Tuesday, January 7, 2014

New York Pastafarian Christopher Schaeffer Sworn Into Town Council Wearing Colander

He declares himself a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Click title for link of the swearing-in picture. It doesn't look like a Bible is being used in the ceremony. Feeling like you are leaning toward the Pastafarian? You can become a minister. Click here for more information.

Coastal Palm Beach County

Coastal Hazard Statement
Statement as of 5:01 AM EST on January 07, 2014

... High risk of rip currents in effect through this evening... 

The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a high risk of rip
currents... which is in effect through this evening.

* Timing... surf along the East Coast of Southeast Florida will
build through the day today as the strong northerly winds shift
to onshore and seas continue to build. This will lead to
hazardous rip currents by the end of the day.

* Impacts... hazardous swimming conditions will be expected by the
end of the day. 

Precautionary/preparedness actions... 

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore... which occur most often at low spots or breaks in The
Sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and
piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards and the beach patrol. Pay
attention to flags and posted signs.

If you become caught in a rip current... do not panic. Remain
calm and begin to swim parallel to shore. Once you are away from
the force of the rip current... begin to swim back to the beach.
Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Even a
strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.

Scouts, others clean up 1928 hurricane gravesite in West Palm... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Great article by Eliot Kleinberg recognized the efforts of Palm Beach County residents to honor and preserve an important and grim chapter in the county's history. Click title for link. From the article:
The great 1928 hurricane, Palm Beach County’s most profound event, killed as many as 3,000, ranking-second only to the 1900 Galveston storm as the single biggest killing event in U.S. history. While whites were interred with dignity at the city’s Woodlawn Cemetery, the black dead went into the hole at 25th Street and Tamarind Avenue.
The city bought the site in 2000. It installed fences, a winding sidewalk, palm trees and benches and spread fresh mulch, all in time for the 75th anniversary in 2003. A marker and pillars went up; many of them saying, simply, starkly, “1928.”
Be sure to check out the video too. I am not embedding it here since it is on "autoplay" once it is shared. 

Famous Festivus Pole Is for Sale on eBay

Don't look now, but you can buy Chaz Stevens's slightly used Festivus pole from e-Bay. This is the one that was on display in the Capitol rotunda and mentioned on Colbert and the Daily Show. Proceeds will go to the organization Women in Distress. Click title for link.

Christians, Atheists Say 'Keep Capitol A Free-Speech Zone' | WLRN

Despite the clutter in the Capitol rotunda, and the fact that one group was denied display space due to being "grossly offensive," most want the "free speech zone" concept to stay. They are looking at adjusting the policy but there doesn't seem to be a rush to do so. Click title for link to article where all the displays are mentioned that were installed this season. From the article:
The policy review will be undertaken as the ACLU of Florida continues to warn the Department of Management Services that a lawsuit remains an option over the department's rejection of an exhibition proposed by the New York-based Satanic Temple.
“What we hope happens is that the department will realize you can’t pick and choose which messages or organizations get represented if you create an open forum --- or that they make the determination after all that’s happened that maybe creating a venue for religious messages isn’t the best use of a government building in the first place," said ACLU of Florida spokesman Baylor Johnson.

Great Lakes wetlands restoration efforts paying off as acreage grows | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Some good news coming from the Great Lakes - source to another inland body of freshwater, akin to Lake Okeechobee. Through a long term program of many states and Canada working together, acreage of wetlands along the lakes is increasing. This is especially true compared to other areas of the nation where the same sorts of natural areas are decreasing in acreage. Click title for link to a Detroit Free Press article.
Crews are building levees, canals and pumps that will regulate water levels and upgrade fish passageways in a 946-acre section of Erie Marsh, making it a better home for wildlife and limiting the spread of invasive plants.
It’s an example of decades-old efforts by government agencies and private groups to rebuild Great Lakes coastal wetlands such as swamps, bogs and marshes that have been depleted by development. A federal report released in November suggests the work is beginning to pay off.

Monday, January 6, 2014

West Palm Beach OKs development at President Country Club | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

More amenities for residents and tourists approved by the West Palm Beach City Commission tonight. Click title for link. From the article:
The President Country club’s north golf course — now known as the Patriot Golf Course — would convert to a 119-acre commercial zone with a three-story, 250-room hotel, 23 resort rental villas linked to the hotel, 94 single-family homes and a 15,000 square-foot spa.
The golf course development comes after the investor group paid $11 million in 2011 for the President Country Club and its two courses, which are surrounded by the Lands of the President, a mix of houses and condominiums.
The proposed resort hotel would include meeting and banquet facilities, pools and tennis courts, snack shops, delis and day care centers. The current golf clubhouse would be razed to make way for a new 20,000 square-foot one built at the south end of the property and linked to the remaining Eagle course.
Click here for link to some graphics that show what the project will look like. I remember some CRAZY ruminations during the boom period that this was the destiny for the Lake Worth golf course.

Old Florida Post Card...


Losing NYC Political Candidate Argues She Was 'Cursed' By Rival - ABC News

This story is clearly for the birds. Someone needs to get over it. Click title for link.
The image of a large chicken head, held up with wooden slats was part of the Los Muros Hablan, a multi-borough project, which Mark-Viverito was affiliated with.
Goodwin alleges that Mark-Viverito worked with her landlords at the Eastside Manager's Associates to put up an image on her east Harlem apartment building that would "inflict emotional distress" on Goodwin.
She also alleges the image can be interpreted as threatening or as a "curse."

POINT OF VIEW: Quiet zones good, but let’s think underground rail | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Bruce Helander suggests, in this op-ed appearing in the Post, to look at going putting the rails underground in anticipation of greater amounts of train traffic. This increase in traffic will be due to the All Aboard Florida high-speed project and the eventual transit traffic on the FEC railroad that will serve the eastern municipalities along the coast. He points out the traffic that would be blocked at the Okeechobee railroad crossing in West Palm Beach.

Such an undertaking would add an enormous cost to the overall project, especially given the north-south length of the run. The geometry and depth versus the water table would surely be another complicating factor. While it might be a partial solution to the increased congestion and noise, I don't think it is being looked at in any serious way due to the overwhelming cost considerations. Click title for link.
Now is an opportune time for serious analysis to be given to the practical safety and efficiency of an excavated track that could go under a major traffic artery. It might just provide an unconventional solution for and different perspective on the heightened inconvenience, decreased efficiency and diminished productivity caused by the amplified roadblocks we surely are facing. With a multimillion-dollar budget announced for this new rail service, it would be worth the effort to invest a modest sum for an engineering study that might just present a viable alternative.
I lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan during the mid-1980s and there was a pivotal community issue about bridging or submerging train tracks or a major road, a number of alternatives were being looked at, to alleviate what were consistent traffic snarls due to freight trains and automobiles both vying for access to downtown. Click here for one of the flyover proposals.

Patrick Murphy raises $500K for re-election campaign for 4th straight quarter - SaintPetersBlog

Congressman Murphy is doing well in the fundraising effort for his re-election campaign. His race, where he beat Allen West, turned out to be the most expensive of any Congressional race in the nation. Click title for link to SaintPetersBlog article. Here is a bit:
“The support for Congressman Murphy this past year shows that the American people were fed up with the partisan bickering and ‘my way or the highway’ approach taken by party extremists,” said Murphy’s finance  director Mandi Karp.  “His constituents continue to support his independent thinking in Congress and dedication to serving the residents of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches.”

Independents approach GOP’s voter registration totals in Palm... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Perhaps the smaller rise in Republican voter registrations to Democrat registrations in Palm Beach County is due to some slavish devotion demonstrated by a local blogger to someone like former Congressman Allen West? Who knows. But it is an interesting assessment and report on where things stand right now in our County. Click title for link.
As of Friday, Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher’s office reported 250,947 registered Republicans in Palm Beach County — only a smidgen more than the 249,729 voters registered with minor parties or no party affiliation. Countywide Democratic registrations totalled 392,623.
The number of voters who aren’t signed up with a major party increased 5.4 percent in the county during 2013, while Republican registrations increased only 0.6 percent during the year. Palm Beach County Democratic registrations increased 1.1 percent in 2013.

Par 3 golf clubhouse opening to be ‘historic’ | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

Do you think this $3.1 million building will have the problems that we have with the Casino building? Maybe someone should wander over there and look at the kind of materials used in the their construction. It might be handy information if the city gets to the point of suing for use of inferior materials. The architect for this project was Smith and Moore. The builder was Hedrick Brothers. Click title for link to article.
“It’s a historic occasion for the town,” Boodheshwar said. “The story behind the new building is something so unique and so telling of Palm Beach, we want people to experience this with us and have the opportunity to see the new clubhouse. We encourage anyone who wants to have dinner that night to make a reservation. Anyone who wants to eat there in the next couple of months should make reservations, because we really expect it to be very busy.”
The 154-seat restaurant, on the second floor of the Key West-style building, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes indoor and covered outdoor seating.
The pro shop will move into the first floor of the clubhouse. The balconies on the second-floor restaurant provide spectacular views all around, Boodheshwar said. Arlene Desiderio, owner of the clubhouse’s Al Fresco restaurant and bar, also owns Pizza al Fresco and Renato’s.
And what is happening with the empty second floor space? 

Ex-GOP power broker Jim Greer now on work release, selling recliners for $8 an hour - SaintPetersBlog

This was a significant fall from grace for a high-flyer in the Florida ranks of the GOP. It sounds like he is doing well, considering the circumstance. Click title for link to a SaintPetersBlog article.
With seven months left on his prison sentence for stealing $125,000 Republican Party of Florida, Greer is working at a local furniture store for $8 per hour plus commission, reports Rene Stutzman of the Orlando Sentinel.
It was a significant fall from grace, from prominent Tallahassee power broker to convicted criminal.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Latest update on the current controversy swirling through our downtown area...or the Facebook post that won't go away

A Look at 10 Historic Sites Saved, 10 Lost in 2013 - ABC News

Click title for link to an informative list put out by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They used to issue an "11 Most Endangered" list each year as it related to historically important properties that were under threat of destruction or demolition of some kind. I believe they have gotten away from that program and instead are issuing lists such as this to highlight properties saved and those that have met a more sorry fate.

Fight over citrus canker payments may resume - Sun Sentinel

My tangerine tree received the telltale white spray mark around the base of its trunk. That's how far state workers got before the program was abandoned sometime back in 2006 or so. I remember them coming on my property unannounced leaving leaflets on my door about how any citrus I had was doomed. Seven years later, I can report that the tangerine tree is still alive and well and this year pushed out a solid crop of tangerines. According to this story, click title for link, others weren't as lucky and are still seeking compensation from the state. There is also talk about reviving the program.
From 2000 to 2006, Agriculture Department crews roamed Florida neighborhoods and cut down trees found within 1,900 feet of infected ones, in an attempt to halt a disease that threatened some of the state's most economically significant crops. But homeowners fought back in court, saying their private property was being sacrificed to protect a powerful agricultural interest. They won injunctions that temporarily shut down the chain saws and went to court to win compensation for trees that had been destroyed.

Editorial: PBC now has chance to figure out need for spring... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

County Commissioner Hal Valeche has a chance at calming the waters and getting information out to those that would be impacted by the baseball stadium, as well as keep looking for appropriate sites. The Post concludes in this editorial that the entire issue was not handled well by the Palm Beach Gardens city commission. Click title for link.

But the Gardens City Council largely mishandled the proposal almost from the beginning; for months, giving the impression it was hiding something before bowing to public — and political — pressure and handing it off to the county.
Now, Valeche has a chance to do it right.
While that doesn’t mean that a stadium won’t land back in Palm Beach Gardens, there is at least the opportunity now to ask and fully vet such important questions as: Does the stadium complex really need to be two teams?

Antique Row among Top 10 tourist shopping draws | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

West Palm's Antique Row is mentioned in the same breath as Palm Beach being a shopping destination for tourists. And, according to this Palm Beach Post article, tourism is up for the area and West Palm Beach is one of the top cities for travelers. What would it take for Lake Worth to contribute to the draw? The Cottages group is a good start, but what about tumbleweed-ready North Dixie Hwy? Adventure consumerism at World Thrift? Click title for link to article.
To be accurate, Palm Beach was the tony location that made the list. And Worth Avenue was clearly the top draw for the 80,000 people who voted in the survey. But Conde Nast’s Traveler website explained that West Palm Beach’s Antique Row Art and Design District helped bring in those on a budget and those ready to splurge.

A new attitude | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

Editorial from the Shiny Sheet, about challengers for Palm Beach Town Council positions. They see it as a good thing and a natural part of the political process, which it generally is. Click title for link. Here is how the sum up their position.
Each of the announced hopefuls cited strife on the council as motivation for running. The reasons ranged from a noticeably terse tone that some board members had taken toward the public, to overly complicating issues, to discord between the board and some citizen factions.
Whether such statements ring true or are just campaign posturing is up to voters to decide. Regardless, the number of challengers makes it clear that residents are not as satisfied with the town’s elected officials as they used to be.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

From Larry and the Flashlights...seems like part of the light shows that Ms. McGiveron has a "potty key" problem...

The following is a message left on Lynn Andersen's blog by Katie McGiveron on Friday, January 3, of this new year. She was upset about Scott Maxwell's  appearance on Channel 12 in a story from reporter Michael Buczyner on the second of January. Her advice to Commissioner Scott Maxwell is as follows:

Katie McGiveron writes: "Jesus Fuc$ing CHRIST!!! A message to Scott and the rest of the walking brain-dead on the Commission- SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT HOW GODDAMNED BAD LAKE WORTH IS !!!! If the press wants to pump you for ratings, politely REFUSE to give an interview!! Unless you can show Lake Worth in a positive light SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTHS !! Katie Mcgiveron"

Well, we thought it would be interesting to go back through Lynn Andersen's blog and find some examples of Katie McGiveron writing about Lake Worth "in a positive light." 

Here are just a few: 

On March 6, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote on Andersen's blog: "Mike Bornstein, William Waters, Pam Triolo, Andy Amoroso, John Zerti, Scott Maxwel, I, Katie Mcgiveron, am TOTALLY embarrassed for you. And for the rest of the citizens out there, keep trying to keep our city a great place to live, in spite of these disappointing people who are supposed to be our city staff and elected officials."

On March 13, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Greg, your side lied through their teeth, mooned the law and had the Palm Beach Post and the Lake Worth Herald performing for you like blind circus monkeys. You didn't have the balls to say 'Hey,we think that 65 feet would be better for our city than 45 and 35 feet in this area.' Thank God for HONEST, TRUTHFUL blogs like this one. People, we need a Commission that listens to the majority here in Lake Worth, not Greg Rice and his small and depressing band of bullshit slingers. Katie Mcgiveron"

On March 18, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Chip [Guthrie], you and Mary [Lindsey] and Greg [Rice] and Loretta [Sharpe] and Wes [Blackman] and Herman [Robinson], all of your supporters and your people are true bullshit slingers. You are common liars. You are law breakers. You should be ashamed, but you have no conscience. You managed to confuse a lot of people. What a low group you all are. No pun intended. Katie Mcgiveron"

On March 19, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Chip [Guthrie] - I have no intention of showing the NO supporters any respect. Why should I? Why should anyone ? When the NO supporters run an honest campaign on the merits of their beliefs, then you will have earned respect. Until then, go bite each other. You suck. Katie Mcgiveron" 

On June 16, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "This is willful neglect. This Commission has a lot to answer for. Hundreds of thousands spent to fix this pool [Lake Worth Casino pool] when it didn't need to be fixed! The abuse is criminal. The lies surrounding this pool are monumental.I will be speaking to this at the next Commission meeting. Come join me, if anybody else out there even gives a damn. Katie Mcgiveron"

On June 19, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "As for 'doing good', rattling your cage is enough good done for one day. Your irritation makes me smile. Katie Mcgiveron"

On November 8, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "I am sick to death of the city of Lake Worth being allowed to look like a homeless camp. I don't see homeless panhandlers on the corner of Worth Avenue and Ocean. I don't see bums huddled asleep in any of the Vias in Palm Beach. 
Bradshaw needs to be kicked out on his worthless ass. Enough. Katie Mcgiveron"

Mind you, this is just a tiny sample of Katie McGiveron and painting Lake Worth "in a positive light." Note in order she attacks: Commissioner Scott Maxwell, City Manager Michael Bornstein, William Waters, Mayor Pam Triolo, Commissioner Andy Amoroso, Commissioner John Szerdi, Greg Rice, Loretta Sharpe, Wes Blackman, Herman Robinson.....

There is much, much more. Too much for right now. 

Except for this enlightening bit from Lynn Andersen herself, her character analysis of Katie McGiveron:

On November 8, 2013 Lynn Andersen said, "I do want to say this--Katie is NOT bitter in any way. She expresses her opinions and does so matter of factly. She is a happy, go lucky gal who is serious on LW issues and speaks out."

We beg to differ on your analysis, Lynn. 

WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Top Stories - Lake Worth officials share city's plan to clean up nuisance properties

Another Channel 12 story, this time on Lake Worth's vacant and foreclosed houses, code enforcement issues and the plan ahead. Vice Mayor Maxwell is featured. Click title for link.

WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Top Stories - Heroin addicts flood Delray

Something that I am sure Delray Beach does not want to be known for. There have been 20 heroin overdoses in Delray Beach over the past month. Click title for link to story and video.

Editorial: Southeast Florida must head off effects of climate... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz reminds us of the impacts of climate change that we can expect to experience in south Florida. The Seven50 planning process is wrapping up, and no, it is not part of Agenda 21, or Area 51. From the editorial:
On Jan. 15, the last Seven50 meeting will take place in Fort Lauderdale. Seven50 began as an effort by the seven counties from Indian River through Monroe to plan as a region for the next 50 years, financed with money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local grants. Issues include transportation, economic development and climate change, building off the plan crafted in October 2012 as part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

Florida sugar companies now have a global presence | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Just how large is big sugar? Click title for link to article which talks about how sugar has expanded here in western Palm Beach county and what a big player it is.
ASR, founded in 1998 as American Sugar Refining Inc., is jointly owned by the cooperative’s 46 growers and West Palm Beach-based Florida Crystals Corp, owned by the Fanjul family of Palm Beach. ASR’s goal was to begin the large-scale refining of their raw sugar.
Today, following a series of acquisitions, the company annually ships more than 4 million tons of sugar packaged under some of the world’s best-known brands to customers in 80 countries. Its revenues are more than $5 billion a year, and it has close to 4,000 employees worldwide.

Leader of Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass Hurt in Bicycling Accident

Stories like this alarm me. The person hit was the "head" of a group of people who are promoting cycling in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Click title for link to New Times article.
When Adam Sohn came upon an accident scene on Oakland Park Boulevard yesterday afternoon, he saw a messed-up bicycle and an injured man on the ground. He took a few pictures and posted them to the Facebook page for Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass -- a movement of cyclists who get together for a group bike ride once a month in protest of car culture and in celebration of bikes.

Florida’s mangroves are making a move north - Environment - MiamiHerald.com

There are many changes taking place due to the effects of climate change and this is one of them. We are witnessing some significant differences in how things were in the natural world. Some are benign, some are not. Click title for link.
From South Florida to St. Augustine, mangroves are making moves up Florida’s Atlantic coast, chewing up salt marshes in the latest indicator of global climate change. But scientists say the ecological consequences may not be harmful.“There are plenty of examples of climate change having a negative impact, but this is something very different,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “Here we have one important, highly productive coastal system — in this case, salt marshes — being replaced by another very important, highly productive coastal system — mangroves.

The Army Corps of Engineers evaluating proposal to deepen Intracoastal Waterway in Riviera Beach

Plans are moving forward to dredge the area around the Palm Beach inlet, Peanut Island and the Port of Palm Beach. We should know more later this year. This could affect the size of yachts that can visit the Rybovich marina. Click title for link to article.
 Boatyards like Rybovich support the plan to dredge because mega yachts are getting bigger and bigger and some of the world's largest cannot fit into the boatyards because the Intracoastal Waterway isn't deep enough.
"There are occasions now we have to turn people away because they don't have the draft to make it," Jason Sprague with Rybovich Boat Co. said.
Three hundred employees work at Rybovich now. If the Intracoastal is deepened to accommodate the larger yachts, Sprague estimates the company could hire as many as 300 more employees.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Re-Post for some reason this post is getting a lot of attention right now: EXCLUSIVE: This just in from German TV...

Thomas A. Bogar, Author and Historian 01/03 by High Noon in Lake Worth | History Podcasts

Join your host Wes Blackman as he welcomes Thomas Bogar to the High Noon in Lake Worth studios.Dr. Bogar has taught theatre history, dramatic literature, and theatrical production for forty years, most recently at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and directed over seventy theatrical productions. He holds a Ph.D. in theatre history/literature/criticism from Louisiana State University, an M.A. in play directing, and a B.A. in educational theatre, both from the University of Maryland.
In addition to Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination (Regnery History 2013), he is the author of American Presidents Attend the Theatre (McFarland, 2006) and a biography of 19th-century actor-manager John E. Owens (McFarland, 2002). His writing has appeared in Washington History, Maryland Historical Magazine, Teaching Theatre, and Music Educators Journal.
He is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships and served as a judge for Washington's Helen Hayes Theatre Awards. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Wes saw his talk on C-Span and is lucky to have secured his appearance on the show. Click title for link to live show between 12 and 1 p.m. on Friday, or after the show airs for the archived show. Leave questions as comments below.

Here are some images he shared from the book.
Cover of his book.

Ford Theater draped in black after the assassination.

John T. Ford, owner of the theater.

John Wilkes Booth

Candidate bolsters campaign with social media | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

A Town Council candidate in Palm Beach pledges to use social media as part of her campaign. Funny that the Shiny Sheet thinks this deserves an article about it as use of social media in campaigns is commonplace. But apparently not in Palm Beach. It sounds like she is going to let the "help" take care of the details. Click title for link to article.
“I’m using social media because I really think there are important issues in our campaign, and I’ve been a teacher and I realize how important it is that everyone gets the information,” she said. “I’m going to use every avenue to give people access to information, and social media is one of them.”
Townsend said she is “not a social media person” and has hired someone to help her manage the accounts. “It’s my thinking, my point of view, and their technical expertise,” she said. “I control content.”
Maybe it's because they haven't had a municipal election since 2010? I do applaud her efforts.

2014 forecast: A hot year in Florida politics | The Florida Current

This is a great layout of Florida's political year ahead - 2014. It is a month-by-month countdown of the major events that will be taking place in our state's representative democracy. Click title for link to article. Here is one from March about Governor Scott's State of the State speech.
March 4: The 60-day session of the Legislature begins. Gov. Scott will deliver his “State of the State” speech outlining his top priorities. Expect plenty of positive economic statistics and no shortage of jabs at his predecessor. The main question for everyone involved in the legislative process, however, will be how far Scott is prepared to push his priorities in an election year. That includes how much he will personally lobby lawmakers -- something he has been reticent to do and has had mixed success at best when he has tried. The advent of session also puts lawmakers' fundraising on hold, while their opponents can continue their efforts.

Are municipal Facebook pages subject to Public Records Law? | MAOS by Chaz Stevens

Chaz Stevens posts an advisory Attorney General legal opinion on Facebook and other social media. It relates to the state's public records law and if government agencies that have a presence on these outlets are subject to the open records and meetings (Sunshine) laws. The simple answer is yes, but it can get a little complicated, as the lengthy opinion suggests. This item from the end of the 2009 letter could apply to this blog as I am an appointed member of an advisory board. I can opine here, but I am careful not to talk about things that will foreseeably come before the Historic Resource Preservation Board - and certainly not with other board members. Click title for link. This is the part that I am referring to:
“While there is no statutory prohibition against a city council member posting comments on a privately maintained electronic bulletin board or blog, . . . members of the board or commission must not engage in an exchange or discussion of matters that foreseeably will come before the board or commission for official action. The use of such an electronic means of posting one’s comments and the inherent availability of other participants or contributors to act as liaisons would create an environment that could easily become a forum for members of a board or commission to discuss official issues which should most appropriately be conducted at a public meeting in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Law. It would be incumbent upon the commission members to avoid any action that could be construed as an attempt to evade the requirements of the law.”

Guns, gators, Festivus part of Fla.'s weird year | TheLedger.com

MUST READ! Chaz Stevens' Festivus Pole makes the list, but I lost count of the strange encounters and happenings after the second page. Life is interesting in these here parts. Click title for link. This is just from the end of the article of oddball things taking place in 2013.
An 18-year-old man was charged with battery after giving people wedgies outside a Bradenton movie theater.
A Tampa-area woman was banned from swimming in her community pool in her blue, silicone mermaid tail.
A woman running for North Miami mayor claimed in campaign literature that she was endorsed by Jesus Christ.
And a celebration of Jesus with a nativity scene at the Capitol opened the doors to displays by others who don't believe in him, including a 6-foot-tall Festivus pole made out of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans.

Everglades refuge stalled at 10 acres but expected to grow - Sun Sentinel

The U.S. government is slow in assembling conservation land to protect areas that feed the Everglades system. Easements are possible over privately owned land. They are less costly, allow for continued agricultural use, but do not allow public access. It is important to note what is considered the "headwaters of the Everglades" as indicated in the article. Click title for link.
The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge was billed with much fanfare as a federal rescue of an imperiled environmental treasure in Florida. Drawn across Osceola, Polk, Okeechobee and Highlands counties, the refuge would target 50,000 acres for outright purchase and an additional 100,000 acres for partial ownership."This is a long-term commitment to the resource and to the landscape," said refuge manager Charlie Pelizza recently, commenting much as he did two years ago. "We don't expect it to happen in one year, five years or 10 years."The refuge may eventually reach Metro Orlando by taking in 10,000 acres of prairie, woods and wetlands just south of the Orange County line in Osceola County.The entire 150,000-acre mosaic of properties that federal officials want to acquire could cost more than a half-billion dollars.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Click here for Susan Stanton's updated bio as Greenfield, California's City Manager

Note that while in Largo, she says that "she successfully created a professional team orientated environment..."  If you are going to use that term, you really want to use the word "oriented", which is actually a word. It also says that while in Lake Worth, "she was tasked to fix the City's broken management systems and restore the financial stability and accountability."

Good luck Greenfield!

115 New Condos Unsold In Downtown West Palm Beach From Crash Of 2007

Those residential towers in West Palm Beach are not as empty as they seem. Notice that this article, which comes from the real estate sales side of the development industry, doesn't even mention Lake Worth. And it shouldn't. For all the screams of "over-development" we heard doing the boom period now some 10 years ago, we really didn't add that many residential units. In fact, we may have lost a net number of units due to foreclosures and some of our continued vacant structures. And, guess what, 11 more residential towers are planned for downtown West Palm Beach. Haven't heard of anything new planned for Lake Worth's downtown area, other than previously approved projects. I wonder why?
In the third quarter of 2013, buyers acquired nearly 100 condo units on the resale market at an average price of less than $125 per square foot in Downtown West Palm Beach, according to data from the Florida Realtors association.
As the developer unit inventory shrinks, at least 11 new condo towers with more than 1,800 units have been proposed in the Downtown West Palm Beach area as of December 23, 2013, according to the Preconstruction Condo Projects Database™ compiled by the licensed Florida brokerage CVR Realty™.
Overall, more than 180 condo towers with nearly 24,700 units have been proposed for the tricounty South Florida region of coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach as of December 23, 2013, according to the Cranespotters.com.

Charlie Crist Won’t Be the Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee | Sunshine State News

After reading this, it leaves little doubt about the sorry state of the farm system for the Democratic party here in Florida. Why are we left with these sorts of choices? Click title for link to an op-ed piece on the topic.
No, Bill Nelson will jump in because the party’s only chance of having a competitive campaign against this governor is if the senator is the nominee. Otherwise, it will just be a host of television commercials with Charlie talking when he was a Republican, contrasted to what Charlie is saying now that he’s a supposed Democrat.
The Republicans won’t have to say anything; they’ll just let Charlie do the talking against himself.

Commentary: 2013 showcased ‘bright future’ of newspaper industry | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

All is not lost, according to the CEO of the Newspaper Association of America. I am sure that she still has sleepless nights and I am not sure that all is so rosy across the entire industry. But it is an interesting perspective from an industry insider. Click title for link.
Our audience has grown with the shifting digital landscape, and we’re seeing increased levels of audience engagement and new avenues of consumption. We made the first gain in circulation revenue since 2003, with revenue rising by 5 percent – from $10 billion to $10.5 billion – as digital subscriptions grew dramatically.

Cities learned to do more with less during recession | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

A commendable review of how many of the counties 38 municipalities suffered during the Great Recession by Kevin Thompson of the Post. Many municipalities kept their trucks and other vehicles longer, as well as cutting staff levels. City Manager Bornstein in quoted twice in the article. This is one of them. Click title for link.
The recession hit Lake Worth particularly hard because the city had so many problems before the economic downturn, said City Manager Michael Bornstein.
The city’s streets, sidewalks and drainage were literally falling apart, Bornstein said. “Nobody’s going to invest in the city if the roads are falling apart,” he said. “Do the meat and potatoes first before you do something fancy. Fix the roof that’s leaking before you go out and buy a Lexus to put in front of your house. We’re in our 100th year, but it’s almost as if we’re rebooting and starting over.”
The beach project is really Lake Worth's "Lexus" parked on our oceanfront. 

Caucus marks start of first election season since 2010 | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

The Town of Palm Beach will have contested seats for its Town Council election this year. The Town has a quaint "caucus" process that is described in the article where and how the actual nominations take place. Many times attendees appear in formal attire since the affair happens during the evening and people are usually rushing off to some social event after the event, or coming from one before. Click title for link.

More on drones or UAS in Florida...

Check out this video, around 10 minutes long, on the variety of applications available for "drone" aircraft. Those in the industry don't like the "drone" moniker. They prefer "unmanned aerial systems" or UAS. Click here for a piece on how the Space Coast is still going after the industry, even though they lost out on being a federal testing location.

Port officials begin effort to prepare for dredging | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com

More attention and money being lavished on Florida port facilities, with the state's assistance. Click title for link to article.
“With our large acreages from Georgia through Florida and our granite, sand and timber holdings, we have an even greater interest in the revitalization of the Port of Port St. Joe as we discuss the potential of having a port that accommodates heavy bulk cargo operational by the end of 2014 combined with the understood commitment from the state of Florida to build railroad access,” said Brenda L. Thueson, trustee of the foundation, in a statement.

Santiago Calatrava to Face Legal Action as Valencia's "White Elephant" Opera House Falls Apart | Inhabitat

This is what happens when a new building starts falling apart due to design and construction defects. The audaciously designed building might be interesting to look at and create a destination for the community. But when there are water problems, the roof starts blowing away and 150 seats were built with obstructed views, people rightly get a little upset.

Anyone know the status of the casino building repairs, punchlist, corrosion and water issues? Click title for link to story and slideshow.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

From the intersection of 2013 and 2014 on Columbia Drive

January (ANNUAL) Meeting of the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool

I hope this finds you well.  I am writing to personally ask each of you to attend the January 4, 2014 Annual Membership Meeting for the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool.  The meeting will be held at the Lake Worth Pool at 9 AM.  Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

The meeting is important both for the future of the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool and its underlying mission of supporting water safety education and use of the Lake Worth Pool.  We will also be electing new officers for 2014.

PLEASE make a point to attend the meeting and help us start 2014 off on the right note.  Your participation, energy and ideas are greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Keiran

Florida laws taking affect [sic] in 2014: foster care, natural gas, sex trafficking and elections - SaintPetersBlog

A good review of some of the laws taking effect today in Florida. One includes incentives for the use of natural gas vehicles. Check out the post in the SaintPetersBlog by clicking the link. From the article:
HB 579: Establishes a five-year state fuel-tax exemption for natural gas, as an incentive for companies to expand use of natural gas vehicles. Also creates a fuel-tax framework for natural gas by 2019 that is similar to those for diesel fuel.
“This legislation will pave the way for the increased use of natural gas; spurring economic growth, reducing our dependency on foreign oil, and providing a cleaner burning source of fuel,” Sen. Wilton Simpson, who sponsored the bill, said in April.

Florida Loses Out on FAA Drone Testing In Latest Blow to Kennedy Space Center | FlaglerLive – Your News Service for Flagler County News Palm Coast News Bunnell Flagler Beach Beverly Beach and Marineland

Drone technology is fascinating and scary at the same time. I see by the article that Florida limited the ability of law enforcement to use the drones as surveillance devices in most cases. I understand that today it is illegal in the state of Illinois to fly a drone. So, it seems that the states will have a variety of confusing laws about what you can do with drones in the future and whether you can operate them in the first place. The decision is unfortunate for Florida's Space Coast as they are looking to fill the economic gap left by termination of the Space Shuttle program. Click title for link to article.

Letters: Electric car owner didn’t think it through | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

No, he didn't think through the fact that he was part of a condominium association. Oh, well. Click title for link to letter, but it states the obvious. That is one of the good things about living outside a formal condo or homeowners association. Those are the kind where there are significant dues and common areas and you just can't do everything you want. 

I remember going back more than 20 years ago, I visited the "Bluffs" development in Jupiter for a party. It is a very large condominium building near the water. As I remember it, all the units were facing a central parking area and could see the entire area from their walkway next to their unit. I had backed into my parking space. After being at the party for about 2 or 3 hours, I went out to my car and there was a slip placed on the windshield wiper referring to chapter and verse in the association's rules stating that backing into a parking space is not allowed and that this would be the final warning. My next infraction would get the vehicle towed at my expense. 

Historic West Palm Beach trolley tours resume Jan. 10 | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

If you haven't been on one of these, you should go one one during the new year. Eventually the Lake Worth Cottages group hopes to have similar offerings. Click title for reminder by Eliot Kleinberg.

Year in Review: PortMiami tunnel sees light of day - South Florida Business Journal

An update about the PortMiami tunnel, a huge project undertaken in advance of the Panama Canal widening. Don't forget to check out the slideshow after you click title for link. From the article:
When the tunnel opens, over 4,000 trucks trips daily will bypass the urban arteries and exit Interstate 395 directly to the port.
The tunnel is part of a high-stakes competition between ports on the East Coast to capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Another important project started below the waterline in November as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed dredging of the shipping channels began. By deepening the channel to 52 feet from 44, it could welcome the massive post-Panamax ships. The port unwrapped four 25-story cranes in October especially for these massive vessels.

Happy New Year 2014