The biggest man in Lake Worth who is also the shortest, Mr. Greg Rice, has an assignment for you

Greg Rice posted this on Facebook a short while ago about a poll on the best beach in Palm Beach County:

There’s only been 148 readers vote so far, as of Monday morning at 11:09 AM, but in the Palm Beach Post they’re doing a readers poll. The Best Beaches in PB County, and LAKE WORTH MUNICIPAL BEACH has the most votes right now. Want to chime-in for your favorite beach follow this link. And please, let’s keep politics out of this discussion. No one is going to take the Lake Worth Beach away regardless of what some say. So grab some sunscreen, your towel and sunglasses and let’s go to the beach!

And, no, there truly isn't a boogeyman out there who has plans to steal the BEACH:

Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo—A bio to share with your friends and neighbors:

Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo with City Manager Michael Bornstein and Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell at the City's annual, highly theatrical July 4th Raft Race.

"Mayor Pam Triolo, a Lake Worth homeowner, is also a wife to Michael Clahane for 17 years, Mom to furry child Buster, Daughter to part time LW resident Vic Triolo, and owner of her Downtown Lake Worth Advertising firm, where she currently employs 4 Lake Worth residents. Triolo, a BFA Graduate from Emerson College, has spent a good part of her life in broadcasting and the arts. In 1997, Pam launched her award winning company, First Impressions Creative Services. She’s held top positions in professional and government organizations including President of American Women in Radio and Television, VP for Advertising Federation, Liaison to the PBC CVB, currently serves as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, PBSO Pension Board, Florida Bar Grievance Committee, and is the Neighborhood Association Presidents Council (NAPC) liaison, City Employee Pension Board Chair and creator of the city’s first Mayor’s Education Council.

Since 2011, Mayor Triolo’s accomplishments include creating over 100 new ordinances to eliminate blight/slum and reduce crime, the elimination of streetlight and fire assessments while bringing in new LED streetlights, negotiating a $700,000+ savings on our police contract, consistently lowering electric rates and is working to secure funding for infrastructure improvements to make roadways safer and bring in much needed jobs."

Lake Worth Mayor Triolo explains to a young boy what it's like to be a mayor of a small city.

City resident fights to save public safety hazard: A toxic, invasive tree that can also snap in high wind conditions downing power lines and impeding emergency response vehicles

Here is another true story in Lake Worth from the file, "You Can't Make This Stuff Up". Last June a resident of Lake Worth who lives on the outskirts of the City, as far away as you can get without falling into Lake Osborne, came to the defense of her precious Australian Pine before the City's Tree Board. This ridiculousness was forgotten until someone recently went looking for information on another topic, the upcoming Tree Festival. It was discovered that no minutes from the Tree Board have been posted to the City's website since (drum roll please). . .you guessed it: June of last year.

Anyone can speculate as to why this occurred. The good news is the Tree Board now has all the minutes available for the public to read. We'll have to trust that the minutes are accurate and reflect what actually occurred. I am not aware of anyone that is disputing the minutes and don't expect that to happen.

Now back to that toxic, invasive, and public health/safety hazard: the Australian Pine. It's a dangerous and nasty tree in south Florida and especially so the taller it gets. Besides stealing habitat from song birds and Gopher Tortoises it can snap in high wind conditions. Surrounding each tree is what's described as a 'death zone'. The needles are toxic and kill almost anything nearby. When the top of the tree snaps off you can imagine the danger to people, structures, utility lines, and if it lands on the road any vehicles (such as emergency vehicles) can have their route blocked.

Despite all this information, Lynn Anderson (who is referred to by many as The Obtuse Blogger [TOB]) went to the Tree Board to defend her Australian Pine:

The first page from the minutes of the Tree Board meeting on June 11th.

Note that Australian Pines are "one of the 3 worst" trees to Florida's wildlife habitat. One of those affected species is the Gopher Tortoise.

The Tree Board defended the City and their position on the Australian Pine. They also made recommendations going forward dealing with invasive trees that pose a danger to the public and environment. The City of Lake Worth has what's called a "Vegetation Amnesty" week; this year it is May 23–27. If you have an Australian Pine, that would be a good time to consider removing it—prior to this year's hurricane season. 

You wouldn't want that Australian Pine falling on your neighbor's home or car, or your own home, or have to deal with a community-wide electric outage. Can you even imagine anyone taking an opposite opinion? It's absurd.

On this day in Florida History JANUARY 17

1821 Ossian Bingley Hart, the first Florida-born governor of the state, was born today in Jacksonville. Hart's father, Isaiah David Hart, was a founder of Jacksonville. Ossian B. Hart was an attorney who initially practiced law in Jacksonville, but eventually moved to Fort Pierce to become a farmer. In 1845, he represented St. Lucie County in the Florida House of Representatives. In 1846, he moved to Key West and resumed the practice of law. In 1856, he moved to Tampa. Although the son of a slave-owner, Hart was opposed to Florida's secession and actively opposed it. His opposition earned him a great deal of trouble during the Civil War. In 1868, Hart was appointed an Associate Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. In 1870, he was defeated in a bid for Congress. He was elected governor as a Republican in 1872, but died of pneumonia in 1874.

1861 Jackson Morton of Santa Rosa County, Patton Anderson of Jefferson County, and James B. Owens of Marion County were appointed as Florida's delegates to the Southern Convention scheduled to meet in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 4.

1862 The U.S.S. Connecticut captured the British blockade-runner, Emma, off the Florida Keys.

1863 A Federal naval officer reports that he has found 45 bags of salt on a conch bar near Jupiter Inlet. It is also reported that a small boat with two Confederates has been captured near the St. Lucie River.

1866 John Beard assumed office today as Florida's Comptroller.

1873 S. B. McLin is installed as Florida's Secretary of State today.

1884 The first issue of the Florida Baptist Witness was published today.

1919 Florida's first Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #30, was chartered today in St. Petersburg.

1964 James W. Kynes took the oath of office today as Florida's Attorney General.

Courtesy of Florida History.

An olive branch from The Palm Beach Post to the City of Lake Worth and the City's CRA

The Palm Beach Post really didn't have much of a choice in this matter—instead of offering an outright apology the paper did a positive and uplifting article about the City's CRA following the absurd and silly piece about the mural at the CRA's La Joya Villages. Hardly a week goes by when there isn't more good news from the CRA and for the Post to attempt and sully them in such a manner outraged many in Lake Worth. The reaction from the public was swift and in many cases quite hilariously on point condemning the paper.

For the mural non-story the Post reporter searched out for "a woman" who has hardly lifted a finger to improve the City of Lake Worth while another "a woman", Joan Oliva (the CRA's Executive Director), has devoted many years of her life to improve the City while taking the daily slings and arrows with that ubiquitous smile.

Anyhow, the Post reached out to the CRA and published this article titled, "Four Lake Worth intersections could get artsy makeover" and Joan Oliva is quoted several times. Here are two short excerpts:

     “Instead of art and culture being segregated from the public by being in galleries and art shows, we really want to bring art and culture to the public at large,” said [Joan] Oliva, executive director of the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency. “At the same time we wanted to highlight some of the areas that are primed for redevelopment.”
     That vision helped the city become one of 158 finalists in the Knight Cities Challenge, a program open to 26 communities nationwide to receive up to $5 million in grant money for projects that will improve cities, provide economic opportunities and spur civic engagement while attracting — and retaining — young talent.

[and. . .]

     Oliva said initial projections are the project would cost between $250,000 to $300,000 and take about a year to complete.
     “We want to make sure this is something the entire community can get behind,” Oliva said. “What we’re trying to do here fits nicely with what the Knights Cities Challenge is all about — community engagement and economic opportunity.” [emphasis added]

Also stay tuned for more on the "Art Junction" coming up at the Urban Arts Lofts on January 23rd:

Art Junction Urban Arts Lofts 1/23/16 #lakeworth #art pic.twitter.com/q5R4Lze3V7

— LULA Lake Worth Arts (@LakeWorthArts) January 7, 2016

[RE-POST BY REQUEST] Information to pass on to the homeless in Lake Worth* (cannot vouch for its accuracy)

[*NOTE: This is a re-post as a public service. Scroll down for new content. As always Thank You for visiting my blog, Wes.]

"Dear Wes, when I see a homeless person that needs help I tell them to ask a PBSO deputy where to go, go to a church, or look for a house with a red and white sign that says 'Hands off our beach'. It's a secret symbol that really means the homeowner will offer them sanctuary. Spread the word."

Note: There are two versions of the 'sanctuary' sign for the homeless. Both have a solid red background with boldface white (sans serif) lettering such as the ones shown above.

Curious thing: When something happens to the Lake Worth Electric Utility it's news but when something doesn't happen it's not

[Oooops. Note that Jack Borsch is the Director of Lake Worth's Electric Utility and Walt Gill is the Assistant Director. I corrected that error in the post below (note the comment below). And Congratulations! all of you at the Electric Utility for doing such a great job.]

Yesterday (1/15) terrible storms rolled through the Lake Worth Electric Utility service area and what many people expected to happen didn't happen. There were no widespread outages. There may have been a few small ones and you can comment below on your experience if there was an outage.

However, FPL had some outages you can read about here.

The City of Lake Worth now has a "Power Tracker" to monitor outages and Walt Gill, the City's Utility ASSISTANT Director penned a newsletter about this very subject.

If you've been paying attention the biggest concern for many who depend on Lake Worth for their electricity is the possibility of a future spike in electric rates:

Lake Worth commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy made a failed pitch to raise the City's electric rates.

Many neighborhoods in the City have Florida Public Utility natural gas line access and if you have the resources you can switch out your electric appliances to gas and save a ton of money. Any future spike in electric rates will be blunted due to less dependence on electricity like an electric dryer or stove. The other benefit of having natural gas is you can still cook if the electric service is disrupted.

Note that Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, and Commissioner Andy Amoroso have worked hard to bring electric rates down and try to achieve parity with the rates that FPL charges. It might behoove you to pay attention: If the current majority on the City Commission is flipped you could very well end up paying a very high price when you get a future electric bill in the mail.

From Vickie Joslin, Lake Worth's Library Services Supervisor: Public Library Winter Adult Programs

"Dear Friends and library supporters,

Well, the new calendar is full of things to do. Please join us for fun, learning and literature. To register for any of the programs please call the library at 561-533-7354."

Vickie Joslin can be reached at 561-533-7354. The address for the library is 15 North 'M' Street.

Below are a few examples of programs available at the City's library:

Saturday, January 16th
3rd Saturday Book Club
City Hall Annex Meeting Room at the Cultural Plaza at 2:00 pm
Book: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker 
Free. No registration required

Saturday, January 23rd
Computer Class: Keyboard Basics
Location: Library
9:00–9:50 am
Free. Registration required

Saturday, January 30th
Scrabble Fun Day!
City Hall Annex Meeting Room
2:00–4:00 
Free. No Registration Required

CBS12/WPEC changed the format on their website: Now it's more difficult to find the latest news segments

It was quite a terrible weather day in Palm Beach County yesterday and here is a Tweet sent out by a CBS12 reporter:

Bad weather sends Car on tree in Century Village WPB @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/27THJ9Wwjl

— Kathleen Walter (@KathleenWalter_) January 15, 2016

Of course, the picture tells the story: the tree fell on the car. But if a car did fall on a tree somewhere that would be a huge news story.

CBS12 changed the format on their website a week or so ago. It used to be you could simply scroll down and find their latest drive-by news segment done in Lake Worth. As it is now you need to type "Lake Worth" in the search bar and this is the first news that shows up, a segment by Michael Buczyner from last August.

So I'm going to need help from my blog readers. If you see the latest drive-by news from CBS12 send me the link so I can check it out. I don't want to miss anything. They might need to be corrected again like I have to do with ABC25/WPBF all the time.

If you're new to the Lake Worth/central Palm Beach County area and are looking for a really good TV news station to watch you need to turn to NBC5/WPTV. You can read my review of local TV news here.

Flashback: The disgruntled and disaffected from the March 2013 election

Oh, and about that glorious myth of the "overwhelming" heights vote that is just that. A myth:

An "overwhelming" vote to limit heights downtown? Hardly. And how did your elected representatives vote to save the Gulf Stream hotel in downtown Lake Worth? 

Press Release from City of Lake Worth: Monday's Martin Luther King March

To read the entire press release go to the City's "Special Events" page and scroll down for the news on Monday's Martin Luther King March. Last year was the largest march ever and the Post's Julius Whigham II was there to document the event. You can read about that here.

Here are excerpts from the City's press release:

Contact: Retha Lowe
Phone: 561-586-7276
 
MLK Day Declares – United We Are the World

This year Lake Worth will honor the transformative power of Martin Luther King Jr’s dream on January 17th and 18th under the theme, United We Are the World. The theme was selected to correspond with the rededication of the MLK Globe Fountain after the City’s recent renovations.

[and. . .]

      The highlight of the day will be the 22nd annual Candlelight March through downtown Lake Worth. Participants will gather at 5 PM at City Hall and parade down Lake Avenue to the Cultural Plaza. A brief commemorative program in the Plaza will feature the rededication of the MLK Globe Fountain. The Fountain, originally installed in 2005, has been refurbished and rebalanced so that the 4-ton granite globe will once again float freely and be rotated by hand. To mark the occasion, a children’s choir will perform a heart-warming rendition of We Are the World in recognition of the progress that the City of Lake Worth has made toward fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream.
     Following the rededication program, a Fellowship Dinner will be enjoyed at First Baptist Church. The church is located at Second Ave. South and M Street, just a block south of the Memorial. Musical entertainment is planned. The free dinner will provide an opportunity for warm fellowship across religious and racial lines in the spirit of Dr. King. Sponsoring religious and civic organizations will provide the food and beverages. Members of the general public are invited to help with the dinner preparations which will begin at First Baptist at 4 PM or to contribute a dessert.

[and. . .]

All events are free of charge to the public, sponsored by the City of Lake Worth, Kiwanis Club, Lake Worth Interfaith Network and the Lake Worth MLK Committee.

A "Point of View" in the Post and the now "Null and Void" heights vote three years ago WAS NOT "overwhelming"

"Overwhelming" support to limit heights in downtown Lake Worth? Hardly.

The latest one to carry the myth forward on the "overwhelming" turnout for the 'heights vote' is Lake Worth Commissioner Ryan Maier. It's hard to know if he believes the myth or not, but if he does believe it he's delusional. I remember the day after that vote on heights downtown and no one was celebrating. The "No's" could have gotten more people to turn out and the "Yes's" were in a state of despair. They won but their expected and hoped-for landslide never happened. Not even close.

The "Yes's" victory was a lame one and then the entire effort was deemed "Null and Void" by the state legislature. One thing that isn't pointed out much is what the leaders of the height limit side knew but didn't tell their supporters: They were told well-prior to the vote and prior to the gathering of signatures that there was a risk that a victory could be overturned by the state. They weighed the options and chose to go forward. It ended up being a terribly bad choice.

Mark Horne has a "Point of View" in the printed edition of The Palm Beach Post today about the Gulf Stream hotel project which makes some very good points. The downside is the Post will likely print another letter from Lawrence McNamara on Sunday saying something like, "They dishonored my vote!" or "Listen to the people!" which is all complete nonsense just like the "overwhelming" vote to limit heights in Lake Worth's downtown.

Here are two excerpts from Mr. Horne's letter which makes very good points:

      The developer’s representative [Land use attorney Bonnie Miskel] did an excellent job of explaining the goals, and potential outcome, of this project [the Gulf Stream hotel renovation]. It will become the anchor for the downtown business district, providing international exposure and flooding the downtown area with new customers and, ultimately, new businesses.
      It is clear that what has been tried in the past with this gem has not worked. The only other option would be to level the building.
      It will now have the opportunity to stand on its own. Plus, most people are not aware of the “bed tax” dollars that would be generated, and ultimately come back to our community.

[and. . .]

     For too long, this town has been divided by opposite factions: growth vs. status quo. I would not like to see Lake and Lucerne avenues turn into six-story buildings everywhere. However, I say it’s time to find a balance, and I vote for “smart” growth.
     This single project has the potential to be the smartest thing city leadership has done in decades. It isn’t about thinking big or thinking small — it’s about thinking smart.
     MARK S. HORNE, LAKE WORTH

Thank you for taking the time to pen your thoughts, Mr. Horne. Use this link to learn more about how the City Commission stands on the the Gulf Stream hotel project and one woman who voted to limit heights and now regrets her vote. Here is how the Lake Worth City Commission voted on the rezoning necessary to save our historic downtown hotel:

How your elected representatives stand on the Gulf Stream hotel renovation project.

I owe an apology to my blog readers: Did you attend the Road Rascals Car Show at the Lake Worth Casino because you saw it on my blog??

To say the "Car Show" at the City's Lake Worth Casino last night (1/14) was a disappointment is an understatement. I didn't even get inside with my newly road-ready '63 Buick Riviera. Understand this, car shows are nothing new to me. I've been around classic cars my entire life and can still remember my parents telling about how they strapped me into a "Chinese red" Packard V12 convertible in a caravan through Canada to Montreal in 1962. I drove a '69 Corvair all through high school and it is still in my father's collection. You can see his 1985 Cadillac Biaritz convertible behind it. Throughout my life I have been to many, many car shows.

Only 6,000 Corvair's were made in 1969 and this one is #3375. Despite its reputation it's still my favorite car ever.

So I pulled into the Casino parking lot and I don't see any evidence of a car show going on. The weather wasn't good, it was windy and drizzling so thought nobody turned out. Drove up to Benny's and didn't see a show going on there either. As I approached the Casino building, I saw that the road blocked off with traffic cones and the car show was happening there, in front of Mulligan's! Why did they have to shut the road down for a car show?

There were two people at the "check point" and I was asked if I wanted to get into the show. I was told that it cost $25 to get in. That was a "discount" from the $35 that was the original price to get in. Anyway, $25 is still outrageous for someone who wants to display a car in a non-judged show. Below is the image I used on my blog to promote the car show. Do you see any mention about a cost of admission? How many "Family Friendly" events do you know of on a weekday night that cost $25 just to get in? Checked the City's website last night and there was no mention of any cost except that the "Parking is Metered". There is an email for more information and a lesson learned: I should have gotten more information.

No mention of a cost of admission.

It wasn't a "car show" at the Casino; it was actually a "car club". It would have been fun to see all the cars but given the weather and my sudden change in mood turned the car around and left. What bothered me was thinking any of my blog readers attended the 'show' and had to pay out the $25 they weren't expecting to. . .like me. Actually at least one of my blog readers did show up and he was none too happy either as you'll read in the comments below.

To all the people who showed up because you read about the "Car Show" on this blog, I apologize. And the City should also apologize for not disclosing the cost of admission. Plus the folks from the "Road Rascals" should at least make note that there is/was a cost to attend. The people at the gate also said that the money was being used to "pay the city" for the space. My suggestion is get a row of parking spaces blocked off at the top parking lot and save the money plus keep the road open. This event is supposed to take place on the second Thursday of every month until June. Hopefully the next event will be organized differently.

As far as the $25? Lesson learned.

Ever see movie "Harry and Son" with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, and Robby Benson? Was filmed in Lake Worth, FL!

The movie wasn't well received and Robby Benson was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor in the 1984 movie. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the movie one star and wrote, "This movie looks like the aftermath of an explosion in the story department." But get this—the movie was filmed in Lake Worth. Here is the movie trailer:

Here is more about this movie from Wikipedia:

Harry & Son is a 1984 American drama film directed by Paul Newman, who also stars. The screenplay by Newman and Ronald Buck focuses on the relationship between a blue-collar worker and his son (Robby Benson), who fails at various odd jobs while aspiring to be a writer.
     Joanne Woodward, Ellen Barkin, Ossie Davis, Wilford Brimley and Judith Ivey also star.
     Much of the film was shot in Lake Worth, Florida. The movie set construction site was the demolition of the sister hotel affiliated with the Gulf Stream Hotel named The Inn.

Maybe the Stonzek Theater can screen this movie? It will be a lot of fun and get tons of attention here in Lake Worth.

Parts of the movie Body Heat were filmed in Lake Worth also. This was the movie many believe launched the career of Kathleen Turner. William Hurt starred in this film along with Ted Danson, J.A. Preston and Mickey Rourke.

Actor William Hurt with Lake Worth City Hall in the background from the movie Body Heat. In the movie the city was called "Miranda Beach".

Does psychology explain the reason "Sea Level Rise" isn't gaining traction in south Florida?

It seems every day another study comes out about 'sea level rise' in south Florida and the net effect seems nil on the populace. Pictures showing Miami under water and a little sliver that will remain of Florida in the future don't have any impact on the present. Miami continues to grow and so does Palm Beach County, All Aboard Florida is sinking (pardon the pun) almost $2 billion into a new rail project, and there is no slowing of future population growth projected. It's boom time in the state again despite the appeals from the 'sea level rise' and 'climate change' believers.

Is the sea level rising? Who knows, maybe or maybe not. This article in CityLab seeks to explain how people perceive risk and they use the example of earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. Here is the subtitle of the article: Terrible natural disasters will come someday, but most people have a hard time worrying about stuff that isn’t imminent.

One of the ways people identify with risk is emotionally. Here is an excerpt from that part of the CityLab article:

     Studies show that when people calculate risk, especially when the stakes are high, we rely much more on feeling than fact. [emphasis added] And we have trouble connecting emotionally to something scary if the odds of it happening today or tomorrow aren’t particularly high. So, if an earthquake, flood, tornado or hurricane isn’t immediately imminent, people are unlikely to act.
     “Perceiving risk is all about how scary or not do the facts feel,” says David Ropeik, a risk-perception consultant who has written multiple books on the subject. “A risk in the future feels a lot less scary than a risk that’s presented right now.”
     This feeling also relates to how we perceive natural, as opposed to human-made, threats. We tend to be more tolerant of nature than of other people who would knowingly impose risks upon us—terrorists being the clearest example.

Larry the Lenz in Lake Worth, FL, has his own take on sea level rise you may or may not find amusing but does present some interesting facts in an entertaining fashion.