Wednesday, October 7, 2015

ArtOberfest & another reason to visit funky, quirky Lake Worth, Florida: Go to church and get SAVED! in a bar

Get up early on Sunday morning and visit the world's only 'Recovery' (Southern Baptist) church service IN A BAR! How cool is that? Grab a free breakfast and coffee, sober up, get SAVED, and then party like there's no tomorrow at the Bamboo Room all in the same building in Lake Worth!
Remember church attendees: stay behind the curtain and tip your server well!
Hope to see you next Sunday to praise the Lord at the bar. Service starts at 10:00 A.M. and the address is 25 South 'J' Street in downtown Lake Worth. There isn't a town in south Florida that can throw a party like Lake Worth can. The next big party begins this coming Saturday: make plans for the big "ArtOberfest" party this weekend—the 'Jacks' are in town*:
Click on the "Follow" icon in the Tweet above to get the latest from the Bamboo Room: featured music talent, drink specials, and so much more.
*Please drink responsibly.
It's ArtOberfest in downtown Lake Worth; Saturday & Sunday in our spectacular downtown. See the City's renaissance for yourself.

NBC5/WPTV's news segment by Andrew Ruiz on the Gulfstream Hotel in little City of Lake Worth, FL

As is stated in the video, this is a "shot in the arm" for our City. Steven Michael of Hudson Holdings is interviewed and he does an excellent summation of what is proposed. Share this with your friends and neighbors so they are informed of what is happening.

News about the Sun Sentinel and it's not good: employee cutbacks on the horizon

Some of you will remember what happened at The Palm Beach Post when they cut their staff. The paper has never been the same; it's especially evident on the editorial page. Chris Joseph at the Broward New Times has this news about buyouts being offered at the Sun Sentinel; here is an excerpt:
     According to an anonymous source who works at the Sun-Sentinel, the entire staff received an email Monday announcing an "Employee Voluntary Separation Program," [emphasis added] which says the buyout program is "voluntary." Those who take the buyout, the email says, would receive a severance package that includes certain medical benefits continuation, outplacement services, as well as equity vesting, and retiree medical.
     The cuts have been something looming over the company since former Baltimore Sun publisher Timothy Ryan replaced the fired Austin Beutner as publisher of Tribune Publishing on September 8. But, according to the anonymous source, the feeling of foreboding within the Sun-Sentinel has been building up even before then.
It's not a good time to be in the newspaper business. Anyone remember the Post's former reporter Willie Howard? You'll be happy to know he writes for The Coastal Star now.

Historical revisionism at one of America's largest book publishers

About the video (below):

     Textbook publisher McGraw-Hill will rewrite a section in one of its books after a Houston-area mother complained that it whitewashes the role of slavery in bringing Africans to America. [emphasis added]
     Roni Dean-Burren took to Facebook last week to vent her frustration over the wording of a passage in her son’s “World Geography” textbook that calls African slaves “workers” and “immigrants.”
     “The Atlantic slave trade brought millions of workers … notice the nuanced language there. Workers implies wages … yes?” she wrote.
      Dean-Burren’s post gathered a lot of attention; a subsequent video sparked spirited feedback and had drawn 1.4 million page views on Facebook as of Sunday.
     McGraw-Hill heard the outcry, reviewed the section and concluded that the wording doesn’t live up to the publisher’s standards.
     “We believe we can do better,” McGraw-Hill posted on its Facebook page Friday. “To communicate these facts more clearly, we will update this caption to describe the arrival of African slaves in the U.S. as a forced migration and emphasize that their work was done as slave labor.”

[UPDATE] The Lake Worth Pier is closed until further notice (Benny's on the Beach is unaffected)

UPDATE: The Pier will re-open at 2:00 today (10/7).

Due to high waves the Lake Worth Pier is closed until further notice. Benny's on the Beach is unaffected by this.
Click on the "Follow" icon in the Tweet above to get updates from the City.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

News from Delray Beach: "Federal Highway draws praise for street appeal and slower traffic"

This news is from Jane Smith at The Coastal Star; here's an excerpt:
     After more than a decade of work, Federal Highway in Delray Beach is back to its roots as a thoroughfare with two lanes in each direction.
     In the mid-1970s the road was widened to three lanes before the state Department of Transportation extended Interstate 95 from Fort Lauderdale north to West Palm Beach. But the plan always called for Federal Highway to be narrowed again, said former City Commissioner Gary Eliopoulus.
     “The road closures took longer than anticipated,” said Eliopoulus, who sat on the commission from 2007 to 2011. “But in the end it will be the best thing that Delray ever did — slowing the cars down near Atlantic Avenue.”
     This time, the roadway is more scenic.
     The approximately $14.2 million project boasts benches, more landscaping dominated by palms, trash cans and pavers used to create wider sidewalks between Northeast Second and Southeast Second streets. It also will have a 5-foot-wide cyclist lane in each direction and on-street parking.
The article is very in-depth and highly interesting. At the end of the article is information on the costs of materials such as asphalt and palms/shade trees. Before long, hopefully, Lake Worth will be hearing from FDOT on proposals to fix Dixie Hwy making the road a "Complete Street" through our City.

Mayor Muoio and Raphael Clemente come back from Copenhagen with some fresh ideas

West Palm Beach Mayor Muoio and the DDA's Raphael Clemente recently got back from their trip (paid for with a grant) to Copenhagen to learn ways to make cities more walkable and bikeable. Here's an excerpt from the Post's Tony Doris:
     Mayor Jeri Muoio says her trip to Copenhagen, on a grant to study innovative ideas to make cities livable, will yield results for West Palm Beach, she said.
     She has three big ideas but will keep most of them under her hat for now, she said, until she has a chance to vet them with staff. But in a chat Wednesday, she did disclose one of three: creating a bike greenway that loops the city. [emphasis added]
     It would run from the city golf course in the South End, up through Dreher Park, Howard Park and Gaines Park, then have a spur coming south toward the downtown library.
     The mayor, with Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Raphael Clemente, this past month spent a week in the Danish capital on a Knight Grant program focused on making cities more walkable, bike-able and livable.

[UPDATE] New Sign at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool

UPDATE: For all of you out there who think everything is just wonderful/blissful at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool your advised to not follow any of my blog posts about the pool for the next several days. I've come across quite a lot of information and it's going to take a while to go through it all. 

It's not a pretty picture.

The revenue numbers are terrible and so are the attendance numbers. Some believe that adding more convenient hours for the public is the answer and there may be some truth to that. However, with added hours comes additional expenses: lifeguards, support staff, and more maintenance. For instance, how much money was spent in chemicals to keep the pool operating for 29 hours a week? Almost $20,000:
This is a partial image of the graph showing how the $20,000 in chemicals/equipment was itemized.
And then there is the million dollar question: why isn't the public in the City supporting the pool? It used to have broad support in the community but then something happened. Did the public lose interest when a previous city commission shut down the pool for all those months back in 2010? Many who used the pool back then, the regular swimmers, likely found other things to do for exercise or maybe found another pool facility:

If you're interested in learning more about this situation with the municipal pool check back here to this blog over the next several days. If your in the "everything's just fine" group then don't.

[Below is a blog post from yesterday (10/5) on one idea to increase revenue and attendance at the facility:]
According to this sign, just to the right of the cashier's window, you can now buy a twenty-visit pool pass. For Lake Worth residents, the new pass will be $60. So you can think of it as an additional dollar off per visit (the regular resident rate is $4), or a total of five (5) free visits. If anything, it will help offset the cost of parking. Non-residents can get the same sort of twenty-visit pass, but must pay $75. That equates to $3.75 per visit and is a more substantial discount than the one for residents. If you pay by the visit, the non-resident rate is $5. There are similar savings with the children's (17 years old and younger) pass.

If you go the pool regularly this makes some sense. However, if the city is concerned about the revenue coming from the pool, I am not sure this helps a great deal. If most of the people that will take advantage of this opportunity are current and frequent pool users, then the city will bring in less money. I think what would really help the situation is to offer additional or different hours that cater to those who work a typical Monday through Friday, daytime work schedule.

But it's good to see that the City and staff are working through various ideas to plug the hole in the pool's operating deficit.

In Boulder, CO: "This is Mega-NIMBYism at work"

The title of this article in CityLab is, "They Are Coming for Our Neighborhoods"; who is 'They'? Developers of course. Some in Boulder want to stop development, all development, and in effect freeze any possible growth in that city. Here are three excerpts from the article:
     In context, “they” means developers. But in reality, “they” are people: workers, families, low-income residents, and other people who might one day like to call Boulder home. If voters affirm the Neighborhoods’ Right to Vote on Land-Use Regulation Changes amendment (ballot issue #300) on November 3, then they will be effectively freezing growth in Boulder—by turning one city into 66 new exclusionary zones with final say on housing and density. [emphasis added]
[and . . .]
     This is mega-NIMBYism at work. It essentially yields the municipal government’s authority over zoning decisions to neighborhoods acting as zoning boards—66 of them, none of which have any incentive to accommodate higher density or affordable housing. As in just about any “zoning rights” discussion, the measure’s boosters support the right for homeowners to preserve high land values in single-family home districts—and force developers and affordable-housing advocates to look elsewhere.
[and lastly . . .]
     “Livable Boulder's neighborhood right-to-vote initiative would create two classes of Boulder citizens for any given land-use issue,” Yates [Jessica Yates, an attorney] writes. “Only one class would be eligible to vote on a council land-use action, leaving the vast majority of us on the sideline on any given issue, even if we live adjacent to or work in the neighborhood in question and have a direct interest in the proposed land use.”
Something very similar was tried here in Florida with Amendment 4; it failed in a spectacular fashion. The reality is if voters approve a freeze nothing actually gets frozen in time. The inevitable would occur like what happened in San Francisco and everywhere else development is stopped: prices for property and homes will rise and many residents will be displaced—even some who support this proposed measure. 

The vote will be on November 3rd. I'll let you know how it turns out. The post below is a flashback to Amendment 4 in Florida.

In case you missed it: The Obtuse Blogger (TOB), the Klu Klux Klan . . . and the flame of hate being doused in Lake Worth

TOB (aka, Lynn Anderson), if you didn't know, is a member of pastor Olive's 'Common Ground' (no 's') church. pastor (lower case intended) Olive's church is the dead end for those in the City looking for a bastion of hate. The City of Lake Worth has turned its back on hate and is moving forward healing many of our special, and uniquely different, communities. It's an exciting time to live in Lake Worth.

Inexplicably, 'pastor' Olive wrote a prayer for me you can read here. Why me? Don't you think TOB needs a prayer written for her? You would think so. The following video is explanation enough:

So very charming, isn't it?

Here are more charming messages from TOB:

The Libertarian candidate for Florida Senate killed a goat and drank its blood

It's hard to believe but it's true. When this story first hit about former-chair Adrian Wyllie resigning in protest it sounded like an article from The Onion. Here is more on this from the New York Daily News:
A Florida man running for U.S. Senate is supported by neo-Nazis and acknowledged he once sacrificed a goat and drank its blood. [emphasis added]
     Augustus Sol Invictus is the Florida Libertarian Party's candidate and has faced other accusations ranging from his support of eugenics, prophesizing a "great war" within America's borders and drawing support of neo-Nazis.
     Invictus, who declines to reveal his given name, is the only Libertarian candidate looking to fill the vacant seat left by presidential hopeful Marco Rubio. His position as the only representative of the party led now-former party chairman Adrian Wyllie to resign in protest.

Monday, October 5, 2015

The St. Andrews Episcopal Church and the Blessing of the Animals in Lake Worth

To 'Follow' St. Andrew's on Twitter click on the icon in the Tweet above. Here is the website for St. Andrews. Some history of the church:
     On January 25, 1914 [emphasis added], William Henry Sampson, the first settler of Lake Worth township, along with fourteen other communicants, founded St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The first services of the mission church were conducted by the Rev. Gilbert Ottman, who came from Holy Trinity Church in West Palm Beach. The first building was constructed on the existing site in the fall of 1914, and a small concrete parish hall was added in 1920. This building was destroyed in the disastrous hurricane of September 16, 1928, but a new church took its place a year later. The handmade altar, an 18th Century Italian eagle lectern, and the cypress pews that furbished this new church are still in use today.
[and. . .]
     Today St. Andrew’s is a living, loving church. Distinguishing our church today is its active pastoral ministry which reaches dozens of shut-ins and hospitalized persons weekly; a nursing home ministry; Sunday school; an active youth group; and Integrity chapter; and an ongoing program of forums, discussions and workshops of a religious and philosophical nature.
Here is the church's address and contact information:
100 North Palmway, Lake Worth Florida 33460
Office is open 9 am to 1 pm, MondayFriday
Phone: (561) 582-6609 and email address.

You would be surprised at the number of churches in the little City of Lake Worth, just like St. Andrew's, who go about their work with dignity and respect for our City.

The River of Grass Greenway . . . a future pathway across the Everglades: Become a 'FROGG'

This is one of those great ideas that come along and make you want to cheer. If you've ever driven the Tamiami Trail (US-41) you know it as an unfriendly road for pedestrians and bicycles. Now that could change. You can become a FROGG: a Friend of the River of Grass Greenway. This is the FROGG mission statement:
     Our mission is to promote the establishment, preservation, and safe use by the general public of a non-motorized transportation and recreation corridor across the Everglades between Naples and Miami.
Here is more information about the River of Grass Greenway:
     Parallel to the Tamiami Trail (US. 41), the ROGG [River of Grass Greenway] will be a hard-surfaced 12-14 foot wide corridor (separated from the highway) suitable for a range of non-motorized recreation activities such as bicycling, walking, bird-watching, photography, fishing, and general enjoyment of the greater Everglades natural area.
     The goal of the ROGG is to extend from Krome Avenue (eastern edge of Everglades National Park near Miami) to the outskirts of Naples/Marco Island (western terminus to be determined). In the middle, there will be a three mile spur to Everglades City.
[and. . .]
     ROGG is much more than a recreation corridor. An important facet of the pathway is the potential for environmental education and stewardship. The pathway will be designed and built for sustainability, with acute awareness of potential environmental impact. 
Become a FROGG today! Here's how:
     The ROGG is an ambitious goal that is attainable only with widespread support. Join the Friends of the ROGG (FROGG) today to increase our support base.

About the Town Hall last week in Lake Worth

The event last Thursday night was very well attended; here is the article by Kevin Thompson on what happened and what to expect going forward. An excerpt from the article:
     “This meeting,” Commissioner Andy Amoroso told the standing-room-only crowd, ” is about finding new leaders in our community.” [emphasis added]
     The one-hour session, organized by Community Partners, Lake Worth’s Community Redevelopment Agency and Bridges at Lake Worth and Bridges at Highland, was an attempt to reach out to an area that isn’t known for participating in the political process, mainly because of cultural differences.
     The goal was to encourage residents to sign up for two, six-week dialogue groups that will run from Oct. 22 through Dec. 3 where participants will meet for two hours each week to come up with an action plan on how to improve their neighborhoods.
     One group will be held in English, the other in Spanish.
I was told quite a few of our Guatemalan neighbors attended. That is very encouraging. If you have more positive, community news in the City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth (including Palm Beach State College) and Greenacres here is how you contact the Post reporter:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Sheriff Bradshaw, PBSO, and THE LINE OF FIRE: Analyzing the data—what the number 252 really means

[It won't be long now before THE LINE OF FIRE gets rolled out once again. Sheriff Bradshaw is up for re-election and the Post likely has everything ready to go just waiting for the right time.]
Seems like so long ago. . .
You have to admit, LINE OF FIRE: BULLETS, BADGES, AND DEATH ON THE STREET! is a catchy line.

The number 252 was used a lot by Lawrence Mower at The Palm Beach Post and Katie LaGrone at NBC5/WPTV. And many people are believing falsely that 252 is the number of people who have been shot at by a PBSO deputy. Not even close.

The number 252 is the number of times a deputy or police officer fired his weapon during an incident in Palm Beach County AND the Treasure Coast. Here is an excerpt from The Palm Beach Post:
In an unrivaled look at police shootings in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast since 2000, The Palm Beach Post and WPTV NewsChannel 5 detail more than 250 incidents of officers firing guns. The shootings killed 86 people and wounded 97.
Here are the categories the discharge of a weapon by officers fall in to:
  • Unknown
  • No injuries
  • Injured
  • Fatal
Since 2000 the number of people fatally shot by a PBSO deputy who was "shielded" by his badge: 45. Since Sheriff Bradshaw was sworn into office in 2005? 37. The number of Blacks fatally shot: 12 since 2005. That number is statistically higher than the Black population which hovers about 20%. The reason for that number is a subject of debate and not the reason for this blog post. The numbers are what they are.
You can search the data yourself using this link of shootings by deputies who were "shielded" by their badges. (Note: there is no data for 2015.)
Below you can see how massive the area/population PBSO serves and the number of deputies who are "shielded" by badges:
The number '45' is misleading. These numbers start from 2000. Sheriff Bradshaw wasn't sworn in until 2005. 
Now things get interesting. The City of Lake Worth you would think having the reputation for crime it once had would have had many fatal shootings by PBSO. FALSE. Since 2009 there have been 3 fatal shootings. How many Blacks? 0

So the next time you see former Lake Worth Commissioner Cara Jennings wearing her "Black Lives Matter" T-shirt you can say she is absolutely right. They do. They matter as much as everyone else's life, including the law enforcement officers who are tasked with protecting her and her Anarchist friends:

Sunday, October 4, 2015

From the Town of Palm Beach: Southern Boulevard Bridge Maintenance Scheduled for Oct. 5 & 6 Postponed

The FDOT has advised the Town that the planned maintenance work on the Southern Boulevard Bridge, originally scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5 and Tuesday, Oct. 6, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. An updated notice will be provided once the work has been rescheduled.

From EVObsession: "Two-Thirds Of Americans Would Utilize High-Speed Rail If It Was Available"

Here are two excerpts from the article in EVObsession:
     Nearly two-thirds of all Americans would use high-speed rail if it was available, based on the findings of a new survey from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). To be more exact here, 63% of those surveyed stated an interests in utilizing high-speed rail service if it was available.
     Also worth noting here is that this number jumped 4% to 67% when survey respondents were given information detailing cost + time savings benefits accompanying high-speed rail use.
[and. . .]
     The survey also found that 71% of those surveyed are in support of the reduction of regulatory hurdles for the development of real-estate development near high-speed rail.
     “High-speed rail not only provides a great transportation option, but the public’s interest in amenities near high-speed rail stations is another way to create economic growth and jobs in local communities across the country,” stated Melaniphy [APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy].
On the topic of high-speed rail here is All Aboard Florida's tribute to Florida visionary Henry Flagler:

How Christians are being persecuted by not being persecuted: The twisted logic of the "War on Christianity"

"One way in which the evil one persecutes the church in America is by not persecuting the church in America!"
Quote from the blog Christianity Today, in a post titled, "The Silent War of the Church"

If you've been following the twisted tale of the 'church' here in Lake Worth that's being 'persecuted' the quote above explains a lot. I found a link to this material in one of that church's news feeds. There is no war on Jesus (or God) in our City and there never was. But there was a 7-month attempt to create one in the minds of those who are either paranoid or easily manipulated.

Try to follow this logic from a member of that flock who believes there really is a "war" happening in Lake Worth:
  • Christians were killed (somewhere/anywhere)
  • There is a war on Christians
  • There are Christians in Lake Worth, FL
  • There is a war on Christians in Lake Worth
  • You can't see the war being conducted
  • Why? Because it's a secret war
Here is an excerpt from the blog post referenced above:
Consider this thought: a strategic method of Satan in America is to engage in a "silent war," one that is so subtle that the church can easily forget its true nature and the identity of their true enemy. In other words, one way in which the evil one persecutes the church in American is by not persecuting the church in America! Allow the American dream of prosperity dominate the values of the average Christian. Provide a way so that they indeed achieve success as the result of their years of education, hard work, and countless hours spent in their professional area of expertise. Their success is not seen as a blessing that results from the Lord's sacrifice, but a result of their own sacrifice. Then give them a craving for more success that can only come by working even harder.
When you read this twisted logic it becomes very clear why the Millennials are abandoning churches in the U.S. Who would blame them when there is such a culture of negativity and fear.

The Church That Ran Away with the Circus!

Circuses, bears, performers, 'pastors', and more. . .oh my!

The City of Lake Worth and the Urban Chicken: A bad idea that just won't go away

With all the issues that need addressing in our City of Lake Worth, Commissioner Ryan Maier needs to state definitively that the urban chicken will not be added to any City agenda going forward. Maier is the founder of the Lake Worth Chickens Facebook page, by the way. And the additional city employees needed to monitor those "Urban Chickens"! Do you remember a previous city commissioner (Cara Jennings) and her big issue of the day?

"Chicken Tacos or Omelets will be served depending on the outcome of the match" --Tom McGow
Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell fought valiantly against the Urban Chicken and won.
The image above is from the talented and gifted Tom McGow. Mr. McGow published this on his blog in July, 2011. You would think Lake Worth has gotten past this silliness—but have we? 
Maier (pictured above) founded the Lake Worth Chickens Facebook page.
Maier should state once and for all for the record: Backyard chickens will not be on the agenda, EVER, in Lake Worth. With infrastructure and roads such an important topic for our City do we want to spend one second debating whether to allow chicken coops in the City? Of course not. We don't need the distractions, or the health hazards, in our City.
Coming to a house on your block?

Owner of Benny's on the Beach: Why no one wants to rent 2nd floor of our lovely, charming Lake Worth Casino


It was good to hear Mr. Lipton at his first City Commission meeting in June. This gentleman has owned Benny's for the last two years and increased its employment from 21 to 76 employees. He's made many changes and has been hugely successful doing so at the BEACH!. He has high standards. Read about my recent dinner at Benny's here.

He looked at the restaurant space (second floor) above Mulligan's. His question: if it's such a beautiful place for a restaurant, why aren't they lined up around the block waiting to sign a lease? He speaks of missed opportunities and how the city should realize that there are people willing to invest around $100 million in the City. He thinks this could create up to 200 jobs ultimately. And he thinks the pool is an embarrassmentnot because of what it is, but because of what it could be.

That concept of "potential" strikes again. Tough to argue with what he says. Most definitely worth a listen. As the video below demonstrates the Lake Worth Municipal Pool is far too large for the number of people who use it on a regular basis and an old, dilapidated building blocks the view of the ocean. Go figure.

Spectacular church news in the little City of Lake Worth

Kevin Thompson, the Post beat reporter, has this good news about one of our treasured churches here in the City:
     Sacred Heart Church on [425] North M Street spent the summer undergoing $250,000 worth of renovations [emphasis added], which included adding a new roof, updating the AC along with the marble and porcelain tile. The pews were also taken apart, shipped to North Carolina and restored to its original oak finish.
      “It was time to give the church a fresh look,” said Milka Santos, an advancement director at Scared Heart School.
      All the money was donated, Santos said.
      While Sacred Heart was closed, services were held in Madonna Hall.
      Now, Sacred Heart is ready for its coming out party, of sorts, as the renovations are complete. The Most Reverend Bishop Gerald Barbarito will rededicate the church [NOTE: dedication ceremony was held on Sunday morning, 9/27]
Here is the Mission Statement for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church:
We, the Roman Catholic family of Sacred Heart Church in Lake Worth, empowered by the Word and the Sacraments, are a welcoming, Christ-centered, culturally diverse community. Together, we answer our Christian calling to worship God, grow in holiness and share our faith in Christ by loving and serving our brothers and sisters.
I'm looking forward to stopping by and seeing all the work that was done. I've attended services there several times and it's very interesting to watch the mass done in three languages.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Interesting observations from the Post article on pastor Olive's 'Common Ground' church (now our community joke)

If the selection of jokes from last night is any indication it's going to entertaining following the follies of pastor Olive and his 'Common Ground' (no 's') church. If you didn't hear, he is moving his 'Recovery' church into a bar, the Bamboo Room in downtown Lake Worth. This is NOT A JOKE. It's the absolute truth. He's going to put up a sheet so his flock can't see the bar stocked with liquors, spirits, mixers, and cold beer. A sheet. Again, this is NOT A JOKE.
Remember church service attendees: Stay behind the curtain and don't forget to tip your server.
Before I continue, here is the broad and eclectic adult beverage selection at the Bamboo Room. If you would like to rent the venue for weddings, anniversaries, or any other special event use this link to get more information. The Bamboo Room is an iconic Lake Worth establishment and we're all excited to have them back up and featuring live music once again.

You can follow the Bamboo Room on Twitter; click on the Follow icon in the Tweet below:
Here is the Post article by Kevin Thompson. The owner of the Bamboo Room has this to say about pastor Olive having church services in the venue:
“Let’s face it, we’re a nightclub and most of his people are in rehab or just getting out of it,” Minton [David Minton, the club’s managing partner] said.
And. . .
     It took about three weeks, with the club owners — on a handshake deal [emphasis added] — agreeing to rent the space for $450 every Sunday, — a 50 percent discount from what is normally paid.
     “I know they don’t have a lot of money and I wanted to help them out,” Minton said.
Now it gets really interesting:
     At the time [of the 'War on Jesus'], Olive had said it appeared churches were being singled out and was quoted as saying Lake Worth wasn’t tolerant of Christians living a public life downtown.
     Olive now downplays what happened.
     “All those problems are behind us now,” he said.
Go to the 1:20 mark in the video below and learn about the "targeting [of Christians] in Lake Worth, FL"; this video was published on March 11th as pastor Olive was ramping up his 'War on Jesus':
Just a month ago the 'War on Jesus' by pastor Olive was still on:
GOBA (Greater Orlando Baptist Assoc.) is pastor Olive's church "planting" partner.
An actual blog post in response to pastor Olive's silly claim of 'persecution'.
Think about all this as you look for a church to attend Sunday morning:
1 John 4:1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Collage from Children's Art Sale last night at the NAPC Front Porch, Cultural Plaza

As part of Friday Night on the Avenues, the NAPC Front Porch had a wonderful display of art "for sale" made by local elementary school children. You can see John Faust and Commissioner Andy Amoroso showing off their finds from the display.

Here's Mary Lindsey with a spirited description of the night from her perspective (from Facebook):
     If you happen not to be sitting down right now, Ya might wanna do that! Our Kids raised $875 tonight selling their precious paintings on the NAPC Front Porch!!! Yes, I said Eight Hundred and Seventy Five dollars. There will be lots and lots of pictures up on FB by tomorrow and each one of them is completely inadequate to describe the incredible spirit of creativity, friendship, community mindedness and generosity that permeated the entire event.
     You've never seen such pride in those little faces as one after another painting was carefully selected and paid for -- with real money! Thank You Lake Worth!!! Thank You Mayor Pam Triolo, Commissioner Andy Amoroso and Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell for honoring our little ones and making them feel so special. Thank You to everyone who came to show their appreciation for the Kids effort with ooooos and ahhhhs and fistfuls of $$$.
[and. . .]
     We're going to try to have all the kids and parents at the Commission meeting next Tuesday to show everyone all the storybooks they will buy for South Grade, North Grade, Sacred Heart, Highland and Barton Elementary Schools. Next time anyone asks, What's so special about Lake Worth? -- Tell them about these exceptional kids of ours and this extraordinary night on the NAPC Front Porch!

Lake Worth Critical Mass Ride (10/2)

This picture is from the earlier part of the ride, heading east on Lake Avenue, about to turn north on to Federal Hwy. I would guess there were about 80 or so people along for this ride. The Lake Worth version happens on the first Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m. and assembles at Bryant Park. The ride proceeded from downtown Lake Worth, winding our way through Lake Worth neighborhoods, emerging onto Forest Hill Boulevard, east to Flagler Drive and then back south to the point-of-beginning.

And good news to report: the number of small children in the ride, many of whom used to ride without helmets, is way down from previous months. The leadership is taking this situation seriously as well they should. Hopefully it will be zero-tolerance for children without helmets on the next ride: November 6th.

Here is the Lake Worth Critical Mass facebook page. Save the date and come join us next month!

The Florida Libertarians are losing it

Of course, the little City of Lake Worth also has their own collection of looney Libertarians. They're usually characterized by their zeal and zest for freedom of speech; except free speech for people they disagree withthen it's OK to do anything you can to shut them up. Now we find the Libertarian leadership in Florida is becoming completely unhinged.

Here is an article from Politico Florida titled, "Libertarian Party drama: Goat sacrifice, eugenics and a chair’s resignation"; here is an excerpt:
     Adrian Wyllie, chairman of Florida’s Libertarian Party [emphasis added], resigned his post Thursday to protest the party’s U.S. Senate candidate, accusing the rival of supporting eugenics and for being expelled from a cult group for “sadistically dismembering a goat in a ritualistic sacrifice.”
     The Senate candidate, who goes by the adopted name Augustus Sol Invictus, counter-accused Wyllie of spreading “half-truths and lies” for political gain.
     The dispute between the two has brewed for months, but finally came to a head after Wyllie was unable to persuade the Libertarian Party of Florida’s executive committee to publicly disavow Invictus, an adopted name that means something like “Invincible Sun Emperor.”
     “I’m not making this up. It’s crazy, I know,” Wyllie, a Palm Harbor businessman who ran for governor in 2014 and received 3.8 percent of the vote, told POLITICO after announcing his resignation and levelling his accusations against Invictus in a Facebook post. “I resigned to draw attention to this, as a protest. I did this as a pre-emptive strike. I don’t want anyone to think this guy represents Libertarians. He doesn’t. Under the law, we can’t keep him from the ballot.
It will be fun to see those "Adrian Wyllie" yard signs in Lake Worth replaced with "Invincible Sun Emperer for President"!

The little City of Lake Worth, FL is "quite the buzz" in the real estate business

Remember, some are calling downtown Lake Worth the "next landmark downtown" in south Florida. Below is another townhome community featured in The Palm Beach Post (9/11, page D5, above the fold):
Here are some of the nearby amenities:
  • Public BEACH! with fine restaurants
  • Just 2 blocks from Lake Avenue, the City's main scenic, historic street
  • Boat docks minutes away
  • Nearby picnic areas with special event bandstand
Gary Brown says, "There's almost no chance of purchasing a NEW home so close to downtown these days". Spread the word about the little City of Lake Worth!

Mary Thurwachter on Palm Beach County's Bed & Breakfast Inns (two in Lake Worth)

This is an update on our treasured B&B's here in the City. The Sabal Palm House got featured once again on TripAdvisor and you can see that review here. Here is text from the review of the Degas Room:
Between May and November, the Degas Room at the Sabal Palm House in Lake Worth (near Palm Beach) starts at $119. The Sabal received a 4-diamond rating from AAA for 11 years straight and has a 5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor. Afternoon tea and baked goods, complimentary beverages, spa robes, and beach towels are included for all guests.
Congratulations Colleen and John Rinaldi! Lake Worth is so proud of you and your business. Below is a blog post from mid-August on our B&B's here that you'll enjoy:

Mary Thurwachter, a freelance journalist for the Post, has this wonderful article about Bed & Breakfast's here in Palm Beach County. Here is an excerpt:
     There are few folks as savvy about Florida bed-and-breakfast inns as Pattie Detwiler. The Royal Palm Beach woman has visited most of them, teaches aspiring innkeepers and serves as managing director of the Florida Bed and Breakfast Inns association.
     “I was an innkeeper for 12 years in a very rural community (Wauchula) where I was also a city commissioner,” she says.
     “For over 30 years, I worked in the construction industry, and I have a development and lending background,” she says.
Here are two Lake Worth Bed & Breakfast Inns mentioned in the article:
Thank you for visiting our little City of Lake Worth Pattie!

Friday, October 2, 2015

A potter transforms abandoned buildings and creates community hubs on Chicago's south side

About the video: "Theaster Gates, a potter by training and a social activist by calling, wanted to do something about the sorry state of his neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. So he did, transforming abandoned buildings to create community hubs that connect and inspire those who still live there (and draw in those who don't). In this passionate talk, Gates describes his efforts to build a "miniature Versailles" in Chicago, and he shares his fervent belief that culture can be a catalyst for social transformation in any city, anywhere."

Grant program monies available from the Knight Foundation—what's your idea?

You can learn more about the Knight Foundation here. A short and highly interesting video from the foundation:

Knight Cities Challenge, click here for more information.

Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association October meeting on Monday

Greetings Friends and Neighbors of Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association.

Here is your reminder about TRNA's October meeting. We will be meeting October 5th at the Lake Worth Towers at 7:00 pm. Our speaker this month is Mark WoodsCommunity Compliance Manager for Lake Worth. Questions are welcome. I hope you can come and show your support.

TRNA really hopes you can make the meeting on Monday.

Gary Kreisler: Telling It Like It Is

This Point of View below appeared in the Post today and illustrates perfectly the choices the City of Lake Worth may be faced with going forward. It's generally agreed the City took possession of a substandard Casino building at the BEACH!. It was a lack of oversight and poor planning by a previous city commission that's put us in this terrible predicament. The problem is not going to go away on it's own.

The BEACH! is losing money to the tune of at least $600,000 each year, minimum. Much of the standard maintenance is being deferred and has been since the structure first opened. The facility can't be propped up much longer. Do I really need to post again the pictures of rusting elevators, flooded floors, delaminated windows, and water cascading off the roof onto tourists? Remember, by construction standards this is considered a new building.

This is where public-private partnerships come into play. It's the innovation in the private sector that may provide a solution here. Below are two excerpts from Gary Kreisler who is the chairman of Florida Business Watch:
     Currently, municipal and county governments are engaged with private companies in new creative ventures, especially here in the Sunshine State. With the passing of new “public-private legislation” — and an increased volume of support now provided by local businesses — city and county public-works departments are expanding infrastructure and services while creating thousands of public and private jobs.
     Right here in our own backyard, Florida’s local governments spend tens of billions of dollars every year in the private sector, on everything from paper clips to police cars, from radios to roads, from lamps to landfills. In fact, private contractors help to treat our water, light our streets and pick up our trash; in addition to mowing our medians, heating and cooling our buildings, and providing security.
[and. . .]
     Please take a moment to reflect on the role of local governments and the valuable services they provide, as well as the significant contribution made by private enterprises. Together, they are an important engine driving Florida’s economy.
The "public-private legislation" referenced above is a law signed by Governor Scott in 2013 which encourages Public-Private Partnerships or P3's for short. You can read about them here.

Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents Council (NAPC) event for young artists TODAY at 6:00 in Lake Worth

The Cultural Plaza is located in downtown Lake Worth at the corner of Lake Ave. and Federal (Olive) Hwy. There is plenty of free parking all over the downtown. Please make sure to see our newly renovated Martin Luther King Memorial Globe at the Plaza.
Here is the NAPC Facebook page and their website with contact information, maps, and more interesting facts about the little City of Lake Worth. About this Friday: 
     Lake Worth's youngest artists will be painting and selling their work on the Front Porch this coming Friday at Evening on the Avenues. Proceeds from the sale of each painting, as well as proceeds from popcorn sales will go to buy storybooks for South Grade, North Grade and Sacred Heart Elementary Schools.
     The paintings will be priced less than the age of the children who are creating them, but donations in any amount are greatly appreciated! Let's dig deep to show our support for these amazing kids and help them realize their goal of raising $300. Come by and watch the kids paint their dreams come true!
And there's stuff for the parents to do also:
If you have more positive, community news in the City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth (including Palm Beach State College) and Greenacres here is how you contact the Post reporter:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Check back here tomorrow: What could have been at the Lake Worth BEACH!

Above is a Casino building we could have had: the structure located on the center of the property (an unobstructed view of the ocean coming off the bridge), a parking garage located to the rear of the building, a new pool to the north, with traffic flowing seamlessly around the entire BEACH.
Instead we're left with a substandard structure that's losing money every year and will be a burden for decades to come, a pool few are interested in using, a terrible parking situation and traffic flow, and a still-vacant second floor. Who is responsible for this mess? Here they are:

From the Town of Palm Beach (33480): Dangerous Surf Conditions Expected from Hurricane Joaquin

As of 2:00 pm, October 1, 2015, Hurricane Joaquin has developed into a major category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. This storm is not forecasted to impact Palm Beach and Florida remains well outside the 5-day forecast cone. However, dangerous surf conditions are expected this weekend so we strongly encourage those visiting the beaches to use extreme caution and pay close attention to warning flags and lifeguards.

If the forecast for this storm changes the Town will issue additional alerts. Otherwise, this will be the only alert for this storm. 

Click here for National Hurricane Center website.

Lake Worth Herald editorial on Hudson Holdings' proposal and the City's failed Casino complex

Below are two excerpts from The Lake Worth Herald (here is a link to the submittal by Hudson Holdings vis-à-vis the failed business plan at the Lake Worth Casino complex). To read the entire editorial, other City news, interesting historical items, etc., go to the papers website.

     Comes another proposal, a different idea, to help the City of Lake Worth deal with the hole on the beach into which the city continues to pour money. It is not like the City has any option at the time, at least until a better solution surfaces.
     The City tried using a realtor to fill the spaces at the casino when it re-opened after construction. It appears lease agreements and common area maintenance (CAM) fees don’t produce enough money to maintain the building (not the fault of the tenants) as the original business plan projected it would. [emphasis added] Parking fees have been raised to offset the costs of the building. 
     The City, in an effort to find a solution issued the Invitation to Negotiate which brought, for all practicable purposes, two proposals. 
     One of the proposals, brought by the original realtor of the building, was just another lease offer for the upstairs, un-leased space, along with more demands and a lower offering per square foot than the original tenants pay. It has been established, even with the upstairs leased, there is not enough revenue to maintain the value engineered building.

[and. . .]

     This is Lake Worth, and Hudson Holdings does own the Gulfstream Hotel. Those two facts alone will have two commissioners and their followers planting new signs opposing anything Hudson tries to do. They will be all about why the Gulfstream isn’t open yet. 
     They will never accept the fact there are two different business deals for Hudson here. One is the Gulfstream and the other is the Casino. Yes, one will help the other be successful and vice versa, and in the end, hopefully, Hudson will make money. 
     Oh yea, there is another reason some will oppose the project. 
     Hudson proposes to spend its own money to improve “public property” because it will enhance their other product. They are not proposing the taxpayer pay their way. 
     Maybe this isn’t the solution to the Casino fiasco, but it deserves a good open minded look. There are too many in Lake Worth, some elected, who automatically say no when the words “beach, casino, Gulfstream or Hudson” are used in a sentence. They are the ones who brought us the building plan that can’t pay for itself, much less pay the taxpayer’s money back.

Hudson Holdings' Public Private Partnership submittal to the City of Lake Worth

Lake Worth Has Talent! Talent show coming up soon to raise money for charity

A positive Lake Worth story from the Post's Kevin Thompson—uplifting comments and nary a negative observation—imagine that. The talent show is scheduled for Sunday, November 1st and you can read the entire article here. This is an excerpt:
These local acts are being judged by … Realtors.
     “Most of us have never been involved in something like this before,” said Steve Facella, a RE/MAX agent. “It’s been an eye-opening experience to be on this side of a production.”
     Before last week’s third audition, D’Arinzo said about 40 people tried out, ranging in age from age 9 to 90. Some of those acts included a rap dance group, opera singers and a comedian harpist.
     “The talent was good,” D’Arinzo [Bob D’Arinzo, a broker associate with RE/MAX] said. “There wasn’t anyone where you wanted to push a buzzer to get them off stage.”
Read about one of Lake Worth treasures, The Lake Worth Playhouse. This show is to help the Children's Miracle Network. Save The Date: November 1st.

If you have more positive, community news in the City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth (including Palm Beach State College) and Greenacres here is how you contact the Post reporter:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

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Calling all Artists, Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs!

This is the last day to register.
From the Lake Worth CRA we have this exciting news:
Come and learn more about the Lake Worth CRA’s loan program* created specifically for entrepreneurs looking to start a small business or existing small businesses looking to expand. The goal of this program is to encourage new businesses, improve the appearance of the City’s Artisanal and Mixed-Use districts and provide needed goods and services and jobs to area residents. Funding eligibility could include but is not limited to the following:
  • Permanent working capital
  • Equipment
  • Bridge loans
  • Acquisition
  • Business expansion 
Please email your RSVP no later than Thursday, October 1st to Emily Theodossakos (Marketing and Program Manager). Or you can call 561-493-2550. The CRA office is located at 29 South J Street, Suite 1, in downtown Lake Worth.

To learn more about eligibility for this program go to the CRA website

*Participating businesses must be located within the CRA District boundaries.

State Senator Jeff Clemens—Day 3 of his Minimum Wage Challenge

This is an entry from Senator Clemens' Facebook page:
Senator Jeff Clemens shops with John Roseme and State Representative David Kerner
"Day 3 of the Minimum Wage Challenge was an eye opener. I was lucky enough to spend some time with John Rosemé, who works 40 hours a week as a dietary worker at a West Palm Beach nursing home and another 20 hours as a security guard to support his wife and children. Even after the two jobs, John gets about $300 a month in federal food assistance.

John isn't lazy and he loves his work. But as wages have not kept pace with inflation, it's been more difficult to make those dollars stretch.

John has high blood pressure, which makes his shopping even more of a challenge. He has to watch his sodium content, which is generally high in cheaper canned goods. He buys bags of dried beans instead, which of course take a lot more time to prepare and cook. He has to avoid cheaper lunch meats, not to mention a lot soups like the ramen noodles he eats without the salty favor packets.

I failed in my quest to stick to budget, spending $21.66 on my shopping trip on chicken, milk, beans, noodles and bread, more than my $17 daily allotment. But I should be able to spread some of that food into tomorrow to make it work. John does it every day."

TONIGHT: Town Hall Meeting at City Hall to build stronger neighborhoods in Lake Worth

Meeting is at City Hall (7 N. Dixie Hwy) starting at 6:30