Saturday, September 12, 2015

My routine at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool and the Red/White Sign Brigade still trying to hone a coherent message

I'm getting back to my pool routine after being away for a few days in Michigan. Unfortunately, a pool was not available there to use. I've been to the pool two days in a row since being back. One was with the water aerobics class and the other was a self-guided routine I developed that takes about an hour to complete. Already, there is an improvement in flexibility and a higher energy level.

Many of you who read my blog know that I ride my bike to the pool about 95% of the time. It's about 3 miles there and then 3 miles back. During the ride it's possible to work in some basic errands like going to the bank, post office or a quick stop at Publix. You can order subs and other items from Publix, on-line in advance of your shopping so there's no need to wait at the deli line.

My occupation offers some flexibility in how I schedule my day so the pool's morning-only hours on Monday, Thursday and Friday are not the obstacle it is for those with nine-to-five jobs. As I ride my bike through different neighborhoods along various routes getting to and from the beach I'm able to observe things. On the way back from the pool yesterday (9/11) discovered this new version of the red and white sign planted in a front lawn.
The 'new' sign from the Red/White Sign Brigade. They're still trying to hone the message about the BEACH!.
This NEW version just happened to be less than a block away from former commissioner JoAnn Golden's house. Wouldn't be surprised to find out her deep pockets are involved in procuring these signs; but we'll never know since there is no PAC established and there is nothing on the ballot related to the issue and there is no disclaimer on the sign saying who paid for it. This sign, with slightly different wording, is in addition to the signs that have been in some people's lawns since mid-April:
The first sign from the hysterical Red/White Sign Brigade. The BEACH! is not the issue and that message is getting through. 
The reason for the new batch of signs with different wording is a mystery to all but those within the closest rings of our local cabal. Perhaps some people have so much money that they have nothing better to do than add more coroplast to the waste stream. There is a question as to whether the signs are permitted at all since there is no election related to the issue.

Here is the text from the land development regulations about these sorts of signs:
Exemption from section regulations. The following signs shall be considered allowable signs when such signs meet the specific regulations set forth below (signs listed without specific regulations are also allowable signs under this section), and such signs shall be exempt from all other regulations of this section except the maintenance provisions of subsection e), above.
1. All directional signs listed in the "Uniform Manual of Traffic-Control Devices."
2. All signs directing traffic flow on private property. Such signs shall neither exceed four (4) square feet in background area nor extend to a greater height than four (4) feet above the ground. Only one (1) such sign shall be allowed at each point of ingress or egress, provided such signs do not create a traffic or pedestrian hazard.
3. Temporary political signs pertaining to specific elections. Which include: any message urging the election or defeat of any candidate seeking any political office or urging the passage or defeat of any ballot measure.
[and. . .](G) Signs shall be removed within forty-eight (48) hours following the day of the election to which they apply.
(H) Illegally placed temporary signs: The owner of the parcel of private property on which a political sign is located shall be deemed responsible for compliance with the provisions of this subsection. Any sign or signs in violation shall be removed by the city after notice to the property owner. The notice shall be posted on or near the non-complying sign, shall advise as to the requirements for correction and shall allow forty-eight (48) hours to take corrective action.
In my reading the code it is clear these signs are illegal: there is no election until March of 2016 and there is no item on the ballot related to the issue in question. Somewhere within City Hall the OK has been given for these signs to exist based on non-action by code enforcement. Therefore a precedent has been set for anyone who opposes the 'red sign brigade' to come up with their own version for front yards. Ideas anyone?

I digress, back to the pool. . .another part of my routine is "checking in" at the pool on Facebook. By showing that I am at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool, along with a picture taken that particular day, broadcasts to my 1,200+ Facebook followers that the pool exists and they can come join me or check it out on their own. Here is the picture that I took yesterday:
It's the City's municipal pool with not-so-many using it. The truth hurts. Stop complaining and go swimming.  
There is no scheduled aerobics class on Fridays. I exercised for about an hour, from 10:30 to 11:30. During my time there, there were only two or three other people using the pool. I take pictures either before or after and they create a record of how many people are using the pool. These pictures document how many are using the pool—but many times I am accused of purposefully taking pictures of an empty pool in order to make a point. That is false.

I am one of the few that regularly remind people through social media that the City does indeed have a pool at the BEACH! and that there is a scarcity of swimmers for certain hours of the day. I believe my pictures of the pool with very few swimmers is building the case that the pool is underutilized and shouldn't be subsidized to the extent it is from the BEACH! fund, but that really isn't the intent. Possibly the hours need to be changed to be more convenient to people's work day. But burying your head in the sand doesn't help. The fact is this: if the pool is empty there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Denying this fact is not helping anyone and it remains a drain on the City's fiscal health.

So, get up and go to the pool yourself and "check in" instead of complaining about the pictures I take. Be part of the solution instead of the problem. Contact your City leaders about topics such as better pool hours or staggered schedules. Maybe the pool wouldn't be so empty if you spent more time swimming and less time complaining.

Commuter rail between Palm Beach County and Miami is "going to happen"

Note that Tri-Rail will be in addition to All Aboard Florida. How the Coastal Link will fit into this is unclear; if anyone has current information please forward it to me.

Here is an excerpt from the article by Alfonso Chardy and David Smiley at the Miami Herald:
     Despite lingering questions about funding, Tri-Rail trains are expected to begin operating between downtown Miami and Palm Beach County by 2017, the commuter rail service’s chief said Wednesday.
     “It’s going to happen,” [emphasis added] said Jack Stephens, executive director of Broward-based South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, SFRTA. “We’re looking at having it operational in the first or second quarter of 2017.”
     The authority is still seeking a large chunk of the funding for the project from the Florida Department of Transportation. But Stephens’ statements, in interviews with el Nuevo Herald, the Miami Herald and at a Beacon Council transportation conference in Miami on Wednesday, marked the first concrete indication that the Tri-Rail plan to bring its passenger trains to downtown Miami will be a reality.
Here are the links to Tri-Rail and All Aboard Florida to learn more.

SFWMD: Restoration strategies for our Florida Everglades

Amazing work is being done by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) you can read about here. An excerpt from the article:
     The State of Florida and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a consensus on new strategies for improving water quality in America's Everglades. Based on months of scientific and technical discussions, these strategies will expand water quality improvement projects to achieve the phosphorus water quality standard established for the Everglades.
     Under these strategies, the South Florida Water Management District is implementing a technical plan to complete several projects that will create more than 6,500 acres of new stormwater treatment areas (STAs) and 116,000 acre-feet of additional water storagethrough construction of flow equalization basins (FEBs). Flow equalization basins provide a more steady flow of water to the STAs, helping to maintain desired water levels needed to achieve optimal water quality treatment performance.
Here is the entire, final version of the Restoration Strategies Regional Water Quality Plan. Below is a video of one project in progress:

Friday, September 11, 2015

St. Petersburg's North Shore Pool the "poster child" of sustainability

Impressive report on the renovations done to St. Petersburg, Florida 's pool. Click here for more details and here are some of the highlights:
     New energy-saving geothermal and filtration systems and solar power have put the facility at the forefront of Mayor Rick Kriseman's recently announced initiatives to make St. Petersburg an even greener city.
     "It's probably one of the most successful sustainability efforts the city has done to date," said parks and recreation director Michael Jefferis of the $400,000 project.
     Built in 1964, North Shore also has undergone a $1 million renovation that included replacing gang showers with individual changing and shower stalls, family restrooms, locker rooms, additional toilets and improved plumbing. Heating and air conditioning have been added and improvements made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     The facility had been outdated, Jefferis said.
It would be wonderful if the red sign brigade in Lake Worth (there is a new version of the red and white sign out, by the way) would be open to changes in our beautiful municipal pool, or is that also a frightening thought. Such changes could include the introduction of new technologies in the ways pools operate and heat themselves. Here's an example of one community that did. It would also treat users of the pool to a First World locker room experience, while addressing other issues. The pool featured in the article was originally built in 1964. Ours was built in 1971 and it shows:
Picture of the 'charming' men's locker room/bathroom at the Lake Worth Municipal pool at the BEACH!

From the AP: The biggest story about hurricanes you might have missed

Here is the title from the article by Seth Borenstein: "STUDY: ARE WE SHIFTING TO FEWER, WEAKER ATLANTIC HURRICANES?" Here is an excerpt:
     The Atlantic looks like it is entering in to a new quieter cycle of storm activity, like in the 1970s and 1980s [emphasis added], two prominent hurricane researchers wrote Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience.
     Scientists at Colorado State University, including the professor who pioneered hurricane seasonal prognostication, say they are seeing a localized cooling and salinity level drop in the North Atlantic near Greenland. Those conditions, they theorize, change local weather and ocean patterns and form an on-again, off-again cycle in hurricane activity that they trace back to the late 1800s.
     Warmer saltier produces periods of more and stronger storms followed by cooler less salty water triggering a similar period of fewer and weaker hurricanes, the scientists say. The periods last about 25 years, sometimes more, sometimes less. The busy cycle that just ended was one of the shorter ones, perhaps because it was so strong that it ran out of energy, said study lead author Phil Klotzbach.

Remembering 9/11/01

Take Tri-Rail to the game tonight!

Here is a link to the Tri-Rail schedule. Avoid the traffic! There will be shuttle buses taking people from the train station to the stadium. Go Tri-Rail!

Thursday, September 10, 2015

The "Official" City of Lake Worth Twitter page

Below is an actual Tweet from the City of Lake Worth:
Do not send content to #LakeWorth thinking this is the 'Lake Worth' page—IT IS NOT. This page, #LakeWorth has been compromised and the content is being manipulated:
Anyone with any sense knows there is no "War on Jesus" in the little City of Lake Worth. Pass this information on to your friends/family/neighbors using social media.

West Palm Beach being transparent about transparency!

The news media relies on transparency and now the city of West Palm Beach is being transparent about the process of transparency: the city is publishing requests for public records:
Below the city explains what the process will be:
[t]he city will be notifying members of the public when a new request is received, and when a new document has been posted.

Pew Research: "Christians Decline Sharply as Share of Population; Unaffiliated and Other Faiths Continue to Grow"

It's antics like this that have given Christianity a 'black eye' in the U.S.
A major new survey from Pew Research about religion in America. Surprising numbers and includes an interactive database tool.
     The Christian share of the U.S. population is declining, while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing, according to an extensive new survey by the Pew Research Center. Moreover, these changes are taking place across the religious landscape, affecting all regions of the country and many demographic groups. While the drop in Christian affiliation is particularly pronounced among young adults, it is occurring among Americans of all ages. [emphasis added] The same trends are seen among whites, blacks and Latinos; among both college graduates and adults with only a high school education; and among women as well as men.
     To be sure, the United States remains home to more Christians than any other country in the world, and a large majority of Americans – roughly seven-in-ten – continue to identify with some branch of the Christian faith. But the major new survey of more than 35,000 Americans by the Pew Research Center finds that the percentage of adults (ages 18 and older) who describe themselves as Christians has dropped by nearly eight percentage points in just seven years, from 78.4% in an equally massive Pew Research survey in 2007 to 70.6% in 2014.

Hmmm, I've heard that Lake Worth has a lot of groups that help neighborhoods, where can I learn more?

Well, you've come to the right place. To read the entire history, purpose, and accomplishments of the Neighborhood Association Presidents Council (NAPC) visit this site. Also there is a calendar of meetings and contact information. Here is the NAPC Facebook page and this is an excerpt about the NAPC:
     The City of Lake Worth is unique for many reasons. High on the list is the number of active and involved Neighborhood Associations that share common challenges as well as strategies and projects to address those challenges. Before the NAPC was formed in 2007, each neighborhood worked independently to organize, engage and represent their neighbors. That meant that the same wheel was often re-invented over and over again.
     The Neighborhood Association Presidents Council is made up of Presidents from each of our Member Associations or their delegated representative. We meet once a month to share information and strategies that have proven successful for some of us so that all of us have the benefit of our combined experience.
     From individual neighborhood clean-ups to city wide efforts like the Little Free Library project, neighborhood street banners, crime walks, neighborhood watch programs and more, Council Members work together to make every corner of Lake Worth a place we can all be proud to call our home.
And don't forget:

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Who is monkeywrenching (hijacked) the #LakeWorth Twitter feed?

First understand that the Twitter page '#LakeWorth' IS NOT THE OFFICIAL City of Lake Worth page. This is the official page for the City: #LakeWorthpbc.

Someone or some people are deleting positive Tweets about the City and planting other Tweets that further other agendas like pastor Olive's silly "War on Religion". Who has access to the #LakeWorth Twitter page? Whoever moderates the page is furthering the nonsensical, imagined "War on Religion" that has been debunked more than enough times on this blog.

This tactic is nothing new: the City's Wikipedia page was hijacked earlier in the year by someone who tried to plant pastor Olive's silliness there. It has since been deleted.
Somebody tried to sneak pastor Olive's antics onto the City's Wikipedia page. The nonsense from his 'Common Ground' (no 's') church was discovered and deleted.
Here is a Tweet from the #LakeWorth page furthering the pastor's antics:
Here is where the link takes you; back to March 12th and a story that's been debunked.

Curiously, these Tweets I sent earlier were deleted from the #LakeWorth Twitter feed:
And this one too:
Interesting isn't it? Negative stuff like pastor Olive's nonsense stays put and positive content gets deleted. And a lot of other positive content is also getting deleted from the page. So what exactly is the agenda of '#LakeWorth'?

"No wonder you people [police officers] get shot", says woman to PBSO deputy

Today PBSO released this video of a woman who got pulled over for going 51 mph in a school zone on September 1st. You're not going to believe what she said to the deputy:
You can't help but think the climate of distrust created by some in the local Palm Beach County media help contribute to this hatred.

Andrew Ruiz on the West Palm Beach Golf Course: City is exploring options

Here is a link to the news segment by Andrew Ruiz at NBC5/WPTV. Here are two excerpts from the text of the article:
     Plans to expand or improve West Palm Beach's municipal golf course went before city commissioners Tuesday morning.
     Right now the city is trying to figure out what it is going to do with its nearly 200-acre golf course near Forrest [sic] Hill Boulevard and I-95. [emphasis added]
     The city says the development is in some serious need of repair. This year they had to tear down its club house after a visit from county health officials; repairs weren’t made because of the lack of funds to fix it.
[and. . .]
     City officials are trying to revitalize this part of town. They own a property at 8111 South Dixie Highway, it is blocks from the course. A presentation of the property could include a marina and residential space.
The property referenced above, 8111 South Dixie Hwy, is just north of Lake Worth on the other side of the C-51 Canal (south of the Winn-Dixie).

Palm Beach Post editorial today (9/9) on Syrian refugees: Specifics to come later?

The Palm Beach Post should lead the way and be specific: where in Palm Beach County (for example) would, say 5,000 refugees, be relocated to? The coastal cities or find places out west in unincorporated county where there is plenty of room to accommodate refugees? Hopefully in the coming days we'll get more specificity from the editors at the Post.

Florida is a welcoming state and has assimilated many peoples in its history. Our hearts all go out to these refugees and we all wish them safe passage. Here is an excerpt from the editorial today (9/9):
     The world’s leaders have so far proven themselves unable and unwilling to stop Syria’s bloody civil war. But if they lack the will to address the sources of the conflict, they do not get a pass on addressing the needs of its victims.
     The United States can do more to help Syria’s refugees, and Florida can lead the way. Florida’s elected officials should make it known to our leaders in Washington that we expect them to set an example for Europe and the world.
     We know how to do this properly. After Haiti’s horrific 2010 earthquake, the United States granted temporary protected status to an estimated 58,000 Haitians, enabling them to work. Florida became their No. 1 destination.
As they say, stay tuned.

Jorge Pesquera has a message for your friends and family up North—"You gotta get a life!"


Or you can send this link. If you like you can tease them with a video every now and then from Discover The Palm Beaches.

Meet Jack Borsch: The little City of Lake Worth's new Electric Utilities Director

Below is an excerpt from the new City email newsletter called WorthNoting. To get these e-letters use this link here. From the City's latest e-letter:

     John “Jack” Borsch, Electric Utilities Director for the City of Lake Worth, has only been with the City a month. But he has a clear vision for the department to have a friendly neighborhood mission. A neighborhood utilities department is one that provides personal customer service understanding the unique culture of Lake Worth, and meets not only needs of the residents, but the community as a whole.
     “I hope to maintain the public government mentality of personal service, while also recognizing the value of the dollar,” said Borsch.
     Understanding that the value of the dollar is important to residents is something that Borsch wants to address. According to Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Lake Worth has the fourth lowest cost of power in the State of Florida, better than larger cities like Orlando, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville.
Competitive? Yes, Lake Worth Electric IS competitive!
     The City has come a long way in lowering the electric rates over the past four years. Rates have dropped almost 12% for residential customers.

And did you know Lake Worth is also on Twitter now? It is. Follow the City by clicking the "Follow" icon in the Tweet below:

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Little City of Lake Worth mentioned FOUR TIMES in the Post's neighborhood section today (9/8)!

Can you believe it? Our little 6 square mile City gets all this attention! And not a single item about Greenacres. Here are the four items:
If you have good news to share with Kevin Thompson, the beat reporter for the Post, here is his contact information:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Charlie Keegan at NBC5/WPTV on the expected excellent tourism season coming up soon

Here is a link to the news segment. Looking forward to seeing the Visit Lake Worth Twitter feed.

Press release from Judy Love: City of Lake Worth's Water Systems Supervisor

Date: September 3rd, 2015    
TO: All Residents
From: Judy Love, Water Systems Supervisor
Subject: Two Inch Water Main Replacement

The Water Distribution Department are pleased to inform you that the City of Lake Worth will be commencing construction of a new water main on 13th Ave North to 15th Ave North between N and O Street.

The new water main will replace the existing small two inch service main behind your homes. We will be installing a new four inch water main. Water service will be maintained during construction, except for short periods to make new service tie ins.

Construction should begin next week. Normal work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We will make every effort to reduce any inconvenience to our residents during this period.

Please contact our Water Systems Office at (561) 586-1719 should you have any concerns. We appreciate your patience and support of this necessary improvement.

Sincerely,
Judy Love
Water Systems Supervisor

Lake Worth Lagoon Calendar Photo Contest

Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management invites amateur photographers to submit their photos of the county’s largest estuary as part of the 2016 Lake Worth Lagoon Calendar Photo Contest. Winning images will be featured in the 2016 Lake Worth Lagoon calendar.

 Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on October 1, 2015. All images must have been taken within the boundaries of Lake Worth Lagoon, which extends approximately 20 miles from North Palm Beach to Ocean Ridge. Each photographer may submit up to six digital images in accordance with the contest rules and will need to provide a completed entry form which includes a release.

 The 2016 Lake Worth Lagoon calendar will be distributed free of charge while supplies last on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the second annual LagoonFest. This family-friendly celebration of the lagoon will be held next to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket on South Flagler Drive along the downtown waterfront.

 For complete contest details, including additional guidelines and submission methods, please visit www.LagoonFest.com and select the “Photo Contest Rules and Entry Form” under “Photo Contest.” Additional questions about the photo contest may be emailed to ERM-LagoonFest@pbcgov.org.

Monday, September 7, 2015

[RE-POST] Editor of Lake Worth Herald angered by malcontents using our City's Bryant Park as a political pawn

You can read the entire Lake Worth Herald editorial here. The Herald is responding to some people (one is the speaker in the video below) who want to make our Bryant Park a battleground in the debate about homelessness. Why is this happening in Lake Worth? A little City of just 6 square miles instead of a big city where they would get much more media attention? You see, it has nothing to do with the homeless; it has everything to do with the municipal elections in March of next year.

Watch the video and read the excerpt from the Herald below:

     The argument of homeless veterans is a valid one. There are some homeless veterans and there is also a vast network of free help available to veterans that isn't available to nonveterans. Instead of threatening the city, assist them with getting available help. This we know would go against the grain of anarchy by solving a problem.
     The real crux is not the homeless, that's just an anarchists way of kicking down the door. It came apparent Tuesday when a guy who said his name is Ryan told the commission it was nice they start the meeting with a prayer, it's so 1950ish and the Pledge of Allegiance needs to be changed. This comment came after he and his friends exercised their “legal” (meaning created by a law) right to remain seated through the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. It makes one wonder how the Veterans they use as pawns in their battle with society feel about them.
     If they truly cared about the homeless, they would be assisting them instead of using their existence to further the anarchist agenda and disrupt the lives of the many citizens who wish to live peacefully and safe in this little slice of paradise.
     Lake Worth has an election coming and these people will use every opportunity to twist and “create” falsehoods to sway the vote of Lake Worth Citizens who just want to live their life in Lake Worth. Sitting commissioners Ryan Maier and Christopher McVoy appear to be sympathetic to the anarchists and if they get another sympathetic commissioner in the next election, anarchy could rule Lake Worth.
     Think of a Lake Worth with no street lights, completely dark at night. Think crime! That is the atmosphere they desire.
     Think of parks and city streets where it is completely unsafe to visit. A city where going out of your home is extremely dangerous.
     A Lake Worth the majority of citizens don't want to see.
     Ok, come on, paint graffiti on our building again!

 [If you want to understand the frame of mind of the Anarchists the Herald is referring to, the last line says it all. They demand the right to exercise their right to free speech but when the Herald exercises their free speech rights they spray paint the publishers building with graffiti. Kind of sums it up doesn't it?]

Did you know the little City of Lake Worth is on Twitter? It is!

Sign up for Twitter and follow the news by clicking on the 'Follow' button below. And while you're at it sign up for the Community Clean-Up happening soon:

Feel unsafe walking home? Have a friend "virtually" follow you with this new app

About the app and the video below: Our mobile app allows users to reach out to family/friends and have them keep an eye on them as they travel late at night. All a user has to do is plug in their destination and select anyone in their contacts to be their Companion (they don’t even need the app installed). These Companions can then track the user’s progress and are automatically notified when they arrive at their destination safely.

Tropical Storm Erika, the Palm Beach Post editorial board, and how did PBSO get caught up in this?

My blog readers are a clever bunch. One of them did a parody of a recent editorial in the Post no doubt in response to the ever-constant drumbeat of negativity by the newspaper of Sheriff Bradshaw and our PBSO. Have fun reading this paragraph by paragraph, first from the Post editorial and then the parody:

[Post Editorial] “I don’t think that message was being conveyed,” James Franklin, chief of forecast operations of the Miami-based center, told The Post’s Kimberly Miller.

[Reader Parody] “I don’t think that message was being conveyed,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office (PBSO), told The Post’s Lawrence Mower.

[PE] Erika, he emphasized, was an unusually difficult storm to predict. Indeed, each forecast included plenty of caveats. But it may be human nature — or the sound-bite nature of many newscasts and news websites — to boil down news to simple messages, and for the nuances to quickly flee from mind.

[RP] Deputy shootings, he emphasized, was an unusually difficult situation to predict. Indeed, each incident included plenty of caveats. But it may be human nature — or the sound-bite nature of many newscasts and news websites — to boil down news to simple messages, and for the nuances to quickly flee from mind.

[PE] Franklin did say that the National Hurricane Center may need to do a better job of drawing attention to some of the other forecasting products they put out — such as the map that conveys the probability that an area will feel hurricane- or tropical storm-force winds.

[RP] Bradshaw did say that the PBSO may need to do a better job of drawing attention to some of the other information they put out — such as the need to obey a deputy's instructions and that an area known for crime is best avoided by the public.

[PE] That would be a welcome addition to the coverage of the next potential hurricane that seems aimed at South Florida. Because, of course, there will be a next one.

[RP] That would be a welcome addition to the coverage by The Palm Beach Post and potentially avoid another unfortunate confrontation. Unfortunately, there is crime and criminals in South Florida and there will be a next one.

[PE] What worries us about a nonevent like Erika is that the public will remember it with exaggerated clarity the next time hurricane warnings arise. If people think that meteorologists’ reports are unreliable and the media’s treatment is overly alarmist, there’s a good chance that nonchalance and cynicism will supersede preparedness.

[RP] What worries PBSO about the reporting in the Post is that the public will remember an incident with exaggerated alarmism the next time a situation arises. If people learn that PBSO’s reports are reliable and the media’s treatment is overly alarmist, there’s a good chance that ignorance and cynicism will superseded by more public awareness.

 [For a parody to work it has to have an element of truth. This is a very clever piece of work.]

State of Delaware DOT removing all "Share the Road" signs; and will Austin Gilliam's death be in vain

Read about the sad death of Austin Gilliam below. First, an article by Geffen Semach in MomentumMag explains why "Share the Road" signs are having the opposite effect than what's intended:
     In November, 2014, the Delaware Department of Transportation announced that they would cease to use the “Share the Road” plaque on license plates and uninstall all “Share the Road” traffic signs across the state. Many assumed that the cycling advocacy group, Bike Delaware, would be infuriated by the announcement. As it turns out, Bike Delaware were the ones to request the signs’ removal. But why?
     Despite its good intentions, the “Share the Road” directive had some serious problems – its issues sprung from a general sense of confusion and disagreement between road users on who the sign was directed at, at what it was telling them to do. [emphasis added]
     For bicyclists in Delaware (and elsewhere), “Share the Road” was interpreted to be for motorists, telling them to just, you know, be cool, give people on bikes some space. But for drivers, the sign was there to tell cyclists: “Don’t slow me down, stay over to the side so I can pass.” After years of yelling “Share the Road!” at each other, it was finally realized that not only does the sign not help, it actually contributes to conflict between the various modes.
Read about the terrible death of Austin Gilliam here. We learned from one media source that Mr. Gilliam wasn't wearing a helmet which was information not very helpful in this vehicle/bicycle crash. Below is a sign near the area where he was run over by a large semi truck:

The little City of Lake Worth's "Pink Hotel"? Not quite folks. . .

Our City's Gulfstream Hotel was other colors other than pink as you can see in the historic postcards below:

Max Ehrenfreund. . ."I went looking for the uptick in murders in U.S. cities."

Crime is not a static thing and what Mr. Ehrenfreund at Wonkblog found might surprise you; here is an excerpt:
     Crime appears to be on the rise in some cities, and that has cops and ordinary people concerned. Police chiefs from around the country met last month to talk about the situation. In Washington last week, there's concern about a spike in murders. The alarming headline "Murder Rates Rising Sharply in Many Cities" appeared on the front page of the New York Times [emphasis added] on Tuesday morning.
     Overall, though, things haven't changed much from the past several years, at least judging by the number of homicides committed in major cities. While the number of homicides has increased in many big cities, the increases are moderate, not more than they were a few years ago. Meanwhile, crime has declined in other cities.
     Overall, most cities are still far safer than they were two decades ago, and virtually all of that improvement has remained. That's when the rate of violent crime began a long, steep decline nationally.
What is happening in West Palm Beach of late is very big news and it should be. But that shouldn't skew the trends nationally; that is very good news you'll probably never read about.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

From Historic Florida VII—Oriental Gardens

"An 18 acre estate of superb loveliness overlooking a magnificent sweep of the St. John's River at Jacksonville. Strikingly landscaped gardens, gay with colorful flowers and oriental plants on San Jose Boulevard, scenic route Florida #47 to St. Augustine."
Post-script: From 1937 to 1954, Oriental Gardens became Jacksonville's major attraction. In 1954, the private estate was purchased by State Investment Company and carved into 33 single family home sites.

Lake Worth FL on the front page, above the fold! Business article by Alexandra Clough

If you're not excited you should be. This is spectacular news for our City.
Our City made the front page of the Post in a Sunday (9/6) paper! Here is an excerpt from the article:
     Steven Michael, a principal with Hudson Holdings, said he’s worked with high-end boutique brands in other parts of the country. This includes Hudson’s landmark Starks building in Louisville, Ky., where Canopy plans a hotel.
     “And we’re encouraging them to come to Palm Beach County,” Michael said.
     Michael said these growing boutique hotel brands are attracted to lively urban communities.
Our City certainly has a lively downtown and getting more lively all the time. Some are calling it "South Florida's next landmark downtown". Come to Lake Worth, Florida and check out what all the buzz is about!
From the City's website: Welcome to Lake Worth, a vibrant Florida community at the intersection of form and function. An extraordinary place where tranquility meets creativity. Where the sun shines bright, and the ideas shine even brighter. Where warm tropics meet hot topics. Where the power of potential turns every day into a blank canvas.

 This isn't just a lifestyle. It's an art form.
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