Tuesday, October 7, 2014

From a few Commission meetings ago...

From across the border...

The former International House of Pancakes is now demolished. This is just on the other side of the C-51 canal. There are big plans for this area that call for a more accessible and enjoyable waterfront. I think the demolition now was really to get rid of an attractive nuisance.
This is how the city of West Palm Beach is announcing the event on their website.


Some signs of progress west of I-95

These were taken yesterday.




Boynton could be first city to sign agreement with All Aboard...

A similar agreement should be coming across our City Commission dais shortly. Boynton Beach claims that it will add an additional $5,000 per year in maintenance to abide by the agreement. The item is on their consent agenda. Click title for link.
Boynton Beach could become the first local government in Palm Beach County to approve a contentious railroad crossing agreement with All Aboard Florida that details who is responsible for paying for safety upgrades and future maintenance requirements at intersections where the roadway crosses the train tracks.
City Commissioners are expected to vote on the two-page agreement at a meeting today. The item appears on the board’s consent agenda, where it is bunched with other items that can be approved together without discussion.
Local governments from Palm Beach County to the Treasure Coast have balked at the crossing agreements, questioning the potential costs and lawfulness of the contracts.

Two years late on mortgage? No problem with new program | Real Time

This might help some people in Lake Worth as they clear up the foreclosure process on their property. Some of these long-term foreclosures can turn into what are called "zombie homes." People who own the property walk away and the bank chooses not to complete the foreclosure process. The property reverts back to the former owner, who may or may not know they still own the property. Click title for link.

A letter to lenders sent Wednesday says they must reevaluate any borrower who was previously turned down for a modification because of 720-day cap.
The streamlined modification plan was developed because of consistent complaints from borrowers that banks repeatedly lose loan modification paperwork in a bureaucratic process that can take years to complete.
Although no paperwork is required to get the streamlined modification, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will try to screen out people who can still afford their mortgage but stop paying so they can qualify. According to a press release, the two mortgage backers have “proprietary screening measures,” which could include checking whether other bills are being paid on time or credit changes.

Big news about the Herbert Hoover Dike...

I came across a must read article in News-Press.com. Living in Florida we are warned daily of environmental threats to our way of life. These include effects from climate change, rising sea levels, saltwater infiltration of our drinking water wells, diminishing natural habitat, over-development and on and on it goes. We hear this regularly from experts at the Sierra Club, the 1000 Friends of Florida, the South Florida Wildlands Assoc., and thousands of others warning of dire consequences if we don't ACT NOW on one particular matter or another. And for the most part they are right. But they tend to overlook a developing hazard.

In the following excerpts from the article, you'll read some truly disturbing news about the Herbert Hoover Dike. That dike is what keeps Lake Okeechobee contained. Hopefully this news will cut through the din of environmentalist gloom and doom and focus on the immediate threat to our way of life in South Florida. According to The Army Corps of Engineers, Lloyd's of London, the South Florida Water Management District, Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center, and many others the most immediate threat is the collapse of the Herbert Hoover Dike.

Two excerpts from the article by Chad Gillis:
Thousands dead. Billions of dollars in damages. Years of rebuilding. Irreversible damages to the Everglades and drinking water aquifers.
It may sound like a trailer for a sci-fi movie, but those phrases were taken from state and federal agency reports, university findings and insurance risk assessments to describe the Herbert Hoover Dike, a 143-mile earthen dam that's been eroding for the last half century.
[And later in the article]
The report [from Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center] goes on to say that making the dike truly safe would likely cost more than the Army Corps of Engineers entire budget for projects across the nation, which was $4.7 billion in 2013. Billions of dollars in Everglades restoration could be lost in one event, which could also damage drinking water aquifers and cause irreversible harm to Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.
It's not just engineers and nearby residents who are concerned. Lloyd's of London issued a firm warning to companies that insure homes and property in South Florida.
"The dike was built from uncompacted earth, made up of naturally porous materials such as peat, gravel, sand and shell and is therefore prone to leaks," Lloyd's forecasters wrote. "Since the construction of the dike, the land outside of the dike has been eroding, particularly on the south side of the lake."
Willadson said the threats are real, and that the Corps works with other federal agencies to plan for worst-cast scenarios — which would likely be a major hurricane hitting Okeechobee.
"I know there's higher level of coordination, because we do have issues with regards to a breach," he said. "Damages would be rather significant."

See which four roads Lake Worth has found the money to pave

Click title for link to an article by Chris Persaud regarding items on tonight's City Commission agenda. We might be saying good-bye to another lawsuit! Here is what the headline refers to:
Three of the roads are in southwest Lake Worth, where some streets never have been paved.
Even though a $63.5 million road-fixing bond issue was narrowly defeated Aug. 26, the city still has grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to do some repair work. That money sat unspent for years, City Manager Mike Bornstein has said.
Tenth Avenue South would get a paved road for the first time between A and E streets. Up till now, it’s been a dirt road. Roadwork would finish by the end of March.
Ninth Avenue South would go from dirt road to greenway: a walking path with plants and grass between B and F streets. Roadwork would finish by the end of April.
Seventh Avenue South would get repaved between A and F streets. The commission hasn’t yet said when roadwork would finish.
Fifth Avenue North would get turned into a greenway between A and C streets. Roadwork would finish by the end of June.

Monday, October 6, 2014

The Villages at Lake Worth - Model Open by November!

The leasing office is now open in the commercial facility (office/warehouse) on the north side of 2nd Avenue North. Here is a view from that property's western driveway.
This is their flier they are giving prospective renters. We saw a few leave with the information while we were there.
Here are the floor plans with the associated rents written in pencil.



Palm Beach County and Partners Hosting LagoonFest November 1

For immediate release: October 6, 2014
Contact: Jacey Biery (561) 233-2461, jbiery@pbcgov.org

Palm Beach County and its partners in the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative invite the public to discover a local treasure – Lake Worth Lagoon – at LagoonFest. This inaugural celebration will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. next to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket on South Flagler Drive along the downtown waterfront.

The free, family-friendly festival will showcase the many “faces” of the lagoon, raising awareness of its environmental, recreational and economic value. Visitors of all ages can uncover the lagoon’s connection to their lives through hands-on exhibits, wildlife viewing, children’s activities, water sports and more. Planned highlights of the event include a mock manatee rescue, a presentation by Busch Wildlife Sanctuary featuring wildlife native to the lagoon, and naturalist-led eco-tours by water taxi and kayaks. The reggae band Future Prezidents will perform.

Approximately 20 miles long and a half-mile wide, Lake Worth Lagoon is the county’s largest estuary and is home to a variety of life, including fish, birds, manatees and sea turtles.

For more information about LagoonFest, please visit www.LWLI.org/LagoonFest or contact the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) at 561-233-2400. For more information about the lagoon and the initiative, visit www.LWLI.org.

LagoonFest is a collaboration among Palm Beach County, the South Florida Water Management District and other Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative partners in conjunction with the city of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach GreenMarket. Sponsors include Florida Power & Light Company, Southern Waste Systems, Florida Inland Navigation District, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc., Port of Palm Beach, Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Coastal Angler Magazine, Visit Palm Beach, and Captain Joe’s Water Taxi.

Yours truly's ears are burning...

This is the source meaning of that phrase:
Ears are burning, one's - one is being talked about. A tingling or burning sensation in the ears supposedly means that a person is being discussed by others. The origin of this belief goes back to Roman times when augurs (see Under the auspices of) paid particular attention to such signs. Pliny wrote: 'It is acknowledged that the absent feel a presentiment of remarks about themselves by the ringing of their ears' (Naturalis Historia, AD 77). The ancient belief that the left signifies evil and the right good applies here also. Both Plautus and Pliny held that if a person's right ear burns then he is being praised, but a burning left ear indicates that he is the subject of evil intent. English literature, from Chaucer to Dickens, abounds with references to burning ears.
According to ancient belief, other unexpected bodily twitches and sensations also warn of events to come, among them the eye and the thumb. A flickering right eye, for instance, indicates that a friend will visit or that something longed for will soon be seen, and a pricking in one's left thumb warns of an evil event.
There is a thread on Robert Waples' own Facebook page of which others have made me aware. You see, Mr. Waples has chosen to block me on Facebook, so I can see nothing he posts and can see nothing on his page. There has been no direct communication from Mr. Waples about any actions which are being attributed to me that are contributing to his angst. Likewise, there has been no communication between his stablemates Mrs. McGiveron or Ms. Anderson. Apparently, such grievance stems from this post from September 18th on this blog.

Instead of contacting me with correct information, if indeed any information I posted was incorrect, Mr. Waples has chosen to hide behind a cyberwall and make accusations about my behavior about which I cannot reply to since I am unable to see them. Others have sent incremental versions of what is being said and it boils down to the nonsensical. Which is the likely reason that the accuser does not want to face the accused.

It also gives an opportunity, apparently, for Mrs. McGiveron to voice her sentiments about my right to freedom of speech and general disgust about how the city is being run. Here is a sample:
So, how can the accused change behavior if he knows not that of which he is accused? And, to be clear, any of my writings and postings here are from a private citizen, are independently my own and not representative of any other group or affiliation.

I suggest that should anyone have a problem in which I may have a part in solving that problem, it is best to contact me directly and not talk about it incessantly out of sight of the implicated.

Coming to the Lake Worth Public Library 10/16!


Acts 25:16 NIV

"I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges."

Compass: This coming Saturday 10/11


Rev. Lee M. Sapp

"Your willingness to forgive should not be dependent on the other person feeling sorry."

Deerfield Beach Mayor Engaged in "Ethical Misconduct," OIG Report Says

Chaz Stevens' work calls out Deerfield Beach Mayor Jean Robb in a Broward County Office of Inspector General Report. Click title for link.

Today is the last day to register to VOTE in the November 4 General Election CLICK HERE to register, it's quick and easy!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

WPB Commissioner Shanon Materio in the Post editorial page tomorrow as Commentary on AAF

Click title for link. Here are some snippets:
Perhaps it is from my perspective as a member of the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Council (MPO) that makes it difficult for me to understand the recent debate among some of the cities in Palm Beach County whether to support the All Aboard Florida passenger rail project.
The comments seem to surround answering the general question of determining the direct benefit to a particular city. That in fact is what we do on the MPO. We decide how to spend tens of millions of public tax dollars for transportation projects that will not only help a particular local government but will enhance the overall transportation grid within Palm Beach County as a whole.
Most projects don’t directly help my city of West Palm Beach. However, everyone on the MPO realizes that better roads, better mass transit, better turning lanes and beautified roadways, no matter in what city they are located, work to make all of Palm Beach County and our collective quality of life better for everyone.
[Later...]
On the MPO, we measure the public dollar cost against the overall public benefit. If the public benefit to Palm Beach County is greater than the cost, we all support the project no matter if one city might benefit more than another. In this case, the benefits of intercity passenger rail and the future infrastructure it will bring, allowing more commuter rail service on the FEC throughout Palm Beach County, far outweigh the cost to the public.

Redux item on the next City Commission agenda...

Next Tuesday, October 7, there is a very interesting item concerning the Casino and Pool complex. You'll find it on page 26 here of the city's agenda.
I wasn't able to attend the last commission meeting but did hear that Commissioner McVoy is interested in being selected for the city commission "evaluation" position. So much so that he made a motion to do so that failed for lack of a second. The whole thing was then rescheduled to be discussed at the next meeting.

Apparently, the other Commissioners are well aware of his role in guiding the current "business plan" for the beach operations and wisely do not consider it a good idea to have one of the people to blame in charge of the fix. Another example of his bumbling would be Commissioner McVoy's bungling of the Planning & Zoning board appointments. So let's just say he should do the smart thing and withdraw from consideration. Realistically, if any commissioner can't manage something as mundane as a city board appointment he shouldn't be the city's liaison on any matter. And you can extend that question to whether or not he really should be a Commissioner much longer.

On October 2nd a reader of my blog who watched the meeting live wrote me and was very concerned. In the comments about the post John Rinaldi further clarified what happened and how he lost his chairmanship of the P&Z board.

This incident leaves me scratching my head about the overall appointment process for board members and if there might not be a better way.

Anyhow, back to the commission liaison and the Casino/Pool complex, this is a positive step forward for the Casino and the Municipal Pool. Past commissions dropped the ball and now our present commission is looking into some steps to make the pool a viable economic entity, instead of being a drag on the city's finances.

Don't forget, one of McVoy's suggestions for the Casino complex was windmills on the beach.

Lest we forget...


From the creative mind of Tom McGow. Notice another blogger acknowledge that is was a "Very unfortunate comment." She now insists that it is misunderstood and taken out of context. Such are things in the Land of Revisionism.

A way to get past the Lake Worth spillway?

Planning work is well underway for this watercraft access project through the C-51 canal. That is the canal that runs along the Lake Worth northern border it shares with West Palm Beach. Spillway Park might be the location of the required boat lift. Click title for link. From the article:
A way for tens of thousands of boaters to get past the spillway of the C-51 Canal, along the West Palm Beach-Lake Worth line, soon could be closer to reality.
For the past year, cities have been studying the idea of a lift over the spillway that would let boaters move from inland freshwater lakes and canals into the Lake Worth Lagoon and on to the Atlantic. Access would be limited to small boats, with low profiles, because of low clearances at bridges and utility lines that run over canals.
The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council began a formal study about six weeks ago, using $30,000 from the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
[Later...]
West Palm Beach Commissioner Shanon Materio, who represents the south end of West Palm Beach and owns a business in Lake Worth, estimates as many as 65,000 people with boats are “upstream” of the spillway, and their only option now is to load their crafts onto a trailer.
“Can you imagine going up and getting access to the Intracoastal Waterway through the chain of lakes?” Lake Clarke Shores Vice Mayor Robert Shalhoub said.

First responders to speak against All Aboard Florida at Jupiter event

Click title for link. It seems that the not-in-my-back-yard mentality still is holding firm from the northern part of of Palm Beach County through the Treasure Coast. It's a little unusual for first responders to be part of this sort of presentation. From the article:
Tequesta Mayor Abby Brennan has said she is concerned about emergency vehicles being delayed by the increase of 32 trains per day on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks. All Aboard Florida is expected to begin service between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2016, with an Orlando leg opening in 2017.
“Because of the way we are surrounded by water, one train can block all three of our crossings,” Brennan said earlier this year. “Our assisted living facilities are all on the east side and we are worried that with all these extra trains ambulances may get stuck waiting.”
All Aboard Florida trains will be shorter than the typical freight train and are expected to pass through crossings in less than one minute. [Emphasis added]
Still, the Town of Jupiter Island  also fears that emergency vehicles will be impeded by the added trains.

Lake Worth building destroyed after catching fire

We saw the smoke from this yesterday. Will try to get pictures of the remains today. Sounds suspicious. Click title for link.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

From Today's Water Aerobics Class at the Lake Worth Pool

Missouri Doctor: ‘It’s Just A Matter Of Time Before [Ebola] Is Carried To Every Corner Of The World’


Click title for link to associated article.

Ethics Commission considers adding fines for frivolous complaints

This is unfortunately necessary as some people fail to see the role of the Ethics Commission and what they were formed to address in the first place. Click title for link to the Sun-Sentinel article.
Imposing penalties for filing frivolous ethics complaints could be one of the enforcement changes considered by Palm Beach County's Ethics Commission.
The Palm Beach County League of Cities on Thursday called for the watchdog board to add a fine or some other cost for people who file ethics complaints against local officials that turn out to be unfounded.
"People can't use this for political purposes," Richard Radcliffe, executive director of the League of Cities, said about frivolous ethics complaints. "We have to come up with some way."
The Ethics Commission has the ability to require the payment of legal fees and other costs associated with a case if it finds an ethics complaint "frivolous," but hasn't done it before, according to according to Ethics Commission Executive Director Steve Cullen.

All Aboard Florida may bring passengers back to Flagler’s rail...

We are, as a county, going back to the future with our focus of railroad improvements. These include All Aboard Florida and eventually Tri-Rail's Coastal Link. Click title for link to article which reminds us of our beginnings and our future. From the article:
The passenger train shuttled wealthy tourists to luxury hotels on Palm Beach, opening the county’s wilderness frontier to new development. Cities began to rise as Flagler built new stations along his Florida East Coast Bramson, the company historian for the Florida East Coast Railway. “Everything grew up around the stations.”
Now, some historians say restoring passenger service on Flagler’s decade-old railway may be the only way for Palm Beach County to continue to grow. All Aboard Florida plans 32 passenger trains a day between Miami and Orlando on the FEC tracks, with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The Miami-to-West Palm Beach service is expected to begin in late 2016 with the Orlando leg starting in 2017.
The proposed Tri-Rail Coastal Link would also run on the FEC tracks, providing city-by-city commuter rail service between Jupiter and Miami.
“Passenger rail was ceased because it wasn’t seen as being needed any longer,” West Palm Beach attorney and historian Harvey Oyer III said. “At this point, we cannot build enough roads to continue to provide transportation and infrastructure. We have come full circle and come back to using rail again.”
Check out the following High Noon in Lake Worth shows featuring Seth Bramson, FEC Historian:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with High Noon in Lake Worth on BlogTalkRadio


 
Check Out Politics Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with High Noon in Lake Worth on BlogTalkRadio

You may want to reconsider that trip to Greenfield, CA...


Mary Lindsey Reporting about Evening on the Avenues last night

"Amazing how each Friday Evening on the Avenue is unique. Tonight was no exception. The band was great, but the girl who soloed was amazing!!! Nice crowd of mostly locals, lotsa kids and lotsa people on the Porch. The big show was in the sky with really spectacular lightning. The rain held until about 9:30 I think, but not many people left; they just moved inside the beer garden tent and the Front Porch! We finally closed up about 10:30.
Thanks to Judy and Mark Easton who helped out all night and to Bill and Elizabeth O'Donnell who brought two extra large and very hot pizzas for everyone. We all enjoyed meeting a very young and talented artist (James) who kept us captivated as he twisted and wove palm fronds into roses and little creatures like a sunfish and a grasshopper.
Three or four new residents to Lake Worth stopped in to find out what the Neighborhood thing was all about and how they could get involved and Front Porch regulars, like Tammy Pansa, Greg and Lori Rice, Nancy Jarrell and Seamus were there to tell them! Sounds like any other night on the Front Porch, but I dunno - it just felt different. Maybe it was all the electricity in the air from the lightning. Who knows? Anyway, we'll be back for the next EOA in two weeks! See Y'all then."  Lake Worth Voice on Facebook, 10/3/14

Friday, October 3, 2014

"Yes We Can!!" - reposted due to unprecedented reader demand



October 03, 2014 Shooting Suspect Apprehended

At 9:51 this morning, Palm Beach Police were notified of a shooting at 2505 South Ocean Blvd, the President Condominium. The first officer arrived on scene at 9:53 am and determined former employee/suspect Charles Michael Croghan, 72 year old w/m (dob: 12/27/41) shot one male employee, and before fleeing the scene threatened a female employee with his firearm.
The male victim was transported by Trauma Hawk and is currently undergoing surgery and is listed in critical condition.
The suspect, Charles Michael Croghan, pictured below has been apprehended for Attempted First Degree Murder with a Firearm and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.
Click on the link below for a copy of the news release.
Download News Release

This weeks excerpt from the Lake Worth Herald...

From the Editorial Page (10/2/14 edition):
"Recently, a seat was up for renewal and the person in the seat expressed interest in continuing, another person who sat on another board was bored and wanted to switch boards. The commissioner responsible for the appointment, had no qualms with appointing his friend to take the seat of a well qualified, active and hardworking member and leave the city with a less qualified, if qualified at all, volunteer board member while turning away a fully qualified, experienced member.
     This example shows just how dangerous individual appointments can be. There is no security for the city in board selections and it is time the commission reverses its position on board appointments.
     It is more work for the commission to interview every candidate, but boards are filled by consensus instead of friendship or political positions."
Click here for on-line version of paper. 

Palm Beach Police Working Shooting Incident at President Condominium (2505 S. Ocean Blvd.)

The Palm Beach Police Department is currently working a shooting incident at the President Condominium (2505 South Ocean Blvd). Police are looking for one white male suspect shooter named Charles Michael Croghan, who may be traveling in a 1978 black Ford antique vehicle, Florida tag M512PZ or a 1978 or 1979 Lincoln two door vehicle with two chrome tail pipes with a gray top and green body. Both vehicles should have an 8-ball hood ornament. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. Please call 911 immediately if you see this suspect and/or vehicle. Do not engage this individual. See attached suspect photo.

Man shot at Palm Beach condominium; police searching for suspect

Click title for link.
A Trauma Hawk helicopter landed on the Par 3 Golf Course to pick up the man, who sustained a gunshot wound at the President condominium.

Message from Steven L. Abrams, County Commissioner re Preparations for Ebola

"I want to provide an update on Palm Beach County’s preparations concerning the Ebola virus. The County Health Department has been preparing since early August, as soon as they received the initial alert. County health officials have met with area hospitals, airports, the Port of Palm Beach, Border Patrol, the Sheriff’s Office, and many other agencies. The County operates Palm Beach International Airport, which is developing an Ebola Virus Disease Airport Response Plan. There are no direct flights to Africa from the airport, although obviously travelers can make a connection through PBIA. Health officials emphasize there is no cause for panic, but it is prudent to be prepared, and I wanted everyone to know we are on top of it."

Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association Meeting Reminder

Good morning friends and neighbors,

This is a reminder that Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association will hold their monthly meeting this Monday, October 6th, at 7:00, at the Guatemalan Maya Center, 430 N.G street.

Sadly, Mark Humm has stepped down from being our president. Thank you Mark for all you have done and all the time you have put in. As nominations for officers are due by November 15th we should probably start a conversation about who will take these positions for the coming year.

We will also be discussing our November block party'

I hope to see you all there.

Carolyn 

Delray Beach: City poised to take new direction

Click title for link to article from the Coastal Star about the "new majority" in Delray Beach. I find it interesting that the article mentions the importance of amending their land development regulations, much as Lake Worth did after eight years of nothingness. This was done to protect their "village by the sea" ambiance. From the article:
The new land development regulations to be approved later this year will eliminate the height and density incentives that developers got to build downtown.
    “We have seen projects approved in the past that fell far short of what we should demand for our city,” Jarjura said. “We must ensure going forward that we do better.”
    Glickstein said new rules will relieve the anxiety that became a campaign issue for residents seeking to preserve the city’s village-by-the-sea character.
    “I’m hopeful that the new LDRs [land development regulations] will take the development debate off the table,” Glickstein said. “People won’t feel fear over what might be slipping away.”
    With a new team at City Hall and the city’s character secure, the mayor can dream about Delray’s future.

Lake Worth Critical Mass ride tonight

The Lake Worth Critical Mass ride is tonight! Meet at Bryant Park in front of the Gulfstream Hotel and the ride leaves at 7:00 sharp. It's a ride for everyone including families, older or younger, doesn't matter.

Also, it is Evening on the Avenue in Lake Worth. That starts at 6:00 so you can plan your evening around that event at the Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth! Or, you can take in the Homecoming Football game at Lake Worth High School starting about the same time.

See you tonight!

And remember this going on in Wellington...

A lot of drama last week in Wellington concerning the vice mayor and the city manager, much of it fueled by the press unfortunately. If the situation interests you read this Town-Crier article by Ron Bukley in which he explains what happened very clearly and succinctly. Click title for link. From the article:
"Wellington Village Council members submitted performance evaluations for Village Manager Paul Schofield and Village Attorney Laurie Cohen on Tuesday, but a majority of the council refrained from sharing their opinions publicly.
Despite widespread speculation last week that the council might decide to dismiss Schofield, no such action was taken.
While Councilman Howard Coates and Councilwoman Anne Gerwig said that they were prepared to publicly evaluate Schofield and Cohen, Mayor Bob Margolis, Vice Mayor John Greene and Councilman Matt Willhite said that they would refrain from commenting on their written evaluations, pointing out that they are public record, available for anyone to review."

Broward County's Port Everglades - What's to come in the future?


Talk of freight on the Florida East Coast Railway and expansion to handle larger ships coming through the expanded Panama Canal.

Lake Worth Post Office - c. 1940 - soon after opening

Notice the bike racks on the left side of the picture.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

NEW High Noon in Lake Worth episode 10/3 - Aaron Wormus "A Guy on Clematis" 12 to 1 p.m.

Join your host Wes Blackman as he welcomes "A Guy on Clematis" - aka Aaron Wormus to the High Noon in Lake Worth studios. Aaron Wormus is the Chief Technology Officer of HedgeCo Networks. Focusing on bringing technology solutions to the financial industry, Aaron Wormus was the lead architect in the development of the Hedge Fund Calculator, HedgeCo Websites Platform, and most recently HedgeCoVest.

With an eye for community development, Aaron Wormus authors the "a Guy on Clematis" blog, which has chronicled the growth of Downtown West Palm Beach and specifically Clematis St. over the last 5 years. In 2011, Sun Sentinal awarded "a Guy on Clematis" as the winner of the "Best overall Blog in South Florida". aGuyonClematis has also been profiled in the Palm Beach Post and The Palm Beacher magazine.

Aaron Wormus moved from Downtown into the South End of West Palm Beach in the beginning of 2010, when not working or blogging, Aaron can be found doing DIY projects on his house, walking his dog, enjoying South Olive Park with his two daughters, or writing about himself in the third person.

Aaron also helped arrange the following video:

Click title for link to live show or after it airs for the archived version. Leave questions as comments below.

From a loyal and concerned reader

"I am one of those few that actually watch city meetings on line regularly: city commission, P&Z, HRPB... It's usually in the background while I do other things. Imagine my surprise when I go to watch the P&Z and John Rinaldi is not there. Greg Rice was in the chair seat and some woman I never saw before was sitting to his right. What is going on? 

I go to Advisory Board section and look over P&Z. Commissioner McVoy's District 2 appointment which used to be John Rinaldi was now represented by Elise LaTorre. Did John Rinaldi not re-apply or did he resign? Does anyone know what happened?

As the meeting progressed they had a vote for the vice-chair and Mr. Sherwin was elected. Greg Rice is now the P&Z chair.

Shouldn't a press release be issued by the city? When the P&Z Chair suddenly leaves the scene the public should be aware, don't you think? P&Z is one of the more important boards in the city. 

If I find out something I will let you know. Thanks, Wes, for all that you do for the city."

Evening On The Avenue, callout for vendors and performers

Are you a vendor or a performer and interested in participating in this years Evening on The Avenue in Lake Worth? The new season is starting and it is All The Buzz about town!

Here is your contact info:
dcarson@lakeworth.org
emay@lakeworth.org
561.533.7353

See you there!

Great slide show featuring the Lake Worth Arts Lofts...

Click title for link.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Halloween came early in 2012

Grand opening at Mulligan's with "the gang." The date was October 17th. Apparently, they were running a special on demon possession that night.

Unbelievable College Republican National Committee ad supporting Rick Scott - Creepy and Patronizing

From the Post's Kimberly Miller about the latest on sober house in WPB

Click title for link. The evolving saga of the Green Terrace condominium. From the article:
Residents of the Good Decisions Sober Living home in West Palm Beach are looking for new places to live after being told Tuesday they had four days to move out.
Good Decisions, which houses recovering addicts in units at the Green Terrace Condominium, was raided by the FBI on Sept. 11, while the community’s condominium association is under investigation by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
John Lehman, president of the Boca Raton-based Florida Association of Recovery Residences, confirmed residents are being asked to leave by Friday.

The Broward/Palm Beach New Times looking for new writers!

The New Times is famous for reporting breaking news and then retooling the story until they get it right. Of note were the stories about the Fort Lauderdale Police and the confrontations with the Critical Mass rides in July and August. In typical fashion the police are assumed to be wrong, the aggressor, and the bike riders are assumed to be righteous, innocent, incapable of wrongdoing. 

The days after the initial reports showed a very different reality. The police were doing their job and the bicyclists had broken the law and the rules agreed to before the Critical Mass ride began. It was really that simple.

Now we have a new development at the New Times. They're looking for new writers to join their team. If you are interested click here.

From the story:
"Applicants should have solid news judgment and knowledge of current events. They should be able to discover relevant local stories, report hard news, and meet deadlines.
Interested candidates, please send a résumé and three clips to:
ryan.pfeffer@browardpalmbeach.com
No phone calls, please."

Political Advertisement with a cameo by our own Lisa Maxwell

Proven Leader from Ellyn Bogdanoff on Vimeo.

Clematis Street named one of America's Ten Best Streets

Click title for link to Planning.org website. This showed up in the Palm Beach Post in today's print edition by Eliot Kleinberg, but appears to be unavailable on line. Clematis Street is in good company with the other top streets on the list. Click here for a portion of that article.

I remember a time when this was the last street that would be eligible for such an award. Things do change, with intention and persistence.