Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Lake Worth Herald is putting the elected leadership on notice.


But first, before we get to what appears on today’s front page of The Lake Worth Herald it is “Worth Noting”:

Now that the General Election midterms are over and done with, for the most part, it’s time for everyone in this City of Lake Worth to become familiar once again with the term, “nonpartisan elections”.

At the end of this blog post is a refresher.

The following excerpt appears today on the front page of the Herald penned by the ubiquitous Pelican Pete in the weekly column titled, “From Where I Sit”.

Pelican Pete can sometimes be cryptic and added some links to the excerpt that will hopefully guide you through today’s musings. Without further ado sans the multiple ellipsis. . .


Education in Lake Worth, meeting with [PBC School] Board was eye opening. Thanks Erica Whitfield forbringing a strong team. Meeting ran long but only because some time was wasted with politics. OK, a lot of the time was wasted with politics. Now the mid-terms are over, the next meeting can be as productive and stay on schedule. High hope politics won’t come into play.

Same goes for City Commission meetings. We elected non-partisan candidates only to have to sit through a triple dose of political maneuvering which only wastes valuable meeting time. Let’s get to City business for the good of the residents of Lake Worth and stop the political infighting and efforts to spread the politics of a particular party. The commission meetings are not the place for it. Go stand on a corner on your own time and politic, but don’t waste our time.


Support LOCAL small town journalism and support
your LOCAL business community.

The Herald print edition is still ¢50. Pick up the paper at the City’s newsstand located at Studio 205 at 205 N. Federal Hwy.


Now to the refresher:

City of Lake Worth holds what are called
“Nonpartisan elections”.

This is “Worth Noting”. 

If you’re not exactly sure what ‘nonpartisan’ means, please contact the City of Lake Worth’s public information officer, Mr. Ben Kerr at 561-586-1631 or by email: BKerr@lakeworth.org

From City of Lake Worth’s
City Charter. . .


“Lake Worth, Florida — Code of Ordinances —
Part I, Subpart A, Article V (Qualifications and Elections), Section 1, “Nonpartisan elections”:


All qualifications and elections for the offices of mayor and city commissioner shall be conducted on a nonpartisan basis without regard for or designation of political party affiliation of any nominee on any nomination petition or ballot.

From the City’s website:


According to the provisions set forth in the City Charter, Lake Worth operates a Commission–Manager form of government. Authority is vested in an elected City Commission, which, in turn, appoints the City Manager.
     The City Commission is comprised of five members who serve staggered three-year terms and are elected on a nonpartisan basis by residents of the City. The Mayor is elected by a city-wide vote to serve a three-year term as the presiding officer at City Commission Meetings and as the official head of the City of Lake Worth for legislative and ceremonial purposes. The City Commission is responsible for passing Ordinances and other policy directives necessary for the operation of the City.


As always, Thank You for visiting today and hope you found this information helpful.

Friday, November 9, 2018

From PBSO District 14 Captain Todd Baer:

"We are once again preparing for our holiday toy giveaway. Each year, the four public elementary schools in Lake Worth choose 25 families each. We then buy toys for their children. We end up giving toys to roughly 400 children who might not otherwise receive anything. It is a great day. This year we will be wrapping the toys on Wednesday, 12/5 and Thursday, 12/6. We will be wrapping toys at our district headquarters, 120 North G Street throughout the day from roughly 9 am until 4 pm."

Lake Worth CRA & City of Lake Worth Receive 2 State-Wide Awards for Redevelopment Projects

Lake Worth, FL; November 8th, 2018 - The City of Lake Worth and the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are proud to announce that two new redevelopment projects, the Royal Poinciana Trail at 5th Ave. South and the new Shops at Downtown Lake Worth, were awarded the 2018 winners of the best new Transportation/ Transit Enhancement and Outstanding New Building categories in the annual Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) Awards. The CRA is incredibly thankful for this honor and appreciate everyone whose dedication and hard work made this possible.

Each year, FRA accepts entries for the annual awards from its members in a variety of categories, ranging from outstanding housing project to cultural enhancement. The entries are examined for effectiveness and completeness - including the narrative, supplemental material and compliance with the submittal instructions. A cross section of Florida redevelopment professionals, individuals and business organizations judge and rank all of the entries and select the winners.

The Royal Poinciana Trail at 5th Ave. South

Originally envisioned in 2012 by Mayor Pam Triolo and Palm Beach County School Board Member Erica Whitfield, The Royal Poinciana Trail is the newest non-motorized, shared use pathway in Lake Worth. This 1,500' linear pathway, which was completed in February 2018, winds through one of the most economically distressed areas of the City. The project resulted in one of the most attractive linear greenspaces within the City. Primarily funded with grant dollars from FDOT, this Project was completed on-time and under budget. By taking a former unimproved right-of-way and turning it into the beautiful Royal Poinciana Trail, the CRA and City were able to accomplish a magnificent transformation of formerly blighted conditions and provide a safe route for children and residents to get through their neighborhood without a motorized vehicle.

Shops at Downtown Lake Worth

By accepting a bank-foreclosed property that had been vacant for twelve years and working with a private developer, the CRA was able to help assemble a large parcel of land near downtown, generate jobs, create 10,000 square feet of retail space, spur development in an area that sat idle for over a decade and create a harmonious transition from the downtown to the new Lake Worth Arts District. In 2017, development began on a retail shopping center that would eventually house a new Starbucks with a drive-thru facility, a T-Mobile store, an urgent care medical office and a nail salon. The grand openings for the Shops at Downtown took place in June 2018 and created approximately 55 jobs.

CRA's and other economic development organizations exist to promote the improvement of downtowns and neighborhoods through redevelopment efforts. These organizations are overseen by appointed and/or elected members of the community. CRA's have certain powers that cities may not have, including establishing tax increment financing and leveraging public funds with private dollars. Working alongside and in partnership with our municipalities, CRA's are able to accomplish great achievements.

"The Board and Staff of the Lake Worth CRA are extremely proud to be recognized by the Florida Redevelopment Association for our work. Both were multi-year projects that required a good deal of communication and coordination. We are grateful to be acknowledged for our on-going efforts. It is a very exciting time in the City of Lake Worth as there are many new, exciting projects in the planning stages or underway in the CRA District." said Madlyn McKendry, Chair of the Lake Worth CRA.

For more information on these projects or for any CRA related questions, please call (561) 493-2550 or visit: www.lakeworthcra.org

Veterans Day Parade - Tomorrow - Downtown Lake Worth


Please join us in downtown Lake Worth on Saturday, November 10, 2018 to celebrate Veterans Day!

The parade will kick off at 11AM throughout downtown Lake Worth!

The Ceremony of Honor will immediately follow the conclusion of the parade in the Cultural Plaza located at 414 Lake Avenue.

For more information or if you would like to participate in the parade please contact Sylvio Pierre-Louis at slouis@lakeworth.org

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Two years ago today, Nov. 8th, 2016:


The Lake Worth Neighborhood Road Bond went to the voters.


Pull quote:


“Its current road repair projects amount to little more than covering the potholes that emerge daily through the city. In short, it has no way to pay for the massive repairs it has neglected doing for decades.”

Quote. Editor at Palm Beach Post, August 11th, 2014. More quotes below.



The editor(s) at the Post did not make an endorsement for the Neighborhood Road Bond vote two years ago. They decided not to get involved.

But this City of Lake Worth was not alone. Because in November 2016 the editor(s) at the Post did not make an endorsement for President of the United States either.

The 2016 Neighborhood Road Bond passed by a “whopping 69 percent” possibly because of what happened two years prior. Let’s set the stage.

Going back to August 2014. . .


On August 11th, 2014, the editor(s) at the Post had a lot to say about the very first bond vote to fix our roads in this City of Lake Worth. But despite that endorsement that bond vote in 2014 failed.

It failed by just 25 votes.

Just imagine for a moment how far ahead our City would be right now had that bond vote passed fifty-one months ago.

What follows is from this blog. . .


Posted on Sunday, Nov. 6th, 2016.


Two days prior to the General Election that year.


Following what the editor wrote in 2014 (see below) there’s not much else left to say.

It was so on-point the editor has nothing further to write on this topic and let stand these observations from 2 years ago. However. . . it would be interesting to know what the editor thinks about those critics who had all this time to create their own plan, but instead sat on their hands and did nothing ever since they won and defeated the bond vote in August of 2014, by just 25 votes.


The editor wrote on August 11th, 2014. . .

But it really didn't matter what the Post editor wrote. In the weeks and months preceding, their very own beat reporter “on the ground” had confused and misinformed so many people the PR damage had already been done by then.


Below are more excerpts from the Post editorial on August 11th, 2014. The editorial that didn’t matter.

This was 15 days prior to the vote on the LW2020 bond vote which ended up failing by just 25 votes. Here are excerpts from that editorial:


     Residents will vote on the matter Aug. 26 [2014], and it’s hard to overstate the stakes for the city, which badly needs to invest in fixing its crumbling infrastructure. To pull Lake Worth from its underperforming past, The Post recommends a vote For Bonds. [emphasis added]    
     Despite the popularity of its downtown strip and public beach, Lake Worth struggles to support basic city services. This city of 36,000 has the second-highest poverty rate in Palm Beach County, and many roads and sidewalks are crumbling and collapsing throughout it. Some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods have been so neglected that streets there have never been paved. 

and. . .


     Its current road repair projects amount to little more than covering the potholes that emerge daily through the city. In short, it has no way to pay for the massive repairs it has neglected doing for decades. 

and the editor continues. . .


     [T]he city needs to fix itself, and the cost of doing so will only grow if repairs are further delayed. The price tag for bringing Lake Worth into the 21st century is staggering, but this is a testament to just how long previous commissions have ignored the city’s basic needs. No one should expect road and sidewalk repairs alone to usher in a renaissance, but it is difficult to imagine one happening without them. 

The price tag for bringing Lake Worth into
the 21st century is staggering. . . .


     In a way, it’s a microcosm of a city that possesses so many attractive assets — a charming downtown, a public beach, waterfront parks, historic neighborhoods brimming with Old Florida charm — and yet has failed to improve its residents’ lives by fumbling or ignoring the hard decisions. This vote is a chance for the city to turn that disappointing history on its head.


Couldn’t have said it any better myself, especially these words that sum up the entire problem:



“. . . this is a testament to just how long previous commissions have ignored the city’s basic needs.”

Here’s one of those former City administrations. Recognize anyone? All that money used up for the Casino — legal fees, a $1.6 million settlement, Greenwashing, and construction mistakes — how many potholes would that money have fixed?

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The election result from last night.


Congratulations, Mr. Block.

Mr. Gibbs, please do not give up on politics. Just hang in there. Remember to congratulate the winner and try to stay nonpartisan. And take a few minutes to visit Lake Worth Beach today.

Editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post: “Beach replenishment is kind of dumb.”


UPDATE: The editor(s) at the Post think beach replenishment is dumb. But they support doing it anyhow. And below is a blog post from last September which includes the twisted reasoning why. It is truly mind-numbing.

However, what you might find very interesting is the list of projects on the “County Penny Sales Tax Capital Improvement Projects” list. For example, the Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center will be getting a new pool and playground area.

Being a regular visitor to the Lake Lytal pool can tell you it is very well maintained but is falling apart. It was constructed about the same time as the municipal pool at the Lake Worth Beach. The lifeguards tell me when they fix one thing another thing breaks. But the good news is Palm Beach County will be constructing a new pool and playground area while the current pool remains open. If you’ve never been to Lake Lytal you should go and check it out some time.

The County list of projects is seven pages long and funded by a ¢1 sales tax increase. If you recall, the referendum to increase the sales tax passed by a wide margin in November 2016. So maybe the editor(s) at the Post can go over this project list (note link above in 2nd paragraph) and strike through a few or a lot of projects to come up with the $5.2M to fix the beaches in some very wealthy towns here in Palm Beach County.

Without further ado, the blog post from last week. . .


In this blog post are excerpts from a mind-numbing editorial in the Post published on September 9th and excerpts from an article titled “The Folly of Beach Restoration” by scientist John Englander published on Sept. 11th.

The editor(s) at the Post think Palm Beach County and the coastal communities and cities need to spend more public funds on beach replenishment. To the tune of  $7.6M with matching funds from the state. The money for beaches will have to come from other priorities in the County and municipal budgets. Like infrastructure for example.

So the coastal municipalities facing budgetary constraints will have to contribute more funding to restore the beaches of some very wealthy towns along the coastline as well. The state is already limiting public access to beaches in South Florida and the public, according to the editor(s) at the Post, need to support more beach replenishment too. Mind-numbing.

For example, the Lake Worth Beach is a public beach. It is a regional beach in Central Palm Beach County. On top of all the issues and problems at the Lake Worth Beach how much will the City of Lake Worth have to pony up to help restore the beaches in South Palm Beach? Maybe one of the business reporters at the Post will come up with some rough numbers to inform the public.

Of course, this all delves into the ¢1 sales tax increase, the referendum that passed in November 2016.

Reporter Wayne Washington at The Palm Beach Post had this eye-opening news last year about the sales tax increase and what the County plans to do with their share of the pie, ≈30% of the total, about $810M:


     Those projects won’t reshape the county into a new age place of raised highways and buildings less vulnerable to the more potent storms and catastrophic flooding scientists are warning will come with climate change.
     Most of the projects are traditional, according to a report compiled by the county’s Office of Inspector General, which will assist with oversight.
     Building replacement and renovation will account for $335 million of the $709 million allocated. Roadway repairs — restriping, resurfacing, bridge repair and replacement and street lighting — will take up another $157 million.


This puts Palm Beach County’s Climate Change and Sustainability Dept. in a pretty tough spot. If they can’t convince the County Commission about the vulnerability to climate change and global warming then they’re not in the position to be giving any direction to the cities either. And what of the continuing series, “The Invading Sea: Can South Florida Be Saved?

What real impact are the editors at the Post, Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel and WLRN (public radio) having on the public? Apparently not much.

Is the public even listening, reading or heeding this “[E]ditorial collaboration to urge action on sea-level rise”? And beach replenishment is one of the key elements in the big plan going forward. Once again. Mind-numbing.

“The Invading Sea” series began in June. But the editor(s) at the Post are now encouraging more beach renourishment. No better plan for the future? The only plan is that municipalities like the City of Lake Worth have to pay more? Here is an excerpt from that recent editorial in the Post:


[T]he beach is essential not only to Palm Beach County’s economy — think tourists, fishing, luxury residences [emphasis added] — but also to our region’s very identity. Not for nothing does “beach” appear in our county’s name, and in the names of 12 of the county’s municipalities.

Last week we learned that the county has asked the state for about $7.6 million to pay for restoration projects at what have been labeled critically eroded beaches – dwindled sections of shoreline located northward of Juno Inlet and as far south as Ocean Ridge. If the state approves the money, the county would match it with about $5.2 million and roughly $2.4 million more provided by affected coastal cities.


Now to what scientist John Englander wrote on September 11th, two days after the editorial in the Post:


The worsening beach erosion is often blamed on rising sea level with some truth, but that hides the underlying problem. Beach erosion would be happening even without rising sea level — though rising sea level will surely make the problem worse.


What’s the problem?


Beaches have always moved, or migrated. Coastal geologists have can track historical beach and shoreline movements, even before human impact. Over a few centuries, shorelines can move greatly, hundreds of feet in either direction. Barrier islands can be created as well as disappear. Let’s look at a few very simple forms of beach erosion.

  • Strong coastal storms, like hurricanes, can do major re-sculpting of a beach in hours.
  • At the other extreme, along most beaches, there is a slow, inexorable movement of sand along the shore, moving sand down the beach. You can usually observe this, just by looking carefully where the ocean meets the beach, even with the smallest waves. This natural process takes sand from one area, depositing it elsewhere — depletion and accretion.
  • Humans introduce a major new effect, wherever we interrupt that natural movement of sand along the shore. Any rock jetty, such as at a marina entrance, stops the longshore movement of sand. Sand piles up widening the beach on one side, and on the other, the beach erodes dramatically.

It is only in recent times that we have built closer and closer to the sea, assuming that “insurance would cover our assets.” In olden times it was understood to be risky and dangerous so no one built that close to the sea. To add to the problem, in the last half-century, our structures became larger, more permanent, and expensive. Think of all the expensive condominiums that seem to have sprung up like sea oats, along gorgeous beaches all over the world.


[To learn more about John Englander, “[A]n oceanographer, consultant and leading expert on sea level rise” click on this link.]


But keep in mind, the editor(s) at the Post think that beach renourishment is still the best and brightest idea for coastal Palm Beach County. And municipalities like the City of Lake Worth need to do more. Mind-numbing.

Along with the ¢1 sales tax increase — the County referendum that passed in November 2016 — the Neighborhood Road Bond referendum in the City of Lake Worth also passed by a “whopping 69%”. The public focus was and remains about fixing our infrastructure much of which fell into disrepair during the Great Recession. But things are turning around.





So maybe in a future editorial in the Post they can explain to Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo and the City Commission and to City Manager Michael Bornstein and City staff what part of the City budget can be cut to make certain there is more funding for beach renourishment in South Palm Beach.

However. . .


On November 8th, 2016, the public in the City of Lake Worth was asked to approve a referendum:

The editor of the editorial board at the Post wrote shortly thereafter the referendum passage, “Lake Worth is poised for some major upgrades following residents’ approval — by a whopping 69 percent. . .”

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Your LOCAL source for plants, trees and pottery too: Amelia’s SmartyPlants in this “Green” City of Lake Worth.


SmartyPlants is a true gem on N. Dixie Hwy. To take a virtual tour click on this link. Amelia’s SmartyPlants is open Tuesday–Friday from 9:00 a.m.–6:00, Saturday 8:30–5:30 and Sunday 10:00–5:00. Closed on Monday.

Who is SmartyPlants?


We are Paul Harding and Marta Edwards. We have created a 2-acre environmentally-conscious garden center and design service located in the heart of Lake Worth.
     Our address is 1515 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth — just south of West Palm Beach — we can be reached at 561-540-6296 or by email: info@ameliascapes.com


Learn more about SmartyPlants below and please Save The Date:

Saturday, February 16th, 2019 will be
the 14th Annual Festival of Trees.


This major event is hosted by the City’s Tree Board and held the third Saturday of each February in the Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth. And just so happens the Tree Board is having their monthly meeting this Thursday at 5:30 in City Hall.

This week the Chair of the Tree Board, Mr. Richard Stowe, and the staff liaison from the Parks Dept, Mr. Dave McGrew, will have an update on the progress of the 2019 Festival of Trees and a call for sponsors and volunteers to help out. So if you wish to become a volunteer please attend the Tree Board meeting on Thursday to learn more.


Here are images from previous festivals:

The Festival of Trees will open the 2019 Festival Season in this City. The following weekend will be the 25th annual Street Painting Festival.


Amelia’s SmartyPlants is always one of the most popular sponsors and exhibits.


Always a serious topic at the Festival of Trees in February. The annual Hurricane Season begins on June 1st. So plant and plan accordingly.

Now back to Amelia’s.


For those with an interest in plants and pottery, but not just another pot or a bucket with dirt, at Amelia’s SmartyPlants is a modernistic and cutting-edge idea. A product of “Old World” ingenuity and modern craftsmanship.

SmartyPlants has introduced the exciting product called “Fiberstone” from the Netherlands — the brainchild of two Dutch brothers  — a high-quality line of planters and pottery. About the company called Pottery Pots:


We believe in basic forms and shapes without thinking of it as boring. This no-nonsense way of thinking and designing is the Dutch identity and is widely known as ‘Dutch design’.


About the company called Pottery Pots:


Pottery Pots has become a global player in the manufacturing of pottery made from fiberstone. This material is a combination of fiberglass and stone powder which ensures a durable material that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use at any temperature. Fiberstone comes in natural colors with glossy or matte finishes. . . . [S]imple and elegant designs that are light weight and low maintenance as well as being a great alternative to glazed pottery.


Whilst on the topic of tree one of the most popular local trees is the Mango. So popular every year this City hosts the Lake Worth International Mango Festival.


More information from the professionals at Amelia’s:


Most mango trees will grow larger than 30′, but the Julie, the Juliette, and the Nam Doc Mai are considered dwarf of semi-dwarf varieties (10–15) that can be grown in a small yard or even in a container on a patio.

These are all delicious varieties that are sweet, juicy, and fiberless. Low nitrogen fertilizer is a good option for mango trees. Otherwise, too much growth is promoted on the tree itself thereby retarding the flowering and fruiting stages.


Now let’s take a short stroll down memory lane,
more information about trees and this City’s
all-volunteer Tree Board.


Do you remember when the City of Lake Worth, the City with a tree in its official logo, had an annual tree contest? It was a hugely popular and spirited challenge. Everyone got recognized except for those that wanted to feature a nasty tree like the invasive and dangerous Australian Pine which is now illegal in Florida to distribute without a permit.

Here is the news that appeared in the Post in 2005, thirteen years ago.

“Officials said they hope to make the
contest an annual event”.


“Lake Worth Tree Board winners”
by Post reporter Lady Hereford.


“Tall and short, flowering and spiky, majestic and just plain odd.”


“Anyone could nominate a tree, regardless of who owned the property . . . oddest tree category yielded two first-place winners: A strangler fig and a spiky Madagascar palm.”

Two-page spread, feature article in the Post,
August 10th, 2005.

Click on image to enlarge:

Would you like this contest to return? Have your voice heard: Consider attending the Tree Board meeting this Thursday at 5:30 in City Hall.

There is currently a vacancy on the Tree Board. Interested in becoming a volunteer board member? Then click on this link.


Back to the news published in the Post. . .

Other winners of the tree contest (by type) as reported thirteen years ago:

  • Most Beautiful Flowering Tree: Royal poinciana.
  • Most Useful Tree: Jaboticaba.
  • Best Native Tree: Slash pine.
  • Oddest Tree (tie): Madagascar palm and strangler fig.
  • Historic Tree, Most Majestic Tree, Most Sheltering Tree, and Biggest Tree: Banyan.

What’s your favorite tree? Ever heard of
the native green buttonwood tree?


Then show up at Amelia’s SmartyPlants this week and learn more about the buttonwood and many other trees, plants and vegetation that are available at their facility located on N. Dixie Hwy.

Amelia’s is on the west side of Dixie. The entrance is off 15th Ave. North.

Worth another look. . .


Another “Cheep” goof by headline editor(s)
at Palm Beach Post.


Here is the headline in last Saturday’s print edition on p. B1 ‘LOCAL’ section:

‘Cheep beer’ remark sparked attack in Greenacres [sic] Mobile Home Park


Now imagine you were crime reporter Olivia Hitchcock and had to start off the day covering even more mayhem after reading that mangled headline about this terrible crime in suburban Palm Beach County. This top-notch reporter at the Post puts so much time and effort covering this gruesome and ghastly crime and the editor(s) distracted everyone with an appallingly “Cheep” headline. That headline should have read:

‘Cheap beer’ remark sparked attack in
Green Acres Mobile Home Park


And as you’ll learn a little later, this crime DID NOT happen in the City of Greenacres and that mobile home park is called “Green Acres”, not ‘Greenacres’.


cheep, noun: A shrill squeaky cry made by a bird, typically a young one. Synonyms: chirp, chirrup, twitter, tweet, peep, chitter, chirr, trill, warble.
     Used in a sentence, “the summer sounds of bees buzzing and birds cheeping” or “the headline editor got distracted by the tweet, chirp, and trill in the newsroom and confused the word ‘cheep’ with the word ‘cheap’ ”.


You see, the headline editor made another error too. The Green Acres Mobile Home Park is not in the City of Greenacres. That mobile home park is located in unincorporated Palm Beach County or also accurately referred to as suburban Lake Worth because that location uses a ‘Lake Worth’ zip code.

The address for the Green Acres Mobile Home Park is 3033 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463. For those of you wondering why the City of Lake Worth wants to rename this City “Lake Worth Beach” you can better understand why.


How long did it take to find this information?
About two minutes or so.

Click on map to enlarge. The crime reported by
Olivia Hitchcock occurred in unincorporated PBC
(area in white) between the City of Greenacres
and Village of Palm Springs:

For the headline editor(s) at the Post, learn how to use the Geo Nav Mapping Tool to find out, “Where exactly are places, cities, towns and villages in Palm Beach County? And why it matters.”

This Saturday (Nov. 10th) is the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony of Honor in the City of Lake Worth.


Monday, Nov. 12th is the official observance of Veterans Day in the United States, a government holiday.

Here in this six square mile City of Lake Worth the final resting place for many veterans is Pinecrest Cemetery. Learn more about this cemetery below.

And Sunday, Nov. 11th is the one hundred year anniversary of one of the most significant days in American History:


Armistice Day, marking the official end of World War I:



100 years ago. . .

In 1918, at that resonant moment, the 11th hour, of the 11th day, in the 11th month, the war we said would end all wars came to an end.


Please make plans to participate this year.

Veterans Day is every year on November 11th. Since this day is a Sunday this year the City of Lake Worth’s annual Veterans Day events will be held on Saturday. See below for contact information and start planning now if your organization would like to take part.

The City of Lake Worth has a cemetery for veterans: Pinecrest Cemetery.


Hard to believe but still some TV news reporters and local beat reporters at The Palm Beach Post have difficulty with identifying the actual City of Lake Worth and areas outside the City. Take for example the South Florida National Cemetery (SFNC), a national cemetery maintained by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs officially dedicated in March 2008. The SFNC is located west of Greenacres and south of Wellington.

Everyone values the First Amendment and Free Speech. But enough is enough. When the Post year after year confuses the public about where the City of Lake Worth is located and about something so important as to where our nation’s veterans are buried something had to be done. Click on this link to learn more about what happened at the Lake Worth City Commission.

The history of Pinecrest Cemetery began in 1915. Every year in this City a ceremony is held at Pinecrest Cemetery to honor those veterans. Stay tuned for more details.

On the topic of veterans below is very interesting information from The Lake Worth Herald about American Legion Vogel-Lee Post #47 that was chartered almost ninety-nine years ago. Also of historical significance in this City is I. A. Banks Memorial Park, formerly called the Osborne Municipal Cemetery. Learn more about these two historical topics below.

The City of Lake Worth invites everyone to Pinecrest Cemetery and the Downtown Parade that follows to honor American veterans and their service.


“Save the Date!”

For more information contact Mr. Ben Kerr, the City’s public information officer at 561-586-1631 or send an email: bkerr@lakeworth.org


Now to some very interesting history about the City of Lake Worth.

From the Genealogical Society of Palm Beach County is this excerpt about the “Pine Crest” cemetery which later became known as Pinecrest:


In 1915, the Lake Worth governing body appointed a committee to scout around and find a suitable location for a cemetery. The committee members reported that there was a 9.2 acres parcel adjoining the southwest corner of the town, immediately west of A Street between 9th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South. The city commission was urged to buy the land before the price went up, which they did, paying $10 per acre for a total of $920.00.


The address for Pinecrest Cemetery is 1724 12th Ave. South. For more information about this cemetery contact Andy Helbling, the City of Lake Worth’s Grounds & Cemetery Supervisor on Monday–Friday from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at 561-586-1677 or by email at: ahelbling@lakeworth.org


FYI: The City of Lake Worth’s I. A. Banks Memorial Park (the former Osborne Municipal Cemetery) is a 1½-acre cemetery located in what was called the “Osborne Addition” which was for African Americans during segregation. This cemetery is located at the northwest corner of Washington Ave. and Wingfield St. In 1983 the City was petitioned to rename this cemetery in honor of Rev. Ira A. Banks, the founder of New Hope Baptist Church located diagonally southeast across Washington Ave.

More City of Lake Worth history.


The American Legion Vogel-Lee Post #47 was chartered on October 16th, 1919. The first commander was a man named John Prince. Does that name sound familiar?

The Post name “Vogel-Lee” is in honor of Mr. Vogel, “the first from the area KIA [Killed In Action] in WWI and Mr. Lee was the first from the area KIA in WWII.”

More information courtesy of your LOCAL newspaper, The Lake Worth Herald:


The American Legion Vogel-Lee Post is located at 2315 N. Dixie Hwy. in the City of Lake Worth. Commander is Herm Apol. All veterans welcome. Regular meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00. Next meeting is on November 21st:


Free one year’s membership to new signups. BINGO every Thursday at 6:30; FREE card on your birthday. Dinners every Saturday from 3:00–6:00. Karaoke every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. For more information call 561-582-4616.


Have an announcement for the public?


“Free listing for service clubs’ and charitable organizations schedules and special events
open to the public.”

Send information to About Town, 1313 Central Terrace, Lake Worth, FL 33460, fax 561-585-5434 or email: lwheraldje@gmail.com

Message from editor: “Please keep it brief.
We reserve the right to edit and/or reject any announcement deemed not appropriate
for this column.”

Monday, November 5, 2018

Blast from the past. Nov. 2nd, 2016: Mayor Pam Triolo, “Flips The Switch ON” for City’s new LED street lights.


And just six days after this event the Neighborhood Road Bond went to the voters by referendum. It passed by a “whopping 69 percent” and sealed the fate of two former commissioners in this City of Lake Worth.

Also worth noting, the editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post did not make an endorsement for the City’s Road Bond Referendum on Nov. 8th, 2016.

And in another interesting twist, the editor(s) at the Post did not publish an endorsement for President of the United States either. But the Post did publish full-page ads with the message, “VOTE TRUMP!”

Now to that blast from the past on Nov. 2nd, 2016 when Mayor Triolo, “Flips The Switch ON” for LED street lighting. And. . .


Politics 101, “When you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.


But sometimes it’s too late to “join ’em” when the train has already left the station.

At the end of this blog post is the video of this public event outside City Hall in early November 2016.

But first, let’s set the stage.


And starring in that video is the former District 2 City commissioner who got booted out of City Hall on March 14th, 2017. You see, Chris McVoy, PhD, was a big critic of fixing the street lighting in the City of Lake Worth for a whole lot of goofy reasons and maybe that was why the editor at The Palm Beach Post called him a “gadfly” in the endorsement for then-Mr. Omari Hardy. Mr. Hardy is now Commissioner Hardy.

And also in the video is former District 4 Commissioner Ryan Maier. Unfortunately for Maier he oftentimes followed the lead of McVoy until he ‘saw the light’ so to speak. But it was too late. The political damage had already been done. Maier opted not to run for re-election.

Also on the March 2017 ballot was the rare “open seat election” and on that ballot was a man named Mr. Herman C. Robinson. Mr. Robinson is now District 4 Commissioner Robinson.


The 2016 Neighborhood Road Bond result:

Following the vote Rick Christie, the editor at the Post wrote, “Lake Worth is poised for some major upgrades following residents’ approval — by a whopping 69 percent. . .”


And then in 2017 when Chris McVoy, PhD, ran
for re-election the voters said, “No”.

Mr. Herman Robinson handily won the “open seat election”. The ballot “Question” was to raise terms for elected officials from two to three year terms. It passed quite convincingly.


What follows is a blog post from two years ago of the event outside City Hall.


An event held just six days prior to the Neighborhood Road Bond referendum on Nov. 8th, 2016.


Without further ado. . .


It was exciting to be there last Tuesday and watch this event. The City continues to get rave reviews and kudos for the new LED lighting from outside the City limits as well. Along with this being a celebration, a victory lap if you will, there were a few comedic moments as well for those of you following this situation closely.

All of the elected’s showed up which was nice to see. Early on in the process back in 2014 to fix the street lighting, at the urging of neighborhoods and PBSO for public safety reasons, a few vociferously criticized the City with much the same complaints you hear now about the Neighborhood Road Bond referendum next Tuesday.

Commissioner Chris McVoy was one of those critics and after the lights began to be installed throughout the City came to realize he made a very bad political decision and started back-pedaling so fast he left a vapor trail. Now McVoy is a big fan and thinks these LED lights are the best thing, well, since sliced bread.

It was quite funny to watch him at the City’s “Flipping Of The Switch” trying to get in front of the cameras and get noticed. If the referendum passes next Tuesday he’ll do much the same thing at another press conference. He’ll try to take credit for fixing our roads as well.

But that’s politics. Just the way it is.

The cavalry arrived in the College Park neighborhood last month [Oct. 2016] to replace lighting with new LEDs.


Utility worker descends after replacing a very old, ‘dead’ incandescent. He was very courteous and told me everyone is very pleased with the new LED lights.


Interestingly, I don’t recall any of those complaints when all the roads and sidewalks were replaced around Sunset Park on North D Street two years ago [in 2014].


Hope you enjoyed this blast from the past.

Enjoy the video!

[Chris McVoy, PhD, is wearing the light-blue shirt and blue jeans. Ryan Maier the dark suit and hair bun.]

Consumers of ‘news’ need to know when the ‘tail’ is “wagging the dog”.


And am pleased to report this City of Lake Worth
is ‘wagging its tail’ in a brisk manner.


When it comes to the press and news media oftentimes ‘the news’ is what gets the most ‘kicks’ and social media clicks. And serious public policy news oftentimes doesn’t get the most ‘kicks’ and ‘clicks’. Why is this important?


Because there were two major developments in this
City of Lake Worth last week, both of
which are “Worth Noting”.

First, we learned last week Ordinance 2018-17 will be heard at Second Reading for “The MID” on Tuesday, Nov. 13th at 6:00 in City Hall and also last week was a joint press release from the City of Lake Worth and Community Redevelopment Agency.


The press release and Ordinance 2018-17 cited above are truly significant for this City of Lake Worth.

So as you read or watch press and news media accounts about this or that up to and including what will happen at City Hall on Nov. 13th ask yourself this question:

Are the press and news media wagging the dog or trying to wag the tail instead.


What does “Wag the dog” mean?


To ‘wag the dog’ means to purposely divert attention from what would otherwise be of greater importance, to something else of lesser significance. By doing so, the lesser-significant event is catapulted into the limelight, drowning proper attention to what was originally the more important issue.

The expression comes from the saying that ‘a dog is smarter than its tail’, but if the tail were smarter, then the tail would ’wag the dog’. The expression ‘wag the dog’ was elaborately used as theme of the movie. ‘Wag the Dog’, a 1997 film starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman, produced and directed by Barry Levinson.

Snowbirds, hope you’re settling in for another wonderful Season!



WARNING.

Below are images, following the heading “NSFW/NSFC”, that some might find disturbing and objectionable. However, what others may find disturbing and objectionable is how rudely and quite un-charming some people can be to our treasured Snowbirds in South Florida. For example, discovering ones favorite parking spot has been taken up by a Volvo with a Canadian license plate is no reason “to lose ones cookies” so to speak. Just stay calm and find another spot.

NSFW  =  Not Safe For Work; NSFC  =  Not Safe For Children.

Without further ado, always keep in mind. . .


“It’s the ‘Snowbird Effect’ that keeps Florida going.”


It is once again time for those annual obligatory musings to begin about “inconveniences” created by Snowbirds from the media and press, pundits, self-described satirists, and malcontents in general.

To our Annual Migration of Snowbirds:

Know that you have a lot of friends here in Palm Beach County and in communities such as the City of Lake Worth who truly appreciate what you contribute! We’re looking forward to seeing you once again for the upcoming 2018–2019 Fall/Winter Season.

Before long, you know, it will begin snowing!

Meet Mr. Jorge Pesquera, President/CEO of
Discover The Palm Beaches:



Let’s examine a letter written by a proud Snowbird.

This was a classic Letter to the Editor that appeared in The Palm Beach Post in May 2015, presumably on the way back home up north. The letter takes on those that don’t particularly like the Snowbirds or question their contribution to our South Florida economy:


I’m tired of hearing “Thank goodness, the snowbirds have gone home.” Think about it, people in Florida. We snowbirds own property, here in Florida. We pay taxes. We frequent the restaurants and venues that you “Floridians” enjoy all year around.
     If it wasn’t for the snowbirds coming down, your lifestyle would be different.
     We also help to pay for the upkeep of parks, schools and beaches; and do volunteer work. Some of you seem to forget that while there may be a wait during “the season,” the influx of money coming into our area is what keeps things going year-round.
     If the snowbirds did not fly south each winter, and if businesses didn’t have this income, your favorite place would not survive on your patronage. It’s the “Snowbird Effect” that keeps Florida going.
      Appreciate that when we are gone, you have a chance to enjoy what a lot of us snowbirds contribute to and keep going — all year long.



Then there’s a few like The Obtuse Blogger (TOB) who live in cities like Lake Worth year-round in one of those communities west of I-95 that just happens to be a very convenient nesting place for Snowbirds.

Disturbing and objectionable images follow.

If you wish not to object or be disturbed please scroll down to the blog post following this one. The countdown begins.

Three.

Two.

One.


NSFW/NSFC:

You’ve been warned.


TOB is not exactly a big fan of Snowbirds:

Here TOB is unhappy “snowbirds” can purchase decals for parking at the Lake Worth Beach
and Casino Complex.


It's anyone’s guess what is fueling the anger here. Maybe somebody parked in “her spot”.


Don’t be deterred Snowbirds. The vast majority of us in South Florida welcome you and appreciate what you add to our communities. Hope to see you soon!

Hmmm: “There has been a little bit of a fuss on J Street the past few weeks.”


But if it’s a “little bit of a fuss” then why is it even news in The Palm Beach Post in the first place?


Shouldn’t the real story be, “Why is the Bamboo Room on J Street still shuttered?” Learn more about the Bamboo Room a little later in this blog post.

And also a little later you’ll learn about three (3) tremendous and truly exciting things that happened in this City of Lake Worth last week. Each and every one of them much more significant than that ‘fuss’ on J Street and also three more reasons why you should become a subscriber to The Lake Worth Herald and support LOCAL small town journalism that matters.

But that ‘fuss on J Street’ is THE TOP STORY in The Palm Beach Post on p. B3 in today’s Lake Worth Very Very Special Monday Cursory Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE) published every single Monday in the Post. And to this day no one knows the reason why. The editor(s) at the Post never gave a reason. They just did it.

The LWVVSMCPE, for those of you unaware, began over three years ago about the same time PBSO began the merge with the City of Greenacres’ PD.

And if you didn’t know the Post was put up For-Sale in November 2017 and bought by GateHouse Media in May 2018. Hopefully soon there will be a change of course at that newspaper. After three years it’s about time the LWVVSMCPE becomes the Greenacres Very Very Special Monday Collector Print Edition (GVVSMCPE).

Really now, don’t you think it’s about time the editor(s) at the Post educate the public about what’s happened in that city since the merge with PBSO?

“There has been a little bit of a fuss. . .”


But when it comes to the Post there’s usually a fuss about something anyway in this City of Lake Worth like for example the long-chronicled story about Artsy Fartsy Décor & More.

What’s happening or not happening on J Street — you know, that ‘fuss’ — is just a distraction.

Because the big problem with J Street is the Bamboo Room remains closed. That’s the big problem with J Street. If the Bamboo Room was open the public would be drawn off Lake Ave. despite the road closures for the monthly Lake Ave. Block Party.

And what will be the reason why the public is not drawn down J Street next Friday? Because next Friday evening is the first Beach Bonfire of the 2018–2019 Season at the Lake Worth Beach? Will every single event in Downtown Lake Worth be the reason for every business owner on J Street to complain about such low public interest south of the Book Cellar bookstore on Lake Ave.?

Once again, the ‘fuss on J Street’ is just a distraction. For example, from June of this year this particular art gallery is not new to ‘fusses’.


What happened last week that is truly “Worth Noting” in this City:


Here are some truly significant things that happened last week that should have been reported in the Post today, but weren’t:


However, what is THE BIG NEWS in the Post?

Here it is:


On Oct. 5, Lake Worth started the Lake Ave Block Party, a new monthly event the city started for people to enjoy live music, food and vendors. Lake Avenue is closed to traffic between J Street and Federal Highway.

But businesses on J Street said they’re hurting because, as Joyce Brown, creator and president of Flamingo Clay Studio told The Palm Beach Post, all merchants on the street have suffered terribly from the city’s decision to block their street off on the most critical evening of the week.

Why have those merchants “[S]uffered terribly”?


The problem on J Street is not the monthly Lake Ave. Block Party. The problem is — excluding the popular Book Cellar bookstore at the corner of J St. and Lake Ave. — there is little to draw the public down that street in the first place.

But a few years ago this was THE TOP STORY by beat reporter Kevin Thompson, “The Bamboo Room to open again soon on weekends”. It did for a while. But then someone came up with the not-so-brilliant idea to turn the Bamboo Room into a church.

You see, if the Bamboo Room was open now as a music and bar venue, what made it popular in the first place, the owner of the Flamingo Clay Studio would have little to complain about. No matter how many times the beat reporter at the Post quotes the owner of that coffee shop on J Street the public will still not magically appear on Friday evenings. But if the Bamboo Room was open it would be an entirely different story.

And besides, there are coffee shops everywhere including an excellent one at 205 N. Federal Hwy. called “Studio 205”.

But anyway. . .


Old news from nearly 3½ years ago.

Click on old news to enlarge:

Isn’t it about time for some new news in the Post about this old news? Like maybe try and find out why the Bamboo Room is still shuttered on J Street?

TODAY: Monthly meeting of the College Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) in City of Lake Worth.


This month’s special guest speaker is Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso. Below are more details about this meeting: location, time, and the agenda.

Note the fundraising efforts to raise more neighborhood banners is going extremely well. Special thanks to these local businesses:

  • Mama Gizzi’s Gourmet Pasta located at 2212 N. Dixie Hwy. in the City of Lake Worth; 561-642-9996.
  • C & J Auto Techs, 1301 N. Dixie Hwy. in the City of Lake Worth; 561-225-6272.
  • Aioli in West Palm Beach, the popular restaurant located in South End West Palm Beach, 7434 S. Dixie Hwy; 561-366-7741. FYI: The owners of Aioli are Lake Worth residents.
  • Dairy Queen, “Fan Food. Not Fast Food” also in South End WPB, 7900 S. Dixie Hwy; 561-429-4530.

Please go visit and say “Thank You” to these local businesses supporting the CPNA.

About tomorrow’s meeting. . .


The monthly CPNA meeting will begin at 6:30 at The Beach Club Lake Worth. The Beach Club is located at the City’s municipal golf course, #1 7th Ave. South,

“[I]n the beautiful Old Florida Charm of the Lake Worth Golf Course. . . . We are open to the public. No membership is required to enjoy one of Lake Worth’s hidden jewels!”

The Beach Club will have their full menu and bar available to everyone at the meeting tomorrow.

For the CPNA website click on this link and there is also a Facebook page.

Some of the items on the agenda will be an update from the CPNA board, information about the neighborhood Block Party last month, and please bring your questions for Vice Mayor Amoroso who is a big supporter of the business community is this City and the owner of the City’s newsstand at 205 N. Federal Hwy. called appropriately “Studio 2015”.

What exactly are the borders of the College Park neighborhood within the greater Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council?


Good question!

This historic neighborhood in the City extends from Dixie Hwy. east to the Lake Worth Lagoon and north from Wellesley Drive (north side of street) to the C-51 Canal which includes the City’s Spillway Park. The C-51 Canal, by the way, is the historical border between the City of Lake Worth and our neighbor to the north, West Palm Beach, which does not have a beach.


Click on image to enlarge:

“The College Park subdivision was created by plats filed between December 1924 and May 1925. Edgewood Realty Co. of West Palm Beach opened the College Park development.”


College Park within the six-square-mile City of
Lake Worth is, “Between the Dixie and the Lake,
South of the Palm Beach Canal”:

The “Dixie” is now a major thoroughfare (U.S. 1; Dixie Hwy.), the freshwater “Lake” is now the Intracoastal and “the Palm Beach Canal” is now the C-51 Canal managed by the South Florida Water Management District.


The C-51 Canal will be undergoing major changes in the near future on both sides of the canal — in the City of Lake Worth and in the City of West Palm Beach too — in addition to the future Blueway Trail project bypassing the S-155 Spillway structure, creating more access for the public between the Inland Chain of Lakes and the Intracoastal (Lake Worth Lagoon).


Back to the CPNA. . .


Our goal is to protect and improve the neighborhood by building strong relationships among neighbors, our neighborhood merchants, our City government, local law enforcement [PBSO] and other neighborhood associations throughout the City of Lake Worth.

Why is this neighborhood called College Park?

Unique to College Park is the naming of each street after prominent American colleges and universities. From Wellesley to Maryland; from Holy Cross to Vanderbilt, and from Carolina to Notre Dame.

About one of the College Park neighborhood’s biggest challenges. . .


A vacant eyesore which could be a nice addition to the neighborhood when it finally catches the eye of a developer some day. That empty lot on one of our major thoroughfares entering the City — actually made up of three lots on the east side of Dixie which include 2302, 2314, and 2318 N. Dixie Hwy. — was once a thriving part of this region in coastal Central Palm Beach County:


The former Patio Coffee Shop.

Across the street from the Patio (at 2401 N. Dixie Hwy.) is where the former Park Avenue BBQ once stood.

Where the Park Avenue BBQ was is now a parking lot for World Thrift, a very nice parking lot, it’s nicely landscaped and kept clean and tidy. Unlike the unkempt lots on the east side of Dixie Hwy.


Those empty lots which make up the frontage of an entire block are in the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) district. It was once a popular destination for residents and visitors just like World Thrift is today here in this City.

Having a parking lot on the west side of Dixie isn’t my dream for that location but World Thrift is a very good neighbor. They keep their parking lot clean and well lit up at night in addition to the new signage. A very big improvement.

Who would have thought when World Thrift opened it would attract so many customers from the Town of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach too?

And hopefully some day soon that vacant block on the east side of Dixie Hwy., on one of our major thoroughfares entering this City, will once again become a destination.

And maybe even a place where the CPNA can hold meetings in the future — a prominent place, maybe even a trendy new restaurant — that is actually located in the College Park neighborhood.

You see. . .


The CPNA holds their monthly meetings at The Beach Club which is located in the Parrot Cove neighborhood.

For the map of all NAPC neighborhoods in the City of Lake Worth click on this link.