Who knew? If you want to know more, go to the meeting at City Hall tomorrow:

This is what we have come to expect from the Supervisor of Elections office

Gubernatorial longshot’s 15 minutes of fame now includes arrest

As we all know, you must be careful about what you put on campaign treasurer reports. This candidate for governor wasn't so careful. Click title for link to story.

A Tallahassee woman’s 15 minutes of fame running for governor against Rick Scott has resulted in her arrest Monday for elections fraud.
Yinka Adeshina, 43, who received just under 2 percent of the Aug. 26 Republican primary vote challenging Scott, is facing felony charges for submitting two fraudulent campaign finance reports with state officials.
Adeshina claimed she collected $182,080 from 408 contributors, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which conducted the investigation. The amount she claimed to have collected could have made her eligible for state campaign matching funds.
But many of the names or addresses of the purported contributors were fraudulent, investigators said.  The Palm Beach Post earlier reported that several donor’s addresses on Adeshina’s report corresponded with Publix stores and another with a Best Buy, while one donor listed had the same name as the president of Nigeria.

Big jumps in traffic happening on some Palm Beach County roads

This is why I don't like driving west of I-95. When I do, I usually say I'm packing a lunch. The most recent Palm Beach County traffic counts confirm that there is a positive correlation between traffic and economic recovery. The higher traffic counts also reflect residential developments either re-populating after the recession or coming on line as building resumes again. I was just driving on Glades Road last weekend and there was actually a bike lane along it, between the right-hand lane and the curb. I can't imagine using it. Click title for link to the Sun-Sentinel article.

To the chagrin of commuters, traffic is booming again in southern Palm Beach County.
Long waits at traffic lights and cars chugging along bumper to bumper are back on many roads due to several factors: the end of the Great Recession, new developments being built and even a popular new shopping center in one area.
"You have to plan on an extra half-hour," said Shifra Rosen, who lives in Boca Raton and has seen more cars lined up on roads like Spanish River Boulevard, Federal Highway and Boca Raton Boulevard. "Boca just generally seems to have more traffic."
An annual count is done early in the year when experts think traffic is at its peak. Overall, traffic in Palm Beach County jumped 3.7 percent this year, the highest increase the county has seen since 2004. But many roads in Boca Raton and Delray Beach are seeing much larger increases.

Joint EUAB and City Commission meeting tomorrow night (10/14) 6 p.m.

Tomorrow night will be an important meeting at City Hall and I advise everyone who is interested in the future of Lake Worth's electric utility to attend. For many years, Lake Worth has struggled with the questions of whether we stay in the electricity business or find another alternative? The Lake Worth Electric Utility Advisory Board [EUAB] (Lisa Maxwell is the Chair) is tasked with advising the City Commission on "public policy, operational requirements and the long-term financial stability and viability of the electric utilities."

The background for this meeting can be found here. 

As you scroll down the document, you will see the PowerPoint presentation to be given by the EUAB tomorrow night. The three options are:
"1) To Rebuild and Upgrade the Tom Smith Power Plant
2) To Sell the Electric Utility
3) To Extend the current Orlando Utility Commission’s contract."

For each of these options the EUAB chose the top five pros and cons. How they arrived at these was the EUAB had a meeting with community leaders on July 9 and later, on August 6, "[A]fter much discussion" the EUAB prioritized the list to come up with their top 5 pros and cons for each option for the City Commission to consider. For many of us, this dilemma has been going on years. The difference now is Lake Worth has come finally to the fork in the road. Whatever decision is made will affect the city for decades to come.

For some historical context note the following images from a presentation by Lake Worth Utilities in 2011. Pay particular attention to the age of the electricity generating units (one was installed in 1965) and the types of fuels used: black oil, diesel, and natural gas.

Check out the ages of some of the equipment.

Nationwide company invests in Boynton, Lake Worth to promote...

This is a great idea to extend exercise facilities beyond those that can afford gym memberships. It also allows people to explore and discover our public parks. Click title for link.

A nationwide nonprofit on a mission to help the country become more healthy and active is sharing its movement with Boynton Beach and Lake Worth.
The Trust for Public Land plans to install Fitness Zones at The Congress Avenue Barrier Free Park in Boynton Beach and at John Prince Park in suburban Lake Worth.
The outdoor gym could be open in Boynton Beach by March, said Wally Majors, the city’s director of recreation and parks.
“We want to get people out and we want to get them out to the parks and we want to get them active,” Majors said. “It’ll be something very unique to this part of the county, and hopefully it’ll get people outside and get ‘em moving.”

Letter to the Editor regarding All Aboard Florida...

This past Sunday, in the Palm Beach Post, a Letter to the Editor by Suzanne E. Houghtaling of West Palm Beach was published concerning AAF. Click title for link to page where it appears. Here are two excerpts:

     “I travel throughout Florida on a regular basis by car, but not by choice, since there are few other convenient travel options. Florida is finally becoming a highly competitive and progressive state for commerce. If we are going to be successful in competing both nationally and globally, we need to focus on improving mobility across Florida.
     As I travel between Miami, Palm Beach County and Orlando, I experience constant traffic delays from congestion. We can only put so many more cars on Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike. It seems the answer is always to just add more lanes.”

[Later...]

     “It appears that the majority of opposition is from Martin County, which for decades has resisted any type of change or progress. Many people there prefer to stay a small, Old Florida-style fishing community. That is their choice and I respect that, but there is a greater statewide benefit that needs to be considered. Yes, passenger trains will run through their community, but at least they will be similar to Tri-Rail — shorter and much quieter than the freight trains.
     We have been talking about developing a modern and efficient high-speed passenger rail project for close to 25 years. It’s time to stop the rhetoric and do it, especially with a longtime Florida based company stepping up to the plate to fund it and build it.”

Speed up Florida pipeline approval, NextEra subsidiary tells feds

NextEra, parent company of FPL, is asking for expedited permit approval for this large pipeline. Click title for link.

Florida Southeast Connection LLC, the NextEra Energy subsidiary seeking to construct, own and operate a 126-mile natural gas pipeline from Central Florida to Martin County, has submitted a massive formal application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Florida Southeast Connection is asking for a shortened approval procedure so that the pipeline can be in service by May 1, 2017. NextEra is the parent company of Florida Power & Light, which would be the pipeline’s main customer.
Sabal Trail, the pipeline’s northern 465 miles, would originate in Alabama and run through Georgia and North Florida. NextEra and Houston-based Spectra Energy are partners in that portion.

West Palm man plans to spend six figures moving and restoring...

This is an intriguing project in which I have been involved. I will continue to assist in the logistics of the relocation, which are substantial. Click title for link for Chris Persaud's article in the Palm Beach Post.

From the article:

Blackman estimates it would cost about $500,000 to move and renovate the house and to buy the vacant O Street lot.
The historic house at 205 Pilgrim Road, West Palm Beach, will be moved to 1306 N. O St., Lake Worth.
“Whether or not he’ll make any money remains to be seen,” Blackman said. “He is willing to step up with his own money and do this. And that is really extraordinary.”
Marcello said he has no plans yet on making back the money he’ll spend.
“It’s a good example of how you can work with your city,” Marcello said. “We get to keep the trees and we get to keep the house. It’s a win-win for everyone. We’re gonna make it a lovely home.”

Katie McGiveron thinks that Lake Worth is the only home for the homeless...

This is from last Tuesday night's City Commission meeting during public comment on unagendaed items. The next day, a friend of mine on Facebook left this status update:

And then there is this article from today's Palm Beach Post and West Palm Beach City Commission's discussion about their panhandler situation.

The point is homeless people can be found anywhere. It is not a crime to be homeless. And Vice Mayor Maxwell pointed out after this comment Tuesday night that there are those who are temporarily homeless due to various tragedies that befall them and then there are people who either choose to be or are chronically homeless. The later group could be due to addiction issues or other barriers, economic or social, that make it difficult for them to maintain housing on a permanent basis.

From the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission...

DIY is casting for Ugly Front Yards! Turn in your neighbors!!! (In a nice way.)

Creative minds gave birth to Memorial Park, a tribute to town...

Interesting compilation of history surrounding the Memorial Fountain and Park north of Palm Beach's Town Hall by David Rogers of the Palm Beach Daily News. The need for it sprang from the location of the fire station doors on the north side of the then new Town Hall. They were thought to be eyesores by some of the Town's leaders at the time. The fountain and plaza area is slated for a renovation and is working through the review process now. Click title for link.

At the end of the article is this report from the time of the fountain's original dedication.

Name of Henry M. Flagler first on Memorial Fountain plate: Formal Ceremony Marks Acceptance by Town Officials
Harold S. Vanderbilt, on Behalf of Committee, Presents Commemorative Work Which Will Honor Deeds of Palm Beach Notables.
The name of Henry M. Flagler, pioneer developer of Palm Beach, will head the list of persons the Memorial Fountain will commemorate, it was learned at the ceremony Sunday afternoon when the fountain commission turned over the completed project to the town.
In formally transferring the fountain to James M. Owens Jr., acting mayor, Harold S. Vanderbilt, chairman of the commission suggested that no names of the living be placed on the fountain, rather that the “memorial be a lasting tribute to the work of those whose entire lives may be viewed in retrospect.” The memorial plate, on which only the name of Mr. Flagler was placed by the fountain commission, did not arrive in time for the services.
Representing the commission with Mr. Vanderbilt were Frank A. Shaughnessy, treasurer, and Oscar G. Davies, who also acted in his capacity as town councilman. Councilmen Louis D’Esterre, H.C. Woodruff and William Fremd were present as was Town Manager L. Trevette Lockwood. The officials stood on the fountain steps, while the three official flags, presented to the town last year, formed a background. A large group of spectators witnessed the ceremony. Tribute was paid by Mr. Vanderbilt in his brief speech to the work of Mr. Davies as the originator of the idea for the fountain, and who presented it to Maj. Barclay H. Warburton, at that time mayor, also to the cooperation given by Mr. Davies’ paper in raising the funds. … The beautiful circular fountain, which surmounts the project, against a background of tropical foliage, was in play and the long reflection pool was filled.
Excerpts from a story published in The Palm Beach Post on Monday, Jan. 27, 1930, the day after the ceremony.

South Palm Park Neighborhood Association Meeting - Monday, October 13, 2014

Switching from water to fire, the latest from Greenfield, CA

What's "up" with this picture?

This is a picture of a portion of the bathroom at a motel where we stayed in the Keys. We could only conclude that this is proof positive of the motel taking a proactive stance in the face of rising sea levels. No one likes soggy toilet tissue. In practice, it makes for a long reach. In actuality, the entire property is probably around +1 foot above sea level.