How the City of Delray Beach communicates to the public about downtown parking...

Click title for link to a page from the City of Delray Beach's website regarding downtown parking. Click here for an informative map, complete with estimated walking times from the center of the city's grid street pattern (Swinton and Atlantic Avenues).

Here are a few glimpses at part of the map.

 

Clearly, there are no worries about Lake Worth becoming the next "Delray", at least in the near future. By the way, this was posted on the city's official Facebook page, which remains in the dreamworld for Lake Worth residents.

Pedestrians beware at night. A pedestrian was killed last night - wear something reflective or light-colored clothing

On a routine trip from Publix or City Hall to the north part of the city, you regularly see shadowy figures dressed in dark colors. These people are crossing Dixie Hwy., riding their bikes on the street or sidewalk without the benefit of any lights or reflective material. It is a miracle that more people are not injured or killed just for not being visible. I did see a child, walking with adults, and she had a white light mounted on her head which is a great idea! Just please be careful, especially on Federal, Dixie, Lake/Lucerne, 10th and 6th Avenues after dark.

Sadly, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle last night, this time outside of the city limits. Initial reports are the driver remained at the scene. My prayers go to the deceased and to the driver.

The location of an incident is very important as we all know; it's a material item in a news story. This accident happened on Lake Worth Road near the Lake Worth Drive-In. Choose where you think this accident occurred: 

_ Lake Worth 

_ Suburban Lake Worth

_ Palm Springs

If you picked Palm Springs, you would be correct. That's right, the Lake Worth Drive-In on Lake Worth Road is located in Palm Springs. When Palm Beach Post staff writer Kavya Sukumar writes this headline on Christmas Day you can see how these misconceptions continue. Ms. Sukumar's headline is factually incorrect and contributes to the public confusion. 

Last night at 9:00 Palm Beach Post staff writer Josh Hyber got it partially correct. Here is what Mr. Hyber wrote in the Post:

LAKE WORTH — A pedestrian was struck and killed just after 7:30 p.m. Monday night on Lake Worth Road WEST OF THE CITY [emphasis added], Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said.

Here is what Channel 12 (WPEC) reported:

Channel 5 (WPTV) is the only news outlet, thus far, to get the location correct. Here is what WPTV reported:

Channel 25 (WPBF) always gets it wrong so there's no need to even look. Recently, one of their reporters, Ari Hait, reported he was in Lake Worth while standing in front of a sign that read: "Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department". Not joking. 

The moral of the story here is that if you are going out, especially during the early nightfall period of the year, you must take precautions. If you are driving, make sure that you are paying attention to what is in the road in front of you. Make sure your headlights are working well enough - you might have to clear your headlight lenses with a product available from an auto parts store if they are foggy. If you are walking, wear or carry something with reflective material and try to wear light colors.

A scoop for AnnaMaria! Lake Worth is going to be on national TV!

Read about it here. Spread the word around! Tell all your friends about our cottages here in Lake Worth. This could be just the thing we've been waiting for.

By the way, the Cottages of Lake Worth group is working on a book about "Living Large in Small Spaces - The Cottages of Lake Worth." Writing, photography and editing is taking place as we speak. Watch for more information over the coming months.

A "Farm to Table" story about...spinach

Farm to table is not a fable! The Post's Susan Salisbury has this story about harvesting spinach in Belle Glade. You learn that the spinach you buy in our downtown Publix was harvested only 48 hours prior to placement in the display case. Who would have thought the farming spinach was so high-tech? From the article:

The Fresh Attitude brand of salad blends in the distinctive clear plastic boxes is sold in Publix Super Markets and Costco year-round. During the winter, all the product comes from the muck fields of Belle Glade in western Palm Beach County.

Chances are the baby spinach and other leafy greens produced by Veg Pro International were harvested just 48 hours before being placed in the retail display case, said Sylvain Racette, Veg Pro’s vice president of sales and marketing.

The quick turnaround is true for Veg Pro’s product produced in the Glades during the winter and being sold within Florida.

Also from the story is a video of the harvesting process.

Cara Jennings and her Lake Worth chickens

Courtesy of the Tom McGow archives. Former commissioner 

Cara Jennings wanted to allow chicken coops in the City of Lake Worth. 

Luckily, reasonable people prevailed.

Official's Emails and the public - "No emails, please."

From the Naked Politics blog in the Miami Herald is this about emails:

Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates refused an interview this week with Miami New Times reporter Michael Miller because the chief believed Miller had already made up his mind about a story and was not giving him enough time for a proper response.

Then the chief emailed his staff, telling officers to keep the issue in-house and refrain from sending emails about it, since they can become public record.

“I encourage you to talk to me about it. No emails, please. Stop by and see me in the office or call Tricia and she’ll arrange for us to talk by phone,” he wrote.

The emails were soon leaked and first reported by Random Pixels blogger Bill Cooke.

Channel 5's Charlie Keegan in Lake Worth last night, again

Click title for link to more on the story about the posters being placed around town which say "Black Lives Matter," etc.

Click here for the related Palm Beach Post story.

Harriet Lerman, "Voice of the People" - Talk Show Host - Guest on High Noon in Lake Worth

Join your host Wes Blackman as he welcomes Harriet Lerman into the "High Noon in Lake Worth" studios for a special edition of the show. Ms. Lerman hosts talk shows called "Voice of the People" and "Peas in the Pod" that air on the www.WEInetwork.com. She comes from a varied political career which included a ten year stint as a state legislator in Maine and she also ran for a Palm Beach County Commission seat, narrowly losing to former County Commissioner Warren Newell. Ms. Lerman is a progressive voice within Palm Beach County Democratic circles. Mr. Blackman will return the favor and appear on Ms. Lerman's show January 20, 2015.

Click title for live link to show from 12 to 1 p.m. today (12/29) or later for an archived edition. Leave questions as comments below.

What REALLY happened to Code Enforcement under the Stanton regime

Mr. John Rinaldi correcting historic revisionism. 

More low journalism in Lake Worth...

From Lake WorthLife we have this news about Channel 25 (WPBF) in Lake Worth trolling for a story:

UPDATED... PLEASE READ AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS...

Get Ready...
Here it comes once again...
Lake Worth in the news...
This time watch WOBF [sic, WPBF] CHANNEL 25, for a LIVE BROADCAST from the Cultural Plaza...
The reporter says it's about the Black Lives Matter posted all over downtown...
How much more are we supposed to keep taking from a local news media of news stations always hammering our city of Lake worth, which is striving to positively move forward on so many levels in so many ways, and on so many fronts...

Well, it appears PBSO has images of a black male and female at night downtown plastering them, so rather than discuss anything with the city they would rather try to tie our city to a nationwide campaign in a city that is arguably the most culturally, spiritually, economically, sexually, and politically diverse than any other community anywhere in the state... Yet we are also a very openly accepting community for the most part...

Mel and Vinnie - Lake Worth and Other Florida Gigs!

Here are some dates to come out, hear us, hear others, be with us ....details to follow where needed. News at the end.

Sunday December 28  King Mango Strut in Coconut Grove. Parade starts at 2pm. This year we honor Fred Hunt, friend, artist, husband to AnnaMaria and an original marching Fred. He passed in September.  We will be with the Grateful Fred Heads with kazoos-probably walking in front of the Coconut Grove Drum Circle float.

Monday Dec 29 The Living Room Mel and Vinnie with Dan Berger on harmonica. Bill Hartmann Showcase 6:30 - 9:30, 35 minute set between 7 and 9. Boynton Beach.

Tuesday Dec 30  Brewhouse Gallery Showcase, Mel, Vinnie and Bill Hartmann in the round 8:30 - 10. Come early for the first set - other musicians 7 - 8:30. Lake Park.

2015 Happy New Year
Tuesday Jan 6  Brewhouse Gallery Showcase, 7-8:30 Mel and Vinnie duo in the round with two other performers.  8:30 - 9 another group of performers in the round. Lake Park.

Monday Jan 12 The Living Room Mel and Vinnie duo.  Bill Hartmann Showcase 6:30 - 9:30, 35 minute set between 7 and 9. Boynton Beach.

Friday Jan 16 7-7:30pm and 8:30-9pm Evening on the Avenue Intermission Spotlights, Cultural Plaza, Lake Worth. M Street and Lake Ave.

Monday January 19 Lake Worth’s 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.  Interfaith breakfast, candlelight march, commemorative program, fellowship dinner. Free. Mel and Vinnie duo have a song at the Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, 7:30 - 9am at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church (South E Street and 10th Ave South). The Candlelight March gathers at 5pm at Lake Worth City Hall (Lake Avenue and Dixie Hwy) to walk down Lake Avenue to the Cultural Plaza (Lake Ave and M Street). At 5:30 in the Cultural Plaza is the MLK Commemorative Program.  From 6 -8 pm is the MLK Fellowship Dinner at the First Baptist Church (M Street and 2nd Ave South).

Thursday January 22 Mel and Vinnie duo 7-10pm on the patio at South Shores Tavern corner of Lucerne and M Street.

Monday Jan 26 The Living Room Mel and Vinnie duo. Bill Hartmann Showcase 6:30 - 9:30, 35 minute set between 7 and 9. Boynton Beach. Rick and Donna Nestler duo are in town and in the showcase too.

Tuesday Jan 27  Brewhouse Gallery Showcase, Mel and Vinnie duo in the round one set, Rick and Donna Nestler duo in the round the other set.  7 - 10.  Lake Park.

Wednesday January 28 Vinnie C on the patio 7-10pm at South Shores Tavern corner of Lucerne and M Street.

Wednesday February 11 Vinnie C on the patio 7-10pm at South Shores Tavern corner of Lucerne and M Street.

Saturday February 21 Mel and Vinnie duo on the patio 2 - 6pm at South Shores Tavern corner of Lucerne and M Street.  The Street Painting Festival is Saturday and Sunday February 21 and 22nd. 10am - 7pm both days.  Leave time to find parking, tens of thousands of people come to this event.

March 13-15 is the 26th Annual Will McLean Festival. we will again volunteer as stage emcees and host a Sunday morning workshop "Sing Out for Pete". Come check out this festival in Brooksville, (North Florida) great folks, nice campground, Florida folk music.

Record Store Day at Top Five on J Street in Lake Worth April 18th

Earth Day Celebration in the Cultural Plaza in Lake Worth.

We are over 1100 views on our "Lake Worth Anthem", It Feels Like Home to Me. Thank you each and everyone who promotes the YouTube of it.  It was one of ten songs in the songbook for holiday bike carols the Thursday Night Pedalers in Lake Worth used this year. Feeling the love.

Wishing you health, happiness and sufficiency in the New Year

Mel and Vinnie

Go Green! Special to DZ

We're making progress!!!

Adam Sacasa at the Sun Sentinel got it wrong. No surprise there for the Sun Sentinel. But the Palm Beach Post reporter got it right! Note this story from Chris Persaud:

Lisa Adams and Walter Petro took the silver Chevrolet Impala without permission and refused to return the keys to her son and his girlfriend during a 1:45 a.m. incident outside an apartment in the Grant Park area of suburban Lake Worth [emphasis added], the sheriff’s office said in an arrest report made public Wednesday.

[and...]

They recently had been staying with the son at the suburban Lake Worth [emphasis added] residence, north of Melaleuca Lane and west of Davis Road, the report said.

Keep up the hard work folks. When you see a reporter about town, especially from Channel 12 (WPEC), kindly teach them the difference between Lake Worth and suburban Lake Worth. They'll get it right at some point. The reporters will go back to the office and then teach the Channel 12 assignment editors the difference.

Pinkie see, Pinkie do...Plagiarization Pinkie-style

[UPDATE! Read this post originally published on 12/19 and see the update at the end!]

On Thursday, December 18, Pinkie in the fReNZy of President Obama's change in Cuba policy, posted this on her blog:

Then, after expelling her thoughts, four comments were posted on her blog. Three were "anonymous" and there was one from the "Pinkie" - aka Lynn Anderson. (Why an "author" needs to comment on a post 'that author' presumably wrote shows a high degree of either defensiveness or mental instability. This is a common practice "over there" which makes one wonder how many authors contribute material on a regular basis, but I digress.)

Now for the evidence of Pinkie's plagiarism. Note this screen grab from her blog:

Note she "writes" three paragraphs. Here is the first paragraph which IS original content and not taken: 

I don't have time to disagree with you on your comments but I will say you have NO clue what Bush did for Florida. He was a great governor--and I was a diehard Dem at that time.

Now, here is the second paragraph on her blog. On the face of it, you think to yourself: "My this person is a real policy wonk to remember abstract statistics from Florida governor administrations, three editions past." Then you realize what she did here: 

While Governor, Jeb Bush reduced taxes by $19 billion, reduced the size of state government by 6.6 percent, vetoed $2 billion in new spending, and presided over Florida receiving the highest possible bond rating.[30]

When you go to Wikipedia about Jebb Bush here is what you see:

While Governor, Jeb Bush reduced taxes by $19 billion, reduced the size of state government by 6.6 percent, vetoed $2 billion in new spending, and presided over Florida receiving the highest possible bond rating.[30]

Lynn Anderson plagiarized word-for-word from Wikipedia with no attribution. Now the third paragraph from Lynn Anderson:

In May 2006, as part of a $448.7-million line-item veto of state funding, Bush cut a total of $5.8 million in grants to public libraries, pilot projects for library homework help and web-based high-school texts, and funding for a joint-use library in Tampa

This is from the Jeb Bush Wikipedia page:

In May 2006, as part of a $448.7-million line-item veto of state funding, Bush cut a total of $5.8 million in grants to public libraries, pilot projects for library homework help and web-based high-school texts, and funding for a joint-use library in Tampa.[36]

Again, Lynn Anderson plagiarized word-for-word from Wikipedia, except for the end punctuation and the footnote number "36". Duh, leaving trails Ms. Pinkie.

Wikipedia has firm principles and one of those is "never plagiarize from sources." Even from Wikipedia. Wikipedia has very simple rules for attribution, just mention the sourced material is from Wikipedia and no other permissions are necessary. Links are a good way to do this.

So, the question now is...how much "intellectual" content has Lynn Anderson stolen? We may never know. The abacus would have a meltdown if we were to try.
------------------

Here is the Update! Lynn Anderson responds to my post...

The new standard on Pinkie's blog is "plagiarizing in 'comments' is acceptable." Well, that's news. Not the part about plagiarizing. The part about her having a set of standards.

From the NAPC

From the NAPC we have this good news:

Congratulations to the Pineapple Beach Neighborhood! Their new street banners are up and they are beautiful! PBNA participated in last year's REAP series of classes and was awarded a grant to fund these banners. Additional banners for Pineapple Beach were funded through a similar grant awarded to the NAPC. What an excellent way to begin a new year demonstrating pride in this wonderful neighborhood.

Congratulations Pineapple Beach!