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Speeding truck crashes into trees in Greenacres 20-year-old driver severely injuredby Grace Bellinghausen (CBS12) — A 20-year-old was severely injured early Saturday when his speeding truck veered out of control and struck multiple trees in Greenacres According to the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office (PBSO) the driver's Toyota truck was speeding down eastbound 10th Avenue N around 4:30 a.m Deputies say the driver failed to maintain control of the truck and spun out crossing the median before striking several trees which are believed to be non-life-threatening VHI investigators documented evidence from the scene and PBSO says Road Patrol personnel are handling the investigation and crash report Rubel Boteo Medrano pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of manslaughter during a hearing April 16 before Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss He initially faced a charge of second-degree murder after authorities alleged he knocked 38-year-old Ernesto Ruiz Lopez to the ground and kicked him multiple times during a Jan confrontation at a community near Greenacres Investigators did not name the community in their report but said paramedics found Ruiz at the Green Acres shopping plaza near Jog and Lake Worth roads Palms West beating: 67-year-old nurse who nearly died is standing on her feet, taking steps Ruiz Lopez died just over two weeks after the attack The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death was a homicide caused by complications from blunt force head injuries Boteo Medrano has already served more than a year of his sentence as Weiss credited him with 449 days of time served in the Palm Beach County Jail while awaiting trial — The flagship store of a popular chocolate maker in Palm Beach County has shut its doors WATCH BELOW: Hoffman's Chocolates closes flagship store in Greenacres Hoffman's Chocolates opened an outlet at its iconic building along Lake Worth Road in Greenacres nearly a half-century ago Customers told WPTV they remember when the location would create gift baskets for Christian and Jewish holidays even allowing the public see the kitchen where it once made the gourmet chocolates for all its South Florida locations We watched them make the chocolates in the back," Kathy Heeney who grew up just a few blocks from the store I guess now we are going to try to find where they have it." To find out where customers can still find Hoffman's chocolates we called the company's outlets in Palm Beach Gardens WPTV received the following comment from Kip Hunter Marketing about the property: (CBS12) — Two people are dead after walking in front of a truck at a Greenacres intersection on Tuesday evening According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office report the pair were crossing Forest Hill Boulevard See Also: Suspect accused of capital sexual battery of child caught in St. Lucie Co. The westbound pickup had a green light and the right of way was pronounced dead at the scene; while the other person was rushed to Delray Medical Center where he later died Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video GREENACRES — The city’s iconic CocoCabana restaurant is finally returning to its glory days before the pandemic the kitchen is busy and the live salsa and bachata shows have brought back people to the dance floor Abreu said he tried everything to revive the restaurant that he bought in 2022 hired a DJ to host karaoke nights and reached into his pockets to renew the live performances the Latin restaurant had become known for we depend on night-live entertainment to survive,” said Abreu "Even if they approve two or three of the new ordinances I would probably have to give up the restaurant because we would go bankrupt.” Greenacres restaurant owners received a letter two weeks ago from the city stating there would be new regulations for places offering live entertainment and those that didn't comply would be fined and considered nightclubs City planners say the new laws are meant to clarify rules the City Council approved in 2022 to crack down on venues illegally operating as nightclubs. The language of the ordinances mirrors the language of similar ones in neighboring Wellington and Royal Palm Beach But those standards might not translate in Greenacres whose Hispanic population has surged in the past 30 years and where even casual eateries host local musicians and clients can dance next to their tables Greenacres residents and restaurant owners filled City Hall on April 21 to voice their opposition to the new rules saying they would strip away the culture of the eateries that have become crucial spaces for Hispanic families 'Honrado': Joel Flores becomes first Hispanic elected to Palm Beach County Commission "It would devastate our restaurants,” said Alan Cassarubias who manages El Rey del Taco on Lake Worth Road with his dad held community meetings and celebrated all of her daughter’s birthdays at Sabor Latino on Jog Road “Please do not close the dance floors in our community,” Mendez said You are taking away a space where we celebrate connect and spread joy because that's who we are We dance when we are happy and when we are sad.” From the courts: Girl told SouthTech teacher she wanted to kill herself. He let her buy the rope to do it. The City Council postponed its second vote on the regulations for live entertainment Members said they wanted more time to review the concerns raised by residents and small-business owners Council members announced the city will host a workshop with local restaurant owners to revise some of the proposed rules and understand how it would affect them said the ordinances would create definitions and standards for rules adopted in 2022 He added the rules are also meant to address public safety concerns about restaurants operating past the city’s 2 a.m Buying a home? $100,000 down payments available for first-time homebuyers in Palm Beach County and lounges must obtain an annual permit from the city for any indoor and outdoor live entertainment They would also need a special-events permit for larger gatherings restaurants will also be required to submit a detailed summary of the proposed live entertainment a description of the event and a layout of the areas The application also will cover the number of entertainers a noise-control plan and photos of the setup restaurants that have a dance floor or allow space for dancing would be fined up to $5,000 The proposed regulations also set the criteria to decide if the venue is operating as a nightclub: If it is open between 10 p.m has a dance floor or “other open area used by patrons” for dancing and a combination of four or more of the following elements without a permit: It charges a cover charge or door charge or has a minimum drink requirement It serves alcohol on the premises.It advertises live entertainment events online or in flyers or other open area for performances or entertainment.It forbids persons under the age of 21 to patronize the venue between 10 p.m and 7 a.m.The presence of security personnel hired specifically for ticket sales and crowd control."We are recognizing the cultural nuances that we do have in the city,” Gionni said “The point of this was really for just clarification on the current regulations ‘A vicious cycle’: SunFest’s big music bet thrilled millions, then drove it out of business Abreu bought CocoCabana after years of frequenting the venue as a client He said he knew the food business was tough but he knew people gravitated to CocoCabana for more than meals They sought the experience of being immersed in the flavors and rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean "It's a place to foster our culture where the adults can go with their families to enjoy the music and ambiance that characterize us Latinos.” He said the restaurant would lose between 40% and 50% of its revenue without the ability to host live performances His clients would choose to go to Palm Springs "COVID hit us and it took three years to recover and now worried when he read the new rules proposed by the city His casual taco joint could be considered a nightclub: It has a bar El Rey del Taco often has mariachis and local Mexican singers who serenade clients as they walk between tables late-night restaurants in Greenacres are brightly lit serve clients with sit-down menus and offer an atmosphere that welcomes parents with babies The Mexican restaurant can’t survive only on food sales The entertainment is what brings people in and makes them stay to enjoy more tacos and margaritas The Casarrubias had filed plans with the city to expand the Lake Worth Road location to add more tables they would be considered a nightclub due to the size of their stage "We would be left with your hands up in the air without knowing what to do and paying for rent that we couldn't afford.” Mike Melendez's family opened El Chivo Linero in Greenacres’ Green Tree Plaza a battered strip mall along 10th Avenue North The Dominican restaurant has helped revive the plaza and is frequented by families for dinner and to enjoy live music during the weekend Melendez decided to open in Greenacres because he saw how the Hispanic community had grown and that the area lacked places where families could be entertained without leaving the city he doubts the restaurant will stay open for long the people just stand up and dance," Melendez said "Food costs are extremely high and we depend on people coming to eat (CBS12) — A 20-year-old Greenacres woman was killed in a deadly Lake Worth pedestrian collision Saturday morning a Toyota Corolla was traveling southbound on the 4600 block of Haverhill Road at 6:35 a.m when Palm Beach County deputies (PBSO) say Jalleyla Taisha Pierre Toussaint 'improperly' crossed the roadway westbound See also: $250k armed robbery in Boca Raton; three suspects sought The car impacted Toussaint and the driver of the vehicle came to a controlled stop on the roadway Toussaint was pronounced deceased on the scene from injuries sustained in the collision GREENACRES — A driver struck and killed two people in their 80s as they tried to cross Forest Hill Boulevard in Greenacres on Tuesday night the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Investigators did not immediately identify the victims by name but a crash report states they were an 82-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man It also said the sheriff's office is trying to notify their next of kin The two victims were walking on Forest Hill near the Riverbridge Centre shopping plaza about 7:10 p.m attempting to cross north through a marked crosswalk a 2016 Chevy Silverado driven by a 28-year-old Greenacres man was traveling west on Forest Hill and approaching a green light at Olive Tree Boulevard near the entrance of The Reserve and The Park at Riverbridge communities Palms West beating: Hospital CEO decries 'unprovoked, senseless violence' in patient's attack on nurse This area is the beginning of a busy stretch on Forest Hill flanked by fast-food restaurants and commercial plazas just east of Florida's Turnpike Both pedestrians crossed in front of the Chevy Their bodies were “thrown to the ground” before the truck came to a stop Paramedics pronounced the woman dead on the scene and drove the man to Delray Medical Center The crash report does not indicate that the driver is facing any charges It also did not specify the speed of the Chevy at the time of the crash The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating a vehicle versus pedestrian crash in Greenacres Spokeswoman Teri Barbera said the sheriff's office is in the beginning stages of the investigation (CBS12) — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating a vehicle versus pedestrian crash in Greenacres See also: Teen accused of manslaughter in deadly Palm Beach Co. shooting Photos from the crash show a heavy law enforcement presence near Forest Hill Boulevard Traffic also appears to be congested in the area with numerous deputies in the streets directing vehicles but photos taken by CBS12's photographer show what appears to be a body bag on the scene At this time PBSO has not confirmed if there were any fatalities as a result of the crash Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video The chocolate store at 5190 Lake Worth Road wasn't just a place to pick up a sweet treat or sample some ice cream Next door to the cluster of buildings was a garden where Santa showed up for photos and holiday lights and model trains delighted children of all ages No one who ever visited Hoffman's Chocolates in its heyday was immune to the magic of wonder But the memories ended this weekend when the store served its last confection More: Hoffman’s Chocolates, eateries brace for loss of power a spokesperson for Hoffman's Chocolates said the store closed because the property owner "has other plans for the property." Hoffman's Chocolates is owned by BBX Capital which acquired the chocolate purveyor in 2013 Hoffman's sold the Greenacres property in 2022 to an entity affiliated with Saito's Japanese Steakhouse Word is the restaurant company plans to use the shuttered Hoffman's buildings to prep food for its many locations Despite the closure of the flagship Greenacres store Hoffman's continues to operate chocolate stores in Palm Beach Gardens Delray Beach and Boca Raton as well as two other stores in Broward County Hoffman's Chocolates' closure in Greenacres marks the end of an era for Palm Beach County families residents of Greenacres and even Hoffman's Chocolates former owner "I was there for 20 years and what was exciting to see was the families returning year after year and some of the kids that came later brought their kids It was such a special thing to us," Meltzer said in an interview on Monday Caryn DeVincenti of suburban Boynton Beach was a frequent holiday visitor to Hoffman's it doesn't feel like Christmas because it's so warm," said DeVincenti seeing the look of wonder on my kids' faces and the smell of the chocolate created such a feeling of excitement." Meltzer was especially gratified by the way Hoffman's became a part of the community not only through its Holiday Wonderland but also through its partnership with several local charities Hoffman's helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits Making the trip to Hoffman's even more special was a tropical garden next to the property where lights and decorations adorned trees and shrubs and holiday light displays were scattered throughout the path Hoffman's Chocolates: An iconic location for families for decadesHoffman's has been in business since 1975 starting out in downtown Lake Worth at 813 Lucerne Ave was a former Pratt & Whitney engineer who wanted to open a business where he and his family could work together In the late 1980s,Hoffman'smoved to a Tudor-style building in Green­acres He later expanded the store and facility and bought 2.5 acres of land there Meltzer said Hoffman and a son-in-law created the garden path and landscaping themselves families throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast came to know Hoffman's for its Holiday Wonderland where families wandered the forest of lighted displays or snuggled with Santa when he made his frequent appearances customers often made their way to the shop where chocolate-covered pretzels were a favorite Meltzer said Hoffman decided to create the holiday wonderland at the Greenacres location after Generoso Pope sold the Lantana-based National Inquirer and the company's longtime Christmas tree and holiday display disappeared "Paul thought it’s such a loss for the community Meltzer came to Hoffman's in 1987 and acquired Hoffman's interest in 1988 Hoffman's offerings grew to include gift baskets for individual and corporate customers Retail stores feature not only chocolate but also ice cream But life wasn't always a box of chocolates for Hoffman's In 2004, Hurricane Frances created a power outage that led to a $1 million loss at the Greenacres chocolate factory Meltzer learned his lesson and installed backup generators Meltzer sold Hoffman's to BBX for an undisclosed price BBX subsequently bought other chocolate and candy companies including Anastasia Confections and It's Sugar Part of the fun in visiting the Hoffman's location at Greenacres was knowing the company made the chocolate on-site at its factory Hoffman's also used to feature model trains during its Wonderland exhibits children stood in awe at the sprawling train display Sometimes three separate trains chugged through bridges switches and gates amid a miniature landscape Then BBX donated the model trains to the South Florida Fairgrounds trains and gardens may be gone from Greenacres but DeVincenti said her visits to Hoffman's remain vivid remembrances to this day Hoffman's Wonderland "was a tradition," DeVincenti said "Every year we would go when the kids were little (CBS12) — A Greenacres man was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on Friday for selling thousands of synthetic opioids 'stronger than fentanyl.' was charged with possessing and distributing synthetic drugs including metonitazene according to a release from the State Attorney's Office Officials say Kolessa had previously pled guilty to selling pressed pills between January and June of 2024 See also: Missing man's case takes mysterious turn with house fire The Justice Department (DOJ) said that Kolessa admitted to possessing over six kilograms of powders and pressed pills containing fentanyl protonitazene and N-pyrrolidino protonitazene The compounds are called 'nitazines' which the DEA says have been appearing in fentanyl mixtures in the US since 2019 According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment but some nitazenes can match or surpass the potency of fentanyl The DOJ also ordered that Kolessa's prison sentence be followed by five years of supervised release One teen was killed and another is accused of murder after several juveniles allegedly mishandled a gun Saturday night in Lake Worth (CBS12) — A teenage boy was killed and another is accused of murder after several juveniles allegedly mishandled a gun Saturday night in Greenacres according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) Deputies were dispatched to a shooting on the 5000 block of Edgecliff Ave where they reported discovering a 16-year-old boy deceased from a gunshot wound Detectives from the Violent Crimes Division say they determined the shooting occurred when several juveniles mishandled a firearm See also: $250k armed robbery in Boca Raton; three suspects sought One juvenile was identified and booked for second-degree murder with a firearm and tampering with evidence Deputies say the investigation is still active and more information will be provided as it becomes available (CBS12) — The morning after Thanksgiving—many of us spend it digging into leftovers or relaxing with loved ones But for a Greenacres family in the Colonial Estates Mobile Home Park were displaced after a fire tore through their home leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs They’re thankful for their 13-year-old daughter And then I was still scared,” Valerie said Friday when Valerie noticed the porch light turn off She opened the door to thick smoke pouring into the house while her parents ‘Get out.’ And I opened the door first for my dog but then I went back in the house to go for the bunny,” Valerie said belonging to a neighbor who had asked Valerie to pet-sit “It’s my responsibility to take care of that bunny it was okay because the bunny is safe,” she said See also: Holiday Magic in Florida: Sand tree, surfboards, and dazzling lights Firefighters believe a faulty electrical wire sparked the blaze You can still kind of smell it,” Valerie said Photos taken at the scene show an unrecognizable mobile home that was burned and charred The Morales family is now relying on support from the American Red Cross which has stepped in to provide emergency financial assistance and one-on-one support to help them recover The organization says it will continue to provide assistance to the family to meet their disaster-caused needs (CBS12) — A Greenacres Fire Rescue captain stumbled upon a raging tree fire in Greenacres leading to the arrest of a 30-year-old Lake Worth man The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) stated that they responded to a fire on Wednesday at 5730 10th Avenue North a captain from Greenacres Fire Rescue told deputies that he was on his way to another emergency when he noticed smoke in the area he discovered a tree completely engulfed in flames the captain said he observed two men walking away from the burning tree sharing a photo of the individuals with PBSO which assisted detectives in their investigation See also: 87-year-old woman dies as car crashes into Port St. Lucie home PBSO officers were able to identify and apprehend the suspects: Nicholas Prater Prater has been accused of malicious land burning and causing property damage estimated to be over $1,000 Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video (CBS12) — A pedestrian died early Wednesday morning after being struck by a SUV while crossing a main road in Greenacres the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office explained Its crash report indicated the Lake Worth man was crossing in the middle of the block and went in front of the SUV Video taken at the scene shows the Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies at the scene surrounding the area with red tape Spokane Valley’s first park since the city’s incorporation in 2003 is set to get an upgrade this summer The Spokane Valley City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to award a construction project to Valley-based contractors Cameron Reilly that will bring additional sports facilities an expanded splash pad and a community garden to Greenacres Park Councilman Al Merkel was the lone dissenting vote The project will be the first major work to occur on the park’s 8.3 acres since it was constructed in 2012 Construction is expected to start in mid-March and stretch into midsummer The majority of the project’s $2 million cost will be covered by a pair of state and federal grants totaling $1.5 million The remainder will be covered by the city’s capital reserve fund as part of the grants’ matching funds requirements “A lot of that state and federal grant money is collected from our citizens through taxes,” Hohman said “This is bringing that back into our community.” Spokane Valley parks and recreation director told the council the outside funding allows the city to move forward with long-awaited plans to expand the park’s offerings “It’s an exciting night for Green Acres Park and our community,” Bottelli said The planned work will include adding a new backstop to the multiuse sports fields multiple shade structures and a community garden The parks department also plans to expand the park’s splash pad bringing the total of available spaces to 52 The contract approved Tuesday includes a provision to add a mini artificial soccer pitch identical to the one in the Valley’s Balfour Park the club’s charitable organization the RAVE Foundation and team sponsor Delta Airlines agree to partner with the city again The Sounders coalition set out to build 26 free soccer fields as part of a campaign to do so by the time the World Cup comes to North America in 2026 It has announced plans to build another 26 in the years to come the city’s project manager for the Greenacres renovation said the group has shown interest in placing another in Spokane Valley Merkel said he believes the city’s match funding needed to secure the grants would be better spent on the council’s ongoing goals to bolster the city’s police force He said he sees the value in investments like parks but believes soon no one will be able to enjoy them if the council does not hire more deputies “I still think that there are some needs in this community that should be respected before we do some wants,” Merkel said Councilman Ben Wick responded by saying the city’s reserve funds were set aside for the project years ago and are “one-time funds” that should not be used for recurring costs like law enforcement that we can vote on executing this contract and bring some of the money together one-time costs that we can do with one-time dollars,” Wick said “And it makes a lot of sense and returns a lot of money to our community.” While public safety is the council’s priority it is not the only effort to improve Spokane Valley “People want a return on their taxes for a multitude of projects and for services not just one or two things,” Hattenburg said Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Greenacres man allegedly funds lavish lifestyle with $483K pandemic loan schemeby Sophie Pendrill (CBS12) — A man from Greenacres has been accused of using multiple falsified COVID-19 business loans totaling $483,570 for his own personal use The State Attorney's Office began investigating CARES Act Loans awarded to Rodrigue Pierrot,48 Pierrot reportedly obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Grant (EIDG) of $10,000 and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) of $78,000 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Cross River Bank granted Pierrot a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan amounting to $395,570 Investigators revealed that Pierrot obtained these loans by providing false information about his number of employees and monthly payroll It was also found that Pierrot's company did not pay taxes from 2019 to the present day The funds from the grants and loans were reportedly transferred to a Wells Fargo Bank checking account identified as a Business Choice Checking Account with Pierrot as the sole authorized signer he would transfer money to other businesses or to himself in smaller amounts through checks or Zelle Detectives reported that on the first day of receiving his PPP loan Pierrot had written four checks totaling $118,671 to his personal account Pierrot had cashed a minimum of fifteen checks totaling over $100,000 Pierrot began a luxury spending spree beginning in April 2021 Investigators stated that these purchases included a $7,276 purchase from a Louis Vuitton store located at the Garden's Mall online transfers to Watches of Switzerland Pierrot was accused of two counts of scheme to defraud and money laundering Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video (CBS12) — The Palm Beach County sheriff stated that they found the missing 12-year-old girl on Wednesday morning The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) stated on Wednesday morning that Nadjie Antoine went missing from Greenacres on Tuesday See also:Clocks 'fall back' Sunday, end of Daylight Saving Time Nadjie is five feet six inches tall and 110 pounds with black hair styled in pigtails with butterfly clips She was last seen wearing a green shirt with green shorts Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video — Residents in Greenacres can begin applying for a grant to renovate their homes the city is accepting applications for its Property Enhancement Grant Program "This initiative provides financial assistance to property owners and businesses encouraging them to enhance and maintain the value of their properties through renovations and rehabilitations that improve their appearance and contribute to the city's overall aesthetic," the city stated in a press release Residents can receive up to 50% of the total project cost with a maximum award of $5,000 for residential properties and $10,000 for commercial properties for eligible improvements Funding is provided through an application and is distributed on a reimbursement basis Download Application: Applications are available online at greenacresfl.gov/grants Pick-Up Application: Applications can also be picked up in person at Greenacres City Hall located at 5800 Melaleuca Ln Submission Deadline: Completed applications and all required documents must be submitted no later than March 1. Submissions can be delivered to City Hall or emailed to ahernandez@greenacresfl.gov For additional program information or assistance, residents can contact Program Coordinator Aileen Hernandez at 561-642-2071 or email ahernandez@greenacresfl.gov Read WPTV's latest "Coverage Collapse" stories below: Greenacres will host public meetings this week to hear from residents business owners and visitors on what their city is lacking and what they envision it can be like in the future Greenacres spokesperson Austin Lee said the city especially want to hear from private businesses and what it would take for them to come to the city and make it a destination 'Stuck in time': Palm Beach County housing crisis squeezing blue-collar workers out of two Hispanic cities but we also want to be a community that people come to come to visit and not just drive through," Lee said we want people to stop and visit our shops and parks." The community event will kick-of on Tuesday It will be followed by three days of focus groups and one-on-one interviews by the city staff with residents business owners and members of the general public The presentation will also be livestreamed online on the Greenacres YouTube page business owners and members of the public who want to participate in the interviews can email alee@greenacres.gov Where the American Dream is alive: Hispanic businesses of Greenacres, Palm Springs prove it. Lee said this will be Greenacres's first rebranding effort since the 1990s when city leaders coined its slogan "a good place to live." and we strive to be better than good," Lee said "So we're hoping that we can come up with something a little a little more representative." the city created a strategic vision plan but it was focused on identifying long-term actions to bring the services housing and commercial areas that are lacking in the village This effort will be driven by resident feedback on what specific projects and businesses they want to see and will include a new city seal The present seal shows trees against a green background Living in Greenacres, Palm Springs: What drew Hispanics to these cities? Three share their stories Greenacres has seen its population nearly double to 44,000 residents and once a mostly white community is now 40% Hispanic Lee said Greenacres doesn't have a clear identity and needs a new image that also represents how it has shifted from being a community made up mostly of retirees to one that is home of many young professionals and young families He is betting the rebranding efforts will "put Greenacres on the map" and showcase it as a safe city with affordably priced homes green parks and robust recreation programs "We've met people in our company that never heard of heard of our city is to uncover that and show people what we have to offer." Workforce housing: Can it help Greenacres, Palm Springs retain their growing Hispanic core? Greenacres has remained a bedroom community and now needs private companies to invest in redeveloping its aging shopping plazas into new shops and possibly even homes Lee said the city is looking to attract companies such as The Pickleball Club which bought land where it is building an indoor pickleball facility that will help to bring people from around the county to Greenacres He added Greenacres lacks entertainment venues and residents usually to drive 20 minutes to West Palm Beach "We're not trying to become a large downtown," Lee said "We want people to come and visit here and we want people to bring their businesses here A pile-up crash on the northbound Florida Turnpike is causing a 4-mile traffic jam in Greenacres.(WPEC) (CBS12) — A pile-up crash on the northbound Florida Turnpike is causing a 4-mile traffic jam in Greenacres The crash occurred just before Mile Marker 91 and at 1:30 p.m and has caused traffic to back up to Mile Marker 87 which is already narrowed due to construction See also: New bill proposes federal government foot President Trump's security bill A photo submitted to CBS12 shows an SUV rear-ended by a passenger van Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is on scene and it is unclear if there are any injuries at this time Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video Looking for a fresh and fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Green Acres Nursery & Supply invites families and anyone who appreciates a good day outdoors to join the celebration at its Melissa and Irving locations this Saturday family-friendly event kicks off at 9 am and promises a day full of live music Known for its incredible selection of plants Green Acres Nursery & Supply is the perfect destination for moms with green thumbs — or anyone who simply loves to be surrounded by beautiful blooms and even a chance to meet some adorable animals where kids and parents can get their hands dirty together planting something special to take home and nurture there are plenty of chances to score something unique Green Acres Nursery & Supply promises nonstop fun and plenty of photo-worthy moments It’s the perfect way to spend a spring Saturday with the ones you love creating memories that will bloom long after the event is over Green Acres Nursery & Supply is located at 1818 Central Expressway in Melissa and 2800 Ranch Trail in Irving Photo courtesy of Green Acres Nursery & Supply the Swedish-born furniture company is opening a new location — the first in Dallas proper — to debut in late 2025 the store will be located at The Shops at Park Lane the center at US-75 and Park Lane that's home to stores such as Whole Foods Market and they're not specifying exactly which storefront it will occupy but it will be a smaller-format store at 63,000 square feet than its suburban siblings such as Frisco where the square footage is 310,000 square feet IKEA is on a journey to become more accessible with smaller "urban" stores that have a limited inventory of items sold on site: 3,200 articles IKEA's entire range will not be available for immediate takeaway; big furniture items like beds and couches with options for store pick-up or home delivery at a minimal fee the Park Lane will be two levels and will be the 11th store in Texas: Currently three "Plan and Order Points with pick up and two smaller-format stores opening in San Marcos and Rockwall will comprise 108,875 square feet and the store be built from the ground up IKEA Dallas-University Park will be built in an existing building at The Shops at Park Lane The Rockwall store will have a new Swedish Deli cafe where they'll serve meals onsite as well as their Swedish Bistro takeout concept serving their signature Swedish meatballs which they also offer in a delectable plant-based version as well you should totally try it if you have not already although no word on whether there'll be a cafe we want to create a better everyday life for the many people and one way we can do that is by bringing IKEA close to where people live says IKEA US CEO Javier Quiñones in a statement :The opening of IKEA Dallas - University Park is a perfect example of our strategy to develop smaller bringing a more connected and accessible IKEA experience to everyone." (CBS12) — Deputies are investigating an early morning shooting outside of a Greenacres club on Sunday which left one man dead and another man injured The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) stated that on Sunday at around 1:30 a.m. they had responded to a shooting in the parking lot ofAli Baba Club located at 4621 Lake Worth Road in Greenacres PBSO reported that when they arrived on the scene they found a man dead from gunshot wounds and a second man suffering from gunshot wounds See also:Two injured in Okeechobee park shooting after argument escalates Officials noted that they are actively investigating this shooting which they believed to be an altercation that took place inside the club resulting in a shooting outside in the parking lot PBSO urges anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at1-800-458-TIPS or they can remain anonymous by downloading the PBSO app and using the "See Something” feature to submit tips (CBS12) — A Jeep flipped onto its side after a crash at the intersection of Forest Hill Boulevard and Jog Road in Greenacres on Wednesday morning Photos show a white Jeep flipped onto its passenger side near the McDonald's units responded to the scene but cleared it within approximately 15 minutes — Despite increased efforts to prevent people from sleeping in public residents say part of a Greenacres park has at times become a homeless hangout WPTV reporter Cassandra Garcia looked into the issue on Thursday and found out why some say it's creating unsanitary conditions Those who use the pickleball courts at Samuel J Ferreri Community Park along Jog Road in Greenacres said it's not uncommon for someone to sleep near the courts overnight Kathy and Larry Robinson play at the courts three days a week They said starting around Thanksgiving sanitation concerns grew after they found puddles of urine at the courts "We're dealing with a homeless gentleman that spends the night," Kathy Robinson said "He leaves us an area of urine every day." Given a recent change in Florida law to crack down on camping and sleeping in public the Robinsons are seeking help to remedy the problem saying they're stepping in to clean up the area the first thing we do is take bleach and throw down bleach all in front of the bench where he's urinated," Kathy Robinson said "Then we have bottles of water that we throw out and then we take a broom and broom it all away." Opponents of the Florida law have argued the new measure criminalizes homelessness The residents that WPTV spoke with said they recognize the need for more resources but contend that the park should not be an option "Treat them with dignity," park visitor Bill Wallace said The city of Greenacres said they are aware of the people sleeping in the park and are addressing it with the help of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office The city also said the courts are scheduled to be pressure washed Friday morning — A family of five escaped their burning mobile home Friday morning in Greenacres after a quick-thinking young girl alerted them to the danger The fire ripped through their home in the Colonial Estates Mobile Home Park off Lake Worth Road at about 10:30 a.m Children inside the home were awakened when they smelled smoke me and my little sister," 13-year-old Valerie Morales said WATCH BELOW: Girl explains how she helped alert family the oldest of the two children who live at the home said her 8-year-old sister smelled the smoke The two girls opened the bedroom door and saw a thick cloud of smoke billowing toward them from the back of the home "and I yelled at them to get out because there was fire and smoke." parents and pets escaped their burning home Greenacres Fire Rescue tells WPTV that the blaze was likely caused by a faulty electrical wire in the back of the mobile home neighbors came by to comfort the Morales family The Red Cross and neighbors are now helping the family Below is a statement from the Greenacres Fire Rescue regarding the fire: invoking the Spanish word for "honor" hours after winning the District 3 seat the first election since the county redrew the boundaries of the Greenacres-Palm Springs district to have a Hispanic majority "It's been a long time coming," Flores said because this district is pretty much the workforce of the county A Democrat and two-term mayor of Greenacres Flores defeated incumbent Republican commissioner Michael Barnett with 54% of the vote according to preliminary figures from the county Supervisor of Elections office Ron DeSantis appointed Barnett to the position in 2023 District 3 residents voted for the candidate who had a longer history of service in the area one who saw how the area had remained "stuck in time," said Alexandria Ayala a Palm Springs resident and the county's first Hispanic School Board member "Our district has long been forgotten and dismissed in terms of progress both on the economic development front and community building front," said Ayala Flores will face the challenge of attracting public and private investment to the district which lacks jobs and affordably priced homes for its growing population Puerto Rico native wins Hispanic-majority district electionHispanics are Palm Beach County’s largest and fastest-growing minority group at about 350,000 of the county's 1.5 million residents Many live along the Lake Worth Road corridor between Lake Worth Beach and Wellington almost 45% of Greenacres' population identified as Hispanic; Palm Springs is at 62% the county commission voted in 2021 to create its first Hispanic-majority district Lake Clarke Shores and parts of suburban Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach The new district is teeming with recent arrivals to the U.S from the Caribbean and South and Central America a longtime Greenacres resident and developer says the area had "gone underfunded for too long" and hopes that Flores' relationships and experiences in the community help fuel much-needed investments into infrastructure and businesses "History has been made with Joel Flores being elected as our first Hispanic commissioner which shows that the Hispanic voice will be heard in Palm Beach County," said Cabrera a Republican whose family founded the landmark Tropical Bakery in Palm Springs Where the American Dream is alive: Hispanic businesses in Greenacres, Palm Springs prove it. The Puerto Rican native moved to the city with his family in 2010 when the U.S He won the county commission seat on the strength of mail-in votes The two fared nearly the same during early voting and on Election Day with Barnett holding slight leads in both areas Flores said his campaign encouraged district residents to vote early either in person or by mail and also focused on educating voters on how to cast their ballot before Election Day "They wanted a change in their leaders," Flores said "People voted and democracy was heard last night." Three share their stories: What drew Hispanics to Greenacres, Palm Springs? Flores said his first priority is to bring workforce and affordable housing projects to the district which is home to many of the county's workforce in the education Many of them are caught in a housing squeeze with too few new homes being built and existing ones priced beyond what they can pay otherwise our businesses can't operate," Flores said He also wants to focus on the area's traffic problems and bring in transportation infrastructure to deal with the area's growing population He added support for law enforcement was crucial to District 3's reputation as a safe place for young families Workforce housing: Can it help Greenacres, Palm Springs retain Hispanic core? Barnett joined the commission when longtime commissioner Dave Kerner resigned to lead the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles A personal injury lawyer and then a resident of Boca Raton Barnett has lived in Palm Beach County since 1987 and was chairman of the county Republican Party prior to joining the commission A focus of his time on the commission was bringing a multicultural center to the district to house programs that can help its newer residents who had the endorsement of President Donald Trump told The Palm Beach Post on Wednesday that he was grateful to all his supporters volunteers and donors who believed in his campaign "We developed a strong relationship with the residents of District 3 and became an office dedicated to serving the community "I’m proud of my commission staff and the work we accomplished.” Ayala added that during Barnett's time on the commission he brought the district's housing needs to the forefront recognized local leaders and got involved in community events He had regular office hours at Palm Springs Village Hall "I thank him for really digging into the community," Ayala said GREENACRES — An off-duty Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputy sustained stab wounds during an altercation at a Greenacres laundromat on Tuesday afternoon whom the agency did not immediately identify was in critical but stable condition at a hospital Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a video PBSO posted on its Facebook page The sheriff's office late Tuesday arrested Glenn Gotell Circuit Judge Donald Hafele denied bail for Gotell at a hearing Wednesday at the Palm Beach County Jail Hafele also appointed a public defender to represent Gotell the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on open cases Fatal Brightline crash: Palm Beach Gardens man, 77, dies when car hits train south of The Gardens Mall a shopping center on Jog Road south of Lake Worth Road Bradshaw said the deputy walked in on an armed robbery and fought with Gotell who stabbed him in the arm and the chest before fleeing in the off-duty deputy's car The deputy had left the marked PBSO patrol car running next to the laundromat's front door believing he would only be there for a minute Another deputy was at the same complex at the time and had gear with him to help He put a chest compression vest on the wounded deputy and tied a tourniquet on his arm at a church north of Lake Worth Road and went into the Greenacres library where police apprehended him as he sat near a computer A witness whom investigators did not identify said he and Gotell are homeless and spend their days in the area where the stabbing and attempted robbery took place Bradshaw said the wounded deputy did what the agency expects him to do — and what he is trained to do — when he sees an incident developing "This is why they're required to carry their firearms and they're in their cars where they can take action," the sheriff said Tom Elia is an editor at The Palm Beach Post, overseeing coverage of public safety, the courts and Palm Beach County’s northern and western communities. You can reach him at telia@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today (HCMC) today announced the acquisition of GreenAcres Market an organic and natural health food and vitamin chain with five store locations in Kansas and Oklahoma GreenAcres Market is a chain of natural foods stores offering organic and all natural products and vitamins from both top national brands as well as locally sourced specialty brands GreenAcres Market offers everything from organic produce This acquisition marks HCMC’s market expansion into the midwestern region of the U.S HCMC’s CEO Jeffrey Holman announced the continued expansion of the company’s grocery segment through the acquisition of GreenAcres Market “We see this move as another strategic step towards achieving HCMC's growth goals we anticipate the GreenAcres acquisition will propel annual top-line revenue to roughly $75 million.” Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199 (CBS12) — A man died late Thursday evening when his mobility scooter collided with an SUV as he tried crossing one of Greenacres' main roads when John Katros went to cross South Jog Road at the Ramblewood Circle intersection the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office explained was heading west on Ramblewood Circle and was going across the six-lane road his scooter collided with a Ford Edge that was headed south in the westernmost lane The Edge’s driver immediately stopped and called 911 See Also: Police partnering with big box stores to combat retail theft Katros was rushed to Delray Medical Center where he died approximately two hours later Even though Bossier City’s engineer wasn’t in favor of it the city council approved placing a 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Greenacres Boulevard and Fairmont Drive in the Greenacres Place subdivision Sponsored by District 5 councilmember Vince Maggio the additional stop sign is an effort to “control speeding and other unsafe driving,” according to the ordinance.  At-large councilmember Chris Smith worried that adding a third four-way stop on the Boulevard might lead to adding a fourth at Southwood Drive ultimately leading to traffic backups.  “I know I’ve voted for other stop signs that the traffic engineer says it’s warranted but Fairmont and Airline are so close to each other I worry about congestion during peak travel time,” Smith said there would already be a sign there.” City engineer Ben Rauschenbach said the 4-way stop “will make that intersection safer over the long term.” he said it might also introduce traffic delays “When we’re looking at traffic engineering we are biased towards the highest volume of traffic but we are creating a condition for people going north-south that want to get there,” Rauschenbach said “It’s the same thing when you’re on the Boulevard and you want to make a left turn to go north; why isn’t there a turn arrow there And the last thing you want to do is create more delay north-south So we’re biased towards that leading high volume traffic All seven council members approved the ordinance Real Bossier news in your email inbox first thing every morning. Sign up now 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthier Choices Management Corp (OTC Pink: HCMC) today announced the acquisition of GreenAcres Market GreenAcres Market is a chain of premier natural foods stores This acquisition marks HCMC’s market expansion into the midwestern region of the United States HCMC’s CEO Jeffrey Holman enthusiastically announced the continued expansion of the company’s grocery segment through the acquisition of GreenAcres Market “We see this move as another strategic step towards achieving HCMC's growth goals we anticipate the GreenAcres acquisition will propel annual top-line revenue to roughly $75 million Holman expressed confidence in GreenAcres Market's ability to strengthen HCMC's financial position and market share “This acquisition aligns perfectly with HCMC's commitment to sustainable growth in the organic supermarket industry and its long-term strategic objectives.” The Hoffmann family share: “We are excited that GreenAcres Markets will begin a new chapter with HCMC as this acquisition highlights their shared focus on quality products and customer service The potential synergies of bringing like-minded stores together will help maintain the natural products industry’s mission of alternative health education We also want to thank the Food Partners who served as strategic and financial advisor to GreenAcres in the transaction.” Healthier Choices Management Corp. (www.hcmc1.com) is a holding company focused on providing consumers with healthier daily choices with respect to nutrition and other lifestyle alternatives Through its wholly owned subsidiary HCMC Intellectual Property Holdings the Company manages and intends to expand on its intellectual property portfolio is a holding company focused on providing consumers with healthier daily choices with respect to nutrition and other lifestyle alternatives the Company operates a Healthy Choice Wellness Center in Kingston NY and has a licensing agreement for a Healthy Choice Wellness Center located at the Casbah Spa and Salon in Fort Lauderdale The Company continues to seek out locations for new Healthy Choice Wellness Centers but there are not currently any agreements in place for the opening of any new locations the Company entered a joint venture with an established healthcare provider and the joint venture is in the process of creating a structure whereby it will engage in telemedicine evaluations of patients for semaglutide therapy generally: medical evaluations of patients; treatment of patients with semaglutide; coordination with providers and patients Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Healthy U Wholesale, the Company sells vitamins and supplements, as well as health, beauty and personal care products on its website www.TheVitaminStore.com This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) Additional written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 assumptions and projections and are not guarantees of future performance The Company assumes no obligation to update these statements and winding down of our wholesale distribution operations the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” and “plans” and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements Factors that may affect our future results of operations and financial condition include our ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships the impact of competitive products and pricing the adequacy of our liquidity and financial strength to support its growth and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in our filings with the SEC Contact Information: Healthier Choices Management Corp. 3800 North 28TH Way, #1 Hollywood, FL 33020 305-600-5004 Email: ir@hcmc1.com