[UPDATE] Lake Worth Artists and Cottage Entrepreneurs (ACE): Frequently Asked Questions

[UPDATE: Thursday evening (7/23) I had a meeting with ACE concerning their 'home occupation' zoning change proposal. Check back here tomorrow for my thoughts on the meeting, the ACE proposal, my conclusion/recommendations and research I've done to support my conclusions. In the meantime here are my first thoughts on the proposal by ACE below from Thursday morning (7/23)]

This is from an information sheet (FAQ) put out by the group. They have agreed to meet with me to answer some of the questions that I put forward here yesterday. This 'FAQ' doesn't quite do that, but it is a start. I am glad they are reaching out to people but think that should ideally have been done earlier in the process.

My main concerns center on the extent of the geographic area they may be talking about: Eighty-percent of the city, approximately the total of residential land in Lake Worth is a very large area. I am also concerned about how these changes will be reviewed and by whom. And I have many questions about how much is too much to allow in a residential zoning district.

I also find it interesting that the supporters of this initiative seem to be made up of many in the group who were against the height ordinance. It seems to me that these residential zoning changes would have much greater impact on people's daily lives and affect people where they live, much more than whether a hotel can be six stories instead of four stories east of Federal Hwy.

I'm having trouble with this Princess and the Pea attitude toward height, but being very laissez faire when it comes to people living in residential neighborhoods with one- and two-story homes. Many homeowners bought property in theses neighborhoods expecting certainty in their zoning code; not expecting whimsical changes from time to time because some think they have a better idea and hired lawyers and PR people to sell it to the community.

But I am glad we are going to be talking. Hopefully compromise and understanding will carry the day.

Cultural Plaza Screen on the Green CANCELLED for tonight

After much consideration and pouring over weather forecasts from several different sources, the CRA has announced they will be postponing tonight's Screen on the Green. A new date will be announced next week. The NAPC Front Porch will be there when the Screen on the Green returns! Please share this information with everyone.

No, you're not smelling burning bodies and hair in Lake Worth

Jamel Laneé at NBC5/WPTV does a very fair and accurate news segment on the crematorium in Lake Worth having issues with their facility. Here is an excerpt from the text of her report:

     Some living near the All County Funeral Home and Crematory are concerned that dark smoke coming from the funeral home is possibly ashes of deceased people. [it's not]
     The Palm Beach County Health Department said that what people are actually seeing is soot, which it said is similar to what is seen when diesel is burning.
     The Health Department, which oversees crematories, showed up after it received several complaints along with pictures showing the thick, black smoke coming out of the building.
     Burners within the incinerators are reportedly not working correctly and the Health Department is trying to figure out why.

Here is the definition of soot: a black, carbonaceous substance produced during incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc., rising in fine particles and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke: also conveyed in the atmosphere to other locations.

For example, when you see a truck going from a stop and gaining speed you'll see a puff of smoke from some vehicles. This is when the truck is switching gears and the result is 'incomplete combustion' of the diesel fuel.

Coyotes in Greenacres! How long before they're in the City of Lake Worth?

It won't be long. And it will be welcome news for some in our community. If you recall the news segment by Jonathan Beaton at CBS12/WPEC, Lake Worth has a terrible cat problem on the lettered streets here in the City. There is speculation why they're sticking to the lettered streets and some think the dogs and cats are carving up the City into territories.

There might be a solution to the feral cat problem in Lake Worth, and the answer may come from Greenacres. Here is the news from Kevin Thompson on coyotes spotted in the area:

     Two roaming coyotes were recently spotted and the top halves of two dead cats were found in The Landings at River Bridge on Jog Road, according to an email from the president of the community’s board of directors.
     Residents received the email on Tuesday.
     “This was a total surprise to me because we’ve had raccoons like crazy,” said Jeneil Stevens, who has lived in River Bridge the past five years. “Maybe this might cure that problem.”

If you spot a coyote in the City of Lake Worth or have other good news you want to share with Kevin Thompson at The Palm Beach Post, here is his contact info:
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Happy Hour of the Week: The Beach Club, Lake Worth

Leslie Gray Streeter has her "Happy Hour of the Week" and this week it's The Beach Club. From the article:

Why we like it: Honestly, even if the food was awful, which it’s not (it’s delicious!) we’d come here just for the view of the golf course and its colorful creatures, like the young duck that came and sat under our table on the patio, and the golfers taking a break for a beer. And then there’s the Intracoastal and a peek of Palm Beach, where they’re paying through the nose for sandwich and you’re chilling on your $5 slider over here in the L-Dub. It’s all delicious.
     Why else we like it: It really is possible to be full off of the Happy Hour menu here and feel like you had some real food. And it’s good food – the chicken sliders with bacon are surreal.

If You Go: The Beach Club, 1 7th Ave. North, Lake Worth, at the Lake Worth Municipal Golf Course, (561) 585-8976

The Obtuse Blogger (TOB) and another long, silly list of crime in Lake Worth

TOB confirms on her blog she is indeed "Obtuse".

OK, there is crime in Lake Worth. Also have it on good authority, if you can believe sources like The Palm Beach Post and NBC5/WPTV, there is crime in a few other areas in Palm Beach County as well. But TOB has a habit of posting these obnoxiously long lists of crime which no one is going to read, or verify, except for a reader of my blog with an attention to detail.

From a previous silly list: "Beverage Violations" are not crimes.

In TOB's latest rant about crime in Lake Worth are these:

• 5 Beverage Violations
• 6 Other (what is "Other"? Not defined. Is "Other" a new crime?)
• 1 Disturbance (a car stereo too loud?)

How many crimes this time are outside the City of Lake Worth? 7

• 2700 BLOCK 6TH AVE S
• 3100 BLOCK OF SCANLAN
• 2600 BLOCK 6TH AVE S
• 1600 BLOCK OSBORNE CIR
• 2400 BLOCK 2ND AVE N (2)
• 6200 BLOCK PINE DR

All this information is thrown against the wall without any context and also note that she never posts a list of arrests made; isn't that interesting?

This is nothing new from TOB; here is just one more example of her lack of research: The 6200 BLOCK OF PINE DR is west of Lantana and south of the PBC Airport, how could she not know that?

All Aboard Florida: Construction of stations has begun, track and crossing work to start soon

About this video: Construction is underway for each of the stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. These stations exist along the All Aboard Florida route from Miami to Orlando. Track work and new grade crossing equipment installation will begin soon.

[A LOOK BACK] Margaret Menge's pity party: the lead-up to her pulling the plug on her tabloid

[THE HISTORY: On February 28th Margaret Menge had a pity party and she had another one on May 1st, her last as 'editor/journalist'. She shut her tabloid down and of course it's everybody else's fault and she did nothing wrong. You didn't need a Crystal Ball to see her tabloid going down in flames; when you have an ALWAYS FREE tabloid that's delivered FREE with almost NO ADVERTISING the word 'unsustainable' comes to mind. So, without further ado, a look back at Ms. Menge's pity party in February as reported on this blog:]

There is so much nonsense in this week's Trib by Ms. Menge it's a challenge where to start: more "Common Ground (no 's') Church" nonsense, city commissioner's in a car together is a "Sunshine" issue (it is not), and a "Classifieds" section that is downright hilarious.

First though, some background—this 'newspaper' only began FREE circulation on January 16th of this year—and it is still free (mull on that for a few minutes). As of today, 2/28, that's only 44 days ago and just 53 days prior to a municipal election here in the City of Lake Worth. Note she did something very similar in 2012:

On Sunday, July 29, 2012, Margaret Menge rolled out her on-line 'newspaper' called The Lake Worth Sun. The last story in The Lake Worth Sun appeared 100 days later, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. That was election day in Lake Worth.

[November 6, 2012 was the day Commissioner McVoy was re-elected.]

Now for Margaret's pity party. The following excerpts appear in her House Editorial (Lake Worth Tribune, 2/27/15) titled: "This Community Newspaper Needs Your Help":

     I [Margaret Menge, Editor and Publisher] have an awful lot to say about the news this week. But I have to take a break to ask for your help.
     I need help if I am to continue to put out this newspaper every week.
     I need someone to type up the Events Calendar each week. You could do it from home. It should take a couple of hours to gather the information, type it up and send it in.

[and...]

     If there's someone pretty sharp out there – maybe a retired attorney or journalist – I would really appreciate your help in going through this [PBSO] crime report and rewriting it in English.

[and...]

     If you have not done so already, please subscribe to the newspaper. Just do it. Send your check in, and we will bring a paper around to you. Free delivery to College Park and all other homes east of Federal is a promotional thing, and it's going to end very soon.

How interesting! [and...]

     The newspaper business is tough, and more money has been going out than coming in over these last three months as I worked to set up an office and start the newspaper.

And this comes as a surprise? To whom? [and lastly, drum roll please...]

     I want to keep this paper going. But it's a terrible lot of work...But I need more help. I don't mind admitting it.

Note that Margaret's editorial uses the word "I" sixteen times. Which makes you wonder who this 'community' newspaper serves: her or us.

François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), 1694–1778, writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit:

"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it."

Click title for link to more information on Voltaire.

What's going on at the Lake Worth Playhouse? The 2015/2016 Season

Current Regulations in Lake Worth Sec. 23.4-6.—Home occupations

Click title for link to Municode section in the Lake Worth, Florida code of ordinances. A group that's not taken their proposal before the Lake Worth public as yet or sought public comment is proposing to change the residential zoning to allow manufacturing, among other commercial activity in the City's neighborhoods. This has made Lake Worth residents very angry.

Below is the current City regulations for 'Home occupations':

Sec. 23.4-6. - Home occupations. 
a) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to provide for the orderly use of residential premises for certain customary home occupations. This provision allows for a portion of a residential unit to support a home office space that generates income for the owner/tenant. If is further the purpose to assure that none of the residential ambiance of a neighborhood is modified or in any way diminished by the presence of said home occupation. 
b) Design and performance standards. 
1. Limited use. The home occupation shall be conducted within the residential premises and only by the person who is licensed to do so and is a resident of the premises. The individual so licensed shall not engage any employees to assist in the home occupation. 
2. Pedestrian and automobile traffic. The home occupation shall not generate pedestrian or automobile traffic beyond what would normally be expected in a residential district. 
3. Maximum area of use. No individual home occupation shall occupy more space than twenty (20) percent of the total floor area of a residence exclusive of any open porch, attached garage, or similar space not suited for or intended to be occupied as living quarters, provided however, in no event shall such all home occupations occupy more than forty (40) percent of the total floor area of the residence or one thousand (1,000) square feet, whichever is less. 
4. No signs or advertisements. No signs, banners or flyers shall be permitted to advertise the accessory use of the premises for an occupational purpose. 
5. Limited equipment. No equipment shall be used on the building site except telephones, typewriters, personal computers and mailboxes. 
6. Stock in trade. No goods shall be sold on or from the building site. Stock or inventory is permitted in so much as will fit within the allowable area of the residence being utilized as a home occupation and does not create a health or safety hazard. No outdoor storage of materials or equipment related to the home occupation shall be permitted on the premises. Deliveries may not exceed that which would be utilized by a private residence and shall not be disruptive to the immediate neighborhood 
7. Parking. The vehicle used for the home occupation is limited to a passenger car, van, or pickup truck. The vehicle may not be more than twenty (20) feet in overall length and not more than seven (7) feet in overall height. Any vehicles used solely in connection with such home occupation must have separate off-street parking facilities in addition to those provided for the residence, except as otherwise regulated by city ordinances. 
8. Residential character. There shall be no alteration in the residential character or appearance of the premises in connection with such home occupation. 
9. Neighborhood impact. A home occupation shall not create any nuisance, hazard, or other offensive condition, such as that resulting from noise, smoke, fumes, dust, odors, or other noxious emissions. Electrical or mechanical equipment that causes fluctuations in line voltage, creates any interference in audio or video reception, or causes any perceivable vibration on adjacent properties is not permitted. 
10. Three (3) home occupations per residence. No more than three (3) home occupations shall be permitted at any given residence at one (1) time. Each home occupation must maintain the required applicable business tax receipts and use and occupancy certificates.

Another Palm Beach Post article about a Lake Worth crematorium: sans the smoke "shroud"

Here is the first paragraph from Joe Capozzi's article that appeared above the fold on Sunday, July 19th:

The thick black smoke was hard to miss. It curled into the sky, swallowing the tops of palm trees and tumbling down like a shroud over the downtown streets around Lake Avenue just west of U.S. 1.

This latest article in the Local 'B' section today (7/23) is far less dramatic than what appeared in Sunday's print edition and includes some very helpful information. We learn that the operator of the crematorium is close to identifying/correcting the problem and is working with the local Lake Worth NAPC's Royal Poinciana Neighborhood Association. Here is an excerpt:

     The operators of a Lake Avenue crematorium have apologized to residents of a nearby neighborhood after heavy smoke from a cremation was released into the air last week for the second time in 16 days.
     All County Funeral Home & Crematory informed the Palm Beach County Health Department about the latest smoking incident, minutes after it occurred on the morning of July 16 and said it had identified a potential cause.
     “We won’t rest until we figure out the cause and we sincerely apologize to anyone who has been negatively affected by these incidents,’’ Shaun Luyk, All County’s general manager, wrote that day in a letter to Sarah Malega, president of the Royal Poinciana Neighborhood Association.

Now more about the story that appeared in Sunday's printed edition. Won't get specific but it appears my blog post that day (7/19) resonated with some at the Post. My point is simply this: the crematorium incident(s) in Lake Worth is/are news but have no place on the front page, 'A' section of the paper. This is a local story and belongs in the Local 'B' section. The City of Lake Worth was used to sell more papers. Burning bodies, smoke "shrouds", the (imagined) smell of cremated hair can achieve that purpose.

A month (or so) ago an article was published in the Post about crime in Lake Worth. Crime was down in the City in most categories which should have been the main focus but it was the spike in some violent crime that made the headline and stole the day at The Palm Beach Post. Look at the Tweet below they sent out promoting the news article by Kevin Thompson; does this sum up the general bias they have about Lake Worth?

Note: "good old Lake Worth".

From the Broward New Times: more Florida bicyclists killed by cars

This is on the heels of another bicyclist killed in Stuart by a large commercial truck. The New Times' Andrea Richard has this news about two more bicyclists killed in Broward County:

     Colleen Lynn Berzok, 37, a children’s swimming instructor in Coral Springs, was struck by a car Monday night, July 13, and was pronounced dead the following afternoon. The collision, still under investigation, occurred at the 2800 block of E. Sunrise Blvd., a stone's throw from Fort Lauderdale Beach, by a driver who remained on the scene, according to FLPD, which has yet to release the identity. Out in Weston just a few days later, on Friday, July 17, bicycle rider Steven Caine, 51, father and CEO of Larry Kline Meats, was struck by driver Michael Chatman, 30, and killed around 5:30 p.m.
     Florida leads the nation in fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes, according to a 2013 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
     “Florida is dead last,” says Florida Atlantic University Professor of Urban Regional Planning Eric Dumbaugh. “We have the highest rates of pedestrian/vehicle fatalities in the nation.” [emphasis added]
     Dumbaugh purports that South Florida’s street are simply poorly designed for multimodal transportation use. The posted speeds, such as 45 mph, are too fast for pedestrians to share the road safely with vehicles.

Unfortunately the death of Austin Gilliam is slowing fading into the past and will soon be completely forgotten by most, except for the family of course. Austin only did what DOT signs instructed him to do: "share the road" and it cost him his life.

The New Times reporter quotes a bicyclist from Ft. Lauderdale that for those familiar with the story, don't do much to help the cause. I've followed the police accounts of that incident when a bicyclist was arrested during a Critical Mass ride in Fort Lauderdale and also heard first hand accounts of witnesses. The accounts in the New Times begin with the minutes prior to the confrontation and not with what started it all, the fifteen to twenty minutes leading up to the arrest.

The people I talked to who were there that day decided never to attend a Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass ride again after watching how some behaved, including the cyclist quoted in the New Times. Frankly, if we're going to be honest about bicycle safety we can't place all the blame on motor vehicles; bicyclists share responsibility and need to establish good will with the motoring public and police.

Lake Worth Herald editorial: the July 30th Casino complex presentation(s)

Here are two excerpts from The Lake Worth Herald this week:

     With presentations scheduled for the city’s Casino Complex there are probably special meetings taking place to plan disruption during Hudson Holdings’ presentation. There are some in Lake Worth who will not listen, their minds are already made up. 
     Sadly, the minds are made up based on inaccurate information or just plain lies. It is sad Lake Worth politics get so dirty, especially since much of the problem is guided from outside the city. 
     Some of our commissioners have a penchant for telling businesses moving into the area how to run their business. What they can and can’t do, well beyond the limits set in the city’s codes and ordinances. 
     This was witnessed again when the new owner of Hammond Park was before the commission. What they proposed was well within the constraints of the city and still, commissioners wanted to tighten the rules. This is a tactic attempted on Publix when they were proposing a grocery store in the same neighborhood.

[and. . .]

     How long will it be before one of the commissioners proposes an ordinance to require chicken coops on all properties with a backyard larger than 20 square feet? 

     Maybe, one of the commissioners who got elected by telling lies about Hudson Holdings’ intentions at the beach will propose some of the profits from the Gulfstream Hotel (when it opens) be used to build the chicken coops, instead of going into the pockets of investors who took a chance on Lake Worth. 

     Maybe the same commissioner, under the guise of “Dark Skies” will require the Gulfstream to paint the windows black so the lights don’t disturb wildlife or anything else sleeping in Bryant Park. 

     Then again, maybe the sky will fall and the commissioner will actually propose something productive for the city. Slim chance, his coaches won’t allow it.

If you think the idea of chicken coops in the City is absurd please read this.

West Palm Beach Mayor Muoio: emergency meeting on violence

Kate Jacobson at the Sun Sentinel has this report on the recent spike in violence in West Palm Beach. Here is a short excerpt:

     On Wednesday, West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio held an emergency meeting with community leaders and clergy after three shootings within two miles and six hours.
    Adams' death is at least the fourth fatal shooting the city has had since the beginning of the month and the 55th shooting since the beginning of the year.
     Witnesses and victims are not coming forward, officials said, making it hard to catch those responsible. They hope the mayor's meeting will garner some solutions about how to reach the community and stop the violence.
     "Victims are not telling us what they know," said Elliot Cohen, director of communications for the Mayor's Office. "Any city can put hundreds of police officers on the street, but it's not going to do you any good if you don't have cooperation in the city."