Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Celebrating Travel Rally Day - Anyway I can!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Tuesday is Travel Rally Day, the national day of observance within National Tourism Week...

And in honor of the occasion, I thought that I would string some thoughts together on the topic.  I have already pointed out that the City Commission will be adopting a proclamation at tomorrow night's (5/7/13) meeting recognizing same.  Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, put together a nice commentary on the importance of tourism in Palm Beach County and the role it is playing in our economic recovery.  No doubt that even if Lake Worth doesn't have a single hotel meeting today's lodging standards, I am sure that the city benefits from tourists and their dollars through visits to our charming downtown and renovated beach property.  But, I am sure that most would agree that we could take better advantage of the $5 billion spent by 5 million Palm Beach County visitors if we had one, two or three operating hotels within the city, as well as taking better advantage of some unique community assets that set us apart from other municipalities in Palm Beach County.  Doing so would likely make Lake Worth more attractive to a potential  hotel operator.

Let's think about our waterfront.  We have Bryant Park that extends from Lake Avenue to 5th Avenue South and the golf course that extends from Lucerne to 16th Avenue North.  We also have the Snook Islands - phases I and II and a new boat ramp.  And we have the beginnings of a boardwalk along the waterfront in the form of the Snook Islands Natural Area access just north of the bridge.

There was a recent article about the West Palm Beach public golf course and clubhouse in the Palm Beach Post.  In fact, there was a meeting this morning of the city's golf commission - made up of the city commission - to discuss the findings of study showing that there was mold present in the clubhouse, the air conditioning system needs to be re-done along with other failings of the existing building.  Staff is recommending that the building be "vacated" and that a new building be built sometime in the future - perhaps in the next five years.  As the article reveals, the restaurant there has quite a following, at least more so than the one that we have in the Lake Worth clubhouse, that concern is being raised about what will happen to its operations in the interim.  Commissioner Materio is right to raise questions about whether the time is now to do the "tear down" or hear more about what it would cost to repair the existing building.

Those who have been Lake Worth residents for a while remember what the former Lake Worth Golf Course clubhouse was like.  For those that don't, upon entering the building one was treated to the overwhelming fragrance of "Early Nursing Home."  The carpets were perpetually stained and the building did not take advantage of its Lake Worth Lagoon waterfront location.  In the late 90s, we were treated to a new clubhouse, in the same location as the older one.  I don't remember the discussion then, but it seems to me that there was some consideration of moving the clubhouse to the southern part of the course so that it could be visible from Lake and Lucerne and take advantage of the traffic coming and going over the bridge.  Someone can help me out here, but I think the prevailing thought of "let's keep it where it is" carried the day due to changes required in the routing of the golf course.  A clubhouse in the middle of the course allows one to stop for a break between the first nine and the last nine.  I defer to golfers for other reasons for not moving the clubhouse..

And, think about if the clubhouse had been moved so that it could be accessed from Lucerne.  The Gulfstream Hotel was operating at the time and I am sure the two restaurants could have benefited from their prime locations and created a synergy of economic and pedestrian activity in that area.  Then you add the possibility of a water taxi that links all of the waterfront downtowns in Palm Beach County and we'd be able to take advantage of tourists and their dollars in a bigger way.

Someone showed me the amenity book, dated 2005, that was in each of the Gulfstream Hotel's room when it was last operational.  I found it astonishing that under "Recrational Activities," it mentioned a few golf courses in Palm Beach County but failed to mention the Lake Worth Golf Course that was essentially right across the street.

So, for now, we have a closed Gulfstream Hotel which may not be a hotel in the future, a golf course restaurant concession that is not a destination and lost opportunities that would take greater advantage of our waterfront location.  But we still have the "potential."  Something Lake Worth is well-known for - its potential.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Does anyone else find this ironic?

That a city without a hotel that meets any minimum acceptable standard for contemporary lodging would be issuing this proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week from May 4th to 12th?

We are encouraged to wear red in honor of the week this coming Tuesday.

How You Get Hacked at Starbucks [INFOGRAPHIC]

In the same vein, it's not only the government that you need to worry about concerning your digital information.  Click title for link.

Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government? | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Something that many people may not realize, but some seem to.  Click title for link.  From the article:
That no human communications can be allowed to take place without the scrutinizing eye of the US government is indeed the animating principle of the US Surveillance State. Still, this revelation, made in passing on CNN, that every single telephone call made by and among Americans is recorded and stored is something which most people undoubtedly do not know, even if the small group of people who focus on surveillance issues believed it to be true (clearly, both Burnett and Costello were shocked to hear this).

Commissioner Jennings' Illegal Boarding House - Re-Post

Note:  Originally published on February 23, 2010 while Commissioner Jennings was in office.  The City Commission will be talking about vacation rentals on Tuesday night and how currently, the code limits rentals to longer that 60 days, but the law is not enforced.  It turns out that there are at least 50 homes within Lake Worth that are renting out by the night or week.  There are certain bed and breakfast establishments that see this as an affront to their doing legitimate business.  Which led me to re-call how the "cow got out of the barn" under the not-so-watchful eye of Commission Jennings.  Seems like she had a good thing going on, and may continue to.  But that's o.k. - what are rules anyway?  Things that are made to be broken, I guess.

 Click title for link to New Times' article by Lake Worth resident Gail Shepherd from February 8, 2010 entitled: "Why Cara Jennings May Be the Healthiest City Commissioner in Florida" This is nothing but a pure fluff piece trying to show that Commissioner Jennings continues to be Lake Worth's living combination of Mother Teresa and Eull Gibbons.

 First, let me say that I support urban agriculture, local produce and sustainable practices in the production of food.  I draw the line at bees, chickens and ducks, but produce plants are fine in the backyard, perhaps even the front yard.  It's better than dried out St. Augustine grass or miscellaneous weeds.  That is not the issue I have with what goes on in the 800 block of North "C" Street - a property that carries a single family land use designation.


The city is governed by a Zoning Code, which corresponds to different areas of the city.  The above map is the future land use map that appears in the City's Comprehensive Plan.  It shows that Commissioner Jennings' property carries a single family land use designation.  To find out what is meant by single family, you refer to the definitions section of the Zoning Code.  The definition for family appears below:
In short, any group of more than three people living together is not considered a "family."  The zoning district most associated with a single family future land use designation is SF-7.  This is the "intent" of that district.
You  can have one single "family" per household - period.  There are other very limited uses as this is our most restrictive zoning district.





No where does this zoning district allow "boarding houses" - as is apparently described pretty accurately in the article by Ms. Shepherd.  This is the definition of "boarding houses" as contained in our Zoning Code.
So, City Commissioners are many things in addition to being our elected representatives.  They serve as models of behavior.  Reading the article, you get the sense that Ms. Shepherd thinks it would be great if all of us could live in such a manner.  And in a Utopian world, it may be an ideal.  However, what would it be like if these "boarding houses" spring up - one on every single family zoned street in the city?  That would amount to intensification of use in our single family neighborhoods - something that Commissioner Jennings vocally and actively opposes at every turn.  A certain four acre parcel on Sunset Drive comes to mind.  Commissioners also sit in judgment of many property owners on other requests and, indirectly, through being the ultimate policy maker on top of the city's organizational chart.  That is: in charge of code enforcement, zoning and planning.  This is also the same Commissioner that stomped on other people's property rights in limiting height across the board in Lake Worth to three stories.  

What is the fix?  If Commissioner Jennings thinks this is such a good idea, she should propose that these "boarding houses" or "Community-Oriented Anarchists Collective Homes" be written into the Zoning Code so that they would be allowed throughout the city - apparently "by right" and not with any licensing or oversight.  Or, lest anyone think that rules that apply to them do not apply to a sitting City Commissioner, she should cease and desist the "boarding house" in this location and find somewhere it is actually allowed within the city. Or, if she chooses to continue this operation, then she should be cited and taken through the code enforcement process.

I hope this was not too "vituperative" Ms. Shepherd.

More from the people that headquarter here in Lake Worth...


Saturday, May 4, 2013

Pics from the beach today...




A young lady was on the ground, sitting up and being attended to by paramedics.

This required two trucks and blocking of one lane and at least six parked vehicles.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Today is "Lake Worth Centennial Day" in Florida

Click title for link for bill filed by Senator Jeff Clemens designating May 3, 2013 as "Lake Worth Centennial Day" in Florida.

Three companies locate operations in Palm Beach County and... | www.palmbeachpost.com

Three other areas of the county other than Lake Worth will be benefiting from relocations and business expansions.  This does cost us in the long run as the divide gets deeper and we lose non-residential tax base dollars to other communities which means that you and I are the ones left to pay the freight in Lake Worth.  Click title for link to article.

Lake Worth wins greenway grant of nearly $750,000 | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

More good news due to the hard work of the CRA and Lake Worth resident Erica Whitfield.  Click title for link to article.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

EXCLUSIVE: New York City bike-share program bans fat riders - NYPOST.com

This is ridiculous and unenforceable.  I do like the attitude of the person that is overseeing the program - that is was more a requirement of the manufacturer than anything else.  For my part, when I began riding my bike again as a New Year's resolution in January 2011, I would have been over that limit.  It's unfortunate that some people will use that as an excuse not to ride and be part of the program - the limit will to some degree become a barrier to people that want to lose weight through biking.  By the way, I think that the kayak purveyor for the Lake Worth Lagoon has a 250 pound limit.  This might make more sense in a kayak than a bike.  Click title for link to article.

A piece of Camelot and presidential history restored in West Palm Beach...

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Astrologist Amy Volkers 05/03 by High Noon in Lake Worth | Blog Talk Radio

Tune in for what should be a FUN show. I have used Amy's services off and on for the past 20 years - she is a well known Palm Beach County-based astrologist and will share the basics of her practice - as well as look at the city of Lake Worth's "natal" chart from 1913. We will get a peek at the clues that make the city what it is today and also get a glimpse of what the future has in store. 

Click the link for the live show between noon and 1 p.m. on 5/3 or later for the archived show.  Leave questions as comments below to be asked during the show.

Waste not, want not: Meet the woman who has scavenged for £80,000 worth of food for family from BINS | Mail Online

The woman featured in this piece looks like a soccer mom from Wellington, but she's not.  This one lives in Arizona.  She is going to be featured on TLC's My Crazy Obsession.  Perhaps they could produce a show here and combine dumpster diving with serial door-knocking and signature gathering - we'd have enough material for a mini-series.  Click title for link.

Recreation facilities turn $1.6 million profit | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

No, the headline is not a typo, it concerns the results of the Town of Palm Beach Recreation Department.  It seems like their docks are a big money-maker, but the golf course (a par 3) is breaking even.  The non-resident fee to play tennis on the Town's courts is just over $700 per year.  This is a highlight from the article:
As part of the budget review process, the commission recommended the town look into hiring another staff member to help reduce the workload of current employees, and to focus on marketing and communications.
The commission thought an additional staff member could provide a “new view” and bring “fresh ideas” to promoting recreational activities. Member Khooshe Aiken suggested the potential hire could do studies on how to best reach the Palm Beach audience, including writing blogs and using social media sites.
I wonder if Poodle Aerobics will be all the rage there that it has proven to be in other locations? 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A suggestion for a new class to be put on by the city's recreation department - perfect use for the Shuffleboard Court building!

Viva Florida 500 Tall Ship Event May 1-12, 2013 • The Cove in Port Canaveral, Florida

Can't miss this!  Another in the chain of state-sponsored events celebrating the 500th anniversary of the founding of Florida.  Click title for details.