The Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour 2019 is tomorrow, “Rain Or Shine”.

Just don’t expect much ‘Shine’ tomorrow much like what happened — as chance would have it — at the Home Tour almost exactly two years ago. Read more about that rainy, cold, and windswept day later in this blog post. Recall it felt more like a bad day in Maine than a normal day in South Florida.

But what will truly surprise all of you: The number of no-shows that Sunday in late January 2017. Really. You won’t believe how many who bought tickets did not show up. Absolutely amazing given the weather conditions.


FYI: If you purchased a ticket for the Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour tomorrow please come prepared with a waterproof hat, comfortable rain gear, and walking shoes for a rainy day.

Remember, the tour tomorrow is SOLD OUT. For those with tickets the tour is from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 in the afternoon. Tour check-in is The Beach Club bistro (the City’s municipal golf course on the Intracoastal) at #1 7th Ave. North.


Also in this blog post today is more about The Cottages of Lake Worth going back to 2013 and the role former Palm Beach Post reporter Lona O’Connor played in The Cottages story, how a book about these historic cottages came to be, about our friendly rivalry with Delray Beach, what role I-95 plays in all this and much more information as well.

The chances of rain tomorrow will be very high. Would encourage everyone to use the app called “Ventusky” to plan ahead, e.g., if you plan on walking around the Downtown after the tour or going to Lake Worth Beach to watch the ocean for a while. Once you learn how to use Ventusky you’ll never need another source for current and future weather activity. It really is that good once you customize the site for your specific needs.

As to the question people are wondering.

Will rainy weather dampen the excitement at the Home Tour tomorrow? Of course not. We’ve been through this before. A story that could perfectly begin with the line,

“It ‘twas a dark and windy
and dreary day.”

In January 2017 everyone involved in the Home Tour that year was affixed to weather reports all weekend starting Friday. It looked bad. Real bad. But then as Sunday morning approached it became worse than bad. The temperature plummeted and it got dark. Real dark. The kind of dark that stays around for a long time. Then the rain came with slow rolling clouds. It rained all morning long and most of the afternoon too. Sometimes sideways.

As time clicked down for the tour to begin everyone at tour check-in wondered who would come out on a day like this? Five hundred tickets were sold for the tour. We were worried about no-shows that dreary morning.

There were only thirty no-shows that day.
Not kidding: 30.

That’s right. Just thirty no-shows out of five hundred tickets sold. All the volunteers working the tour that day just looked at each other with the same expression. Unbelievable.

One of the most memorable comments from that day came from a woman who asked me how many tours there are every year of the cottages. I said, “Just one.” She seemed surprised and suggested there should be more throughout the year.

Planning for the tour in 2017 began after the highly successful event in 2016, the very first Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour. In its first year “The Cottages” Board decided to limit ticket sales to three hundred. The event sold out many weeks prior to the event taking many by surprise.

The surprise being how many people bought tickets from surrounding communities and others from far west in Wellington and Royal Palm (without an actual beach), north from Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter, and others south from Delray Beach and Boca Raton too.

The tour in 2017 focused on the Bryant Park and South Palm Park neighborhoods. This area makes up the South Palm Park local historic district. A total of sixteen cottages participated. The number of tickets was increased to a maximum of five hundred and sold out quickly once again. The tour check-in was at the east porch of the Gulfstream Hotel.

And sad to report, nothing much has changed at this historic hotel. And can boldly say this. Patience has run out. Not just for the Gulfstream but for a new hotel in the Downtown.

But anyhow, back to what happened in 2017.

One of the trolleys that rainy and cold day.

 The public came prepared!

A rare day in Lake Worth, Florida: Rain and cold all day long. But it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm or interest for those attending the 2nd Annual Cottages Home Tour.

Your’s Truly, Wes, was a volunteer guide on one of the trolleys. People from all over Palm Beach County offered rave reviews of the event, the cottages, and the food as well along the way. There were many Lake Worth residents that took part as well, some having moved here recently, one or two years prior. They used the tour as a way to get to know more about the City of Lake Worth.

There was one lady who identified herself as a sixty-two year resident of Lake Worth and she was thrilled to learn more about the City and pleased to be taking part in the tour. I took pleasure in some Delray Beach residents who expressed how much they wished their city still had the feel they experienced during their time in Lake Worth.

By the way, the mention of Garlic Fest didn’t go over too well with those from Delray. That extremely popular festival was moved from downtown Delray Beach to John Prince Park just outside the City of Lake Worth. By the way, this year’s Garlic Fest will be held on the weekend of February 9th and 10th.

But I digress.

It was also good to see a large group of people from Boynton Beach as well back in 2017. Some of them attended a presentation to the Boynton Beach Historical Society a few weeks earlier about The Cottages of Lake Worth.

The Gulfstream Hotel aside it’s hard not to get enthusiastic about our City’s future. But also of note the historic Gulfstream is not a ‘Lake Worth’ issue. It’s a regional one.

So many people two years ago who attended the Cottages Home Tour were so terribly disappointed this historic hotel has not reopened. Some suggested that maybe “cleaning house” at City Hall might be the solution and others wondering what if anything the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County located in Downtown Lake Worth is actually doing to draw investors and potential developers. Good questions. And frankly, how many murals is enough? After a while more paint on another wall is just more paint on another wall.

Three years after the first Cottages Home Tour in 2016 the Gulfstream Hotel remains shuttered. But West Palm (without a beach) and the Town of Palm Beach continue to benefit from events in the City of Lake Worth. One can understand the frustration from residents and the business community.


Moving on. . .

About tomorrow’s Cottages of Lake Worth
Home Tour 2019.

This blog post is a tribute to former Palm Beach Post journalist Lona O’Connor who played a major role in The Cottages of Lake Worth story back in November 2013.

O’Connor, since retired, made a true and lasting impact on this City.

And later in this blog post, published in a recent Lake Worth Herald, is a feature story about tomorrow’s tour.

It was the initial story by Lona O’Connor in the Post five years ago about a group of resident volunteers that set things in motion for The Cottages. . .

“Among the group’s plans are to set up a cottage website, a Facebook page, cottage driving tours, street signs directing people to cottages, maps and brochures with historical information and anecdotes and, with the permission of the owners, feature a few cottages in home tours.

“The photos could be incorporated into a coffee-table book, [Roger] Hendrix said.”

—Quote source: Lona O’Connor, Palm Beach Post, news datelined November 10th, 2013.

“The photos could be incorporated into a coffee-table book. . .”

Then three years later. . .

The hardcover book in 2016.
Then a second printing in 2017.

The Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour 2019 offered a combined tour/book ticket. That became news in The Lake Worth Herald.

From the feature story:

The Cottages of Lake Worth Tour is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include 10+ cottages, along with appetizers, refreshments and trolleys. Attendees will visit the interiors and gardens of select Cottages in the Eden Place and Mango Groves areas of the City.*


Note: To follow the Cottages of Lake Worth on Facebook use this link. The news in the Herald continues. . .



City of Lake Worth volunteers formed a Cottages of Lake Worth organization in 2013 to promote this unique housing with the goals of encouraging tourism and the improvement of the properties.

Cottages are predominantly smaller houses that may serve as guest, holiday, vacation, or primary residence. They can be of any number of architectural styles, but in Lake Worth styles include Mission Revival, Frame Vernacular, Masonry Vernacular, Bahamian, Craftsman, Art Moderne, Art Deco and Contemporary. They can be of either one or one and half story in a simple form and massing. Many of Lake Worth’s approximately 1,000 cottages are on 25′ lots, under 1,000 square feet and built prior to 1939 and others after World War II.

After Henry Flagler extended his rail line south from West Palm Beach to Miami in 1896, a land development scheme was created for a town between the railroad and the lake. Purchasers of agricultural lots west of town received a 25′ wide lot within the City of Lake Worth, closer to the beach. Development slowed down then started again after World War II with many modest pensioners, especially from Quebec, Finland, and eventually Germany, moving to the city and building cottages.

The mission of the Cottages of Lake Worth is to educate the citizens and visitors of Palm Beach County through a variety of programs by celebrating and promoting the history of these unique structures and its people, assuring that this legacy is passed on to future generations.



Many of the cottages on this upcoming tour are featured in The Cottages of Lake Worth book. This City is home to over 1,000 historic cottages, the largest concentration of historic cottages in Florida, and located within minutes of the spectacular Lake Worth Beach.

Of note: Sorry to say, but The Cottages of Lake Worth home tours are not apropos for children or pets.

This year’s tour will feature the Eden Place and Mango Groves neighborhoods north of the Downtown.

The tour begins from The Beach Club bistro located at the City’s municipal golf course. About the neighborhoods Eden Place and Mango Groves:

The Mango Groves and Eden Place neighborhoods are two of the fourteen-member Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council (NAPC). To see where these two neighborhoods are located click on this link for interactive GIS map.

“Our Neighborhoods have Boundaries. Our Commitment to Each Other Does Not” is the motto of the NAPC. To learn more about the Mango Groves neighborhood, their goals and photos of “Merry Merry from Mango Mango!” click on this link.

For more details about the Eden Place neighborhood use this link.

For those who wish to learn more about
The Cottages of Lake Worth.

Last September there was a tour of this City’s historic cottages taken by the Florida chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) from their annual conference in West Palm, the municipality to the north without a beach.

The tour taken by APA members included the Lake Worth Historical Museum, historic cottages south of the Downtown, and spending time with City officials including Mayor Pam Triolo and Lauren Bennett from the Dept. of Leisure Services. And of course Helen Greene at the Historical Museum.

Many planners on that tour were surprised to learn that West Palm ‘Beach’ does not have a beach!

In conclusion, debunking one of the biggest myths of all.

Our City of Lake Worth and the City of Delray Beach have had a friendly rivalry for a very long time. But that oft-used line about Lake Worth ‘becoming another Delray’ is a complete myth. It could never happen. And there are several reasons why which include geography, western annexation, population, and most significantly, where the exits off I-95 are located.

To learn more about what those reasons are click on this link and more about “comparing apples to oranges”.

Hope all this information inspires you to become part of The Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour on January 27th.


And if you are interested in learning more about The Cottages, a video with more information. . .

From back in November 2014 is a YouTube video, an interview of Your’s Truly with radio host Allan Mason at WBZT:

Former-candidate Mr. Ryan Hartman:

“By the end of the campaign, they refused to even call me for interviews (in fact, Kevin Thompson lied in two of his articles about trying to contact me.”

And. . .

“I’m not going anywhere.
Let’s get s■■■ done!!!”

In the continuing efforts on this blog over the last few months demonstrating the priorities when running for a seat on the Lake Worth City Commission — e.g., how crucial it is to create a credible “Opening Statement” — also advised is not using the word ‘s■■■’ if you lose your election bid, especially if one is planning on running again.

For example, “Let’s get s■■■ done!!!” wrote Mr. Hartman in his concession to District 1 Commission Scott Maxwell two years ago:


“By the end of the campaign, they [the press] refused to even call me for interviews (in fact, Kevin Thompson lied in two of his articles about trying to contact me). Two days before the election, the majority of my ‘team’ dropped me like a bad habit to focus on another challenger.”


However, prior to becoming a candidate for the District 1 seat in the City of Lake Worth back in 2016, Mr. Hartman received well-deserved news coverage from Palm Beach Post reporter Daphne Duret:


WEST PALM BEACH — A trio of environmental protesters were sentenced to probation, community service and fines Friday after a jury convicted them of resisting arrest and disrupting a school function during a 2014 protest against Briger Forest development in Palm Beach Gardens.
     The verdicts against Bailey Riley, Ashley Lyons and Ryan Hartman came almost a year to the day after the members of Everglades Earth First! staged a Nov. 7, 2014 protest of the Kolter Group’s project to build 360 homes on the the Briger property between Hood Road and Donald Ross Road.

and. . .

     The two women had chained themselves to a disabled van blocking both lanes of Hood Road, which construction workers used to go to the Briger project. Hartman owned the van and had helped disable it.

“And I got to talk about Anarchism to a jury!”

To read Mr. Hartman’s concession message in March 2016 and about “Politics 101: How NOT to write a concession” click on this link.

Mr. Hartman lost in a landslide to Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell who received 65% of the vote in 2016 to remain Vice Mayor for the City of Lake Worth and commissioner for District 1. Maxwell was as on the ballot this year as well. He won again. But this time he will serve a three-year term.

How the City of Lake Worth addressed issue of intrusive panhandling and aggressive homeless people.

A short explanation and then two very short videos.

First let’s set the stage:

Coming on the heels of recent news about downtown West Palm Beach and another restaurant closing, “Clematis Street’s The Alchemist closes, citing changing area, homeless problem” consider what happened here in the City of Lake Worth when some homeless and panhandlers were aggressively targeting restaurants and other public spaces in this City.

The problem wasn’t all homeless people and those asking for money. It was just a few but those few created a very big problem.

The two videos below are from September 2016 at a City Commission meeting when the topic of aggressive panhandling and combative homeless people was a major one.

An ordinance proposed to control aggressive panhandling was passed by the City Commission but only after a very long process of educating the public. This was when the editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post tried to confuse the public that this ordinance was a ‘curfew’, which it was not. To read more about that click on this link.

Then-Commissioner Ryan Maier opted not to run for re-election in the March 2017 elections. The District 4 seat is now held by Commissioner Herman Robinson. District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso is now Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso; he was unopposed in this year’s [2018] March election cycle.

From the public debate in 2016 commissioners Maier and Amoroso made their case to the public. It was a grueling and contentious public debate that lasted well over a month on the Commission dais. But in the end, the public sided with Amoroso and the majority on the City Commission (which included Mayor Triolo and Commissioner Maxwell). Chris McVoy, PhD, then the commissioner in District 2 sided with Commissioner Maier.

Without further ado. . .



Former Lake Worth Commissioner Ryan Maier:

     “I do not support aggressive panhandling ordinances.
     I cannot see any definable loss through aggressive panhandling except that it is maybe annoying.”

Click play to watch this 1½ minute video:

District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso:

     “Aggressive panhandling means somebody that’s literally following someone down the street.
     It does affect my business, the downtown businesses, City as a whole . . . and it’s the same ones over and over and over.”

This video is 74 seconds long:

Who ever declared that West Palm (without a beach) is a “world class city”?

Does a city become a ‘world class’ one by painting more and more murals? Or should some of that money, like maybe $5,000, go to organizations like PEACE? Or to the Palm Beach County Tenants Union? And West Palm has declared itself a “welcoming city” as well. Doth that make a city a ‘world class’ one?

Interestingly, earlier this month in The Palm Beach Post were two items about West Palm, one about homelessness and another one about murals.


“We are faced with alleviating the trauma to victims that is caused by deranged transient street people and finding ways to address the economic and financial impacts on our businesses, and our reputation as a world class city.”

—West Palm Commissioner Paula Ryan. Quote from a “Point of View” published January 5th on the editorial page in The Palm Beach Post headlined, “Less talk, more solutions to downtown West Palm Beach homeless problem”.


And then there is this recent information about the homicide rate in West Palm:


West Palm Beach had 26 homicides, the most of any county municipality, and two shy of the city’s total for 2017.


Could there be an answer to these vexing problems? A way to solve homelessness and the homicide rate?

Well, let’s see. Maybe more murals will help.

Here is news also that was published in The Palm Beach Post by reporter Tony Doris on January 5th:


WEST PALM BEACH — A story will unfold on a West Palm Beach water tank in weeks ahead and another on a busy intersection, as the city brings public art to the fore in projects that are literally high-visibility and low-visibility.

The city commission is expected to vote its approval Jan. 14 for the two projects, one by international artist Daas on the water tank at 4400 Parker Ave., and the other by Dreyfoos School of the Arts students on the intersection of Fern Street and Tamarind Avenue.


This could make for an interesting editorial in the Post some day, the editor(s) can ask, “How many murals is enough?”

And if West Palm is a ‘world class city’ are they setting a good example for the rest of Palm Beach County by ignoring vexing problems and just painting more and more murals all over town?

Taking on the slumlords and their allies in this City of Lake Worth.

If there was ever a time to get involved now is that time. Send a very brief message to your elected officials. Just say “I support you” and ask the question, “What can I do to help?” Learn how to contact your elected officials at the end of this blog post.

And to all those people in neighborhoods west of Dixie Hwy., “[W]ho suffer daily from the unacceptable conditions and thuggery” please know this:

The message to slumlords in the Code Enforcement (CDBG) Target Area: this City is coming after you.

“[S]tep up and spend money to comply with basic community-wide standards, sell to someone who will, or I will authorize liens and foreclosures till their eyes bleed.”

—Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein as quoted in The Lake Worth Herald, article headlined “The Day Has Come For Slumlords in Lake Worth” published on October 11th, 2018.



See the full story in the Herald below. Also below is more backup information about this developing story and a video (at end of blog post) from the City Commission meeting that will put all of this in context.

And expect the “G” word to come back, that oft-used tactic to try and put this City on the defensive. That is explained in more detail below.

The news reported in the Herald about the CDBG Target Area should have been front page news in the Post too. But it wasn’t. This is important information about Code Enforcement in the City of Lake Worth, federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding made available, and taking the battle directly to the slumlords in this City: a serious public health and safety issue that even predates the “sober home epidemic”. Another serious problem the Post was slow to address.

This story about taking on the slumlords began to unfold last year, on September 13th at the City Commission as noted on this blog when an item on the Consent Agenda was moved by Commissioner Omari Hardy to New Business:


Resolution No. 57-2018 - Community Development Block Grant Agreement with Palm Beach County: “[A]uthorizes the Mayor to execute the Interlocal Agreement between Palm Beach County and the City that sets forth the terms and conditions for the use of $294,477 . . . for increased code enforcement activities within the CDBG Target Area.”


The “Target Area” is explained later in this blog post. Also in September 2018 at the Commission was this item in New Business:


Ordinance No. 2018-16 - First Reading - Amending Chapter 2 “Administration”, Article VII “Abatement of Nuisance”, Section 2-75.11 “Foreclosed, Vacant and Unimproved Property Registration Program” and to require additional requirements for vacant and unimproved property and scheduling the Second Reading and Public Hearing [Oct. 16th].


Yes. Ordinance No. 2018-16 was on the City Commission agenda for Second Reading. And it did pass.

And expect those slumlords to fight back. And hard.

Expect that ‘G’ word to come back with a frenzy. Those slumlords have their allies and affinity groups to protect them. Who are those allies? They are the ones also making tons of money off disgraceful, unsafe and dilapidated properties. The ‘G’ word of course is “gentrification”. If you wish, after reading this blog post scroll back up and read about “the politics of fear” an oft-used tactic in this City.


Without further ado, to the news published in The Lake Worth Herald headlined, “The Day Has Come For Slumlords in Lake Worth”:


On October 3, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Street Team partnered with Lake Worth Code Enforcement and Building and Zoning to conduct a sweep on various locations between 7th South and 14th South on G, H and J Streets. The sweep resulted in 115 inspections/violations, 10 vehicles towed, 70 Red Tags issued and 8 horticultural cases were referred.

While in the area, deputies observed a known gang member with a felony warrant. After a foot chase, the suspect was captured. The suspect was found to be armed with a loaded firearm when he was captured and his vehicle was located nearby. A search warrant was authorized for the vehicle and 2 additional firearms along with approximately 3.5 pounds marijuana with a street value of $10,000. Two of the three firearms recovered were stolen and one was recently taken during an armed robbery. PBSO’s Violent Crimes Division Robbery and the Gang Unit were notified.

When informed of the success of the operation, City Manager Michael Bornstein said, “Awesome job to all!”

Bornstein continued his response with “the coordination and teamwork of this effort will be remembered as the starting point in turning around what is arguably the worst area in Lake Worth. This type of operation coupled with the City’s significant investments in infrastructure, an improved market/economy, and the use of technology (the camera project) will facilitate significant improvement.”

Bornstein wrote, “Understand that this operation is part of changing the business model for the existing owners of the housing stock and land. The profit margin they have been pulling out of this area has not included spending money back on their properties to properly repair and maintain them. Most likely when something is done, it is without permits and inspections.

“Additionally, they are obviously not managing their units to the level as occurs in other parts of the City. Your actions make this cash rich business model an impossibility. It also forces them to make a choice as to either: step up and spend money to comply with basic community wide standards, sell to someone who will, or I will authorize liens and foreclosures till their eyes bleed.

“No longer are the current conditions acceptable. Your time and efforts will yield results, but it must be consistent and it must be regular. I thank you and I know that the law-abiding citizens who suffer daily from the unacceptable conditions and thuggery in this neighborhood also thank you.”

And in conclusion, Bornstein wrote. . .

“I look forward to more reports like this in the future.”


Code Enforcement in this City is one in particular that was quite often in the Post’s spotlight, or a target if you will, of many stories published in the past. One particularly “egregious” and “incompetent” story comes to mind, one in which City Manager Michael Bornstein was forced to respond in a quite forceful manner and many of you reading this remember that incident.

What exactly is going on in this City of Lake Worth?

Basically, what is happening is Code Enforcement will be going after the worst of the worst and then going after the less worst in the CDBG Target Area. And they are going to keep on going. This information came from the discussion as Commissioner Hardy wanted more information about what would be happening when ordinance 2018-16 passed at the City Commission.

The City of Lake Worth has received CDBG funding, this is Federal money administered by Palm Beach County. Due to this CDBG funding more fully-trained and experienced code enforcement officials will be hitting the streets going after “the worst first” in the Target Area.

The CDBG Target Area is roughly 7th Ave. North to the Town of Lantana border, west of Dixie Hwy. and east of I-95.

Here are some takeaways from the meeting at the City Commission last September:

• City Manager Michael Bornstein emphasized the major goal is compliance with City codes and getting more structures on the tax roll.
• City Attorney Glen Torcivia talked about the high rate of success by the City before the magistrate but expressed some frustration as well not mentioning any cases in particular.
• William Waters from the Community Sustainability Dept. said that magistrates, “Need to treat the bad guy like a bad guy”.
• Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso talked about how important the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council will be in getting the word out to neighborhoods.
• The practice of abating fines by 90% will be getting much more scrutiny and expect heavier fines (the limit is $250/day which is State law).
• Commissioner Herman Robinson said, “The public needs to understand there is a new sheriff in town”.
• And “Insert salty language here”, quipped Bornstein at one point in the discussion.

Now to the video.

The YouTube video below is an 8½ minute segment of the discussion about Resolution No. 57-2018 and Ordinance No. 2018-16, a portion of the discussion which sums things up quite well:




Hope you found this information helpful and informative. And as always, Thank You for visiting today.

And finally, to contact your elected officials click on this link.

And don’t forget to ask. . .

“What can I do to help?”

A blog post from yesterday. . .

The 2019 Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour is SOLD OUT!

There are still people out there who don’t believe it. But it’s true. If you are planning to show up on Sunday and get a ticket there will be no tickets available. Sorry. But this tour was SOLD OUT nearly two weeks ago. But there are still some who don’t believe it.

By the way, did you happen to see that billboard on I-95 near the 6th Ave. South exit?

Thank You to the City of Lake Worth!

This spectacular billboard explains why the City
was a 3× winner at the SunSational Awards ceremony at the Florida Festivals and Events Association (FFEA) in 2018:

Once again. The Cottages of Lake Worth Home Tour 2019 is SOLD OUT.

Whilst on the topic of news, updates and promoting this City, have you signed up for “City Updates”? This is a newsletter and press releases that will be sent directly to your email inbox. To become a subscriber click on this link.

To look over recent press releases about “Lake Worth Casino Wins Couples’ Choice Award” and the “BiblioArte! Festival returning to Lake Worth” use this link for the email archives.

Back to The Cottages of Lake Worth
Home Tour 2019.

Thank You to everyone who purchased a ticket. And hope to see everyone on Sunday, January 27th outside The Beach Club bistro located at the City’s municipal golf course.

And turns out having the tour begin and end at the golf course suited many just fine. In a time-splitting arrangement of sorts while fans of the Cottages are on tour their favorite fan of golf will be playing a round or two! They’ll have a lot to talk about in the bistro afterwards.


For example,


“Gee Wiz, Mabel. Did you know Babe Ruth played golf right here! Right here at this very golf course!”

On behalf of Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein and Mayor Pam Triolo come and check out the City’s municipal golf course:

The City’s golf course was a feature story by journalist Mike May, “Lake Worth Municipal Golf Club. A Coastal Paradise”. An excerpt:

“Opened on November 12, 1926, as a nine-hole course designed by the tandem of Theodore J. Moreau and William Langford, Lake Worth Municipal is perched on one of the most scenic parts of south Florida – adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, along the eastern edge of Lake Worth. In 1948, golf course architect Dick Wilson redesigned the existing nine holes and added nine more to create today’s par-70 layout.” 

The municipal golf course is just across the Intracoastal from Lake Worth Beach:

Babe Ruth golfed here in Lake Worth! He really did:

For the City of Lake Worth’s municipal golf course click on this link.

Know what a “meme” is? “Kilroy Was Here” is a famous one. Some memes succeed and then fail over time, like one created here in our City.

A meme is like a virus, but unlike an actual virus in humans a meme is a ‘word virus’, a word or words transmitted from one person or entity to other people or groups. Some memes take off wildly, some hang around awhile and then go away, and others just die off. A video from Vox (see below) gives a very good explanation.

The meme “Kilroy Was Here” is one of the most famous American historical memes. Will the acronym “YIMBY” become a famous one like “NIMBY” some day? It will if young professional Millennials rise up some day and say, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take this any more!”, due to the lack of new housing in Palm Beach County.





Here’s something to think about: Why do some attempts to create a meme fail in the City of Lake Worth? Remember “secret meetings” and that baked ziti nonsense by a former commissioner?





Were those headlines in the Post with the word “curfew” an attempt to create a meme? The term ‘sanctuary city’? And “Hands Off Our Beach” too, read more about that “Hands Off” nonsense by the SRS platoon below.

The examples above are memes that didn’t quite ‘infect’ enough people to alter opinions and behavior over the long term, like a “pitch” that couldn’t “seal the deal”. Anyhow. . . about the video:


“We know about the epic drama of World War II, but what about the jokes? The video tells the story (as best as we can). The iconic piece of graffiti that was known, in America, as ‘Kilroy Was Here’ traveled the world in a fashion remarkably similar to a modern meme.”





Wikipedia defines a meme this way:


“A meme (/ˈmiːm/ meem) is ‘an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture’. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.”


So some memes are wildly successful and spread like wildfire, others take a long time to gain traction, and some make a big splash and then flame out. “Hands Off Our Beach” was a failed meme that attempted to convince the public there’s a “wolf [or ‘vulture’] at the door” trying to “steal our beach”:


Would the public’s reaction to these signs now be a sign we’re finally healthy once again?

These red & white signs only draw shrugs and laughs now. However, there remain some holdouts in the City from the Silly Red Sign (SRS) platoon.

Ironically, the ones who said “Hands Off Our Beach” were the very same ones who screwed things up so badly in the first place. What we needed was “COMPETENT HANDS ON OUR BEACH”!

Ballot language is very important.

Do you want trees planted along Dixie Hwy. for “Beautification”?

Great idea.

But it’s not going to happen with money from the City of Lake Worth’s Neighborhood Road Bond or from the County’s ¢1 Sales Tax increase either.

If you try to force the issue and get trees planted on Dixie Hwy. using this money, as per City Attorney Glen Torcivia, the City will end up in court and that, “is not where you want to be.”

The voters in this City of Lake Worth didn’t
approve a $40M bond for trees.

The voters in Palm Beach County didn’t approve raising the sales tax for trees either. Torcivia cited Florida Statute 212.055; it’s very specific what this money can be used for.

The answer to Dixie Hwy. beautification is not waiting for “money from above”. The answer is to try and get creative and seek other funding sources, e.g., grants, donations, and contact philanthropic organizations as well. And don’t forget, Dixie Hwy. is controlled by FDOT (another bureaucracy), not the City of Lake Worth.

Ballot language (“questions”) for Lake Worth Neighborhood Road Bond and County ¢1 Sales Tax.

Please read both of these ballot questions very carefully. They both passed convincingly. This information would be good to know when you come before the City Commission (or a City board) with your next great idea.

November 8th [2016] General Election. Voters will be asked to either vote for, or against, authorizing the City of Lake Worth to issue a forty million dollar bond exclusively for the purpose of improving our neighborhood streets.

Shall the City be authorized to issue general obligation bonds for the exclusive purpose of improving local roadways and eliminating potholes in an amount not to exceed forty million dollars, payable from annual ad valorem taxes maturing no later than thirty years from the date of each issuance and bearing interest at a rate not exceeding the maximum legal rate with all expenditures reviewed by a citizens advisory committee?

PALM BEACH COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOLS, CITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ONE-CENT SALES SURTAX

To enhance education by improving district-owned school buildings, equipment, technology and security; purchase school buses, public safety vehicles and equipment; and equip, construct and repair roads, bridges, signals, streetlights, sidewalks, parks, drainage, shoreline and wastewater infrastructure, recreational and governmental facilities; shall the County levy a one-cent sales surtax beginning January 1, 2017 and automatically ending on or before December 31, 2026, with independent oversight by citizen committees?

Questions anyone?

Upcoming municipal elections in Central Palm Beach County (CPBC).

Before we proceed, the Town of Lantana will not be holding elections on March 12th. Why?

Congratulations to the honorable Town of Lantana councilmembers Dr. Lynn J. Moorhouse and Malcolm Balfour on your re-election!

Neither received a challenge in the Qualifying Period and they were both re-elected. Learn more about this latest development below.


And now that GateHouse Media is the new publisher of The Palm Beach Post — as of May 1st, 2018 — what can the public expect from election reporting going forward? 

And wouldn’t every municipality in CPBC want a reporter with a track record of fairness and success? And a winner of several awards for journalism and political reporting?

Reporting on local elections here in CPBC would be the perfect beat for reporter Chris Persaud who just last month made his return to The Palm Beach Post. The latest effort by Persaud was reporting on the upcoming elections in Boynton Beach (see below).

Mr. Persaud is the former award-winning Post reporter who covered politics and elections here in the City of Lake Worth following on the heels of Lona O’Connor and long-time beat reporter Willy Howard.

Interestingly, it was Persaud who was at the PBC Supervisor of Elections (SOE) facility in Riviera Beach watching votes being counted by the canvassing board in August 2014 when the unimaginable occurred. About what happened the editor at the Post later wrote, “[I]t remains an offense to democracy.”

That offense being when Susan Bucher, the former SOE in Palm Beach County, took ballots cast from the City of Lake Worth and the editor at the Post later wrote, “[S]he decided to deep-six them.”

Anyhow. . .

Just last week journalist Chris Persaud updated Palm Beach County with this news headlined, “2019 election: 14 candidates, including 5 for mayor, running for office in Boynton”. Here is the first paragraph from the story by Persaud datelined Jan. 17th:


BOYNTON BEACH — Voters this spring have a menu of choices in the third biggest city in Palm Beach County after qualifying ended this week.

Nine candidates are vying for three city commission seats while five are in contention for the mayor’s position March 12. Commissioner Mack McCray, who was elected in 2017, does not face reelection until 2020.

Now to the Town of Lantana.

Lantana is the City of Lake Worth’s neighbor to the south. The Town of Lantana incorporated in 1924, eleven years after the “Town of Lake Worth” became incorporated.

The elections scheduled for March 12th in Lantana will not happen. Why? Because both of the incumbents went unchallenged. They are the honorable Councilmember Dr. Lynn J. Moorhouse, DDS, in Group 1 and the honorable Councilmember Malcolm Balfour in Group 2.

The Lantana Town Council is comprised of five members who serve staggered three-year terms and are elected on a nonpartisan basis.

Town of Lantana Mayor David J. Stewart (first elected in 2000 and re-elected six times; up for re-election in 2021) and councilmembers in Groups 1–4 are elected town-wide.

Mayor Dave Stewart serves as the presiding officer at Town Council meetings and as the official head of the Town for legislative and ceremonial purposes. The Town Council is responsible for passing ordinances and other policy directives necessary for the operation of the Town.

About the Town of Lantana.

Lantana is a coastal community in Palm Beach County and encompasses an area of approximately three square miles. The Town’s recreational facilities include an “eight-acre municipal beach with 745′ of ocean frontage, open picnic areas, oceanfront pavilion, showers, restrooms, lifeguard station, and playground area.”

To learn more about this very unique municipality in South Florida click on this link.

“I swear! We got the plan that will work this time. You just need to trust us!”

Back in 2007 was one of the worst droughts in modern South Florida history (see images below). But for some people their only concern is when it rains too much. . .

“Send It [water from Lake
Okeechobee] South!”

and the latest mantra. . .

“Lower Lake O!”

But there is a big problem with ‘Lower Lake O!’ as you’ll learn about below.

Fingers are crossed a brand new reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee will be constructed for just about $1.4B. Plus or minus a few hundred million dollars. Sounds like a bargain, right? Especially when the dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee is in such need of repair.

And guess all those other millions and billions of dollars that was spent in the past just proves this latest $700M from the Feds and another $700M from the State of Florida is the right way to go? Sounds like a great plan. Until you consider what happened just about twelve years ago.

And the beat goes on. . .

Newspaper clipping from May 2007.

Click on image to enlarge:

How much progress has been made in the last twelve years getting Martin County off septic and hooked up to municipal sewer?

Another plan by the experts. . .

And all the while the experts knew the Herbert Hoover Dike was a great risk of being breached and flooding Palm Beach County. But instead, the ‘experts’ are thrilled with a new ‘shiny object’.

A brand new reservoir. And it will
only cost about $1.4B.

From the Top Ten.

Most oft-told lies heard “at the door” during election season.

Door knocker: “Did you know they’re selling
Lake Worth’s golf course to developers
so they can build condos?”

This is how it all begins:

Door knocker: “Knock Knock”.

City of Lake Worth resident: “Hello?”


We all have to be reminded from time to time how many new residents there are in this little City of Lake Worth and the many others who are considering a relocation here. If they come across the wrong person, let’s say an over-eager bird watcher at Bryant Park or the Snook Islands, they may come to learn that a condo community is being considered to replace the City’s golf course.

Just one problem:
That can never be done.

You see, the truth is the Lake Worth Golf Course is deed-restricted and cannot be sold — the people who donated the land to the City made sure of that: 

Click on images below to enlarge:

If anyone tells you condos can be built along the
golf course just turn to them and say,
“Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”.

And did you know the New York Yankee legend Babe Ruth was a regular visitor to the little City of Lake Worth to play golf? It’s true:

To book a tee time use this link and also learn about the course’s “South Palm Beach charm”. The Lake Worth golf course clubhouse is located at #1 7th Ave. North along the scenic Intracoastal waterway.

Mr. Richard Pinsky: The dernier cri of the jaunty men’s tie and the latest wrinkles in Tallahassee.

And there are a lot of wrinkles in Tallahassee these days. And to deliver that news is the man always with the best and most fashionable choice in ties. Of which the City Commission makes worth noting from the dais at every visit from our ‘eyes and ears’ in the capitol.


[Please note: Short on time? Then please scroll down to the end of this blog post to see the City’s YouTube video of this very worthy presentation at City Hall.]


Many here in the City of Lake Worth, the electeds, management, staff and the public as well look forward to these scheduled presentations.

Mr. Pinsky’s legislative update at the Lake Worth City Commission last Tuesday evening — which of note was very late in evening — was very insightful and informative. And no doubt what was gleaned will affect public policy in this City going forward.

Pinsky is the Public Policy Manager, Government Affairs & Public Policy Group at Akerman LLP.

If you wish you can send him an email at: richard.pinsky@akerman.com

A lot of the public are very interested in these updates. But unfortunately, those in the crowd looking forward to this presentation had to wait until far into the evening. Why? Last Tuesday just happened to be the night of an expected protest that never materialized and also an agenda item predicted to be very contentious; but ended up that agenda item lasted all of thirty-five seconds. Not kidding.

And that particular agenda item came after about two hours of public comment. One from the public compared himself to Robert Mueller and another suggested this City create massive farms for export of broccoli. Again. Not kidding.

To read all about what happened last Tuesday at City Hall click on this link. And kudos to Pinsky for hanging in there.

And also of special note, since the legislative update last week Susan Bucher got fired. And after that news imagine there were more than a few bipartisan parties around town after what the former-Supervisor of Elections did in August 2014 vis-à-vis the Lake Worth 2020 bond referendum.


So without further ado. . .


Highly recommend everyone watch this presentation about the goings-on in Tallahassee, what happened and what is happening in Tallahassee matters to everyone.

And check out this latest dapper tie!

Upcoming public meetings at Lake Worth City Hall and much more information “Worth Noting”.

Have you heard about Mayor Pam Triolo’s State of the City Address coming up? Commission Work Sessions and candidate forums and this year’s Vegetation Amnesty Week?

In brief, information all about that and much more is cited in this blog post today.

So let’s begin.

Only three more regularly scheduled City Commission meetings are coming up prior to Election Day. Learn more about that a little later.

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting rescheduled earlier this month will be held this evening (Jan. 22nd, 6:00). Meeting will be held in the chambers at City Hall.

Of special note: On February 7th is a City Commission Work Session on the topics of education and future projects using proceeds from the ¢1 sales tax increase in Nov. 2016.

Please! Don’t show up and try to monkeywrench this process with bringing up that nonsense about another lap swimming pool at the Beach. There are too many more important things to do.

For example, public safety and public health. . .

Coming up soon, on January 30th, is a public meeting to discuss the upcoming Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2019–2020. Yes, our City does need a pool or pools. But not at the Beach for the convenience of those in the wealthy Town of Palm Beach.

And more information “Worth Noting”:

Mayor Pam Triolo’s State of the City Address is tentatively slated for February 26th, 6:00, in the ballroom at the Lake Worth Beach and Casino Complex as per the City’s official calendar.

But that could change. So please await an official press release from Mr. Ben Kerr, the City’s public information officer.

The upcoming candidate forum this week at the Lake Worth Playhouse is for “Entertainment Only” which is why it’s held at the Playhouse. Stay tuned for individual neighborhood candidate forums being scheduled by the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council (NAPC) ahead of the March 12th municipal elections.

These neighborhood events are much less entertaining but much more informative if City politics is of interest to you.

Please continue reading.
Below is much more information “Worth Noting”.

To see the entire list of public meetings and other events click on this link to the City of Lake Worth’s official calendar.

There are only three more scheduled regular meetings of the City Commission prior to the elections on March 12th, all begin at 6:00. Those dates are February 5th and the 19th and on March 5th.

So if anyone is planning to ‘stir things up’ so to speak with talk about PEACE, a plastic straw ban or a ban on balloons you don’t have much time left. But what you can do is bring a canteen to City Hall to show you are down with the cause with banning plastic water bottles. But not a metal canteen. Bring a plastic one. And please, water only.

There was no meeting of the Recreation Advisory Board (RAB) in January. But there will be one on February 20th at 6:30. Please mark your calendar. RAB meets at the offices of the Recreation Dept. at 501 Lake Ave.

Very Important: The 2019 schedule for trash, recycling, and bulk pickup. This year’s Vegetation Amnesty Week is May 27th–31st ahead of Hurricane Season on June 1st. Pickup “Zones” are the same as City districts. The are four zones, 1–4. To find out which zone your property is located use this link for the helpful GIS map.

Where did all the information above come from? It all came from the City of Lake Worth and The Lake Worth Herald.

Have you seen the latest press release from the City? Latest updates? Then get all that information delivered right into your email inbox. Become a subscriber today for “City Updates”, news straight from the City.

Please check back later in the week for more information “Worth Noting”!

Homicide in Lake Osborne neighborhood near the County’s John Prince Park. Case remains unsolved.

Do you have a tip that can help solve this crime
in the City of Lake Worth?

More details are below about the murder of 24-year-old William Perez and please continue reading to learn more about Crime Stoppers here in Palm Beach County: Stay anonymous and collect a reward. Your one small tip could solve this crime.

And also below is the latest news from Post crime reporter Olivia Hitchcock about this murder.

Before we move forward, let’s take a look back.

There were three (3) homicides within the municipal limits of the City of Lake Worth in 2018. First came the horrific scene last February on S. Dixie Hwy. when Nicole Novak was murdered by Hugo Selva. A terrible crime spree that ended at Lantana Rd. and I-95. In June Warren Hallback was murdered and that crime was solved shortly afterward. The murder of William Perez last September remains unsolved.

You can find this information and more by using The Palm Beach Post’s homicide tracker database.

Some find it questionable whether databases like the Post’s homicide tracker provide all that much information to the public. For example, all the people who were victims of firearms but survived. For most, their lives will never be the same. Fortunately, trauma care is now regularly saving lives that would have been lost 5–10 years ago.

The Town of Jupiter had five homicides in 2017. The City of Delray Beach had seven murders last year. But that in no way demonstrates a trend in either municipality. Since 2009, for example, Jupiter has had sixteen homicides. None in 2012, 2013, 2016 or 2018.

And another benefit of the Post homicide database is solving cold cases and more recent unsolved homicides. There are now thirty-nine municipalities in Palm Beach County; but since 2009 only twenty-four have reported a murder. Using the database it’s possible to go back and find the unsolved cases in a city, town or village and maybe find people who are willing to talk or provide information to Crime Stoppers (see contact information below).

And it is worth noting the high number of murders in West Palm Beach in 2017–2018 did bring about the push for ShotSpotter technology and possibly it was the Post database that got the public involved.

The Post homicide database began in 2015 and collects data going back to 2009. The database was part of the series called, “LINE OF FIRE: Bullets and Badges and Death on the Streets” and just happened to coincide with PBSO Sheriff Ric Bradshaw seeking re-election. The series in the Post focused on shootings by law enforcement, mostly focusing on PBSO.

How much the ‘LINE OF FIRE’ contributed to public safety and trust in law enforcement was a big topic of debate back in 2015–2016 but ultimately the answer may have come at the voting booth.

Back in the August 2016 Primary election Bradshaw, in a four-man race, won re-election by nearly 66% of the vote. And back in 2012 Bradshaw won by nearly 80% in a three-man race. He is seeking re-election once again in 2020. And if the trend continues and Bradshaw finds himself in a two-man race he should win somewhere in the range of 90–100%. In a five-person race next year? Probably closer to 60%.

But besides the politics. . .

What is most troubling about the “LINE OF FIRE” series in the Post back in 2015–2016 is this: at the very same time the sober home crisis was really hammering municipalities like the cities of Lake Worth, Lantana, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. Not until mid-2016 did the sober home crisis become a top priority to the editor(s) at the Post. And by then it was too late. One can only surmise, but what if the sober home epidemic was priority #1 a year earlier in the Post?

But what happened on September 26th, 2016 in this City of Lake Worth woke a lot of people up, including the press and news media.


Moving on. . . 

Unsolved homicide in the City’s Lake Osborne neighborhood (west of I-95).

This homicide occurred in the City on September 18th. The location is 6th Ave. South near John Prince Park. The victim’s name is William Perez, age 24. This news was first reported in The Palm Beach Post by reporter Jorge Milian.

Then on November 20th reporter Olivia Hitchcock filed this very in-depth update on this unsolved homicide; here are two excerpts:


LAKE WORTH — Though no one has been arrested for killing William Perez nearly two months ago, investigators have confiscated the gun that likely was used to fire the bullet that killed him, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records show.

and. . .

Sheriff’s records do not indicate who detectives believe fatally shot Perez the afternoon of Sept. 18. However, those records outline a web of individuals tied to drugs, violence and a white Ford Mustang in Lake Worth. That 2005 Mustang in particular appears to be a critical aspect of the sheriff’s investigation into Perez’s death.


If you live west of I-95 in the City of Lake Worth near the County’s John Prince Park and crime is a major issue for you then contact your local chapter of the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council (NAPC). That information is below. To contact the City of Lake Worth’s PBSO District 14 use this link and there are several ways to contact Crime Stoppers in Palm Beach County:

Do you have any information about this homicide
in the Lake Osborne neighborhood? Then
contact Crime Stoppers ASAP:

Also nearby is another unsolved homicide from November last year. The body of Jessica Medina was discovered in a canal between John Prince Park and Palm Beach State College. If you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers immediately. And stay anonymous.

About your local NAPC neighborhood organization in the Lake Osborne neighborhood:

“[M]ission is to maintain and improve the quality of life in this neighborhood through the dissemination of information, by providing meetings as forums for discussion and representing the members’ viewpoints to officials at the City of Lake Worth, Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. We work closely with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of our residents and to maintain low crime statistics.”

It all depends on how lucky you feel.

To the big policy question in South Florida once again this year
(please pick one):

• “Send The Water South!” from Lake Okeechobee, constructing a new reservoir in Palm Beach County south of the Herbert Hoover Dike at a cost of $1.4B (± using government projections), making assumptions on future drought conditions, and a project that will take up to a decade to complete and in the meantime vulnerable to future hurricane strikes. . .

or

• Have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finish fortifying the Herbert Hoover Dike and the South Florida Water Management District complete projects already in the works — and others in the planning stage — in the Northern Everglades to store more water?

The answer sort of depends on how lucky you feel.

For example, click on this link to read about “Lake Okeechobee, the Herbert Hoover Dike, and Peter Schorsch warned of Godwin’s Law”.

Prior to Hurricane Irma in September 2017 — a major storm which could have breached the dike — back in 2005 was another major hurricane you may have heard about.

“Hurricane Wilma left gaps to
the Herbert Hoover Dike along Lake Okeechobee behind the Pahokee Airport.”

Hurricane Wilma, November 3rd, 2005,
“News in Brief”:

“Big O’s Dike”

“About a half a dozen chunks 40 × 30 feet were cut out every couple of hundred feet.”

How lucky do you feel? Please scroll back up and look at the two choices once again.

No rest for the weary!

“Gee Wiz, Mabel! We’re not even past this year’s local March elections in Lake Worth and already one of our two local County commissioners is being challenged next year. What gives!


“Cool down, Fred. Until a few months ago you didn’t even know what a County commissioner was! And please, Fred. Can you please stop yelling!”

Candidates who filed for 2020 Election Cycle to be held on November 3rd, 2020.

Candidates are already filing to run for an election to be held in one year and ten months.

Not kidding.

But of course, to make it on the ballot in November General Election there is August 2020 Primary. And following the Primary everyone will wait with high anticipation to see if The Palm Beach Post actually makes an endorsement for President of United States this time. For some reason the editor(s) at the Post made no endorsement for president in 2016. Why? Maybe they just forgot.

Here in the City of Lake Worth and nearby region you may be interested to learn that both Palm Beach County Mayor Mack Bernard and Vice Mayor Dave Kerner will be up for re-election in 2020.

Learn more about Bernard and Kerner below in a previous conversation between Fred and Mabel.

The offices thus far publicly noticed on the PBC Supervisor of Elections website.

Candidates for County Commissioner, District 7.

• Leonard Serratore (NPA).
• [Incumbent commissioner in District 7 is Mack Bernard.] 

Constitutional Officers (NP):

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections
(no incumbent; Susan Bucher was fired).

• William S. Abramson
• [More names to follow.]

Candidates for Sheriff of Palm Beach County.

• Lauro E. Diaz
• Alexander D. Freeman
• Samuel L. Thompson
• [Incumbent has yet to file.]

Thus far Diaz has raised $5,110 in monetary political contributions per the latest candidate finance filing report. Freeman is at $1,855 and Thompson is at $0.

It’s still very early and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw has yet to officially announce he is running for re-election. However, if the past is any clue. . .

Here are the election results from the August 2016 Primary Election:

In 2016 Sheriff Bradshaw raised $622,044 with another $5,160 of In-Kind contributions.

For sake of comparison, Alex Freeman in 2016 came in at  ≈  $31,000.

All the information above came from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website. To learn more click on this link.

Now to important information about the Palm Beach County Commission. Mabel and Fred somewhere in the City of Lake Worth late last year.

“Mabel! Can you hear me?”

“Yes, Fred. I’m right here.”

Fred: “Do you know who our Palm Beach County commissioner is? Just saw some news on TV.”

Mabel: “What’s a County commissioner?”

Fred: “Apparently they are important.”

Mabel: “Well maybe you should learn more, Fred.”

Dear Fred: County commissioners are very important.

Meet your mayor and vice mayor
of Palm Beach County.

The honorable Mayor and District 7 Commissioner Mack Bernard (left) and the honorable Vice Mayor and District 3 Commissioner Dave Kerner:

What is relevant about District 3 and District 7? They both represent the City of Lake Worth.

And congratulations to newly-elected District 2 Commissioner Gregg Weiss and District 4 Commissioner Robert Weinroth.