Wilton Manors Gazette June 6, 2018 by The Gazette

WMG Volume 5 • Issue 10 June 6, 2018

Wilton Manors Gazette Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette

community

The Grille, Formerly Tropics, Opens on Wilton Drive By Michael d’Oliveira

Paul Hugo, owner of The Grille.

As employees were still sweeping and the redesigned interior looked and hosing down the sidewalk in great. He was having a vodka and soda front of The Grille On The Drive, the at the bar when he talked to SFGN. “I bartenders and waiters inside were can’t wait to come back for dinner.” Pittman said he was a fan of Tropics already taking drink and food orders. The restaurant’s sign also went up as but he’s glad a restaurant was brought back into the same space but with a the staff got to work. different name. “It was On Friday afternoon, an institution here,” The Grille opened its he said about Tropics. doors for the first time. The Grille features It sits where Tropics two bars, a piano in was located for 25 years the nightclub area of before it closed last year. the restaurant, and Wilton Manors’ salad bar. Along with newest restaurant, liquor, wine, and beer, located at 2000 Wilton the menu also offers Drive, is owned by Paul steak, seafood, veal, Hugo who owns The burgers, sandwiches, Manor, also on Wilton Italian cuisine, and Drive. more. Former Tropics SFGN talked to owners Alex Meyer and Jason Sims before he Godfrey Thompson - Alex Pittman had a chance to try leased the building to the new menu and he Hugo. Meyer stated that Customer was most impressed the goal was to reopen at that point with the Tropics but that they had way the restaurant to focus on other issues and thought it best to let someone else looked. It was, he said, an improvement over Tropics. The Grille was “beautiful, open a restaurant in its place. SFGN was at the opening and the gorgeous . . . brighter” and, most comments from customers were appreciated by Sims, there were “no positive. Alex Pittman said the menu pink lights.” WMG

“I can’t wait to come back for dinner.”

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6.6.2018 •

Opinion

Wilton Manors is So Gay; But is it ‘Too Gay’?

June 6, 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 10 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre Oh Mary, don’t ask. Someone has complained that the Wilton Manors Business Association Directory is too gay. That’s right, at the last City Commission meeting, a resident expressed strong disappointment with the radical revision done to the latest edition of the Wilton Manors Business Association Directory. Sorry to disappoint, but the splash of color on the front cover is about as radical as it gets. The resident went on to point out that the inappropriate photo of men dancing inside a nightclub makes the directory seem more like a gay guide to our city. I guess some would like us back in the closet, out of sight, out of mind. Ironically at the same city commission meeting, Hunters Nightclub was honored as the recipient of the Community Spirit Award, along with resident Jon O’Connor. Each year the city’s Community Affairs Advisory Board recognizes one local business and one resident for outstanding community involvement and volunteerism here in our Island City. Hunters Nightclub has been a major sponsor of many city events, is always ready to step up when needed, and is a major asset to our business community, serving as a great example of how local businesses can improve and serve the community in which they do business. The photograph pointed out by that local resident as being too inappropriate for the Business Directory happens to have been taken at one of Hunters Sunday Tea Dances. Seems a bit contradictory to honor a business for all they do to improve life here in our community then condemn as inappropriate a picture of residents having a good time at that establishment. Prior to the City Commission meeting, I thought that the business association had done a wonderful job with the new directory. The front cover was colorful, with pictures depicting life and activities in our Island City. Inside is a wealth of information, from a brief history of our city, things to do around town, restaurants on and off The Drive, a wonderful summary of our city government, and a listing of local businesses throughout our Island City and the surrounding area. A job well done! Unfortunately, the comment of ‘being too gay’ is not limited to just this one incident. At a recent Island City Art Advisory Committee meeting, a local artist was abruptly interrupted by a committee member who complained that painting a crosswalk on Wilton Drive in the rainbow colors was “too gay.” The slight undercurrent of bigotry flowing beneath the surface here in our wonderful Island City rears its ugly head every now and then. A quote from Dorothy Day sums it up: “The legal battle against segregation is won, but the community battle goes on.” The LGBT community has come a long way in gaining legal protections and rights in our society, but we still must continue to educate right here in our local communities, to root out discrimination and bigotry embedded down deep within. The Wilton Manors Business Association has come a long way in the last seven years after hitting rock bottom back in 2011. That is when the association leadership thought it a good idea to invite Allen West, Congressman and conservative firebrand, to come to Wilton Manors. Community leaders and many WMBA members were in an uproar. Calls for a boycott of local businesses were thankfully called off by cooler heads, and the odious Congressman West road show was cancelled. Unbeknownst to residents who stood together back

WMG Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Digital Content Director • Brittany Ferrendi Webmaster@sfgn.com News Editor • Michael d’Oliveira

Correspondents James Oaksun

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping

then, that firebrand style was just the warm-up show for things to come. Now the headliner across the nation is the Trump Reality Show. I can almost understand those who harken back to times gone by. However, looking back is not an option. Looking forward is the solution. Our business community, led by WMBA President Tim Moffett, is looking forward to a bright future with their bold new business directory and active membership. Our city leadership, led by City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson, is also actively looking forward with sound financial budgeting and planning for future needs. Our community neighborhood associations are looking forward, working with city staff to bring about needed changes along Andrews Avenue, possibly unifying our city zip codes, and advocating on behalf of many other projects throughout the city. Residents should be looking forward to our upcoming city elections in November. Elections offer residents a say in the future by electing a Mayor and City Commissioners who will best serve our Island City. In closing, I quote from Tim Moffitt’s Welcome Statement in the vibrantly revised Wilton Manors Business Directory. “Small businesses are the bedrock of every community. WMBA’s main goal currently is to form enduring alliances between city government, civic organizations, and business. In doing so, we believe we can help to build a stronger community and make what’s already a great city even better.” Shop locally, support the Island City business community, embrace the future, leave bigotry in the past, and let us move forward together, and in doing so we will continue to make life just better here. WMG

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. MEMBER

MEMBER

Associated Press MEMBER

MEMBER

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Real Estate

Get That Listing!(?) By James Oaksun This week, we continue the descent into Geekery that marked my last two columns. We looked at recent sales and pricing results for the three WilMa neighborhoods, as well as for nine select neighborhoods of interest nearby. I want to change the gears a bit next. When you are a new Realtor (or even notso-new), there is one thing you will hear constantly from the typical managing broker, from successful Realtors, and from every real estate trainer out there: “Get the listing! Get the listing! The listing is everything! You can only make money in real estate as a listing agent! Do whatever you have to do to get the listing! Don’t come back to the office without a listing!” That said, you would probably think there were some super-dominant listing agents out there in some neighborhoods. People with laser-like focus and tremendous reputation who “own” certain areas, who are perhaps considered the “preferred Realtor of the neighborhood.”

So let’s look at the numbers. I looked at all the single family home listings in the Multiple Listing Service data for the last two years, in those same 12 neighborhoods we’ve considered over the past two columns. The attached table shows the results. (I included listings that are currently active as well as those that expired over the last two years, whether through sale or for some other reason.) Let me make some observations. First, if you consider the aggregate share of listings, none of the neighborhoods have a particularly dominant Realtor. Further, none of the neighborhoods have a cluster of five top Realtors with aggregate market share of over 40 percent. In other words, the market for single family home listings in all these neighborhoods is essentially totally fragmented. Finally, look at that last column. In every neighborhood, there were well over 100 Realtors who in the study period had at least one listing in the neighborhood in question. (Typically, it was exactly one listing.)

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So how do Realtors make money? Well, many do take listings for condos too, and in more than one neighborhood. (Now, how much specific market knowledge some have about multiple neighborhoods and property types is another matter.) Also, being a listing agent affords you an opportunity to get “both sides of the transaction” (to be the buyer’s Realtor also and thus earn all the transaction commission). And having your sign around is great personal marketing; you then get calls

June 6, 2018

from potential buyers to whom you can sell other properties. Bear in mind, though, that only about 50 percent of listings actually sell during the contract period. Perhaps that should be a topic for a future column! WMG James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is Broker-Owner of New Realty Concepts in Oakland Park. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).

6.6.2018 •

politics

community

Gazette Launches Wilton Manors Sues State to Community Facebook Group Get Rid of Preemption Rule By Michael d’Oliveira

The Wilton Manors Gazette recently launched a Facebook group to keep readers up to date with the latest happenings and news in the city and to distinguish itself from its parent company, South Florida Gay News. “What started out as a supplement to SFGN has really taken on a life of its own. Because of that we felt the Gazette needed a voice of its own, separate and apart from SFGN,” said Publisher Norm Kent. “We realize there is a community here in Wilton Manors that does not necessarily want all of SFGN’s news, from around South Florida and the world, so the Gazette will focus on just hyper local news.” By targeting just the Wilton Manors community SFGN’s staff will be able to highlight even more relevant news, stories and events geared towards locals. For instance, the city recently stopped live streaming its commission meetings over concerns about a lawsuit happening elsewhere in the state.

By Michael d’Oliveira

The Gazette decided to start uploading the meetings to its YouTube page and posting a link to it in its Facebook group so readers will still be able to have easy access to the city’s meetings. In another hyper local example the Gazette recently assigned a photographer to capture the city’s annual canoe race. An event like that would not appeal to the broader SFGN audience and so the Gazette would not have assigned it. But the Facebook group gives the Gazette a place to highlight local events such as the canoe race. “We hope this Facebook group will provide a new way for readers and residents to interactive with our newspaper and their community,” Kent said. WMG

Visit Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette to join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback for its new community initiative. Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

News

Gazette News Editor, Michael d'Oliveira, Named

Editor in Chief of the Pelican By WMG Staff

Michael d'Oliveira, the Wilton Manors Gazette’s news editor and main reporter, has accepted a job as the Pelican’s Editor in Chief. He starts his new position on June 25. “While we are sad to see Michael go we wish him the best of luck with his new job,” said SFGN Executive Editor Jason Parsley. “Most of all though we thank him for helping us build the Gazette from scratch.” Parsley credits d'Oliveira with making the Gazette an editorial success. “Before d'Oliveira’s consistent coverage of Wilton Manors, the city was an afterthought of our local mainstream newspapers,” Parsley said. “I am confident d'Oliveira will lead the Pelican to success.” The Pelican is a weekly newspaper that focuses mostly on Pompano Beach, but also covers Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Hillsboro Beach, The Galt and Palm Aire. WMG

On the same night Mayor Gary Resnick can be fined up to $5,000 and be removed asked for a moment of silence for the from office, and any regulations they pass victims of the recent Santa Fe High would just be removed by the state. The School shooting, he also talked about the preemption has come under more and city’s lawsuit against the State of Florida more scrutiny as local governments have expressed more of a desire to pass gun regarding preemption on gun regulations. Resnick, who is also a plaintiff in the control laws on the local level in response lawsuit, mentioned the Marjory Stoneman to gun violence. “We had an idea that we Douglas shooting and how would pass a regulation there have been a lot of that would require a gun moments of silence in the dealer, and there’s several commission chambers for in Wilton Manors, that a similar shootings. “It seems gun dealer notify our police like we just keep doing department if someone these moments of silence is denied a gun permit and nothing changes. because they failed a But hopefully things are background check,” Resnick starting to change now.” said. The idea, however, did The city also had a not move forward because proclamation for National of the exemption, he added. Gun Violence Awareness “We are trying to do what Day. Vice Mayor Justin we can.” Flippen talked about the Instead, he said the recent news that more - Gary Resnick city has joined the lawsuit students have died in Mayor of Wilton Manors which is being funded school shootings in 2018 by Everytown for Gun than the number of U.S. servicemen and women killed in combat. Safety, an organization that advocates for “That is a shameful statistic we really have increased gun control. Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs are also a part of the lawsuit. to take to heart,” Flippen said. City Attorney Kerry Ezrol said that But for now, taking things to heart is just there were other lawsuits filed by other about all city officials can do. According to state law, local governments cities, including Weston, and that there are not allowed to pass firearm regulations. are discussions about all the cities possibly If they do, each official who participates joining one lawsuit. WMG

“It seems like we just keep doing these moments of silence and nothing changes.”

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Photos

27th Annual Island City Canoe Race By Carina Mask

The race set sail on may 19 at the Middle River at Colohatchee Boat Ramp, ending at Richardson Historic Park. After the race, Residents celebrated the 71st Anniversary of the City with a BBQ, DJ, and the presentation of trophies and certificates of the Canoe Race winners.

To see more photos and news from WMG, join us at Facebook.com/groups/ WMGazette

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business

community

Oakland Park Walmart in Final Stages of Approval

Commission Approves Goodwill Pool Rezoning

By Michael d’Oliveira

Photo courtesy of Hammerhead Aquatics.

in about a month, but he’s not sure of an exact date yet. He also doesn’t know yet when demolition or construction will begin. The proposed 121,345 square foot store, which is 4,000 square feet bigger than the former Kmart building, was approved by Oakland Park commissioners at the end of 2016 and will employ an estimated 300 to 350 people. The site will have 510 parking spaces and solar panels will be installed to provide some of the building’s energy needs. Walmart will also hire an off-duty BSO deputy to provide extra security. Store hours will be from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily and it will only be open 24 hours during three days chosen by Walmart. Per an agreement with Oakland Park, the only way the store can be open 24 hours on more than those three days is if the city allows one of Walmart’s competitors to open 24 hours. Wherry said the days chosen by Walmart will most likely revolve around high-traffic shopping days, such as Black Friday. WMG

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The planned Walmart in Oakland Park has been approved by Broward County and Oakland Park. Now, all that’s left is a review of the plans. Steven Wherry, the Fort Lauderdale attorney representing Walmart, said Walmart’s property plat was recently approved by Broward County officials. The new Walmart will be where the former Kmart was located, 670 E Oakland Park Blvd. According to the Broward County website, “Under Florida law, platting is simply the subdivision of property as recorded in the official records. In Broward County, platting is also used to evaluate the impacts of a proposed development on regional facilities and services.” Now, all that’s left is to work with county staff to make sure the plat paperwork is created properly. After that, he said Walmart will begin applying for permits to demolish the old Kmart building and to build the new structure. Wherry said that process could be done

MANNY SIMONE, NEWS ANCHOR

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The proposed pool at the former going to be parking all down the street. I Goodwill site hasn’t been given final guess when they get towed a couple times approval by the city, but it cleared one of they’ll stop.” At the meeting on May 22, Green the final hurdles with a rezoning approval. The rezoning of the facility, 550 E. Oakland reiterated his objections. “This particular Park Blvd., was unanimously approved by project is unwise.” Mayor Gary Resnick said he thinks the commissioners at their meeting on May 22. It was rezoned from Light Industrial to parking situation will be adequate. “I’m okay with the parking. People will figure it General Business [B-3]. But while the rezoning was unanimously out,” said Resnick at a previous meeting. “I approved, the project itself does not enjoy think it’s a great project for that area,” said unanimous support from commissioners. Resnick on May 22. Commissioner Newton also expressed Commissioner Tom Green said he would concern over parking but not vote for the project his main concern was because it does not have about the concrete wall enough parking. the Planning and Zoning The facility will have 35 Board said must be built. parking spaces. Roberta He said he would not vote Moore, director of to approve the project if the Community Development developer didn’t agree to Services, said 151 were build the wall. required but that there was The developer wants no way that many could a wooden fence instead. be incorporated into the Newton said his insistence site. If given final approval, comes from the concerns the facility would include from some residents he a 50-meter main pool, a - Gary Resnick talked to that the concrete therapy pool, office, gift/ Mayor of Wilton Manors wall is needed to reduce pro shop, locker room, the noise that would be outdoor kitchen, and a generated. He said he’d be 5,300 square foot rooftop willing to give the developer a few years to deck. At a previous meeting, Green said the build it, but “it definitely has to go up.” Other concerns raised by the parking was too big of an issue for him to support final approval. “We live in Wilton commission were fears that the building Manors. What’s the number one thing we could eventually become a bar or hear daily in Wilton Manors? Parking. restaurant. Per an agreement between the If you were missing 12 spaces, I could city and the developer, the property cannot understand. If you were missing 50. But be used in the future for one of those types when it’s this much I just . . . people are of businesses. WMG

“I think it’s a great project for that area.”

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WMG

Wilton Manors Gazette

ONLINE! A place for the Island City to converse and connect

Ready to join the discussion? Check out the Facebook group, and participate in local discussions about news in Wilton Manors happening NOW!

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BRIEFS

Check out what’s happening

Around Town By Michael d’Oliveira

Wilton Drive Streetscape workshop Wilton Manors officials will hold a workshop on the streetscape plans for Wilton Drive. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hagen Park Community Center, 2020 Wilton Drive. Residents and other interested individuals are encouraged to RSVP by calling 954-390-2100 or singing up online at https://bit.ly/2xFPVCt. WMG

Corbin plans Water Rally Mayoral candidate Boyd Corbin has announced he will be holding a Water Rally on Friday, June 1 at 6 p.m. at Mickel Park, 2675 NW 7 Ave., Wilton Manors. “I will have a water expert who works with the Erin Brockovich Foundation to explain how this is a national problem and tell us how we can keep ourselves safe and healthy until our water supply is cleaned up,” said Corbin, who has repeatedly criticized the city for not doing enough to improve the quality of the water it gets from Fort Lauderdale. Corbin, who paid for a private water test, has said commissioners are letting residents drink and use water that has higher than allowed levels of chemical compounds. His protests also led to the EPA issuing a “clarification of when and how local and state officials should perform tests on local water systems.” WMG

Stonewall calls for volunteers Organizers of the 2018 Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival have issued a call for volunteers. “We still need volunteers for the Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival on Saturday, June 16, 2018. We particularly need help with early morning volunteer parking lot set-up, vendor set-up, parade set-up, parade execution, and parade barricade repositioning to emergency lane after the parade. Please consider helping us to put on a great event.” Go to 2018stonewallvolunteers.eventbrite.com/?s=85097601 to register. WMG

Jon O’Connor, Hunters receive Island City Spirit Award Resident Jon O’Connor and Mark Hunter, owner of Hunters Nightclub, both received the city’s Island City Spirit Award for 2018. Each year, the award is given out to a resident and business owner who have demonstrated a commitment to the city in a volunteer or contribution capacity, such as volunteering on city boards or supporting community events. At the May 22 commission meeting when the award was presented, O’Connor said he was surprised to receive it and joked, “I hope there was more than one nominee.” WMG

Rajner wants award named after Skip Stadnik Resident and activist Michael Rajner has suggested the city rename its Island City Spirit Award to include the name of Skip Stadnik. Stadnik, one of the city’s most well-known and celebrated volunteers, died earlier this month. Stadnik was an Army veteran and long-time member of the Community Affairs Advisory Board [CAAB]. He was frequently involved in and attended city events. “I say that as somebody who is the former chair of that [CAAB] board and the author of that award,” said Rajner at the May 22 commission meeting. Rajner also suggested the award only be given out during non-election years to prevent it from being used by any of the candidates to highlight their campaigns. WMG

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