wish everyone in this race the best of luck.

- Paul Rolli Vice Mayor, Wilton Manors

Image courtesy of John Hayden.

Photo via Unsplash.