Construction begins Monday on Flagler bridge replacement | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

Add another bridge across the Intracoastal that will be impaired for almost three years.  Most of the impact seems to be on downtown West Palm Beach, but there are only so many bridges.  This means that there are really only three working bridges in our general area - which may still mean even more traffic through our downtown.

TRNA | Meeting Reminder & Location Change

Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association will be meeting on Monday, September 10th @ 7pm. Please note that our meeting location has changed. We will now be meeting at the Shuffleboard Courts.

Jim Stafford on Lake Worth Utilities...

Elizabeth Harfmann - PBC Animal Care and Control 09/07 by High Noon in Lake Worth | Blog Talk Radio

There's another High Noon in Lake Worth show that will air tomorrow, Friday at 12 p.m.  We will be joined by Elizabeth Harfmann who is the spokesperson for this important Palm Beach County agency, Animal Care and Control.

Click title for link to the show.   There is a call-in number (646-716-9545) where you can ask questions during the live show.  Or, you can leave your questions as a comment below and we will be sure to address them while on air.  An archived version of the show will be available at the same link if you are not able to catch the live show.

COMPASS ANNOUNCES THE ONLY SOUTH FLORIDA READING OF DUSTIN LANCE BLACK’S NEW PLAY “8”

Compass, in partnership with the Lake Worth Playhouse, Joins Nationwide Productions and the first in Florida of Landmark Marriage Equality Play by Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter of Milk & J. Edgar.

Lake Worth, FL– On September 14th, Compass and the Lake Worth Playhouse, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to present the first  one-night-only staged reading in Florida of “8,” a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black.

“8” is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.

 Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk and the film J. Edgar, based “8” on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.  

The performance, acquired by Compass to kick off its 25th Anniversary year, is the only reading of “8” in south Florida and will be followed by a post-show talkback session facilitated by Tony Plakas, Compass’ CEO.  “Our goal in bringing this play to south Florida is to educate the public that marriage equality is an integral part of social justice in this community,” said Plakas.  “We are thrilled to partner with The Lake Worth Playhouse, whose goal is to align quality entertainment through artistic expression with volunteerism and community involvement.”

“8” had its much-heralded Broadway world premiere on September 19, 2011, at the sold-out Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City.  The production brought in over $1 million to support AFER’s efforts to achieve full federal marriage equality.  

“People need to witness what happened in the Proposition 8 trial, if for no other reason than to see inequality and discrimination unequivocally rejected in a court of law where truth and facts matter,” said AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black.  “The goal of ‘8’ is to show the world that marriage equality is a basic constitutional right.  The facts are on our side and truth always finds the light.  AFER and Broadway Impact are doing all we can to help speed that process along.” 



The story for “8” is framed by the trial’s historic closing arguments in June 2010, and features the best arguments and testimony from both sides.  Scenes include flashbacks to some of the more jaw-dropping moments of trial. 

On February 7, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a landmark decision upholding the historic August 2010 ruling of the Federal District Court that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.  The Ninth Circuit concluded: “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.  The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort.”

The cast will include Trent Steele, a local attorney and Palm Beach County Human Rights Council board member, Michael Woods, M.Ed. a Palm Beach County school teacher and Compass Board Member, Jason Parsley the Editor-in-Chief South Florida Gay News, Julie Seaver, Compass’ Director of Development, Michael McKeich Board President of the Lake Worth Playhouse, Ricky “Rollick” Klimas and many other Playhouse and Compass supporters.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.compassglcc.com orwww.lakeworthplayhouse.org

The Shoes of Happiness by Edward Markham (1913)

He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in.

Message from County Commissioner Steven Abrams re Tax Appeal Deadline: 9/17/12

"As Chairman of the Palm Beach County Value Adjustment Board (VAB), I want to remind everyone that Sept.17 is the deadline to file challenges to your property tax market value or classification.  Be aware, though, that a newly enacted state law requires taxpayers who file VAB petitions to pay all non-ad valorem taxes and at least 75% of their ad valorem taxes, even if they file a challenge (refundable with interest, if you prevail).Taxpayers have three (3) options to file VAB petitions:

·       On the clerk’s Web site (http://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/) using myVAB

·       In person, at the Clerk’s Governmental Center or branch locations

·       By mail, to 301 N. Olive Ave., Room 203, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33401

Petition forms for those who choose not to use the online myVAB option are available from the Clerk’s office, the Property Appraiser, and the Florida Department of Revenue’s Web sites.

If taxpayers have questions, they can check “Frequently Asked Questions for the Value Adjustment Board” on the clerk’s Web site or call Gloria Madison 561- 355-4299."

Steven L. Abrams, Vice Chairman

Commissioner, District 4

Palm Beach County Commission

Small Crowds Attend Republican Convention Protests - ABC News

Click title for link.  From the article:

"They've militarized Tampa. The chilling effect has succeeded," said Cara Jennings, a voter outreach organizer from Palm Beach County.

Jennings, who wore a pink, neck-to-knees vagina outfit decorated with sparkles, said she was protesting the GOP's position against abortion rights.

"The right-wing agenda is turning back time regarding women's bodies," she said.

Palm Beach County vacancy rates vary by ZIP code, community | www.palmbeachpost.com

Lake Worth's middle-of-the-pack status belies realities we deal with everyday.  Click title for link to PBP article

Is someone attempting to say he isn't an incumbent?

No "Re-Elect?"

Abraham Lincoln

"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."


Click here for entire State of the Union Address from December 3, 1861

Rising sea comes at a cost for South Florida cities | www.palmbeachpost.com

What Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties are doing to address rising sea levels.  Click title for link.  From the article:

"Schmidt said rainfall still accounts for 95 percent of the flooding in Miami Beach but in century or two, the city could be more like New Orleans, sitting below sea level with its safety dependent on sea walls and pumps. “Eventually, if the projections are true, you’re facing a position where the sea level rise would go above the land surface and then you’re raising critical infrastructure,’’ he said. “Your sea walls are going higher, you’re putting in locks and dams and you’re pumping almost everything.’’

I think it's time for this...