From Larry and the Flashlights...seems like part of the light shows that Ms. McGiveron has a "potty key" problem...

The following is a message left on Lynn Andersen's blog by Katie McGiveron on Friday, January 3, of this new year. She was upset about Scott Maxwell's  appearance on Channel 12 in a story from reporter Michael Buczyner on the second of January. Her advice to Commissioner Scott Maxwell is as follows:

Katie McGiveron writes: "Jesus Fuc$ing CHRIST!!! A message to Scott and the rest of the walking brain-dead on the Commission- SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT HOW GODDAMNED BAD LAKE WORTH IS !!!! If the press wants to pump you for ratings, politely REFUSE to give an interview!! Unless you can show Lake Worth in a positive light SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTHS !! Katie Mcgiveron"

Well, we thought it would be interesting to go back through Lynn Andersen's blog and find some examples of Katie McGiveron writing about Lake Worth "in a positive light." 

Here are just a few: 

On March 6, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote on Andersen's blog: "Mike Bornstein, William Waters, Pam Triolo, Andy Amoroso, John Zerti, Scott Maxwel, I, Katie Mcgiveron, am TOTALLY embarrassed for you. And for the rest of the citizens out there, keep trying to keep our city a great place to live, in spite of these disappointing people who are supposed to be our city staff and elected officials."

On March 13, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Greg, your side lied through their teeth, mooned the law and had the Palm Beach Post and the Lake Worth Herald performing for you like blind circus monkeys. You didn't have the balls to say 'Hey,we think that 65 feet would be better for our city than 45 and 35 feet in this area.' Thank God for HONEST, TRUTHFUL blogs like this one. People, we need a Commission that listens to the majority here in Lake Worth, not Greg Rice and his small and depressing band of bullshit slingers. Katie Mcgiveron"

On March 18, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Chip [Guthrie], you and Mary [Lindsey] and Greg [Rice] and Loretta [Sharpe] and Wes [Blackman] and Herman [Robinson], all of your supporters and your people are true bullshit slingers. You are common liars. You are law breakers. You should be ashamed, but you have no conscience. You managed to confuse a lot of people. What a low group you all are. No pun intended. Katie Mcgiveron"

On March 19, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "Chip [Guthrie] - I have no intention of showing the NO supporters any respect. Why should I? Why should anyone ? When the NO supporters run an honest campaign on the merits of their beliefs, then you will have earned respect. Until then, go bite each other. You suck. Katie Mcgiveron" 

On June 16, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "This is willful neglect. This Commission has a lot to answer for. Hundreds of thousands spent to fix this pool [Lake Worth Casino pool] when it didn't need to be fixed! The abuse is criminal. The lies surrounding this pool are monumental.I will be speaking to this at the next Commission meeting. Come join me, if anybody else out there even gives a damn. Katie Mcgiveron"

On June 19, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "As for 'doing good', rattling your cage is enough good done for one day. Your irritation makes me smile. Katie Mcgiveron"

On November 8, 2013 Katie McGiveron wrote: "I am sick to death of the city of Lake Worth being allowed to look like a homeless camp. I don't see homeless panhandlers on the corner of Worth Avenue and Ocean. I don't see bums huddled asleep in any of the Vias in Palm Beach. 
Bradshaw needs to be kicked out on his worthless ass. Enough. Katie Mcgiveron"

Mind you, this is just a tiny sample of Katie McGiveron and painting Lake Worth "in a positive light." Note in order she attacks: Commissioner Scott Maxwell, City Manager Michael Bornstein, William Waters, Mayor Pam Triolo, Commissioner Andy Amoroso, Commissioner John Szerdi, Greg Rice, Loretta Sharpe, Wes Blackman, Herman Robinson.....

There is much, much more. Too much for right now. 

Except for this enlightening bit from Lynn Andersen herself, her character analysis of Katie McGiveron:

On November 8, 2013 Lynn Andersen said, "I do want to say this--Katie is NOT bitter in any way. She expresses her opinions and does so matter of factly. She is a happy, go lucky gal who is serious on LW issues and speaks out."

We beg to differ on your analysis, Lynn. 

WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Top Stories - Lake Worth officials share city's plan to clean up nuisance properties

Another Channel 12 story, this time on Lake Worth's vacant and foreclosed houses, code enforcement issues and the plan ahead. Vice Mayor Maxwell is featured. Click title for link.

WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Top Stories - Heroin addicts flood Delray

Something that I am sure Delray Beach does not want to be known for. There have been 20 heroin overdoses in Delray Beach over the past month. Click title for link to story and video.

Editorial: Southeast Florida must head off effects of climate... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz reminds us of the impacts of climate change that we can expect to experience in south Florida. The Seven50 planning process is wrapping up, and no, it is not part of Agenda 21, or Area 51. From the editorial:

On Jan. 15, the last Seven50 meeting will take place in Fort Lauderdale. Seven50 began as an effort by the seven counties from Indian River through Monroe to plan as a region for the next 50 years, financed with money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local grants. Issues include transportation, economic development and climate change, building off the plan crafted in October 2012 as part of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

Florida sugar companies now have a global presence | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Just how large is big sugar? Click title for link to article which talks about how sugar has expanded here in western Palm Beach county and what a big player it is.

ASR, founded in 1998 as American Sugar Refining Inc., is jointly owned by the cooperative’s 46 growers and West Palm Beach-based Florida Crystals Corp, owned by the Fanjul family of Palm Beach. ASR’s goal was to begin the large-scale refining of their raw sugar.
Today, following a series of acquisitions, the company annually ships more than 4 million tons of sugar packaged under some of the world’s best-known brands to customers in 80 countries. Its revenues are more than $5 billion a year, and it has close to 4,000 employees worldwide.

Leader of Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass Hurt in Bicycling Accident

Stories like this alarm me. The person hit was the "head" of a group of people who are promoting cycling in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Click title for link to New Times article.

When Adam Sohn came upon an accident scene on Oakland Park Boulevard yesterday afternoon, he saw a messed-up bicycle and an injured man on the ground. He took a few pictures and posted them to the Facebook page for Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass -- a movement of cyclists who get together for a group bike ride once a month in protest of car culture and in celebration of bikes.

Florida’s mangroves are making a move north - Environment - MiamiHerald.com

There are many changes taking place due to the effects of climate change and this is one of them. We are witnessing some significant differences in how things were in the natural world. Some are benign, some are not. Click title for link.

From South Florida to St. Augustine, mangroves are making moves up Florida’s Atlantic coast, chewing up salt marshes in the latest indicator of global climate change. But scientists say the ecological consequences may not be harmful.“There are plenty of examples of climate change having a negative impact, but this is something very different,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “Here we have one important, highly productive coastal system — in this case, salt marshes — being replaced by another very important, highly productive coastal system — mangroves.

The Army Corps of Engineers evaluating proposal to deepen Intracoastal Waterway in Riviera Beach

Plans are moving forward to dredge the area around the Palm Beach inlet, Peanut Island and the Port of Palm Beach. We should know more later this year. This could affect the size of yachts that can visit the Rybovich marina. Click title for link to article.

 Boatyards like Rybovich support the plan to dredge because mega yachts are getting bigger and bigger and some of the world's largest cannot fit into the boatyards because the Intracoastal Waterway isn't deep enough.
"There are occasions now we have to turn people away because they don't have the draft to make it," Jason Sprague with Rybovich Boat Co. said.
Three hundred employees work at Rybovich now. If the Intracoastal is deepened to accommodate the larger yachts, Sprague estimates the company could hire as many as 300 more employees.

Re-Post for some reason this post is getting a lot of attention right now: EXCLUSIVE: This just in from German TV...

Thomas A. Bogar, Author and Historian 01/03 by High Noon in Lake Worth | History Podcasts

Join your host Wes Blackman as he welcomes Thomas Bogar to the High Noon in Lake Worth studios.Dr. Bogar has taught theatre history, dramatic literature, and theatrical production for forty years, most recently at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and directed over seventy theatrical productions. He holds a Ph.D. in theatre history/literature/criticism from Louisiana State University, an M.A. in play directing, and a B.A. in educational theatre, both from the University of Maryland.

In addition to Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination (Regnery History 2013), he is the author of American Presidents Attend the Theatre (McFarland, 2006) and a biography of 19th-century actor-manager John E. Owens (McFarland, 2002). His writing has appeared in Washington History, Maryland Historical Magazine, Teaching Theatre, and Music Educators Journal.

He is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships and served as a judge for Washington's Helen Hayes Theatre Awards. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Wes saw his talk on C-Span and is lucky to have secured his appearance on the show. Click title for link to live show between 12 and 1 p.m. on Friday, or after the show airs for the archived show. Leave questions as comments below.

Here are some images he shared from the book.

Cover of his book.

Ford Theater draped in black after the assassination.

John T. Ford, owner of the theater.

John Wilkes Booth

Candidate bolsters campaign with social media | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

A Town Council candidate in Palm Beach pledges to use social media as part of her campaign. Funny that the Shiny Sheet thinks this deserves an article about it as use of social media in campaigns is commonplace. But apparently not in Palm Beach. It sounds like she is going to let the "help" take care of the details. Click title for link to article.

“I’m using social media because I really think there are important issues in our campaign, and I’ve been a teacher and I realize how important it is that everyone gets the information,” she said. “I’m going to use every avenue to give people access to information, and social media is one of them.”
Townsend said she is “not a social media person” and has hired someone to help her manage the accounts. “It’s my thinking, my point of view, and their technical expertise,” she said. “I control content.”

Maybe it's because they haven't had a municipal election since 2010? I do applaud her efforts.

2014 forecast: A hot year in Florida politics | The Florida Current

This is a great layout of Florida's political year ahead - 2014. It is a month-by-month countdown of the major events that will be taking place in our state's representative democracy. Click title for link to article. Here is one from March about Governor Scott's State of the State speech.

March 4: The 60-day session of the Legislature begins. Gov. Scott will deliver his “State of the State” speech outlining his top priorities. Expect plenty of positive economic statistics and no shortage of jabs at his predecessor. The main question for everyone involved in the legislative process, however, will be how far Scott is prepared to push his priorities in an election year. That includes how much he will personally lobby lawmakers -- something he has been reticent to do and has had mixed success at best when he has tried. The advent of session also puts lawmakers' fundraising on hold, while their opponents can continue their efforts.

Are municipal Facebook pages subject to Public Records Law? | MAOS by Chaz Stevens

Chaz Stevens posts an advisory Attorney General legal opinion on Facebook and other social media. It relates to the state's public records law and if government agencies that have a presence on these outlets are subject to the open records and meetings (Sunshine) laws. The simple answer is yes, but it can get a little complicated, as the lengthy opinion suggests. This item from the end of the 2009 letter could apply to this blog as I am an appointed member of an advisory board. I can opine here, but I am careful not to talk about things that will foreseeably come before the Historic Resource Preservation Board - and certainly not with other board members. Click title for link. This is the part that I am referring to:

“While there is no statutory prohibition against a city council member posting comments on a privately maintained electronic bulletin board or blog, . . . members of the board or commission must not engage in an exchange or discussion of matters that foreseeably will come before the board or commission for official action. The use of such an electronic means of posting one’s comments and the inherent availability of other participants or contributors to act as liaisons would create an environment that could easily become a forum for members of a board or commission to discuss official issues which should most appropriately be conducted at a public meeting in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Law. It would be incumbent upon the commission members to avoid any action that could be construed as an attempt to evade the requirements of the law.”

Guns, gators, Festivus part of Fla.'s weird year | TheLedger.com

MUST READ! Chaz Stevens' Festivus Pole makes the list, but I lost count of the strange encounters and happenings after the second page. Life is interesting in these here parts. Click title for link. This is just from the end of the article of oddball things taking place in 2013.

An 18-year-old man was charged with battery after giving people wedgies outside a Bradenton movie theater.
A Tampa-area woman was banned from swimming in her community pool in her blue, silicone mermaid tail.
A woman running for North Miami mayor claimed in campaign literature that she was endorsed by Jesus Christ.
And a celebration of Jesus with a nativity scene at the Capitol opened the doors to displays by others who don't believe in him, including a 6-foot-tall Festivus pole made out of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans.

Everglades refuge stalled at 10 acres but expected to grow - Sun Sentinel

The U.S. government is slow in assembling conservation land to protect areas that feed the Everglades system. Easements are possible over privately owned land. They are less costly, allow for continued agricultural use, but do not allow public access. It is important to note what is considered the "headwaters of the Everglades" as indicated in the article. Click title for link.

The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge was billed with much fanfare as a federal rescue of an imperiled environmental treasure in Florida. Drawn across Osceola, Polk, Okeechobee and Highlands counties, the refuge would target 50,000 acres for outright purchase and an additional 100,000 acres for partial ownership."This is a long-term commitment to the resource and to the landscape," said refuge manager Charlie Pelizza recently, commenting much as he did two years ago. "We don't expect it to happen in one year, five years or 10 years."The refuge may eventually reach Metro Orlando by taking in 10,000 acres of prairie, woods and wetlands just south of the Orange County line in Osceola County.The entire 150,000-acre mosaic of properties that federal officials want to acquire could cost more than a half-billion dollars.

Click here for Susan Stanton's updated bio as Greenfield, California's City Manager

Note that while in Largo, she says that "she successfully created a professional team orientated environment..."  If you are going to use that term, you really want to use the word "oriented", which is actually a word. It also says that while in Lake Worth, "she was tasked to fix the City's broken management systems and restore the financial stability and accountability."

Good luck Greenfield!

115 New Condos Unsold In Downtown West Palm Beach From Crash Of 2007

Those residential towers in West Palm Beach are not as empty as they seem. Notice that this article, which comes from the real estate sales side of the development industry, doesn't even mention Lake Worth. And it shouldn't. For all the screams of "over-development" we heard doing the boom period now some 10 years ago, we really didn't add that many residential units. In fact, we may have lost a net number of units due to foreclosures and some of our continued vacant structures. And, guess what, 11 more residential towers are planned for downtown West Palm Beach. Haven't heard of anything new planned for Lake Worth's downtown area, other than previously approved projects. I wonder why?

In the third quarter of 2013, buyers acquired nearly 100 condo units on the resale market at an average price of less than $125 per square foot in Downtown West Palm Beach, according to data from the Florida Realtors association.
As the developer unit inventory shrinks, at least 11 new condo towers with more than 1,800 units have been proposed in the Downtown West Palm Beach area as of December 23, 2013, according to the Preconstruction Condo Projects Database™ compiled by the licensed Florida brokerage CVR Realty™.
Overall, more than 180 condo towers with nearly 24,700 units have been proposed for the tricounty South Florida region of coastal Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach as of December 23, 2013, according to the Cranespotters.com.

Charlie Crist Won’t Be the Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee | Sunshine State News

After reading this, it leaves little doubt about the sorry state of the farm system for the Democratic party here in Florida. Why are we left with these sorts of choices? Click title for link to an op-ed piece on the topic.

No, Bill Nelson will jump in because the party’s only chance of having a competitive campaign against this governor is if the senator is the nominee. Otherwise, it will just be a host of television commercials with Charlie talking when he was a Republican, contrasted to what Charlie is saying now that he’s a supposed Democrat.
The Republicans won’t have to say anything; they’ll just let Charlie do the talking against himself.

Commentary: 2013 showcased ‘bright future’ of newspaper industry | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

All is not lost, according to the CEO of the Newspaper Association of America. I am sure that she still has sleepless nights and I am not sure that all is so rosy across the entire industry. But it is an interesting perspective from an industry insider. Click title for link.

Our audience has grown with the shifting digital landscape, and we’re seeing increased levels of audience engagement and new avenues of consumption. We made the first gain in circulation revenue since 2003, with revenue rising by 5 percent – from $10 billion to $10.5 billion – as digital subscriptions grew dramatically.

Cities learned to do more with less during recession | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

A commendable review of how many of the counties 38 municipalities suffered during the Great Recession by Kevin Thompson of the Post. Many municipalities kept their trucks and other vehicles longer, as well as cutting staff levels. City Manager Bornstein in quoted twice in the article. This is one of them. Click title for link.

The recession hit Lake Worth particularly hard because the city had so many problems before the economic downturn, said City Manager Michael Bornstein.
The city’s streets, sidewalks and drainage were literally falling apart, Bornstein said. “Nobody’s going to invest in the city if the roads are falling apart,” he said. “Do the meat and potatoes first before you do something fancy. Fix the roof that’s leaking before you go out and buy a Lexus to put in front of your house. We’re in our 100th year, but it’s almost as if we’re rebooting and starting over.”

The beach project is really Lake Worth's "Lexus" parked on our oceanfront. 

Caucus marks start of first election season since 2010 | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

The Town of Palm Beach will have contested seats for its Town Council election this year. The Town has a quaint "caucus" process that is described in the article where and how the actual nominations take place. Many times attendees appear in formal attire since the affair happens during the evening and people are usually rushing off to some social event after the event, or coming from one before. Click title for link.

More on drones or UAS in Florida...

Check out this video, around 10 minutes long, on the variety of applications available for "drone" aircraft. Those in the industry don't like the "drone" moniker. They prefer "unmanned aerial systems" or UAS. Click here for a piece on how the Space Coast is still going after the industry, even though they lost out on being a federal testing location.

Port officials begin effort to prepare for dredging | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com

More attention and money being lavished on Florida port facilities, with the state's assistance. Click title for link to article.

“With our large acreages from Georgia through Florida and our granite, sand and timber holdings, we have an even greater interest in the revitalization of the Port of Port St. Joe as we discuss the potential of having a port that accommodates heavy bulk cargo operational by the end of 2014 combined with the understood commitment from the state of Florida to build railroad access,” said Brenda L. Thueson, trustee of the foundation, in a statement.

Santiago Calatrava to Face Legal Action as Valencia's "White Elephant" Opera House Falls Apart | Inhabitat

This is what happens when a new building starts falling apart due to design and construction defects. The audaciously designed building might be interesting to look at and create a destination for the community. But when there are water problems, the roof starts blowing away and 150 seats were built with obstructed views, people rightly get a little upset.

Anyone know the status of the casino building repairs, punchlist, corrosion and water issues? Click title for link to story and slideshow.

From the intersection of 2013 and 2014 on Columbia Drive

January (ANNUAL) Meeting of the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool

I hope this finds you well.  I am writing to personally ask each of you to attend the January 4, 2014 Annual Membership Meeting for the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool.  The meeting will be held at the Lake Worth Pool at 9 AM.  Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

The meeting is important both for the future of the Friends of the Lake Worth Pool and its underlying mission of supporting water safety education and use of the Lake Worth Pool.  We will also be electing new officers for 2014.

PLEASE make a point to attend the meeting and help us start 2014 off on the right note.  Your participation, energy and ideas are greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Keiran

Florida laws taking affect [sic] in 2014: foster care, natural gas, sex trafficking and elections - SaintPetersBlog

A good review of some of the laws taking effect today in Florida. One includes incentives for the use of natural gas vehicles. Check out the post in the SaintPetersBlog by clicking the link. From the article:

HB 579: Establishes a five-year state fuel-tax exemption for natural gas, as an incentive for companies to expand use of natural gas vehicles. Also creates a fuel-tax framework for natural gas by 2019 that is similar to those for diesel fuel.
“This legislation will pave the way for the increased use of natural gas; spurring economic growth, reducing our dependency on foreign oil, and providing a cleaner burning source of fuel,” Sen. Wilton Simpson, who sponsored the bill, said in April.

Florida Loses Out on FAA Drone Testing In Latest Blow to Kennedy Space Center | FlaglerLive – Your News Service for Flagler County News Palm Coast News Bunnell Flagler Beach Beverly Beach and Marineland

Drone technology is fascinating and scary at the same time. I see by the article that Florida limited the ability of law enforcement to use the drones as surveillance devices in most cases. I understand that today it is illegal in the state of Illinois to fly a drone. So, it seems that the states will have a variety of confusing laws about what you can do with drones in the future and whether you can operate them in the first place. The decision is unfortunate for Florida's Space Coast as they are looking to fill the economic gap left by termination of the Space Shuttle program. Click title for link to article.

Letters: Electric car owner didn’t think it through | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

No, he didn't think through the fact that he was part of a condominium association. Oh, well. Click title for link to letter, but it states the obvious. That is one of the good things about living outside a formal condo or homeowners association. Those are the kind where there are significant dues and common areas and you just can't do everything you want. 

I remember going back more than 20 years ago, I visited the "Bluffs" development in Jupiter for a party. It is a very large condominium building near the water. As I remember it, all the units were facing a central parking area and could see the entire area from their walkway next to their unit. I had backed into my parking space. After being at the party for about 2 or 3 hours, I went out to my car and there was a slip placed on the windshield wiper referring to chapter and verse in the association's rules stating that backing into a parking space is not allowed and that this would be the final warning. My next infraction would get the vehicle towed at my expense. 

Historic West Palm Beach trolley tours resume Jan. 10 | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

If you haven't been on one of these, you should go one one during the new year. Eventually the Lake Worth Cottages group hopes to have similar offerings. Click title for reminder by Eliot Kleinberg.

Year in Review: PortMiami tunnel sees light of day - South Florida Business Journal

An update about the PortMiami tunnel, a huge project undertaken in advance of the Panama Canal widening. Don't forget to check out the slideshow after you click title for link. From the article:

When the tunnel opens, over 4,000 trucks trips daily will bypass the urban arteries and exit Interstate 395 directly to the port.
The tunnel is part of a high-stakes competition between ports on the East Coast to capitalize on the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Another important project started below the waterline in November as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed dredging of the shipping channels began. By deepening the channel to 52 feet from 44, it could welcome the massive post-Panamax ships. The port unwrapped four 25-story cranes in October especially for these massive vessels.

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year Everybody!

Time Is Running Out To Save Florida's Oranges : The Salt : NPR

More bad news for the citrus industry in Florida. Citrus greening is present in essentially every existing grove. You might want to listen to the NPR piece that is at the top of the article. Click title for link. As for me, I am lucky to have held on to a tangerine and a kumquat tree and both had some yield this year. I did have a pink grapefruit and at one time there was an orange tree in my yard.

Your Ad Here: State Negotiating For Advertising Along Florida’s Prime Nature Trails | FlaglerLive – Your News Service for Flagler County News Palm Coast News Bunnell Flagler Beach Beverly Beach and Marineland

Controversial signage program is proposed for some of the state's scenic nature trails. Not all are happy about the prospect. Click title for link. Here's what the signs would appear like:

Bikepath is proposing trailhead signs up to 16-square-feet and 13 access point signs up to 4-square-feet at seven parks at “no proposed cost” to the state.
On its webpage, the company claims to design “attractive and non-obtrusive” eco-friendly signs.
The Legislature’s first attempt at approving the park trail advertisements died in 2011 after opponents objected that the ads would become an intrusive distraction for those visiting pristine state lands.

Skyscraper Candles Let You Set the World’s Most Iconic Towers on Fire

Did you have trouble coming up with gift ideas for Laurel, Annabeth, Lynn and others in the "lo-rise" crowd? Well, I sure know that I did. Too bad I didn't stumble on these skyscraper candles prior to the gift giving part of the holidays. I suppose you can still get them and their novelty will assuage any guilt you may feel or uncomfort they may experience. Click title for link and do not miss the slideshow!

Bay State swamped with rising flood insurance premiums - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

Florida is not alone. Check out this article about flood insurance premium increases in Massachusetts. Click title for link. As we have noted before, it is due to the following:

Until last year the 45-year-old program offered subsidized insurance for owners of at-risk properties. But a string of losses from major storms such as Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina drove the program into a $25 billion deficit.
In response, Congress passed the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act, which requires the program to bring rates up to more realistically reflect risk. It also requires FEMA to remap flood plains to account for rising sea levels and an increase in severe storms.
Some of those increases, which began Oct. 1, are having a profound effect on real estate.

‘Walk’ recreation to mark Lake Worth church’s centennial | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Lot's of good historical information about St. Andrews Episcopal Church and the relationship with Holy Trinity in West Palm Beach by Eliot Kleinberg. Check out how they will be commemorating their 100th anniversary. Click title for link.

Before St. Andrew’s opened in 1914, the Cook family, Episcopalians, walked every Sunday, to attend services at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach.
Mrs. Arthur Cook; daughters Alice Maud and Florence May; and son Wilfred walked 7 miles each way. The four carried a lantern, as they often returned to Lake Worth after dark.
Holy Trinity’s rector at the time, the Rev. Gilbert Ottman, took pity on the Cook family and helped them found St. Andrew’s.
At 4 p.m. Sunday, parishioners and guests in 1914 attire will meet at St. Andrew’s and caravan up Dixie Highwayto recreate the Cook family’s walk over what was once a shell rock road.

That is quite a walk.

For some reason...

This particular is post is "pinning the needle" in terms of page-views this week. Also check out this link, but be prepared to be befuddled by the hall-of-mirrors logic within it. And as an example of the dystopian reality of which our anarchists and EF! friends lurk, people are told to attend "mandatory anti-oppression workshops" - one gets the idea that the punishments will continue until morale improves.

Good luck in navigating these choppy and murky waters.

Census Bureau Projects U.S. Population of 317.3 Million on New Year's Day - Population - Newsroom - U.S. Census Bureau

Interesting beginning of 2014 population projections for the U.S. and world. China and India are also mentioned. Click title for link.

Did you know...

That as a non-invasive species, the Eucalyptus is a hardy and versatile tree, making it a low maintenance alternative crop for Florida farmers?  Eucalyptus wood is used for a variety of products, including paper, lumber plywood, veneer, flooring, charcoal, firewood, fiberboard, essential oils, and landscape mulch. It also may be used for biofuel, with whole-tree chips supplying char and oil that can be transported and stored. The chips also can supply noncondensed volatile oil and low-energy gas to be used onsite or nearby.

Eucalyptus compounds can protect against insects, vertebrate herbivores, ultraviolet radiation, and cold stress. Among these are the terpenoids that give Eucalyptus foliage its distinctive smell.

At present three different Eucalyptus species are grown in Florida.  E. grandis (EG) and E.amplifolia (EA) are  fast-growing trees used for bioremediation applications, energy wood and mulch wood. Corymbia torelliana (CT)  are grown as windbreaks throughout  southern and central Florida.

Click here for more facts on the eucalyptus.

Hallandale commissioners approve taking from the city, giving to themselves | Broward Bulldog

This is an article on city commissioner salaries and compensation from the Broward Bulldog, focused on Hallandale Beach. It's about their new ability to utilize unused travel monies as part of their compensation package. You know, I am starting to think that the $14,500 we pay annually to each Commissioner and $15,500 for the Mayor is too low. It may be a good idea to survey other communities in Palm Beach County and see what the range of compensation is versus size of community etc. Click title for link to article. Here is a bit:

Hallandale Beach city commissioners have created a new policy they can use to boost their take home pay by allowing them to pocket up to $10,000 a year in unspent funds from their individual travel accounts.
The city’s five commissioners each earn about $22,000 for their part-time service. In addition, each gets a  $10,000 annual travel allowance.

Revived Palm Beach County reservoir making progress - Sun Sentinel

This reservoir would help solve the water storage problem water managers talk about being at the heart of south Florida's water supply issues. The first one will address the long identified need to direct more water south toward the Everglades. Click title for link.

Project backers contend that the area's unique geology — less porous than South Florida's usual below-ground limestone — makes it ideal for holding water.
The reservoir, which cost the South Florida Water Management District about $220 million, stretches for 2.8 miles north of Southern Boulevard and is nearly 1 mile wide.
It's 53-feet-deep and capable of holding 15 billion gallons of water. That's enough to cover 34,000 football fields with water one-foot deep, according to the water management district.
The reservoir was originally built to collect water that would be used to replenish the Loxahatchee River, to compensate for freshwater flows blocked though the years due to flood control for South Florida's development.

A second reservoir is being looked at to help with drinking water supplies to Broward and Palm Beach Counties. It could lessen the importance of Lake Okeechobee as a drinking water source too. The idea must be worth looking at since Drew Martin thinks it's a bad idea.

 But environmental advocates question the need for a second reservoir, especially when the first one has yet to work as planned. They contend that water conservation should be South Florida's focus and that the high cost of building a second reservoir could further delay Everglades restoration efforts.
"It would take money away from Everglades restoration [and] also raise rates for water users," said Drew Martin of the Sierra Club, who considers the project a waste of public money.

Hudson River town wonders what's next as GE plant heads south in latest NY manufacturing loss (12/21/13 2:14 pm)

Heading south in this case means moving to Florida. Losing manufacturing jobs is a national trend and Florida has lost 18 percent of its manufacturing jobs too, but not as much as other states. Florida is about to surpass the state of New York in total population, making it the third largest state in the nation. There are many reasons for this which we will explore more in this blog. Click title for link to article. Here is what is happening:

The Fort Edward facility and a long-closed sister plant in neighboring Hudson Falls used PCBs in production until 1977, and river sediment contaminated by discharges of the oily substance is being dredged by GE as part of a multi-year federal Superfund cleanup that could cost $2 billion.
With 177 production workers and 20 salaried employees, GE is not the biggest employer in the region. But the Fairfield, Connecticut-based company pays well. Production workers here average $28.50 an hour, according to estimates cited by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers Local 332.
GE officials say the plant has been losing money for several years and they will move to an existing facility in Clearwater, Florida, where the company can take advantage of efficiencies of scale. GE spokeswoman Christine Horne said their competitors are in lower-cost locations.

Reef balls on Memorial Stadium rubble provide haven for mussels and other marine life in Chesapeake Bay - baltimoresun.com

Pieces of the stadium in Baltimore that used to be the home of the Orioles, Colts and Ravens are now providing reef habitat in Chesapeake Bay. Mussels seem to be the prime beneficiaries. They got the idea from other projects that have taken in place in Florida. Click title for link.

FAI/IRF threatens Coca Cola and Nestle with product sabotage | anarchistnews dot org

This anarchist plot seems to have its origins in Greece. Most would refer to this as terrorism. Click title for link.

Editorial: Reduce noise at railroad crossings before more... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Andrew Marra, Lake Worth resident and member of the Post's editorial board weighs in on the noise impacts associated with increased volume of trains. The number of trains going through the eastern communities in Palm Beach County will multiply as All Aboard Florida and commuter trains linking south Florida's downtown areas come on line. Click title for link to the editorial.

How should the western areas grow? County commissioner wants... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

An hour long town hall discussion will take place on January 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the County's facilities at Vista Center, which is located at the northeast corner of Jog Road and Okeechobee Boulevard regarding growth and planned residential development in the western communities. I'm not sure that an hour is long enough given the need for a staff presentation and solicitation of public comments. People are wanting to see what the big picture will look like out west once these large residential projects start building out and if there is any hope of preserving their semi-rural lifestyles. Click title for link to article.

Wave of sand projects to bolster county beaches | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Tons of money being spent countywide to renourish beaches north and south in the coming years. Renourishment cannot go on during turtle nesting season, which makes up most of the warmer months of the year. Click title for link to the Palm Beach Post article. Here is summary of the pros and cons of beach renourishment:

Opponents of beach renourishment say hauling sand isn’t the only way to build up beaches. They contend that permanent and mobile groins, breakwaters and even strategically placed fishing piers can slow down the natural north-to-south movement of sand on the county’s coast.
Proponents counter that the money is well spent.
Beaches bring tourists, who drive the South Florida economy. Beaches provide habitat protection for sea turtles, birds and other wildlife. If beaches wash away, so do State Road A1A hurricane evacuation routes at the Juno Beach Pier, Sloan’s Curve in Palm Beach and on both sides of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.
Not to mention protecting the county’s billions of dollars worth of oceanfront property.
“If a road has a pothole, you would not dream of just leaving it there. It’s the same with our beaches. When we renourish our beaches, we maintain our infrastructure,” said Leanne Welch, the county’s environmental program supervisor for the dredging project.

Aging infrastructure leads to gas leaks | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

One of the problems facing all communities, including Palm Beach, is an aging natural gas delivery system. These steel pipes deteriorate over the years and sometimes cause some surprises and potential dangerous outcomes. Florida Public Utilities is trying to keep up with a regular replacement schedule, but sometimes emergency situations take precedence. Click title for link. From the article:

Three weeks earlier, a downed power line came into contact with a leak on Chilean Avenue, igniting a fire on the sidewalk. That leak was capped on Dec. 2 by Florida Public Utilities, and the blaze, with flames up to 5 feet high, was extinguished by Fire-Rescue workers.
The problem is that old gas lines are made of steel, and they corrode after so many decades of use, said Aleida Socarras, a spokeswoman for FPU.
The utility company is in the midst of a project to replace more than 350 miles of pipe in its service area, which covers Palm Beach County and parts of Central Florida. That task will take about 10 years to complete.

Artist unveils Ponce de Leon statue for Melbourne Beach...

New Frank Gehry Designed Biomuseo in Panama

Avant-garde structure designed by the famous architect is now under construction, along with the rest of the country of Panama, it seems. The museum will focus on the changes to the world facilitated by the Panama Canal and the linkages between North and South Americas.

Promotional Video about the Lake Worth Farmer's Market

Narrated by Commissioner Andy Amoroso, produced by Jon Faust.