Saturday, October 18, 2014
Lake Worth Herald editorial this week (10/16/2014) titled, "Don't Look Back"
Excerpts from the Lake Worth Herald editorial this week (10/16/2014) titled, "Don't Look Back" concerning the necessary roadway projects on the south side of the city:
Staff had recommended paving 7th Ave South to enable some traffic relief from the impending traffic congestion anticipated with the opening of LaJoya, a 50 plus unit apartment complex at the corner of 6th Ave South and F St.[Later...]
Commissioner McVoy has been seated throughout the planning stages for these projects and never voiced any objection. Now he comes in with allies, some of which McVoy filled out "blue cards" for, to voice objection to the plans, without regards for money already spent while he sat idly by.
This has been his method of operation throughout his terms as a commissioner and it is time to stop his diversionary tactics. Lake Worth is still suffering from a time in the not so distant past when a commission, loaded with McVoy sympathizers squandered money and thwarted growth in Lake Worth.
Many of the McVoy allies were familiar faces from not so long ago.
Unless someone from this vocal minority has a blockbuster idea that just blows the socks off anything staff and the engineers have presented, this commission needs to proceed as planned. Just listening to "I don't like this", or "I'll have to look at this out of my bedroom window," or a "Make it one way with lots of room for bicycles" should not sway the plans or delay the projects any further. Not everybody in Lake Worth rides a bike. We still need roadways for automobile traffic.To read the entire editorial, read other news in Lake Worth, and ponder the clever musings of Pelican Pete, visit LWHerald.com.
The commission should move ahead with the projects.
The dangers of tree-sitting protests; for future protests in the Briger Forest TAKE HEED!
In the wake of the seminar this morning at the Quaker Meeting House on North A street, please remember that tree-sitting comes with perils. It's not all lights and glamour, not like the red carpet.
I found this article of all places in the EF! Journal. On the heels of the story in the Palm Beach Post yesterday concerning plans to develop the Briger Tract (or as EF! calls it, the Briger "Forest") our EF! friends need to be very careful as they stage their protests. Tree sitting, tree spiking, equipment sabotage, and confronting PBSO/private security firms can put someone's health and safety at risk. So be careful out there! We don't need anyone falling out of a tree and landing on "Fire Ant" Ellman's head as he's covering the story for his two dozen readers. From the story:
On Monday, a French activist fell down from a 8 metre high platform at a forest occupation near the clearcut border of the open cast mine Hambach. A helicopter brought the conscious accident victim to the nearby hospital.
[Later in article...]
“Our yearlong experience, tutorials, training sessions and international security standards, show: We are professionals. The security of the activists is our first priority.“, explains Nina Wagner, climbing trainer and forest occupant. The activists now want to clear the case completely and search for failures in the security procedures. It’s the first serious accident since the start of the protest, which is held daily in the forest, elevated from at least 8 metres. “Our activists know, why they do their protest in the top of the trees. We are determined to resist the climate killer brown coal, even at high personal risk.” continues Wagner.
I found this article of all places in the EF! Journal. On the heels of the story in the Palm Beach Post yesterday concerning plans to develop the Briger Tract (or as EF! calls it, the Briger "Forest") our EF! friends need to be very careful as they stage their protests. Tree sitting, tree spiking, equipment sabotage, and confronting PBSO/private security firms can put someone's health and safety at risk. So be careful out there! We don't need anyone falling out of a tree and landing on "Fire Ant" Ellman's head as he's covering the story for his two dozen readers. From the story:
On Monday, a French activist fell down from a 8 metre high platform at a forest occupation near the clearcut border of the open cast mine Hambach. A helicopter brought the conscious accident victim to the nearby hospital.
[Later in article...]
“Our yearlong experience, tutorials, training sessions and international security standards, show: We are professionals. The security of the activists is our first priority.“, explains Nina Wagner, climbing trainer and forest occupant. The activists now want to clear the case completely and search for failures in the security procedures. It’s the first serious accident since the start of the protest, which is held daily in the forest, elevated from at least 8 metres. “Our activists know, why they do their protest in the top of the trees. We are determined to resist the climate killer brown coal, even at high personal risk.” continues Wagner.
Dredge projects to bring disruption to North End
What of Buffy's tea parties? Will the work rattle the fine china? Click title for link to a Shiny Sheet article on dredging that will occur during this coming season in Palm Beach.
North End residents might have to put up with additional noise and lighting issues this winter from dredge contractors setting up in the Lake Worth Lagoon.
Council members waived construction dates, hours and noise levels for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors and the town’s contractor for the Midtown Beach nourishment project to stage in the Intracoastal Waterway this season.
The Corps awarded a contract to Marinex Construction Inc. to perform beach nourishment projects for several locations in Palm Beach County. . Work is scheduled to begin around Nov. 1 and continue through Feb. 20. Contractors will stage in the Intracoastal Waterway south of Peanut Island and the Port of Palm Beach’s turning basin, about 1,800 feet from the town’s lagoon-front shoreline.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Lovely Desmond Tutu quote:
Change to the Qualifying Period for Candidates
Recently the City Commission voted 4 to 1 to change the qualifying period to run for office in Lake Worth. Commissioner McVoy was the lone dissenting vote. The qualifying period is 14 days. That is how you go about getting your name on the ballot and become an official candidate. You work with the City Clerk (Pam Lopez) and she guides you through the process. Some, Mrs. McGiveron for one, will have you believe the City Clerk is a person to be feared. This is not the case.
The next election day is Tuesday, March 10, 2015; District Two Commissioner McVoy and District Four Commissioner John Szerdi are up for re-election if they choose to run again.
With the change to the election rules, a person can qualify starting 11/25/14 through 12/9/14. If someone chose to qualify to run for office on 11/25/14, they would have 105 days to actively and openly campaign until election day, on March 10, 2015. The Lake Worth commission voted to extend the campaign time frame by 63 days (105 days [new rules] versus 42 days [old rules]), if someone chose to qualify on the first qualifying day, this coming November 25.
Commissioner McVoy, as previously noted, voted against the change. Using his twisted logic he sees this as disadvantage for someone considering a run for elected office. Commissioner McVoy is a Cornell University graduate and it's possible he learned something at Cornell that is a mystery to the rest of us, The Great Unwashed.
Could it be 42 days is just a short enough period of time to hide behind smoke and obfuscation? Doesn't a longer campaign period add in the local democratic process in terms of providing more information for voters regarding candidates, where they stand on issues and how they are going to lead the city forward? Isn't more time better than less time? Of course, you could declare your candidacy whenever you want, but the most recent system allowed for people to wait in the shadows, essentially until the last minute, and then attempt to mount a campaign. By this time, campaigning and the legendary telling-of-stories could go on with abandon and it would be hard to get the cows back in the gate. I am all for the new change.
Oh, on an entirely unrelated note, I hear tell that the other blogger's content has taken a decidedly different tone of late. And also interesting Cara Jennings is showing up at the most unlikely of places about town. Hmmmmm.
The next election day is Tuesday, March 10, 2015; District Two Commissioner McVoy and District Four Commissioner John Szerdi are up for re-election if they choose to run again.
With the change to the election rules, a person can qualify starting 11/25/14 through 12/9/14. If someone chose to qualify to run for office on 11/25/14, they would have 105 days to actively and openly campaign until election day, on March 10, 2015. The Lake Worth commission voted to extend the campaign time frame by 63 days (105 days [new rules] versus 42 days [old rules]), if someone chose to qualify on the first qualifying day, this coming November 25.
Commissioner McVoy, as previously noted, voted against the change. Using his twisted logic he sees this as disadvantage for someone considering a run for elected office. Commissioner McVoy is a Cornell University graduate and it's possible he learned something at Cornell that is a mystery to the rest of us, The Great Unwashed.
Could it be 42 days is just a short enough period of time to hide behind smoke and obfuscation? Doesn't a longer campaign period add in the local democratic process in terms of providing more information for voters regarding candidates, where they stand on issues and how they are going to lead the city forward? Isn't more time better than less time? Of course, you could declare your candidacy whenever you want, but the most recent system allowed for people to wait in the shadows, essentially until the last minute, and then attempt to mount a campaign. By this time, campaigning and the legendary telling-of-stories could go on with abandon and it would be hard to get the cows back in the gate. I am all for the new change.
Oh, on an entirely unrelated note, I hear tell that the other blogger's content has taken a decidedly different tone of late. And also interesting Cara Jennings is showing up at the most unlikely of places about town. Hmmmmm.
Fort Lauderdale-area employers forecast continued growth in 2014 - Sun Sentinel
Good news! A strong forecast for the south Florida economy, even looking two and three years out. Click title for link.
With tourism, retail and construction booming, Fort Lauderdale-area businesses forecast solid growth through 2014, according to a quarterly report Thursday by the Council of Economic Advisors.
Challenges will be recruiting and retaining employees as competitors raise wages, said the council, a group of 29 leaders representing 18 market segments.
"There was a lot more confidence not only for next three months, but also for next two to three years," said Richard Clark, chairman of the group.
Of the Council members, 68 percent said they were experiencing upward pressure on wages, compared with the same quarter in 2013, with 21 percent reporting "much more pressure."
Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC
“I think there are two different parts of that equation [the Ebola epidemic]. The first is, if you’re a member of the traveling public and are healthy, should you be worried that you might have gotten it by sitting next to someone? And the answer is no. Second, if you are sick and you may have Ebola, should you get on a bus? And the answer to that is also no. You might become ill, you might have a problem that exposes someone around you.”
Does this inspire confidence?
Does this inspire confidence?
Apartment complex proposed for Briger site, near Scripps
This is the same tract of land also known as the "Briger Forest". Remember this story from when our local EF! peeps thought it would be a good idea to spike the trees here. What is described in the article is the materialization of part of the total plan for the acreage. Click title for link.
An apartment and townhouse proposal has been submitted to city planners for another piece of the 681-acre Briger tract, land designated for growth sparked by the Scripps Research Institute.
A Florida Crystals apartment division has proposed the 10-building, 361-unit complex, called Atlantico at Palm Beach Gardens. The development is just east of I-95, across Donald Ross Road from the future Phase 2 of the biomedical campus, whose employees the developer hopes to attract as tenants, said Caroline Villanueva, South Florida external affairs manager for Florida Crystals.
The 13-acre Atlantico site is just north of a 58-acre site where developer Kolter Group won city council approval in June to build 360 houses and townhomes.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
From Walkable WPB: FDOT August 27th open house meeting regarding the project to resurface and restripe Quadrille Boulevard from Clematis Street north to Dixie
"At one point in the meeting,after listening patiently to the engineers explain their plan for their stretch of roadway ad nauseum, I interjected strongly to state our position for what we want, as a resident and representative of our neighborhood. It was apparent that the officials were merely going through the motions, checking off the necessary boxes in a process to lead FDOT to where they want to end up. Unsurprisingly, the response letter I received reflected this, essentially dismissing all of the comment myself and others made. At least I included Speck’s recommendations for this segment of Quadrille and it is in the public record, for what it’s worth.Don't get me started about engineers. We are dealing with a similar issue here on the newly planned paved streets in the southwest part of the city, but I think it will be more receptively greeted locally than it would be if we were dealing with FDOT.
This is a very timely debate as the public’s simmering discontent over dangerous by design county and FDOT roads builds to a boil. Jeff Speck’s article last week puts the onus on FDOT to prove why 10′ lanes shouldn’t be built in an urban setting, with ample evidence to back up the safety benefits. For its part, FDOT has recently issued a memo supporting Complete Streets, a positive move in the right direction for which they are to be applauded. Meanwhile, on a project for which they could make a safer and more responsive choice, today, by simply restriping lanes differently, FDOT is ignoring this mandate. Cognitive dissonance, anyone?"
Public wants open space at Suni Sands site on A1A in Jupiter
Click title for link to article:
Jupiter Island resident Charles Modica bought the 10-acre Suni Sands property on the Jupiter Inlet last summer for $17 million. Modica plans a historic inn with restaurants and shops. Plans also call for renovating the 1906-built Sperry boathouse, with a second-floor ballroom and rooftop deck that could be rented by the public.
“We are reconstructing the history of the building, like the Lake Worth Casino,” said architect Rick Gonzalez.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
From a loyal and concerned reader of my blog who requests anonymity
Here it is:
Good afternoon, Mr. Blackman. I read with great interest the story on your website concerning the efforts moving a historic house from West Palm Beach to Lake Worth. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work. Certainly this new addition to Lake Worth will add to the historic character and charm of your fine city. The resulting publicity will be positive as well.
The article in the Palm Beach Post was well-written and balanced; that is, until the very last sentence. I was quite dismayed to read the reporter quoting Mr. Mark Marcello saying: "We’re gonna make it a lovely home.”
It is entirely possible Mr. Marcello used the slang "gonna". The word "gonna" is short for "going to." Rarely do the exact words a person speaks make it to the print edition. Journalists often omit phrases as "you know", "well", "you see". It is a very fine line. The general rule in journalism is to respect the intent of the person being quoted. In journalism a quote that is published is often "cleaned up".
From the American Journalism Review I found this article. LINK: From the article:
For a man spending $500,000 of his own money saving a historic house? He deserves more respect in the Palm Beach County Paper of Record.
Good afternoon, Mr. Blackman. I read with great interest the story on your website concerning the efforts moving a historic house from West Palm Beach to Lake Worth. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work. Certainly this new addition to Lake Worth will add to the historic character and charm of your fine city. The resulting publicity will be positive as well.
The article in the Palm Beach Post was well-written and balanced; that is, until the very last sentence. I was quite dismayed to read the reporter quoting Mr. Mark Marcello saying: "We’re gonna make it a lovely home.”
It is entirely possible Mr. Marcello used the slang "gonna". The word "gonna" is short for "going to." Rarely do the exact words a person speaks make it to the print edition. Journalists often omit phrases as "you know", "well", "you see". It is a very fine line. The general rule in journalism is to respect the intent of the person being quoted. In journalism a quote that is published is often "cleaned up".
From the American Journalism Review I found this article. LINK: From the article:
Palm Beach Post Managing Editor Tom O'Hara: "They think that what is between those quote marks is what the person quoted said. But you know and I know and everyone knows that if the county commission chair says, 'I'm gonna vote against this,' it's going to show up in the paper as, 'I'm going to vote against this.' I think that readers have no problem with that and, in fact, expect their newspaper to make that kind of change in a quote."The Palm Beach Post reporter, in my opinion, did a disservice to not only his newspaper but also to Mr. Marcello personally. There was no reason to use the word "gonna" in the article. The word "gonna" makes Mr. Marcello appear silly and unflattering. The difference between "gonna" and "going to" is one type space and two characters.
For a man spending $500,000 of his own money saving a historic house? He deserves more respect in the Palm Beach County Paper of Record.
West Palm Beach wavering on baseball stadium deal - Sun Sentinel
The Sun-Sentinel's take on the court of West Palm Beach's location for spring training baseball complex. Click title for link. From the article:
The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have proposed that the county build a $140 million, publicly funded stadium in West Palm Beach to be shared by the two teams.
The deal hinges on West Palm Beach agreeing to contribute 160 acres, south of 45th Street between Military Trail and Haverhill Road.
But the city has a competing $14 million offer for the property from a developer proposing to build town houses and apartments as well as new businesses and a city park.
Late Tuesday, West Palm Beach city commissioners agreed to take 90 days to try to come to terms with backers of the competing development proposal, while still entertaining other offers for another 30 days after that for the land.
Baseball stadium backers say they have not given up and may offer a competing proposal for the city's property.
Mango Groves Neighborhood October Meeting, Thursday the 16th
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the short notice but this months meeting will not be held at Compass. We will instead have a social gathering at South Shore. No speakers, just fun.
Come to South Shore at 7 p.m. and lets meet up on the front patio or inside. See you all there!
Sorry for the short notice but this months meeting will not be held at Compass. We will instead have a social gathering at South Shore. No speakers, just fun.
Come to South Shore at 7 p.m. and lets meet up on the front patio or inside. See you all there!
Current cross-section proposed by city for the construction of 7th Avenue South
The proposed section is actually 11’ lanes. The original goal was to provide both an east and west bound bike lane in lieu of creating a larger landscaping area which would require additional maintenance. There are a few different combinations with bike lanes and sidewalks that are feasible, but we’ll have to see what comes out of this upcoming meeting.
Mr. Jamie Brown, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP
Public Services Director
City of Lake Worth - Department of Public Services
Click here for link to joint City Commission and EUAB meeting back-up material
Here is a summary of pros and cons of the three options related to the future operation of the electric utility:
First of four videos from last night's joint City Commission and Electric Utility Advisory Board meeting (10/14)
The EUAB shares the results of their brainstorming session coming up with pros and cons regarding three options the city has related to the electric utility. These are: Continue buying power from an outside provider, rebuild our plant and produce our own power, or sell the electric utility. I will post other videos during the day and put them together as a playlist.
Hey folks, if you're not busy on Saturday...
Important! Florida Elections Commission Meeting coming up on October 28:
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Astros, Nationals rule out Lake Worth
BREAKING NEWS - Click title for link. The teams still want to pursue the Haverhill site in West Palm Beach, but the city said that is has moved on. Check out the renderings of the once-potential baseball stadium location in John Prince Park. It's the first time that I have seen these. This is from the article:
Muoio also has encouraged the teams to look at John Prince Park – owned by Palm Beach County and located just west of Lake Worth – as an alternative.
But the Astros and Nationals, in a statement released this morning to The Palm Beach Post, said they were again ruling out John Prince Park as a potential site for their shared complex. The statement said the teams remain focused on the West Palm Beach site.
“At the request of community leaders and elected officials the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals revisited the possibility of locating their spring training facility at John Prince Park,’’ the statement said.
“After a comprehensive review, John Prince Park is no longer being considered as an option because of the geographical limitations and environmental restrictions which make it unfeasible for this project.
“We thank community leaders in and around Lake Worth for their sincere interest and we hope they will support our vision to build a facility at the Haverhill site in West Palm Beach.”
Why 12-Foot Traffic Lanes Are Disastrous for Safety and Must Be Replaced Now
This is an article by Jeff Speck, click title for link, about the need for 10 ft. wide lanes in urban and neighborhood settings, where traffic speed should be slower. He argues that 12 ft. lanes encourage motorists to speed at the peril of bicyclists and pedestrians. He is also the person that the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority hired to address the "walkability" of downtown West Palm. Here is a bit from the article:
In some cases, a state or county controls only a small number of downtown streets. In other cases, they control them all. In a typical city, like Cedar Rapids or Fort Lauderdale, the most important street or streets downtown are owned by the state. In Boise, every single downtown street is owned by the Ada County Highway District, an organization that, if it won't relinquish its streets to the city, should at least feel obliged to change its name. And states and counties almost always apply a 12-foot standard.Mr. Speck was also guest on an episode of High Noon in Lake Worth. Below you can view his presentation to the West Palm Beach City Commission from late May of this year.
Why do they do this? Because they believe that wider lanes are safer. And in this belief, they are dead wrong. Or, to be more accurate, they are wrong, and thousands of Americans are dead. [emphasis added]
They are wrong because of a fundamental error that underlies the practice of traffic engineering—and many other disciplines—an outright refusal to acknowledge that human behavior is impacted by its environment. This error applies to traffic planning, as state DOTs widen highways to reduce congestion, in complete ignorance of all the data proving that new lanes will be clogged by the new drivers that they invite. And it applies to safety planning, as traffic engineers, designing for the drunk who's texting at midnight, widen our city streets so that the things that drivers might hit are further away.
Gubernatorial longshot’s 15 minutes of fame now includes arrest
As we all know, you must be careful about what you put on campaign treasurer reports. This candidate for governor wasn't so careful. Click title for link to story.
A Tallahassee woman’s 15 minutes of fame running for governor against Rick Scott has resulted in her arrest Monday for elections fraud.
Yinka Adeshina, 43, who received just under 2 percent of the Aug. 26 Republican primary vote challenging Scott, is facing felony charges for submitting two fraudulent campaign finance reports with state officials.
Adeshina claimed she collected $182,080 from 408 contributors, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which conducted the investigation. The amount she claimed to have collected could have made her eligible for state campaign matching funds.
But many of the names or addresses of the purported contributors were fraudulent, investigators said. The Palm Beach Post earlier reported that several donor’s addresses on Adeshina’s report corresponded with Publix stores and another with a Best Buy, while one donor listed had the same name as the president of Nigeria.
Big jumps in traffic happening on some Palm Beach County roads
This is why I don't like driving west of I-95. When I do, I usually say I'm packing a lunch. The most recent Palm Beach County traffic counts confirm that there is a positive correlation between traffic and economic recovery. The higher traffic counts also reflect residential developments either re-populating after the recession or coming on line as building resumes again. I was just driving on Glades Road last weekend and there was actually a bike lane along it, between the right-hand lane and the curb. I can't imagine using it. Click title for link to the Sun-Sentinel article.
To the chagrin of commuters, traffic is booming again in southern Palm Beach County.
Long waits at traffic lights and cars chugging along bumper to bumper are back on many roads due to several factors: the end of the Great Recession, new developments being built and even a popular new shopping center in one area.
"You have to plan on an extra half-hour," said Shifra Rosen, who lives in Boca Raton and has seen more cars lined up on roads like Spanish River Boulevard, Federal Highway and Boca Raton Boulevard. "Boca just generally seems to have more traffic."
An annual count is done early in the year when experts think traffic is at its peak. Overall, traffic in Palm Beach County jumped 3.7 percent this year, the highest increase the county has seen since 2004. But many roads in Boca Raton and Delray Beach are seeing much larger increases.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Joint EUAB and City Commission meeting tomorrow night (10/14) 6 p.m.
Tomorrow night will be an important meeting at City Hall and I advise everyone who is interested in the future of Lake Worth's electric utility to attend. For many years, Lake Worth has struggled with the questions of whether we stay in the electricity business or find another alternative? The Lake Worth Electric Utility Advisory Board [EUAB] (Lisa Maxwell is the Chair) is tasked with advising the City Commission on "public policy, operational requirements and the long-term financial stability and viability of the electric utilities."
The background for this meeting can be found here.
As you scroll down the document, you will see the PowerPoint presentation to be given by the EUAB tomorrow night. The three options are:
"1) To Rebuild and Upgrade the Tom Smith Power Plant
2) To Sell the Electric Utility
3) To Extend the current Orlando Utility Commission’s contract."
For each of these options the EUAB chose the top five pros and cons. How they arrived at these was the EUAB had a meeting with community leaders on July 9 and later, on August 6, "[A]fter much discussion" the EUAB prioritized the list to come up with their top 5 pros and cons for each option for the City Commission to consider. For many of us, this dilemma has been going on years. The difference now is Lake Worth has come finally to the fork in the road. Whatever decision is made will affect the city for decades to come.
For some historical context note the following images from a presentation by Lake Worth Utilities in 2011. Pay particular attention to the age of the electricity generating units (one was installed in 1965) and the types of fuels used: black oil, diesel, and natural gas.
Check out the ages of some of the equipment.
The background for this meeting can be found here.
As you scroll down the document, you will see the PowerPoint presentation to be given by the EUAB tomorrow night. The three options are:
"1) To Rebuild and Upgrade the Tom Smith Power Plant
2) To Sell the Electric Utility
3) To Extend the current Orlando Utility Commission’s contract."
For each of these options the EUAB chose the top five pros and cons. How they arrived at these was the EUAB had a meeting with community leaders on July 9 and later, on August 6, "[A]fter much discussion" the EUAB prioritized the list to come up with their top 5 pros and cons for each option for the City Commission to consider. For many of us, this dilemma has been going on years. The difference now is Lake Worth has come finally to the fork in the road. Whatever decision is made will affect the city for decades to come.
For some historical context note the following images from a presentation by Lake Worth Utilities in 2011. Pay particular attention to the age of the electricity generating units (one was installed in 1965) and the types of fuels used: black oil, diesel, and natural gas.
Check out the ages of some of the equipment.
Nationwide company invests in Boynton, Lake Worth to promote...
This is a great idea to extend exercise facilities beyond those that can afford gym memberships. It also allows people to explore and discover our public parks. Click title for link.
A nationwide nonprofit on a mission to help the country become more healthy and active is sharing its movement with Boynton Beach and Lake Worth.
The Trust for Public Land plans to install Fitness Zones at The Congress Avenue Barrier Free Park in Boynton Beach and at John Prince Park in suburban Lake Worth.
The outdoor gym could be open in Boynton Beach by March, said Wally Majors, the city’s director of recreation and parks.
“We want to get people out and we want to get them out to the parks and we want to get them active,” Majors said. “It’ll be something very unique to this part of the county, and hopefully it’ll get people outside and get ‘em moving.”
Letter to the Editor regarding All Aboard Florida...
This past Sunday, in the Palm Beach Post, a Letter to the Editor by Suzanne E. Houghtaling of West Palm Beach was published concerning AAF. Click title for link to page where it appears. Here are two excerpts:
“I travel throughout Florida on a regular basis by car, but not by choice, since there are few other convenient travel options. Florida is finally becoming a highly competitive and progressive state for commerce. If we are going to be successful in competing both nationally and globally, we need to focus on improving mobility across Florida.[Later...]
As I travel between Miami, Palm Beach County and Orlando, I experience constant traffic delays from congestion. We can only put so many more cars on Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike. It seems the answer is always to just add more lanes.”
“It appears that the majority of opposition is from Martin County, which for decades has resisted any type of change or progress. Many people there prefer to stay a small, Old Florida-style fishing community. That is their choice and I respect that, but there is a greater statewide benefit that needs to be considered. Yes, passenger trains will run through their community, but at least they will be similar to Tri-Rail — shorter and much quieter than the freight trains.
We have been talking about developing a modern and efficient high-speed passenger rail project for close to 25 years. It’s time to stop the rhetoric and do it, especially with a longtime Florida based company stepping up to the plate to fund it and build it.”
Speed up Florida pipeline approval, NextEra subsidiary tells feds
NextEra, parent company of FPL, is asking for expedited permit approval for this large pipeline. Click title for link.
Florida Southeast Connection LLC, the NextEra Energy subsidiary seeking to construct, own and operate a 126-mile natural gas pipeline from Central Florida to Martin County, has submitted a massive formal application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Florida Southeast Connection is asking for a shortened approval procedure so that the pipeline can be in service by May 1, 2017. NextEra is the parent company of Florida Power & Light, which would be the pipeline’s main customer.
Sabal Trail, the pipeline’s northern 465 miles, would originate in Alabama and run through Georgia and North Florida. NextEra and Houston-based Spectra Energy are partners in that portion.
West Palm man plans to spend six figures moving and restoring...
This is an intriguing project in which I have been involved. I will continue to assist in the logistics of the relocation, which are substantial. Click title for link for Chris Persaud's article in the Palm Beach Post.
From the article:Blackman estimates it would cost about $500,000 to move and renovate the house and to buy the vacant O Street lot.
The historic house at 205 Pilgrim Road, West Palm Beach, will be moved to 1306 N. O St., Lake Worth.
“Whether or not he’ll make any money remains to be seen,” Blackman said. “He is willing to step up with his own money and do this. And that is really extraordinary.”
Marcello said he has no plans yet on making back the money he’ll spend.
“It’s a good example of how you can work with your city,” Marcello said. “We get to keep the trees and we get to keep the house. It’s a win-win for everyone. We’re gonna make it a lovely home.”
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Katie McGiveron thinks that Lake Worth is the only home for the homeless...
This is from last Tuesday night's City Commission meeting during public comment on unagendaed items. The next day, a friend of mine on Facebook left this status update:
The point is homeless people can be found anywhere. It is not a crime to be homeless. And Vice Mayor Maxwell pointed out after this comment Tuesday night that there are those who are temporarily homeless due to various tragedies that befall them and then there are people who either choose to be or are chronically homeless. The later group could be due to addiction issues or other barriers, economic or social, that make it difficult for them to maintain housing on a permanent basis.
From the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission...
DIY is casting for Ugly Front Yards! Turn in your neighbors!!! (In a nice way.)
Creative minds gave birth to Memorial Park, a tribute to town...
Interesting compilation of history surrounding the Memorial Fountain and Park north of Palm Beach's Town Hall by David Rogers of the Palm Beach Daily News. The need for it sprang from the location of the fire station doors on the north side of the then new Town Hall. They were thought to be eyesores by some of the Town's leaders at the time. The fountain and plaza area is slated for a renovation and is working through the review process now. Click title for link.
At the end of the article is this report from the time of the fountain's original dedication.
At the end of the article is this report from the time of the fountain's original dedication.
Name of Henry M. Flagler first on Memorial Fountain plate: Formal Ceremony Marks Acceptance by Town Officials
Harold S. Vanderbilt, on Behalf of Committee, Presents Commemorative Work Which Will Honor Deeds of Palm Beach Notables.
The name of Henry M. Flagler, pioneer developer of Palm Beach, will head the list of persons the Memorial Fountain will commemorate, it was learned at the ceremony Sunday afternoon when the fountain commission turned over the completed project to the town.
In formally transferring the fountain to James M. Owens Jr., acting mayor, Harold S. Vanderbilt, chairman of the commission suggested that no names of the living be placed on the fountain, rather that the “memorial be a lasting tribute to the work of those whose entire lives may be viewed in retrospect.” The memorial plate, on which only the name of Mr. Flagler was placed by the fountain commission, did not arrive in time for the services.
Representing the commission with Mr. Vanderbilt were Frank A. Shaughnessy, treasurer, and Oscar G. Davies, who also acted in his capacity as town councilman. Councilmen Louis D’Esterre, H.C. Woodruff and William Fremd were present as was Town Manager L. Trevette Lockwood. The officials stood on the fountain steps, while the three official flags, presented to the town last year, formed a background. A large group of spectators witnessed the ceremony. Tribute was paid by Mr. Vanderbilt in his brief speech to the work of Mr. Davies as the originator of the idea for the fountain, and who presented it to Maj. Barclay H. Warburton, at that time mayor, also to the cooperation given by Mr. Davies’ paper in raising the funds. … The beautiful circular fountain, which surmounts the project, against a background of tropical foliage, was in play and the long reflection pool was filled.
Excerpts from a story published in The Palm Beach Post on Monday, Jan. 27, 1930, the day after the ceremony.
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