WMG Volume 3 • Issue 22 November 16, 2016
Wilton Manors Gazette
Community
Business
City Still Hopes to Get ‘Site 92’ as Park Space
Powerline Road to Be Reduced From 6 to 4 Lanes Public meeting scheduled for Dec. 7
By Michael d’Oliveira
“Site 92” isn’t a big piece of green space, but the city still wants it. Located off of Wilton Drive next to Wilton Tower, the property is only 1.43 acres. But that’s enough, said Patrick Cann, Leisure Services Director, to improve the city’s park system. “We think it’s feasible to keep the property to help with passive programming. It abuts the water and it ties into Richardson Park (located across the street). It provides a benefit to the community,” Caan said. He added that “Site 92” could help alleviate some of the parking problems at Richardson and could be used as an overflow parking lot. The city wants to either own the property or utilize it through a partnership with Broward County, which owns the land. But talks with Broward, which owns the park, haven’t progressed for months, said Caan and he doesn’t know why. There’s also the complication of working
By Michael d’Oliveira
with the homeowner’s association that uses the land as an access point. “There are three different organizations we’d have to work with.” Caan estimates that, if the city did take the land over, it would cost about $15,000 a year just for general maintenance, such as emptying garbage cans and landscaping. And if the city added amenities, that would increase the cost. During the September Candidates Forum, former mayoral candidate Boyd Corbin said the land would be a fantastic place for a dog park. Caan said it’s a possibility “Site 92” could become a dog park but that it’s very likely Colohatchee Park will remain where the dog park is located. He added that it would cost money to install fences and other dog park infrastructure. “I won’t say it couldn’t happen there. It could be an option,” Caan said. The Gazette was unable to reach county officials for comment. WMG
Wilton Drive isn’t the only street where city officials want a lane reduction to go into effect. Powerline Road, through a project lead by the Florida Department of Transportation [FDOT], will be reduced from six lanes to four. “It isn’t suited to be a six-lane highway. It’s primarily residential. There are single-family homes abutting a sixlane highway,” said City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson. A public meeting to discuss the plans will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mickel Park. FDOT officials will be in attendance to answer questions and take input. In addition to the lane reduction, a planting strip will be added through the middle of the street and the two outside lanes will be used to create a bike lane and a buffer between the road and the sidewalks/bike lanes. There will also be resurfacing and restriping work done. All of it funded by FDOT. The improvements will be made along Powerline Road from Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale north to Northwest 29 Street in Wilton Manors. Henderson said the city would also like the speed limit reduced but it would be up to FDOT to make the decision.
Powerline Road is a state road. The city has no control over it. “We want to reduce the speed of traffic and make it easier for pedestrians to walk and feel safe in the area,” said Henderson. And safety concerns have been one of the primary issues residents have talked about with Powerline recently. One group of speeding ATV riders became such a regular nuisance that the police department began an operation to crack down on them. “It’s incredibly disturbing to the neighborhood,” said Mayor Gary Resnick last year. He lives west of Powerline Road and said the group, which travels south towards Fort Lauderdale, comes through the city every Sunday evening. Unfortunately, said Police Chief Paul O’Connell, there’s not much the police can do. According to state law, police can only pursue the driver of a vehicle if they commit a “forcible felony” which is defined as any “felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual.” O’Connell said his department is in the same position as it was last year. “Even though they pose a safety hazard, we’re not going to increase the safety hazard by giving chase.” WMG
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T H E C O M P R E H E N S I V E AT R I A L F I B R I L L AT I O N I N ST I T U T E AT F LO R I DA M E D I CA L C E N T E R
IF YOU HAVE
ATRIAL , FIBRILLATION IT’S TIME TO GET BACK IN RHYTHM.
Community
Call to Artists for Photo Spot City to encourage tourism and public art By Michael d’Oliveira
PA N E L D I S C U S S I O N F E AT U R I N G : Erik Beyer, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery David Kenigsberg, MD, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Albert N. Nayeri, MD, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Erik Beyer, MD
Tuesday, December 6th – 1:15pm David Kenigsberg, MD
2040 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors Lunch will be served.
To reserve your seat, please call
1.844.246.7846
Albert N. Nayeri, MD
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Editorial
Correspondents
but it can be life threatening to some patients. The greatest risk of A-Fib is stroke. When the heart isn’t pumping out properly, blood can pool in the atria and cause blood clots that can travel to the brain, causing stroke. Those with A-Fib are five times more likely to have a stroke than the general population.
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Options
November 16, 2016 • Volume 3 • Issue 22
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Designer • Charles Pratt Internet Assistant • Brittany Ferrendi Webmaster@sfgn.com News Editor • Michael d’Oliveira
Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) is the most common heart rhythm disorder,
Florida Medical Center offers numerous treatment options for A-Fib.
WMG
Natalya Jones • John McDonald • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires
Sales & Marketing
In an effort to encourage tourism and improve public art, Wilton Manors has issued a call to artists to create a Photo Spot at Jaycee Park. “The Photo Spot Program will assist in the creation of public artwork that inspires creativity, promotes city pride, engages local artists, attracts and entertains visitors and residents, provides social media opportunities (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and reflects the City’s diversity,” reads the call to artists release. The deadline is Dec. 10. The winning artist will receive $500 and public recognition. They will also be responsible for determining which materials to use, solving design issues, making sure the design is in line with building codes and coordinating the installation and fabrication of the design. Choosing the winning artist will be a selection committee comprised of city staff members and residents from the volunteer boards and Central Area Neighborhood Association. Visibility, maintenance requirements, integration with Jaycee Park, ease of accessibility by the public and possible traffic impacts will all be considered in how the selection committee chooses. WMG
Director of Sales & Marketing • Mike Trottier mike.trottier@sfgn.com Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Sales Assistant • Tim Higgins Tim.Higgins@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.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. MEMBER
MEMBER
Associated Press MEMBER
MEMBER
Copyright © 2016 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.
For more information, contact Roberta Moore, Community Development Services director, at 954-390-2180 or rmoore@wiltonmanors.com. 5000 W. Oakland Park Blvd. | Lauderdale Lakes | floridamedctr.com
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Petition Started After Humpy’s Closes
Business
By Michael d’Oliveira Matthew Eaton is tired of seeing his favorite businesses close in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. First it was Out Of The Oven Baking Company and Salt This Way. And now that Humpy’s Pizza has closed, he wants to try and do something. Eaton, a resident of Hollywood, has started a petition the day after Humpy’s closed. Formerly located in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors, Humpy’s was closed after the owner and the owner of the shopping plaza failed to come to an agreement on the rent. Owner Steve DeJong, who opened Humpy’s in 2007, said the increase in rent was just too high. The threat of a lawsuit, regarding Americans With Disabilities violations, also contributed to DeJong’s decision to close. DeJong said he was sued even after correcting the minor deficiencies. “Basically, they’re raising the rent to the point where it’s unmanageable and not feasible to stay in business. And they’re going to raise it every year for the next 10 years. They’re playing hardball. It just baffles me they’re not willing to negotiate. We have a third of the shopping center empty,” said DeJong on Nov. 2. Earlier this month, Jonathan Gaines, principal with Rivercrest Realty, which owns the Shoppes of Wilton Manors, said he was disappointed he and DeJong couldn’t come to terms on the lease. Eaton hopes his petition, which has 765 signers as of Nov.
14, will start a conversation and help keep more businesses in Wilton Manors. He also hopes to get the city involved in “The petition is to support the business currently there. The goal really is to show we have a voice in Wilton Manors . . . to really have the city and the landlords pay attention and work something out.” “We need people to invest in the community. There are already too many empty stores and lack of creativity. This city will die if we can’t compete with many of the other, vibrant, communities rising around us,” wrote Kevin Mahon from Lazy Lake, one of the petition supporters. But not everyone agrees with Eaton’s petition. “The owners are free to do what they want with their property,” wrote Fort Lauderdale resident Ken Hatton on Facebook. “We are free not to patronize their businesses. Without the LBGT community, no business will survive there. We have more power in boycotting businesses that don’t support our community.” Rivercrest Realty did not comment in time for publication. WMG To view or sign the petition, visit change.org/p/save-thebusinesses-shoppes-of-wilton-manors.
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Community
Breakfast with Santa and Santa By The Sea
Around Town Check out what’s happening
By Michael d’Oliveira
Evaluation of Wayfinding Sign Program The committee for the city’s proposed wayfinding sign program will meet to evaluate the submitted bids on Monday, Nov. 21 at 9:30 a.m. at city hall in Wilton Manors. The purpose of the wayfinding signs is to provide tourists and visitors with
signs that will help direct them to certain businesses, parks and other tourismrelated places in the city. The meeting is open to the public. The committee will review, rank or select proposal/ presentations. WMG
Island City Yard Sale Vendor spaces are available for the Island City Yard Sale on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hagen Park parking lot. Multiple spaces, tents, chairs and tables are also available for rent. The event is free to the public. There will also be a concession stand. Yard sales are held monthly from now until April. To rent a space, call 954-390-2115 or 954-390-2130. Space is limited. WMG
Children under 12 can attend Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hagen Park Community Center in Wilton Manors. In addition to the pancake breakfast with Santa, there will be pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, story-time, and photo opportunities with jolly Old Saint Nick. Early reservations, those placed before Friday, Dec. 9, are $5 per child and $7 for adults. To sign up, call 954-3902130. Santa By The Sea will also take place in December. Santa will be traveling along the Middle River on Wednesday, Dec. 14 and can be seen from various places in the city. One will be Colohatchee Park at 5:30 p.m. WMG
World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil Broward House, Pride Center at Equality Park and the City of Wilton Manors will join together to mark World AIDS Day on Thursday, Dec. 1 with a candlelight vigil starting at Hagen Park. The vigil will start at 7 p.m. and attendees will proceed down Wilton Drive and end at Equality Park. A reception, including reflections of the epidemic, song, and spoken word will be held at Equality Park. WMG
Police
Police Survey May be Nixed CAAB will decide Dec. 7 By Michael d’Oliveira A survey to ask residents what they think about the Wilton Manors Police Department may not happen after all. The idea was discussed in August by the members of the Community Affairs Advisory Board [CAAB] and at subsequent meetings since. The volunteer board, made up of residents, said it believes the police department has a good relationship with residents but the survey would be utilized to find out if any problems exist. The recent flair up of anger and frustration in certain black communities directed at police is something CAAB wants to ensure that doesn’t happen in Wilton Manors. “We don’t want a Ferguson to happen here. We don’t want an Overtown,” said CAAB member Tim Ross in August. CAAB voted on whether to proceed
with the survey at its Nov. 2 meeting but it was a 3-3 tie. Chair Michael Goodman was absent and unable to vote. But Goodman will be at the next CAAB meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, and he said he’ll be ready to cast the tiebreaking vote. The meeting is open to the public. “I want a chance to talk with some other people in the city and I want to do a little research before voting. We’ll revisit it and make a decision that night. We’ll definitely come to a conclusion,” Goodman said. CAAB member M.E. DePalma has already reached a conclusion. She was one of the members who voted against releasing the survey. During Wicked Manors on Halloween, DePalma said she witnessed police
officers interacting very positively with attendees. She said the police department already has a good relationship with residents and visitors. “I saw so many police officers walking and talking and greeting people. There was no distancing at all. I just don’t feel
that it’s beneficial under the current circumstances in the city.” She added that she would rather efforts be made to better highlight what the police are doing right. “I just felt that it was incendiary and unnecessary.”
WMG
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