6th Annual "Taste of Lake Worth": Friday, February 20, 2015, 6:00–9:00 PM

Compass Community Center of Lake Worth, FL
Is Proud to be Presenting
6th Annual “Taste of Lake Worth”
Friday, February 20, 2015
From 6:00 – 9:00 PM

The evening event highlights the restaurants and businesses of
Lake Worth and serves as a kick off to the weekends
“Street Painting Festival”

Participants of the “Taste of Lake Worth” can expect to enjoy food and drinks provided by more than fifteen downtown merchants with the advance purchase of a $20 ticket from Compass Community Center (or purchase tickets the day of the event for $25.)

The funds raised from the event will be used to fund programing offered at the Compass Center. For over 25 years, Compass has been leading the way in diminishing stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Compass accomplishes this by emboldening youth, promoting pride in the community and acting as an educator, advocate, health service provider and focal point for community organizing.

Tickets can be purchased at: Compass Community Center
Located at: 201 N. Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth, FL 33460 or here on-line. 

Tickets are limited, so don’t delay, order today!
Check-In the night of the event for your Wristband and Map will be located at:

The corner of Lucerne Avenue and J Street (by the Post Office)
For more information contact: Jimmy Zoellner at 561-533-9699
or jimmy@compassglcc.com

What's troubling about Democracy For America's (DFA) endorsement of Ryan Maier and Commissioner McVoy

Besides the fact that a diehard Tea Party Republican like Lynn Anderson is supporting two Progressive candidates, the bigger question is this: What exactly is a DFA endorsement? 

When you go to the DFA website this is what you see: they have four pages of endorsements and neither Ryan Maier or Commissioner McVoy are among them.

DFA states as part of their endorsement process that:

DFA does not have a litmus test of specific progressive positions for which a candidate must stand.

The DFA endorsement, it seems, casts a very wide net. However, now things get interesting. Here is how the DFA Palm Beach County was formed:

We [Democracy For America] don’t start affiliate groups or chapters, but instead give activists and volunteers tools and support to empower them to organize from the community up. While there are many groups that associate with the national DFA brand, they are all unique entities who are free to endorse candidates, take issue positions, and design their own campaigns.

For example, tomorrow morning I could start my own DFA. Maybe I'll call it the DFA Lake Worth or the Everglades DFA Chapter. Then I'll endorse whatever candidates I feel like endorsing, just because I feel like it. Or I could throw out my endorsement to whoever brings me a bouquet of flowers.

The fact is this: The Democracy for America Palm Beach County endorsement isn't worth anything besides window dressing on a flyer or web site.

And note this: I know for a fact that Lake Worth Commissioner John Szerdi was never contacted to interview for the DFA endorsement. Why? I guess Ryan Maier's bouquet was too big to compete with.

Mark Foley in the news: baseball, PBC and Washington D.C. connection

George Bennett in the Palm Beach Post today has a story (2/9) about Spring Training Baseball in Palm Beach County and the connection to the power players in Washington, D.C. From the article:

     The prospect of northern tourists visiting and spending money has enticed many Florida communities to lay out public dollars to lure Major League Baseball teams for spring training. There’s an added benefit, says former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, if those tourists include members of Washington’s political class.
     Foley, hired as a lobbyist by the Washington Nationals, says a planned $135 million spring training complex in West Palm Beach for the Nationals and Houston Astros will bring big political benefits for Palm Beach County. The bulk of the financing for the project is to come from “bed tax” revenues that Palm Beach County collects on hotel stays.
     Members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and other movers and shakers are regular attendees at Nationals regular-season home games in Washington.

[and...]

“I’m seeing the symbiosis of having our sister city be the nation’s capital. … This opportunity to be close to the nation’s purse is significant,” Foley said Friday after state legislators endorsed a land-use change that will move the project forward if the entire Florida Legislature signs off this spring.

Is Everglades EarthFirst! going on vacation? What of the carbon footprint?

Ever since November 7, 2014, our good friends at Everglades EarthFirst! have been very busy. November 7th was the day their protest went terribly wrong as they inadvertently shut down a school and somehow a battery ended up thrown into a lake. Three were arrested that day and two more were arrested on 2/3/15, six days ago. This is in addition to the near-weekly scheduled protests in Palm Beach Gardens on Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

You can see why the folks at Everglades EarthFirst! need a break and it looks like they might be getting away for a few days:

"The 2015 Earth First! Winter Rendezvous" is at the "colonially occupied Chumash territory in what is known as Santa Barbara, California" from February 20th to the 23rd.

For someone in south Florida to attend, bikes, skateboards, and canoeing are out of the question. You'll leave a carbon footprint to attend this event at the "colonially occupied Chumash territory", aka Santa Barbara, CA. Here are some of the workshops:

• EF! History and tactics
• Strategic direct action
• Santa Barbara fossil fuel infrastructure
• Threats to Sespe Creek/Condor Sanctuary
• Decolonization and collective liberation
• Know your rights
• Navigating conflict in your community
• Genetically engineered trees: a new threat

IF YOU GO:

• Sliding scale suggested donation of $20-40 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)
• Directions to the event will be posted to the website a few days before the start 

Visit our website at www.efoc2015.WordPress.com

If there is anything our community of Lake Worth can do to help you attend, please let us know.

City of Lake Worth Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: New Greenway and Road Improvement Projects at 9th & 10th Avenue South

The City of Lake Worth will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded greenway and road improvement projects on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. The first ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on 10th Avenue South at South E Street from 1:00 - 1:30 pm and the second ceremony will take place on 9th Avenue S. at South E Street from 1:30 - 2:00 pm.

 10th Avenue South – South A Street to South F Street: this project consisted of converting the existing/unimproved right-of-way into a new roadway complete with sidewalks with ADA ramps, Type F curb and gutter, new pavement section, sodding, and striping/signage. Water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems were also addressed in this project.

 9th Avenue South – South B Street to South F Street: this project consisted of converting the existing/unimproved right-of-way into a greenway by means of clearing and grubbing the entire site, fine grading to provide positive surface drainage, construction of a multiuse pathway, and the installation of sod/landscaping/irrigation system as well as site amenities like fixed trash receptacles and benches. This is the first location to implement the City’s new greenway concept.

All are invited to come and take part in celebrating these exciting new projects as we continue to improve our City infrastructure! Please contact Public Services with any questions or comments.

Taste of Lake Worth - Right before Street Painting Festival!

Reminder: Deadline to Register to Vote for the 3/10 Election is 2/9!

Tomorrow!

A few words from Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso in support of John Szerdi's re-election:

Dear Residents and Lake Worth Constituents:

I hope that 2015 is a prosperous and healthy one for you, your family and friends.

I have fielded questions about this upcoming election and I believe there is some need for clarification. So, I’d like to tell you about the regular Municipal election that the city will be having on March 10th.

You might remember that at one time, the city’s elections for Commissioner and Mayoral seats occurred in November of each year. Based upon the results of a referendum held in March of 2013, our regular municipal elections will now be held each March. This is also consistent with the election schedule for most other Palm Beach County municipalities.

And, as a reminder, the city of Lake Worth has four City Commissioners that come from four districts within the city. Each Commissioner has to live in one of those districts in order to qualify for that seat, but is elected on a citywide basis. For example, I am the Commissioner for District #3, which is the northeast corner of the city and it is where I live. But I am elected on a citywide basis. The Mayor can come from anywhere in the city and is also elected on a citywide basis.

As far as timing, on March 10, 2015 there will be candidates appearing on the ballot for the District #2 (northwest part of the city) and District #4 (southeast part of the city) seats. Everyone can vote in this election. It is not based upon where the voter lives, you just have to live and be registered to vote in the city.

It’s also important to remember that my District #3 seat is not up for this election. Districts #1, #3 and the Mayor’s seat are up in 2016. They were also up for the March 2014 election, but no one drew a challenger, so no election was held last year.

All that being said, I want you to know that I wholeheartedly support and endorse John Szerdi, your current District #4 Commissioner, who is running for re-election on March 10th. Commissioner Szerdi brings a wealth of knowledge to the city. He is a practicing architect and specializes in “green” building techniques. He has helped the city significantly in re-writing our land development regulations. We can count on him to continue the city’s progress in addressing our most pressing issues going forward.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as one of your Lake Worth Commissioners and please remember to vote on March 10th.

Sincerely,
Andy Amoroso
Lake Worth City Commissioner, District #3

Political advertisement paid for and approved by John Szerdi, non-partisan for City Commissioner

Hearing about all the great food...

...that was served at the McNamara's manse on North Lakeside Drive. It was a $30 a head fundraiser for Ryan Maier's campaign. If you went, tell us what you thought about the evening in the comments below.

Breaking News: I guess Brian Williams was everywhere!

And believe it or not, there is a picture of Brian Williams on one of the Apollo missions to the Moon. Where does he get the energy?

Enjoy an Art Deco Evening at the Historic Art Deco Armory Art Center Wednesday February 11, 2015 at 7 PM!

Two Messages from the Lake Worth Neighborhood Association Presidents' Council (NAPC)

21st Annual Street Painting Festival: callout for volunteers

Be a Part of the Art at the Heart of Lake Worth. Sign up today as a Volunteer for this year's Lake Worth Street Painting Festival.

To serve in the beer tents (and make $$ for your Neighborhood Association) contact Marshall Pass marshallpass@hotmail.com

To expound on the Wonders of Lake Worth with visitors to the Festival, sign up to ride the Trolley as it ferries folks back and forth. Contact Greg Rice gregrice33460@gmail.com

To sell Festival T-Shirts, check in other volunteers, help at the Artists Oasis, survey the crowd, help with set-up and tear down and lots more, visit the Street Painting Festival website above and sign up today!

And more news from the NAPC: Council Elects 2015 Officers

Congratulations and Thank You to the new NAPC Officers for 2015. Leader of the Pack for this engaged and committed Council of Presidents is Jon Faust from Downtown Jewel. Vice Chair is none other than Greg Rice from Mango Groves. Serving again this year as Treasurer is Anthony Marotta from Parrot Cove and Mary Lindsey from College Park is Secretary. Huge Thanks to Karla Engel for continuing her service this year as Assistant Secretary. Contact the NAPC here. 

VisitFlorida and the effort to increase "hospital" tourism in Palm Beach County

VisitFlorida is the most popular source for information tourists and visitors use when planning a stay in Florida. Lake Worth, in case you're unaware, has its own VisitFlorida page you can see here. Two Lake Worth B&B's have ads on VisitFlorida as well as some restaurants.

Now VisitFlorida has come out big supporting a new type of tourism in Palm Beach County called, "medical tourism".

Jennifer Sorentrue has an article in today's Palm Beach Post, front page/above the fold, titled "Surf, sand and surgery: Tourism's new frontier".

     Palm Beach County is known for its sand and surf, but its state-of-the-art surgical centers could soon be drawing international tourists looking for medical treatment and a sun-filled vacation on the side.
     Jupiter Medical Center last month received a $500,000 state grant to market its medical programs to tourists in South America and the Caribbean. The hospital plans to use the money to help launch an international marketing campaign that promotes its work in spinal care, orthopedics, intra-operative radiation therapy, and alternative treatments for tumors.
    Hospital officials say a growing number of patients from outside of the state are traveling to Jupiter for medical services. Many are looking for a hospital that offers the latest medical treatments and warm weather for their recovery.

At the end of the article is a list of the top 5 recipients from VisitFlorida to increase medical tourism:

     Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing arm, awarded $3.1 million in grants to 25 organizations to help promote Florida as a medical tourism destination. Jupiter Medical Center was one of three organizations to be awarded $500,000 — the largest amount given to any of the groups. Here are the top five grant recipients:

• Jupiter Medical Center, $500,000 for destination promotion
• Mount Sinai Medical Center, $500,000 for medical meetings and training
• Tampa General Hospital Transplant Marketing, $500,000 for medical meetings and training
• USF Health Professions Conferencing, $217,000 for destination promotion
• Miami Neuroscience Center, LLC, $210,000 for destination promotion

Natural gas in Lake Worth: inexpensive, safe, and reliable

Is natural gas available in your neighborhood? Not all areas of Lake Worth have natural gas service. One of these days I will post a map of Lake Worth where gas is available and where it is not. For instance, the College Park neighborhood in the northeastern part of the city, does have gas service. Know this: if you lose electric to your house that does not affect the gas service: hot water, stove, grill, etc.

When switching from electric appliances to gas appliances there is an initial investment: new or used gas appliances and the hookup to the main gas line has a cost.

Here is another reason to switch from electric to gas appliances: it's good for the environment. 

Source for image above.

Amazing UFO sighting filmed over Vero Beach, Florida 27-Jan-2015 + UPDATE

Interesting. Click title for link to an update. No word if there was an ICLEE Conference at the time.