2018–2019 Election Season in WPB.

Whilst on this topic about the next mayor prior to Election Day in West Palm Beach the paper of record made the observation that West Palm needs to boost city neighborhoods and the editorial board at The Palm Beach Post went on to conclude this as well in their editorializing:

West Palm needs a new mayor with a,


“[C]ollaborative approach to running the city — certainly more than we have seen from [mayor] Muoio. . . . [F]or West Palm to thrive, it must abandon the haughtiness [emphasis added] it has too often displayed toward neighboring cities and the county government.”

—Quote. Editor of Palm Beach Post, published on Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 on p. A24.

The definition of haughty and “haughtiness” is,

1. disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: haughty aristocrats; a haughty salesclerk

2. Archaic . lofty or noble; exalted.


This week it was reported,


The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board has won the prestigious national News Leaders Association Award for its innovative and compelling series of editorials headlined “The Invading Sea: Can South Florida be saved?”


Maybe this information from “The Invading Sea” series will actually boost some neighborhoods in WPB, like those with high crime and poverty rates, but we’ll have to wait and see.

West Palm Beach is oft-referred to as the County Seat. As was published recently in the Sun Sentinel we learned that Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Lake Worth Beach, Lantana and Ocean Ridge are members of the Coastal Resilience Partnership (CRP).

WPB is not.

But Lake Worth Beach (LWB) is.

And neither is South Palm Beach a member of the CRP.

In conclusion conclude what you wish. But if you wish to learn more about what happened in South Palm Beach and about the CRP too click on this link.

“But West Palm Beach does not have a beach.”

Of course, West Palm Beach does not have a beach. But West Palm was created by the Town of Palm Beach which does have a beach. And although the headquarters of The Palm Beach Post in WPB was recently sold to an investment group — and for almost a year Gatehouse Media has been the owner and publisher of the Post — there still remains a reason and purpose for this newspaper and West Palm Beach to become a member of the CRP in the near future with the County and Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes and seven other coastal communities.

It started in City of Lake Worth and ended in Lake Worth Beach (LWB).

Referring to the recent conclusion of the 2018–2019 municipal Election Season in this City or the younger people and the Millennials still like to call L-Dub on occasion.

Also of note TONIGHT at 6:00 is the First Friday event in downtown.

Lake Ave. will be closed to traffic. There will be local notable notables, music, and people just strolling up and down Lake Ave. taking it all in. To learn more about this evening read another blog post further down below.


Also worth noting,

Why it is always a good idea to save political FREE SPEECH like mailers and door hangers.

Because when you ask that question and hear back, “What did I say?” you can remind them.

Briefly, for those unaware, both ballot questions #1 and #2 passed and both commissioners Omari Hardy in District 2 and Herman Robinson in District 4 were re-elected. This time to a three-year term.

And a Thank You to Cathy Turk and Messrs. Tom Copeland, Richard Guercio (see campaign handout below) and William Joseph as well.

As Mr. Joseph makes his preparations for a run for mayor in 2021 encourage all the former candidates to stay involved!

Of all the former candidates only Mr. Guercio was in attendance at the last Lake Worth Beach City Commission meeting.

All of you had ideas and thoughts and different ways to accomplish things and shared your visions too. For example, Cathy Turk suggested in the future considering giving actual names to our lettered streets like maybe Greenwood, Gottrau or Greene in honor of very significant people. Our City streets were not always lettered. And history proves that.

Every candidate had strong positions on whether or not constructing a new pool at the beach was a wise use of public funds. There was very strong opposition by Mr. Copeland to Ms. Turk advising more research and more public charrettes.

Mr. Guercio did not win on
Election Day, March 12th, 2018

Click on FREE SPEECH to enlarge.

You’ll probably see Mr. Guercio walking around
at the First Friday event in downtown
tonight from 6:00–10:00.

All former candidates need to keep attending public meetings and the public needs to know there is no election of candidates in LWB until the 2020–2021 Election Season!

And in conclusion. . .

Always advise the public to save political campaign material, mailers, door hangers, handouts, business cards, buttons, shirts, hats, and yard signs if you have the room in a closet or have space out in the garage.

Besides coming in handy on Halloween saving this stuff is a reminder of what a candidate actually said and did not say prior to the election vs. after the election when claiming something very much different, something that happens from time to time.

Congratulations to Big Herm’s Chicago Style Food and four other restaurants in Lake Worth metro area (zip code 33467).

Herm’s received a perfect inspection from the State of Florida for establishments serving and delivering food to the public.

Does Herm’s offer takeout service to Lake Worth Beach? Instead of heading out to Herm’s you might want to call ahead first.

Herm’s and four other eateries (see news below) all received perfect inspections for food safety and a commitment to keeping food temperatures in the healthy range, keeping their back areas clean, refrigerators, walk-ins and separate areas for food prep and uncooked food and hot and cold water and separate sinks for cleaning, rinsing and the sanitation sink. They checked their dates and rotated items and did not break rules using out-of-date items and made sure everyone washed their hands and you all deserve credit.

However, not one of the restaurants highlighted below is located in Lake Worth Beach. These fine establishments are all located west of the City.

Where are they? Well, you need to find that out for yourself. For example, Herm’s Chicago Style Food is real close to the Village of Wellington.

The point is this information which was published in today’s print edition of The Palm Beach Post is true. However, all the places highlighted below are in the Lake Worth metropolitan area but not in Lake Worth Beach.

The point is if you read or see something you like about a restaurant call or check online to find out where it is! For example, Callaro’s Steak House is getting rave reviews.

Anyone seeing that news in the Post today in the Village of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach and the planned agrihood of Arden would have found out where Big Herm’s is and know they have other options for Chicago-style food nearby. And anyone in Lake Worth Beach may decide to drive out towards Wellington and check out Herm’s too.

Now imagine in the Post today it read, “Big Herm’s Chicago Style Food west of Wellington”?

Ponder that question for a few moments.

Anyhow, if you are in Lake Worth Beach today and want to take a drive out west here are some very good options; an excerpt from today’s paper on p. B7 below the fold:


Eleven Palm Beach County restaurants had perfect inspections last week. They are: Americaters Corp. in Boynton Beach; Guaca Go in Boynton Beach; Big Herm’s Chicago Style Food in Lake Worth; Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth; Eurest Dining Services in Boca Raton; El Torito Sport Pub & Cantina in Lake Worth; Subway at 10130 Northlake Blvd. in West Palm Beach; Cocina Mexicana in Lake Worth; Tijuana Flats at 6201 Jog Road in Lake Worth; Bamboo Fire Cafe in Delray Beach; and Chick-Fil-A at 6000 Glades Road in Boca Raton.


Thank You for visiting today and hope you found this information helpful.

South Palm Beach was in the news last February, feature story by Dan Moffett in The Coastal Star.

The news from Mr. Moffett is more than surprising; closer to stupefying would be more like it.

The story was headlined, “South Palm Beach: Beach project appears dead after county backs out”. This highly interesting read by Moffett concludes with this paragraph,


To date, the county has spent a little over $1.3 million on studies and permit applications for the project, and South Palm has paid about $330,000. The number of staff hours invested in the effort is incalculable.


Another excerpt from the news in The Coastal Star and the link to read the entire story is later in this blog post.

Whilst on topic it was reported recently in the Sun Sentinel that Palm Beach County and ten municipalities including Lake Worth Beach have joined the Coastal Resilience Partnership (CRP). And if you are wondering if South Palm Beach is part of the CRP the answer is no.

And the Town of Palm Beach hasn’t joined the CRP either. But Boca Raton is a member and so is Delray Beach. Read more about this latest development a little later.

But many of you are probably saying to yourself, “Where is South Palm Beach?” The answer is in the map below courtesy of the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Click on map to enlarge.

At top and in center of map (in airy yellow) is Town of Palm Beach. In verdant green is Lake Worth Beach:

In the map (bottom right; sea turtle green) is the ¼-sq. mi. Town of South Palm Beach located south of Lake Worth Beach and Town of Palm Beach (Intracoastal is to west and Atlantic Ocean to east; Town of Manalapan is to the south and shaded Verdenia red is Town of Lantana).

Back in April 2016 when The Palm Beach Post still believed they had the cred to rank towns, villages and cities in Palm Beach County in order from worst to best the Post ranked South Palm Beach #11 out of 38:


There is little youthful anything in South Palm Beach, a condo-canyon stretch of A1A that connects Lake Worth [Beach] with Palm Beach. It’s a snowbird paradise, with lots of people on the stroll along the paved path bordering the Lake Worth Lagoon.


However, if you look at the map above South Palm Beach is connected to the Town of Palm Beach. Palm Beach has a historical right-of-way north through Lake Worth Beach?


Now moving on. . .


Here are the opening five paragraphs in The Coastal Star by Dan Moffett. . .


For nearly 13 years, Palm Beach County and South Palm Beach have worked together on a controversial plan to use a network of concrete groins to relieve the town’s chronic beach erosion problems.

They spent $1.7 million and devoted countless hours to the joint venture, consulting with scientists and engineers, lobbying politicians and state officials, and twisting the arms of skeptical residents and neighbors.

Now, months before construction of the groins was scheduled to begin, it appears the project is dead in the water.

On Feb. 5, the county sent a letter to the state Department of Environmental Protection officially withdrawing a request for the permits needed to move forward. County environmental managers say the project has grown too expensive to make sense anymore.

“We have determined that the project is cost prohibitive,” said Michael Stahl, deputy director of the county’s Environmental Resources Management department.


To continue reading the entire story datelined February 27th click on this link.

As cited earlier in this blog post today — more information about the CRP as reported in the Sun Sentinel — news datelined March 12th. Two excerpts follow:


The Coastal Resilience Partnership consists of Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Lake Worth, Lantana and Ocean Ridge. It was formally created with a grant from the Florida Resilient Coastlines Program, an initiative by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide assistance and funding to coastal communities dealing with flooding, erosion and other changes.

Referring to CRP meeting held on February 28th. . .

. . . Coastal Resilience Partnership members discussed future planning efforts, such as infrastructure, social and economic issues and protecting vital natural resources. The coalition has future meetings planned for the Spring and Summer, but exact dates are not yet available.


Now briefly back to Lake Worth Beach and news in The Coastal Star published in August 2017, “Along the Coast . . . A line in the sand” by reporters Jane Smith and Michelle Quigley.

This news had the subheadline:

“At issue is whether building should continue east of Coastal Construction Line”

Click on screen grab from video:

Take note of the red north-south
Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL).

To learn more about the CCCL and why a new municipal pool complex at the beach in Lake Worth Beach is not possible click on this link. Plus not once since the new Casino was constructed in 2012 has it ever faced a major hurricane like Frances and Jeanne in 2004 or Wilma in 2005.

Update: Upcoming independent Lake Worth Beach tour guide for visitors to this unique and special place.

In brief, this guide will be a quick and easy way to encourage everyone to explore more about this place.

This will be a short accumulation of LOCAL sources of information without the GIGO that pops up all the time using zip codes and data trapping that ends up on the TV news and regional newspapers and then served to the public as news. Lake Worth News has GIGO. But there is accurate news too.

Know there is GIGO on the Lake Worth Wikipedia page too. The word “Beach” in Lake Worth Beach was edited out in many places but there is a lot of accurate information too. The advice in the guide will be just ignore any GIGO you see or just find another source to be your one to turn to:

GIGO  =  Garbage In Garbage Out.

So if you are considering a visit to Lake Worth Beach or just stopping by to visit this blog today let’s proceed.

Briefly, on March 19th Lake Worth Beach became official. For a really good regional perspective on this please read an article by Linda Trischitta at the Sun Sentinel headlined,

‘We are unique’: How this city’s new name, Lake Worth Beach, is making waves

On that topic renaming this City it is indeed making waves and in a very funny way. About the recent Pride Fest Festival the steps taken by reporters at The Palm Beach Post to avoid using the “Beach” has reached the comical stage. You cannot avoid laughing and will not believe how many clever and not-so-clever ways they’ve come up with to ignore the beach in Lake Worth Beach.

Below is a lot of information from the upcoming guide about this City that has managed to befuddle the regional press and news media for many, many decades and provided a lot of entertainment on the TV news. Some of those stories are legendary.

However, little information about the past will be in the upcoming guide but this City’s past relationship with the press and news media is one of the reasons why this place became Lake Worth Beach in the first place. That relationship is an integral part of that story in both an excellent way, good, bad or indifferent or just plain hideous too.

So let’s briefly explore this story and then move on.

For example, some in the press and news media still cannot comprehend how Lake Worth Beach can own an Electric Utility. Stunned look and the eyes glaze over. It’s been said to help some reporters find this place they need a Sherpa guide, percussion drums and smoke signals.

But finding this unique place is not hard at all like it is for transplanted reporters who are unaccustomed to being transplanted from a place they know to another place they don’t know often with hilarious consequences.

But there are standouts and there is exceptional news reporting in Palm Beach County such as by WPTV (NBC5) and that is the recommended viewing for TV news whilst your visit to this City. And there is some not-so-good-news as well. Lake Worth Beach still does not have a hotel in the downtown or a parking garage either. The good news is those hurdles are and will be addressed.

In the meantime West Palm Beach does not have a beach but they do have plenty of hotel rooms. 

In about 1½ weeks the guide will be complete with a cooler name. This online LWB guide will be a helpful online one for visitors, tourists, the business community, marketing professionals and others interested in learning more about the Lake Worth metropolitan area and the City of Lake Worth Beach: where things are and how to get there.

This effort will be independent of but include information from:

• Lake Worth Beach City Hall.
• The Visitors’ Center in the City Hall Annex.
• Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
• Lake Worth Beach and Casino Complex.
• The LOCAL Lake Worth Herald weekly newspaper.

And everyone is encouraged to visit, learn and read these sources for daily, weekly and monthly news.

And yes, the acronym LWB is acceptable and it is proper in some cases just like WPB is short for West Palm Beach which does not have a beach.

In fact this headline appeared in The Lake Worth Herald today referencing a recent City press release:

LWB Library Celebrates National Library Week

Also happening in LWB is an exciting project called “Wayfinding” and next week is an event called “The Next Big Thing!” but you must RSVP with the CRA by tomorrow (Friday, 4/5, 4:00) to guarantee a seat at this event. Call 561-493-2550 or send an email to: ETheodossakos@lakeworth.org

Although there will always be errors in the press and news media intentionally misleading people will not be tolerated. House style is one thing but just using zip codes in news reporting is completely wrong, whether it’s house style or not. A little later is a brief example.

And whether you plan your visit using a guide or any other source always verify your plans ahead of time and plan for detours. For example, you may be planning a visit to the PBC Cultural Council but get detoured at The Book Cellar bookstore or Callaro’s Steak House across the street.

And know that for whatever Lake Worth Beach lacks you most probably will find to the west of the City and there will be examples of that as well.

However, note these phrases are inaccurate and misleading:

• “In Lake Worth-area”
• “Near Lake Worth”
• “Western Lake Worth”
• “Close to Lake Worth”

Reporters should already know where Lake Worth Beach is. What the professionals in the news media should be doing is educating others like a few reporters at CBS12 (WPEC) who keep reporting about terrible incidents ‘in Lake Worth’ but the latest report on CBS12 was a tragedy that occurred in a mobile home community bordering another municipality out west in unincorporated Palm Beach County in zip code 33462. Lake Worth Beach only uses zip code 33460 and part of 33461.

Along with the guide will be instructions on how to locate anything in Palm Beach County — even the most difficult ones to find — in just about two minutes or less with just very little information. It’s not looking “for a needle in a haystack”.

For example, just yesterday corrected news in The Palm Beach Post. The restaurant called Big Herm’s Chicago Style Food reported as ‘in Lake Worth’ is actually on the outskirts of Wellington in the Lake Worth metro area far from Lake Worth Beach.

Where Big Herm’s is located is of minor consequence. But that place reported as ‘in Lake Worth near Wellington’ would help a reader better decide whether or not to visit that particular eatery or find another one locally like TooJay’s in Lake Worth Beach instead.

Enjoy your visit to Lake Worth Beach!

Because the next time you visit Lake Worth Beach this place will be different. Like your favorite store in Lake Worth Beach might add the “Beach” to its name or the Lake Worth Beach parking garage will be under construction and maybe Gonz in Lake Worth Beach will be renting golf carts by the day.


Every visit to Lake Worth Beach will be like
a whole new adventure.

“Thumbs Up to You for visiting Lake Worth Beach once again!”

As promised from LOCAL Lake Worth Herald is news from City of Lake Worth Beach (OldSchoolSneaker.net Alert*).

Once again. Please remember:

DO NOT BRING THUMB DRIVES TO LAKE WORTH BEACH CITY HALL.

If you have been busy and have not heard about what happened at City Hall then please read the news below first from the Herald and then scroll back up and click on this link and then please help spread the word. This City does not deserve to be under siege again but for some inexplicable reason it always seems to happen from time to time and mostly unexpected.

So until the monkeywrenching ends and things get back on track The Lake Worth Herald has magnanimously stepped up to help educate and inform the public about upcoming public meetings and events.

Without further ado. . .

City of Lake Worth Beach

Weekly Calendar of Events
and Meetings

Until the City’s new website is up and running, the Lake Worth Herald is happy to provide a weekly calendar of City events and Advisory Board meetings as a community service. Please note that all meetings are subject to change or cancellation over which the LW Herald has no control.

Please confirm days and times by contacting City Hall, 561-586-1600.

Agendas for all meetings are available through the City Clerk’s office:



FRIDAY – APRIL 5
Lake Ave Block Party | Downtown | 6pm

SATURDAY – APRIL 6

• Farmers Market | Old Bridge Park | 9am
• Art Auction | HATCH1121 | 6pm

MONDAY – APRIL 8
Bond Oversight Committee | City Hall | 6pm

TUESDAY – APRIL 9

• Finance Advisory Board (FAB) Meeting | City Hall | 5pm
• CRA Meeting | HATCH 1121 | 6pm

WEDNESDAY – APRIL 10

• Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) Meeting | City Hall | 6pm
• Electric Utility Advisory Board (EUAB) Meeting | City Hall | 6pm

Hope you found this information helpful today.

And please remember. Please confirm the date and time of all public meetings above at City Hall and at the Community Redevelopment Agency located at The HATCH 1121 at 1121 Lucerne Ave.


*OldSchoolSneaker.net is the old way of getting information from City Hall. You pick up the phone and call City Hall or put on your sneakers and head on over. It takes more time but is also extraordinarily successful at gaining information and you might run into someone you haven’t seen in a very long time.

News from Palm Beach Post staff writer Michelle Mundy published in Neighborhood Post, May 9th, 2001.

[UPDATE: The latest installment on local history by Helen Vogt Greene is published in today’s Lake Worth Herald. Read a short excerpt at the end of this blog post today.]

Click on newspaper clipping to enlarge
and read the side-caption:

First paragraph of story reads, “Helen Vogt Greene loves history. She loves it so much she becomes a piece of history every time she talks to a group.”

And two more excerpts:

This month [May 2001] Greene will become the Statue of Liberty for two of these presentations, which she first started during her role as curator and historian for the Museum of Lake Worth.

Greene first learned of this passion for history when she was a senior in high school.

“I was asked by my history teacher to take over a freshman class in history while she went to a conference,” she says. “I thought that was a wonderful introduction to history.”

and. . .

Greene then joined the Pioneers of the City of Lake Worth and became a member of the Palm Beach Historic Review Board, which she chaired for six years. The mayor also offered her a chance to start a museum for Lake Worth, she says, didn’t take her long to accept.

“That became a reality only because of the people of Lake Worth,” says the ■■-year-old. The museum is in the city hall annex, which she helped place on the National Register of Historic Places . . . Greene says she is really proud of the 1992 Certificate of Commendation the museum received from the American Association of State and Local History.

“We had to submit papers to qualify, and we were one of 14 in the U.S. to receive the reward,” she says.

on the public interested in City history. . .

“They look to the past, but only to guide them to the future. My love of history is based on the people because people make history.”


The Lake Worth Historical Museum is located in the City Hall Annex in Lake Worth Beach at 414 Lake Ave. on the 2nd floor. The hours are Wednesday and Friday from 1:00–4:00 and tours by appointment. Call 561-533-7354 for more information.


Thank You for visiting once again today. . .

Now the latest
installment in 2019.

Here is the latest by our local historian in The Lake Worth Herald headlined, “The Image Maker” on p. 3 above the fold; two short excerpts:


Every community has at least one person that is accountable for the image it shares to our new comers. Those special places that we take our friends to see and enjoy. This may be a new name, but Professor Louis de Gottrau was Lake Worth’s first ‘image maker’.

From the white dirty sand, scrub pines, palmettos, and sand spurs, Prof. de Gottrau was hired by Bryant and Greenwood to design and cultivate this virgin, pristine land into a ‘Garden of Eden’. He was Lake Worth’s first horticulturist.


There are nine more paragraphs to this story, two archival photographs and a caption that partly reads about the place called Lake Worth circa 1911,

Louis de Gottrau, Lake Worth’s first horticulturist, brought beauty to the virgin, untouched land.

There is Lake Worth the region and a place now called Lake Worth Beach and The Lake Worth Herald is there to cover it all. For this week’s front page headlines click on this link.

To become a subscriber call the editor at 561-585-9387 or send an email to: Editor@lwherald.com

Confused dolphins, toxic algae, pond scum and looming threat of BMAA: “[A]n arsonist in the human brain”.

Attention Treasure Coast!

Are you looking for some good satire? Does the ‘green algae’ got you down? Then please continue reading.

“Satire can always be found everywhere. A people without a love for satire is a dead people.”

—Quote. Dario Fo, 1926–2013. According to Wikipedia, Fo was an “Italian actor, playwright, comedian, singer, theatre director, stage designer, songwriter, painter, political campaigner for the Italian left wing and the recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature.”

Let’s proceed: Important information about MBAA for our good friends in the Treasure Coast.

The reasoning why you should plan your upcoming Spring Season in Palm Beach County!

Please start booking your events in Palm Beach County now. Why? Because no one can be too careful when it comes to β-Methylamino-ʟ-alanine, or just BMAA for short.

In March 2016 the “firebrand ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox” was a big story in The Palm Beach Post, news from reporter John Pacenti about blooms of cyanobacteria, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyloid plaque deposits, the research studying the diet of vervets (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), motor neuron disease and how all this could perhaps — e.g., feasibly, could be, may be, within the realm of possibility, and of course, weather permitting — that BMAA would perchance conceivably, hypothetically on paper, could possibly imaginably in a manner by supposition be due to BMAA.


“No one is claiming BMAA is the only cause,” [emphasis added] he [Cox] said. “There has been all kinds of hypotheses in the past. Aluminum, brain trauma. There are probably lots of different things that lead to these neurological diseases.”


It was BMAA in the St. Lucie River that possibly created that “spike in emergency room visits” and the public was forced to “evacuate waterside properties and escape to more distant lodgings” according to John Pacenti once again in a June 2017 report headlined, “ACLU: State failed to warn public of health dangers of toxic algae bloom”. Evacuate where? Possibly to places like the cities, towns and villages right here in Central Palm Beach County that had any hotel rooms available:


“The algae bloom in the St. Lucie River and its estuary certainly appeared and smelled toxic. It caused an overpowering, noxious smell, burning eyes, headaches, flu-like symptoms, respiratory problems, and rashes. The local hospital weathered a spike in emergency room patients. People were forced to evacuate waterside properties and escape to more distant lodgings.”


Do you live in Martin County? St. Lucie County? Are you frightened of BMAA? Are you considering an “escape to more distant lodgings.” Worried about “burning eyes, headaches, flu-like symptoms, respiratory problems, and rashes” too?

Please evacuate to vicinity of
Lake Worth Lagoon!

For example, former Post reporter Willy Howard (now a reporter with The Coastal Star) wasn’t all too concerned about health issues or the quality of the water in the Intracoastal when he went, “Paddling the habitats of Lake Worth Lagoon” to demonstrate how safe our water is in the Lake Worth Lagoon.

And start making plans for
Independence Day, July 4th, 2019 too!

And that ain’t no satire!

New news from Lake Worth Beach CRA: Vital tool called wayfinding signage.

Plus at the end of this blog post is information about an upcoming CRA event on April 9th called, “The Next Big Thing!”

Must RSVP by this Friday at 4:00.

Call 561-493-2550 (email below).

Now to CRA TODAY, the

latest news about wayfinding:

Wayfinding  =  Signage for people to orient themselves in Lake Worth Beach and then navigate from place to place.

News from CRA TODAY with links added:


In 2014, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and City of Lake Worth administrative staff embarked on a multi-phase project to bring new wayfinding signage to Lake Worth. Wayfinding signage is directional and informational but not advertising. An effective wayfinding plan can act as a vital tool of economic development in any size city. A highly functional wayfinding system makes the area “legible” and enhances a visitors’ experience as it increases their comfort, builds their confidence, and encourages them to discover unique events, attractions and destinations on their own.

Additionally, wayfinding is what people do when they travel to and through a city. Wayfinding plans involve the science and art of scripting an individual’s travel throughout that area. The broader goal of an effective wayfinding plan should be to help people discover all of a community’s distinct assets.

Some examples of wayfinding in Lake Worth Beach:

Northeast Lucerne and Old Lucerne are two of the six local designated historic districts in Lake Worth Beach. Click on this link for more information about the City’s historic preservation program.

News about wayfinding continues. . .


For many years, community and business leaders have requested a comprehensive wayfinding signage project to promote downtown Lake Worth Beach and the historic neighborhoods. Unfortunately, previous attempts to create and install comprehensive street signage in downtown Lake Worth have had minimal effects.

CRA staff, the City’s Community Sustainability and Public Services departments coordinated efforts to solicit a design firm to produce a comprehensive wayfinding plan which could be incorporated throughout the City. The City agreed to share its resources with the CRA to cooperatively solicit, and hire an experienced firm to create a wayfinding plan, which was presented to the community in January 2016.

After reviewing the plan and various signage design styles, and with additional input from the Lake Worth Historic Preservation Department, the CRA Board and City Commission ultimately selected the colorful ‘blue wave’ design that will be adorning all new welcome and directional signs in Lake Worth Beach. In 2018, a sign vendor was hired to further refine and fabricate the dozens of new signs that will be installed throughout the City.

This past February, installation finally began on 33 of the new wayfinding signs located mostly in the downtown and historic districts of the City. The CRA hopes to have another 35 new signs installed by the end of 2019 depending on FDOT clearance. The City and CRA will then evaluate all existing signage along our roadways and likely move forward with an option to install up to 50 additional directional signs in 2020.


Stay tuned for more news and information about wayfinding in the coming weeks and months.


Without further ado. . .

“The Next Big Thing!”

This FREE event will be held on Tuesday, April 9th in the Ballroom at the Lake Worth Beach and Casino Complex from 8:30–10:00 a.m.

If you are an interested investor, developer, property owner or a LOCAL business owner you are all invited to attend this meeting for a discussion on small business and development opportunities.

Important. Must RSVP by Friday, April 5th: Contact Emily Theodossakos at the Lake Worth Beach CRA by calling 561-493-2550 or send an email to: ETheodossakos@lakeworth.org

Parking is FREE as well.

This event is being sponsored by the CRA, City of Lake Worth Beach and Retail Strategies. Mr. Clay Craft from Retail Strategies will have a presentation on strategically identifying retail opportunities and engaging local business.

Also in attendance will be consultant and author Angel Cicerone who will be the special guest speaker on “Keeping local LOCAL”.


Activating a downtown or emerging shopping district starts with energizing locally-owned retail and restaurants. While the focus in generally on attracting national brands, it’s the local businesses that create a true sense of community and sustainable success.


Hope you found this information helpful today and RSVP with Emily Theodossakos at the Lake Worth Beach CRA soon to make certain to have a seat for, “The Next Big Thing!”

Breaking news from The Lake Worth Herald and news about City’s official website forced to be taken down.

In Brief: What is happening in City of Lake Worth Beach is ‘legal extortion’ and Mayor Pam Triolo is angry as hell. She said, “I’m p■■■■d off !”

WARNING: Do not bring thumb drives to Lake Worth Beach City Hall. One City resident is advising others in the community to do just that but don’t do it. Please keep your thumb drives at home and use OldTimeSneaker.net instead.*

Lake Worth Beach Mayor Triolo is not

an elected official prone to anger.

She is a four-time elected mayor in a small town
known for tough small town politics and
she always manages a smile.

Would you like to learn more about this elected body? Too bad that part of City website had to be taken down too and not available for the public.

The reason why the City’s website was taken down is a terrible story about the modern legal system much like what happened earlier this year when all the successes in tackling the sober home crisis came under assault by one ruling by one judge in Palm Beach County threatening a ‘relapse’ after 2½ years of very hard work.

And now the 6 sq. mi. City of Lake Worth Beach is under assault once again. To find out how and why that is a YouTube video is below of the City Commission meeting from last evening at City Hall.

Support LOCAL small town journalism in Lake Worth Beach, nearby municipalities and in metro Lake Worth region in Central Palm Beach County.

LOCAL newspapers matter. This week’s Herald is in production; here are last week’s headlines. Consider becoming a subscriber to the Herald today. Print edition is still ¢50. Call editor Mark Easton at 561-585-9387 or by email at: Editor@lwherald.com

Here is the news from the Herald last evening:

Until the City’s website calendar of meetings and events is up and running The Lake Worth Herald has kindly agreed to include a weekly calendar of City advisory board meetings and City events every week from now until the City’s official calendar is back online.

This is what LOCAL and locally-owned community newspapers do!

Look for this news in this week’s Lake Worth Herald available by subscription ($25 per year) and at Andy’s newsstand called Studio 205.


Studio 205 is located at 205 N. Federal Hwy. in Lake Worth Beach. Call the proprietor at 561-533-5272 to see if this week’s paper is out. The parking lot for Studio 205 is located off 2nd Ave. North just about 100′ from the traffic light at Federal Hwy.†

To watch and hear the very sad news about why the City’s website cannot go public watch the YouTube video below and please listen very carefully to Lake Worth Beach City Attorney Glen Torcivia:





Please share this terrible news with everyone you know in your neighborhood and community.

And get ready to read the news in this week’s Lake Worth Herald.

Footnote Section.

*Per City officials please keep City Hall ‘e-clap’-FREE. In the meantime use what is called OldTimeSneaker.net

OldTimeSneaker.net can be defined as the old-fashioned way when people with mobility issues got around to acquire information prior to floppy disks, magnetic tape and 30-lb phones anchored to the wall with mechanical dials that kept falling off. What these people would do is put on sneakers, grab the walking stick and then head on out. For historical reference the song by Bad Company titled, “Silver, Blue & Gold” was available on Eight-Track.

†For some reason the proprietor at Studio 205 became news in The Palm Beach Post today for no apparent reason and many in the public are scratching their heads right now.

What the Post reported was a complete non-story about a truly non-event. To learn more about that silly news published in the Post print edition today click on this link.

UPDATE. Very important information.

This will be a brief short story.

Last evening was the long-awaited Second Reading of Ordinance No. 2019-04 amending “Chapter 23 ‘Land Development Regulations’ Section 23.1-12, ‘Definitions’, and Section 23.6-1, ‘Landscape Regulations’ and setting the Second Reading and Public Hearing for April 2, 2019”.

So what does all this mean to you? 

To learn more about what happened last evening click on this link for a blog post from yesterday.

Ordinance 2019-04 passed unanimously with no discussion at the Lake Worth Beach City Commission.

There was no public comment.

The public and City leadership is done with talking.

The process will begin educating the public about the newly adopted Landscape Regulations with a public relations campaign getting the word out. And maybe this public information campaign will be something like the highly successful information campaign in September/October 2018 when the City switched from single-stream recycling to double-stream recycling.

Do you recall the ‘Recycle-Mageddon’?

This was the spin reported by some in the press and news media warning of chaos and people wandering about the streets in complete confusion. However, each and every week outlets like The Lake Worth Herald just kept funneling out the facts.

The TV news vans showed up anyway and reporters from the Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel but they had trouble finding anyone to interview. All was just fine. Because the news from journalist Katie Pyzyk at WasteDive had broken through all the noise and nonsense too.

And this City and The Lake Worth Herald and many others worked hard to get the word out. When October 1st, 2018 rolled around the change came and went and there was nary a complaint. Then came Tuesday then Wednesday then Thursday then Friday.

The first week went off without a hitch. or a recycling bucket if you wish. And the program has been working as it was intended all along.

The End.

Why look for the news in Lake Worth Beach when you can watch the news for yourself right now!

The video of last night’s Lake Worth Beach City Commission meeting is following this photo and caption.

Lake Worth Beach City Attorney Glen Torcivia had the honor of swearing-in District 4 City Commissioner Herman Robinson yesterday.

Click on photo to enlarge:

Later in the evening Vice Mayor Pro Tem Scott Maxwell was magnanimous and offered Robinson the position of vice mayor pro tem. Robinson chose to keep the City leadership as is with Maxwell in that requisite seat. District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso is vice mayor of Lake Worth Beach. The mayor of course is Mayor Pam Triolo.

Make no mistake. The positions of vice mayor and vice mayor pro tem are considered symbolic by many but they are actually very important in the process of governing. Several times in recent years due to scheduling or a trip to Tallahassee by the mayor the vice mayor took the gavel and Maxwell was vice mayor for the evening.

What follows is the YouTube video of the regularly scheduled Lake Worth Beach City Commission meeting last evening.

Just click on play and watch in segments if you wish.


FYI: The official City Seal will get the “Beach”. Just be patient. This will all take time and there is no rush.

Just enjoy the process
as Lake Worth Beach evolves!

Dumb news published in The Palm Beach Post and another “CORRECTION” too.

You will have to buy the print edition today to read the latest error and CORRECTION in the Post. Can tell you it has nothing at all to do with Lake Worth Beach.

The Post print edition is $2 now and a year all-inclusive subscription is $683.79. For more information about subscription rates send an email to:

subscriberservices@gatehousemedia.com

While Lake Worth Beach Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso was in City Hall last evening doing the hard work of government a beat reporter posted a really dumb news report about Andy. So dumb you won’t believe it. It’s a non-news story about a non-event in Lake Worth Beach.

That about sums it up, a story that should have been published in the “Comics and Puzzles” section because you will end up scratching your head and trying to figure out what the point is.

Have you ever been to Andy’s new location? All that information and a photograph of Andy smiling is below. Here are directions to Andy’s shop called Studio 205.

The address for Studio 205 is 205 N. Federal Hwy. The parking lot for Studio 205 can be accessed off 2nd Ave. North as well.

Click on map to enlarge, note that 2nd Ave. North

is a one-way street heading east.

Andy’s shop is the one with the white roof within the red box. The parking lot is on the west and north side of the building. Please follow the traffic signage and be aware of all one-way roads in the area.

Now briefly, back to the non-story in the Post today.

Not going to mention that silly news that somehow got published in the print edition of the Post today except to say it’s on p. 2 in the ‘LOCAL’ section on the right side of the page above the lottery numbers. Most newspaper readers don’t pay any attention to p. 2 in the LOCAL section anyway quickly turning the page for the community and business sections where the important and topical news is usually published. And most newspaper readers use smartphones and tablets to check their lottery numbers too. That technology became available some time in the 20th Century.

But what is worth noting is May 1st is the one-year anniversary of Gatehouse Media being the owner and publisher of The Palm Beach Post and the Post print edition is still printed in Broward County by the presses at the Sun Sentinel and once again an all-inclusive subscription to the Post is $683.79. All this information is located in today’s print edition on p. A2 below the latest “CORRECTION”, another error in the County’s paper of record.

But if you want to stop by and have a good laugh with Andy his juice bar, restaurant and newsstand is located at the corner of Federal Hwy. and 2nd Ave. North (see Andy smiling below). The phone number is 561-533-5272 and the store opens at 10:00 a.m. today. Andy is the one usually with the baseball cap on.

So. Why not stop by today or later this week?

Why? So when this week’s Lake Worth Herald comes out you know where to go!

Click on image to enlarge,
the Grand Opening last year and Andy is smiling.

Prior to opening up his new location for Studio 205 Andy’s shop was located on Lake Ave. Although this location is 400 s.f. smaller it’s much more functional Andy said.

News published in Palm Beach Post from 2015: “Greenacres begins the merge process with PBSO”.

Now fast forward to 2018.

“[T]here is no debate about the result. Overall crime is down, and available law-enforcement resources are far better.”

—Quote. Editorial, published in Palm Beach Post on March 10th, 2018 just prior to municipal elections in Greenacres. For more about quote click on this link.

Now fast forward to 2019. . .

What more have we learned about the PBSO merge with a nearby municipality in 2015? Not much if you only read the Post. If you only get your news from the Post you would know very little about this very important law enforcement, public policy and public safety issue.

Worth noting is Greenacres in both land area and population is larger than Lake Worth Beach.

The editor(s) at the Post, other than a brief reference on the editorial page back in 2018, have thus far clumsily avoided updating the community about what happened and what is happening in the City of Greenacres following the merge with PBSO.

It is now over ten years since the merge occurred between PBSO and the former LWPD.

But hopefully that intransigence will end soon now that municipal election season is over and before the 2019–2020 Election Season heats up. But don’t hold your breath.

Soon after the merge between PBSO and the Greenacres PD, the Post pulled their beat reporter from Greenacres and began focusing all their attention on Lake Worth the City instead. You may recall the Lake Worth Very Very Special Monday Cursory Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE) began in late 2015.

And for over three years now on this blog have been encouraging the editor(s) at the Post to provide an update on the merge between the former Greenacres PD and PBSO. From a public policy and public safety perspective this would be very important information for policymakers and the public as well. But for some reason PBSO in Greenacres is not very worthy news.

Going forward this is a question that may eventually be put on the table by other villages, towns and cities in Palm Beach County: “Should we merge with PBSO or keep our own police department?”

For some municipalities this choice may make perfect sense. For others maybe not. But the public needs to be informed about the issue. 

What has happened in Greenacres since 2015 is most certainly a case example. 


“Training for the city’s officers should start after Thanksgiving, with them scheduled to shadow PBSO deputies in January.”

—Published in The Palm Beach Post, dated Nov. 12th, 2015.




So next Monday, for over three years now, will be another LWVVSMCPE published in the Post. And then followed by the same Special Cities for the rest of the week. All the very same Six Special Cities. For over three years.

Question: Aren’t you about ready for some serious public policy news from other cities in Central Palm Beach County?

Like maybe about PBSO in Greenacres?

Meet the Six Special Cities,
click on newspaper clipping to enlarge:

“IN YOUR COMMUNITY”?

But what if you don’t live in one of the Six Special Cities? On May 1st 2018 GateHouse Media took over at the Post. Weren’t they supposed to come in and shake things up at that newspaper?

If you live in the friendly, outstanding City of Greenacres, do you remember when you once had a beat reporter from the Post covering your local news and politics?

It’s true. It actually happened once upon a time. And the proof is below, excerpts from an article published in the Post on Nov. 12th, 2015. The process of amalgamating a local police department with PBSO is a timely process and began in 2015 in Greenacres and was completed 2½ months later, in February 2016.


Like a blended family, merging a city’s police force with a sheriff’s office takes work. “There are a ton of meetings going on almost daily,” Public Safety Director Mike Porath told the City Council at the Nov. 2 [2015] meeting.

and. . .

But, between now and then, Porath said the city and PBSO still need to iron out several details, including merging county and city public records into one database, settling on how the gun range will be managed and determining which city ordinances Greenacres will keep and which county ordinances it will adopt.


Sheriff Bradshaw and PBSO took over for the Lake Worth PD in 2008 and you can read about that using this link. Back then there remained some concern about PBSO by some in the community but former Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill put a stop to that nonsense — here is what she said about PBSO’s contribution to the City of Lake Worth:

“Fabulous. They’ve exceeded our expectations. The Sheriff has done a fantastic job and it’s unquestionable that we want them to stay.”

Of course, Mulvehill called PBSO “Fabulous” only after the public caught on the plan all along was to end the contract with PBSO.

The video below is a press conference in May 2011 by a former City commissioner, Suzanne Mulvehill along with a former city manager, Susan Stanton “IN FULL RETREAT” after the community rallied to keep PBSO in our City.

Note: At the 6:15 mark Yours Truly asks Stanton two questions; however, she dodges both of them.

About last night. An evening with Wes Blackman exploring the history of College Park in Lake Worth Beach.

I wish to say Thank You to everyone who attended the presentation last night on the history of the College Park neighborhood in what is now called the City of Lake Worth Beach.

The presentation last evening was sponsored by the College Park Neighborhood Assoc. and they were the most wonderful of hosts at The Beach Club last evening.

One of the slides from the presentation:

If you wish to see the invitation sent out which includes some history about the College Park neighborhood click on this link.

A photo taken from last night. . .

. . . as Commissioner Herman Robinson looks on. Herman (on left at table) is being sworn-in today, 5:30 at Lake Worth Beach City Hall, re-elected the commissioner in District 4.

If you want to watch the presentation for yourself email me at: wesblackman@gmail.com

Was very pleased to have commissioners Omari Hardy and Herman Robinson in attendance and other notable notables and so many people from so many neighborhoods here in this City and from outside the City as well.

I was approached by a man who told me he was visiting family here. He told me how impressed he was about the condition of the roads and other changes he’s noticed. And he went on to say that is one of the reasons why he may relocate here from Michigan some time in the future.

Hearing that story was the best of news of all confirming to me that Lake Worth Beach is on the right track.

Also worth noting about last night was a gentleman named Arthur Mondale. He approached and handed me his card and told me he enjoyed watching the presentation. Mr. Mondale is a reporter at WPTV (NBC5) and he was there last night to learn more about this City. Mondale is a multi-media journalist and he is not yet listed on the NBC5 website of staff reporters but will share that link with everyone when it becomes available but in the meantime for everyone on Twitter click on this link for Mondale’s Twitter feed.

For a talk about the history of the College Park neighborhood was told it was the largest crowd ever for a College Park meeting and that was very good to hear. It’s somewhat humbling to know all this mundane research I’ve been doing for all these years has become of much interest and am absolutely honored to share it with everyone.

There is no way to prove this and it is completely anecdotal but this City once called “Lake Worth” seems to be getting a whole lot more interest since becoming Lake Worth Beach and most of it positive.

People I’ve talked to that know a thing or two about social media and marketing and public relations are still a bit shocked that Question #1 passed on Election Day, March 12th. Because being surprised proves once again that gauging public opinion is not always accurate. The public can surprise the experts now and then. And that is exactly what Lake Worth Beach has done.

For some history is carved in stone. Others see history as a flexible thing subject to change while honoring history. And I think this City has done an exceptional job finding the middle ground.

And I see a long and bright future for Lake Worth Beach despite an occasional bump in the road.

Public meetings and proper etiquette. A refresher in Lake Worth Beach.

The City Commission meets tonight (Tues., April 2nd at 6:00) for a regularly scheduled public meeting in City Hall. In preparation for this public meeting are two scenarios.

One is the dreaded ‘open mic’ (Situation #1) and the other is from Mr. Joshua Borgmann about, “The 4 things you need to know for good meeting etiquette” (Situation #2). Borgmann provides a short video demonstrating these very helpful tips.


Without further ado. . .

Situation #1.

You’re in a very important meeting and a 10-minute break is called. But you might need more than 10 minutes. What do you do?

I hope this information below is helpful, especially for those who may find themselves in an awkward situation, so you don’t have to worry about ever reading a quote like this:

“We’re not running a cruise line here”.

—Quote by District 1 Commissioner
Scott Maxwell. 

This quote by Maxwell is from December 2016 at a City Commission meeting and was quite the moment. Towards the end of the meeting Mayor Pam Triolo called for a 10-minute break and everyone left the dais. After the ten minute break everyone returned, except for former-Commissioner Ryan Maier.

After a while, frustrated that Maier wasn’t answering the call to return over the loudspeaker, Maxwell said, “We’re not running a cruise line here”, to the City Clerk.

Maxwell wasn’t aware the mic was still on!

Oooops. Everyone in City Hall heard what Maxwell said including everyone watching the meeting at home Live Streaming. Eventually word got to Maier that the meeting was not over. Eventually he did return, without an explanation for his absence, and the meeting resumed.

So! If you think you need more than the stated break time make sure to let the Chair of the meeting know. And always check to make sure the mic is not on as well.

Situation #2.

Do you think you need a refresher about meeting etiquette, paying attention to the clock?

Below are some quick tips from Mr. Borgmann “so you don’t look stupid”! From Mr. Joshua Borgmann are these four very important etiquette tips:


“First, to be on time. [emphasis added] Second, make instructions. Third, have a strong agenda. And lastly, stay off your phone and sit at the appropriate height of everyone else in the meeting so you don’t look stupid.”

Enjoy the video and hope you found
this information helpful!

Where are we now with the new and revised landscape regulations in the City of Lake Worth Beach?

Thank you for visiting today once again.

As to the question, what is going on with the revised, reworked, rewritten, re-updated, re-looked-at, reconsidered and re-thought landscape regulations in Lake Worth Beach?

FINAL PUBLIC MEETING IS TONIGHT.

TONIGHT at 6:00 is Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2019-04 at Lake Worth Beach City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

And it will be a very bad sign going forward if the vote tonight is not unanimous by the City Commission.

And please. For everyone in the public thinking about showing up tonight at public comment and claiming they don’t know what is going on with the City’s Landscape Regulations I hope Mayor Pam Triolo has some very choice words for you.


But first. . .


UPDATE 1: Lake Worth Commissioner Herman Robinson will be sworn-in today at 5:30 for another term on the City Commission. This time a three-year term.

UPDATE 2: There is a Tree Board panel discussion coming up on April 11th. Cited in the press release is the International Society of Aboriculture and the mission, “Through research, technology, and education, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.”

The City of Lake Worth Beach is very unique in that this City has its own Electric Utility and much has been learned about keeping the electric grid safe during major storms. And Lake Worth Beach is very palm tree friendly. It may be cool is some places to disparage the palm tree, which is not really a tree, but we really like them anyhow. Mr. Dave McGrew is the official horticulturist in Lake Worth Beach. McGrew will be one of the panelists at this upcoming panelists on the panel discussion and his experience during major storms will be a valuable one for discussion.

Now back to the public meeting tonight at City Hall.

Here was a very important item on the City Commission agenda on Tuesday, March 19th under Item 12, “New Business”:


Ordinance No. 2019-04 — First Reading — Amending Chapter 23 ‘Land Development Regulations’ Section 23.1-12, ‘Definitions’, and Section 23.6-1, ‘Landscape Regulations’ and setting the Second Reading and Public Hearing for April 2, 2019” [emphasis added]


The vote at the City Commission two weeks ago was unanimous to move the new landscape ordinances forward.

Looking back. How did we get here?

Recall that Hurricane Irma in September 2017 changed everything. Not directly, but indirectly, Hurricane Maria also in 2017 changed South Florida forever. And then Michael last year clarified things even further. Following Irma hardening the Lake Worth Electric Utility became a topic of great concern and at the City Commission too. And there is a thing called a tie-line to the grid. Stay tuned for more about that at a later time.

Question: Are you a big fan of Jon Smith Subs on Congress Ave. in the Village of Palm Springs? If you recall you were also impacted by Hurricane Irma. Not only were damaged trees and vegetation a problem getting to that popular eatery but a huge billboard fell on Jon Smith Subs too. They were closed for seventeen days.

The public road network was looked at after those hurricanes. Public safety and public health was addressed, access for emergency vehicles, communication network, underground utilities, and even the economic health of this City was looked at too.


FYI: If this topic is not of interest to you please take just one moment and scroll down to see a Tweet from the Tampa Bay Times, twelve-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.


If you recall in October last year, as nicely and as curt as possible, the Lake Worth City Commission reviewed the revised, reworked, rewritten, rectified, and redacted landscape regulations. In other words, the regulations were overhauled. Again.

When this proposed ordinance was first presented to the Commission last year the electeds said, “Sorry, you need to get back to work.” They were given some spirited direction and the staff said “Thank You” and off they went.

Just last February the altered and adjusted and edited and fixed and changed and amended landscape regulations went through both the Planning & Zoning Board (P&Z) and the Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) for review.

After some discussion last month both P&Z and HRPB said, “OK. We like it.”

This all began last October at City Hall. When the City Commission first got a good look at the newly-proposed landscape regulations one could say, “All hell broke loose.” The electeds told staff to go back to work and start all over again. Then in early January a proposed landscape ordinance came back to the Commission and the electeds on the dais said not good enough. Get back to work. To read all about that click on this link.

Worth noting also last February was the annual Tree Festival. The theme for this year’s festival was “Make Lake Worth Cool!”

On that point yes, everyone loves shade trees. Shade trees are not the issue. As hurricanes Irma and Michael have demonstrated the issue is public safety and where shade trees are located: away from power lines, roadways, sidewalks and underground utilities.

In short the issue comes down to, “Balancing shade vs. public safety in hurricane-prone South Florida”.

The Florida Panhandle never expected a direct hit.

No one does.

The math facing residents after Hurricane Michael is daunting. Can they afford to stay? Should they? https://t.co/8nZJzkrSQi

— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) February 2, 2019

Now back to landscape regulations.

For quite a long time the public in this City has been demanding understandable, concise, and palm tree-friendly landscaping rules. For those who enjoy palm trees the revised landscape regulations will offer some welcome relief.

Everyone takes a sigh of relief on December 1st when Hurricane Season ends. But if you’ve been following the updates you would know this year’s Vegetation Amnesty Week is from May 27th–31st. Because on June 1st begins another Hurricane Season.

If and when a new landscape ordinance is adopted it will need the approval of the public. And that will be a “Big If ”. It will all depend on how many onerous regulations are lined out. If not enough then all this could quite possibly go back to Square One once again.

And also “Worth Noting”.

All the City logos with a palm tree!

The revised landscape ordinance will restore honor to the palm tree! True. The palm tree is not really a tree. But the public loves them anyhow!

If a new landscape ordinance is ultimately approved by the City Commission there will follow a massive public information campaign to get the word out to the public and the business community.

Hope many from the public interested in this important topic show up at City Hall tonight for Second Reading.