What is going on with Diane Jacques? Did she suspend her campaign without informing the public?

This campaign report is from January 1st to the 31st. No activity at all?

Never has a legitimate candidate for Mayor submitted a Waiver of Report, meaning that there have been no donations or expenditures within 45 days before an election. You can always file an amended report but this seems to be a way to hide what is really going on with the campaign. This is the same candidate that has missed more candidate forums than she has made. This is from someone who has already submitted three amendments to her initial Treasurer's Report. This is the most coherent one. All that we can tell from this is that JoAnn Golden was her only contributor, other than herself.

Below is a picture of JoAnn Golden (with glasses on, smiling) from Monday night's South Palm Park candidate forum. The picture is taken at the moment she was called out for filing a lawsuit against the City regarding the rezoning of the Gulfstream hotel property.

Announcement regarding the Lake Worth Municipal Pool—Heaters are down

This just in from Sally Welsh, water exercise instructor, from Facebook:

I'll let you know when I hear that the heaters are working.

Florida Map from 1884

Interesting find showing the state of Florida c. 1884. This is ten years before Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway would make its way into Palm Beach. Notice the great span of nothingness between Lake Worth and Miami. This is also before the formation of Broward, Palm Beach and, much later, Martin and St. Lucie counties. All were part of a larger Dade county.

Just 20 years after this map, Lake Worth was a city and creating its own electricity.

Courtesy of Historic Boynton Beach

Palm Beach County smashes tourism records (and all the hotels in West Palm Beach to serve tourists visiting Lake Worth)

The Palm Beach Post has this news that's also on the front page, above the fold, in today's print edition:

     A record-breaking number of tourists came to Palm Beach County last year, shattering the 2014 benchmark by 10 percent, tourism officials announced Wednesday.
     Roughly 6.9 million people visited the county in 2015, marking the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking growth, according to Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s official tourism marketing organization.

[and. . .]

     Meanwhile, the number of hotel rooms available in the county also continues to grow. There has been a surge in new hotel construction, particularly in West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. [emphasis added]

[and. . .]

     As part of its 2016 marketing plan, Discover has said it plans to encourage locals to use social media and other communication channels to encourage visitors to travel here.

If you've been following this blog you know the little City of Lake Worth has a new Visitor Center and is also home of Palm Beach County's Cultural Concierge, the first ever in the county.

However, if a visitor wants to stay the night at a hotel in Lake Worth? Good luck with that.

My recommendation is if you're looking for a hotel room or have family/friends from out of town contact our good friends to the north at Visit West Palm Beach or the West Palm Beach Visitor Center using this link. They can also be reached at (561) 659-8814 (open 7 days a week).

And Thank You! for visiting Lake Worth. Please come back and visit us again some time and maybe we'll have a new hotel available by then.

From the Lake Worth Herald: Lake Worth CRA Awarded $72,700 SWA Grant for the Armory Art Annex

From this week's Lake Worth Herald is this news about another Lake Worth CRA grant:

     At their regular board meeting today (Feb.10.), the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Governing Board approved seven projects totaling $500,000 for Blighted and Distressed Property Clean-up and Beautification Grants. The City of Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency was awarded $72,700 for the Armory Art Annex/Lake Worth Community Arts Center Exterior Improvements and Perimeter Fencing.

[and. . .]

     These improvements are to mitigate the amount of trash at the site and create a more welcoming experience for residents and visitors. Specific improvements include the addition of 450 linear feet of decorative perimeter fencing and gate around the former shuffleboard court area and 160 linear feet of vegetation covered fencing between the property and the railroad tracks. Additional improvements include the removal of an obsolete irrigation system, removal of old/dead plants, and planting of drought-resistant, low-maintenance ground covering.

For more information contact Emily Theodossakos, the Marketing and Program Manager, at 561-493-2550. She also can be reached at (copy & paste) etheodossakos@lakeworth.org

You can also ask about new murals and the new street signs that everyone is talking about!

4 Visions Exhibition at Rolando Chang Barrero Fine Art Gallery

4 VISIONS

Curator: Rolando Chang Barrero

Fine Art Photography Exhibition of works by

Philip Ross Munro, Adam Collier Noel, Brian Cattelle, Pat Swain

Lake Worth-The Rolando Chang Barrero Fine Art Gallery presents 4 VISIONS an exhibition of contemporary  fine art photography by Philip Ross Munro, Adam Collier Noel, Brian Cattelle, and Pat Swain. The exhibition focuses of the the personal expressions of four contemporary photographers and the styles that have made them some of the leaders in the photographic world. The exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday evening, March 19, 2016 at 6 pm during PRIDE FEST WEEKEND in Lake Worth and in conjunction with ART SYNERGY'S Palm Beach ArtForms 

Events during ArtBocaRaton at Rolando Chang Barrero Fine Art Gallery 

711 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth, Florida 33460

PRIDEFEST 2016 VIP RECEPTION

RSVP: RCBfineArt@gmail.com

Saturday, March 19, 2016 Opening Reception Through April 8, 2016

ROLANDO CHANG BARRERO FINE ART GALLERY is a proud sponsor of PRIDEFEST WEEKEND LAKE WORTH

PrideFest features a full slate of exceptional live musical entertainment, fine merchandise from booth vendors, and an awesome selection of food from many local restaurants. Celebrate the generations, and celebrate LGBT pride in the annual parade starting at noon on Sunday in downtown Lake Worth at Lucerne & M Street. Among many attendees, local elected and appointed representatives including the mayors and commissioners of the city of West Palm Beach and the city of Lake Worth, have attended annually and shown their support for the event. Each year, the mayor of Lake Worth raises the Pride flag with Compass' Chief Executive Officer at City Hall during the week of the festival. More info at Compass Community Center.

Click here for more about the artists!

Another video from the South Palm Park debate on 2/8 (and why many of my YouTube audience are upset with me)

Here is the link to my YouTube channel and on the right side is a tab to become a subscriber and get updates on new videos and more. The next video is at the bottom of this blog post and I'll explain a little later why many of my YouTube audience is upset with me. First some things about the video and the candidate debate last Monday night:

• The Anarchist Ryan Hartman was feeling ill and/or queasy and couldn't attend.
• Diane Jacques missed this debate and that's 2 out of 3 now she's missed. Mayor Pam Triolo was there. 
• At the beginning of the video Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell explains how elections in Lake Worth are non-partisan and everyone votes city-wide; not just for their particular district. 
• At the 14:20 mark challenger Frank McAlonan praises PBSO and thinks the City should spend more money for more services from the Sheriff. 
• At the 16:20 mark Commissioner Amoroso talks about the failed business plan at the Lake Worth Casino and explains the "disconnect" about beach parking revenue; the original plan was not for the City to rely on parking revenue to fund the Casino like it does now. 
• At the 23:30 mark Mayor Triolo talks about the Park of Commerce (POC) and the myth about the City owning all the land in the POC. Much of that land is privately owned and pays taxes to the City of Lake Worth. 

Now. . .why so many of YouTube audience is upset with me and shouldn't be. I got to the debate early and set up the tripod, camera, and the sound device in a good spot to video the debate. It was afterwards that woman with the odd demeanor and strange antics sat in front of the camera. She's the one in the red, multi-piece jumper and brown, straight hair with puffy cheeks.

Throughout the videos (all 4 of them) the woman in red make faces, picks her nose (note the 26:10–26:45 mark, for example), acts out inappropriately, and generally acts very uncivilized. She pretends to be Pinocchio at times, apparently when she thinks someone is lying. Some people think I set up the camera to get this show on video and that is not the case at all. For those of you offended by that woman's behavior the best suggestion is ignore her and pay attention to the questions and answers by the elected leaders and the challengers who think they have a better idea.

Enjoy the video!

Important community news from Julie Parham at the Lake Worth Water Utilities Department

"I wanted to inform you all that survey crews are currently surveying portions of the following streets and alleys for the City’s 2″ watermain replacement project:

• Columbia Drive, Cornell Drive, Yale Drive, Auburn Drive, Vanderbilt Drive, Wellesley Drive
• 18th Avenue North between Wellesley Drive and 18th Avenue North including North J Street
• North J Terrace, North K Street, North L Street, North M Street, Federal Hwy, North N Street, North O Street

Also including:

• 16th Avenue North
• The alley between North N Street and North O Street
• The alley between North N Street and Federal Hwy
• 13th Avenue North
• The alley between North M Street and North L Street
• The alley between North J Street and North K Street
• The alley between North G Street and North H Street

Feel free to share this information with your neighbors.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this project. Contact me or call the project engineer (Matt Cigale) at Craven Thompson, 954-739-6400 x390 with questions."

Julie Parham, P.E., City of Lake Worth Water Utilities Department
301 College Street
Lake Worth
(561) 586-1798

Plan ahead in Lake Worth: Protect your home and family from selfish politicians who want to raise your electric rates

Does spike in #LakeWorth's #Electric #Rates worry you? There's a #Solution: https://t.co/y5049hdtX5 #NatGas @FPUCFL pic.twitter.com/Vymdl5NAU8

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) January 10, 2016

If you live in the Lake Worth electric service area you've seen a lowering of your electric rates the last few years thanks to the current majority led by Mayor Pam Triolo (along with Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Commissioner Amoroso). That downward trend in electric rates can dramatically change after any future election in the City of Lake Worth. But. . .there's a way to protect your family, home, and finances and eat better prepared food all at the same time! Switch to cheap, clean, affordable, and plentiful natural gas:

Lake Worth's electric rates are near the middle, slightly higher than Key West. And don't forget, 9 out of 10 professional chefs prefer clean and very affordable natural gas.

As it is right now the Lake Worth Electric Utility rates are right in the middle of the pack, between Key West and Homestead but the City received a shock when they heard the pitch below from two city commissioners: Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy. However, Mayor Triolo, Vice Mayor Maxwell, and Commissioner Amoroso put a stop to that nonsense:

Commissioner Maier and McVoy's pitch to raise electric rates failed. This time.

Here is the Florida Public Utility website to find out more about natural gas service for your home. If you wish call 800-427-7712 or email; but whatever you do don't waste any time and get cooking with natural gas.

Plan your day this Saturday (2/13) in Lake Worth!* Stroll the downtown, see the Gulfstream hotel, and so much other fun stuff to do

If you haven't been to downtown Lake Worth in a while, it's taken on a very quirky and cool vibe of late. If you happened to hear about a 'curfew' in Lake Worth that is completely false. Some in the news media like to cause trouble because they can. So ignore what you've read in the 'news' or seen on TV—come to Lake Worth and see for yourself.

One of the opening acts for the City's Street Painting Festival on February 20th/21st is the City's Annual Festival of Trees this Saturday. You can read more about that below.

Two of Lake Worth's "main streets", Lake and Lucerne avenues, become a canvas for artists from around the world.

Take a stroll down and check out the City's historic Gulfstream hotel which is going through the process to receive a long-awaited renovation.

Then proceed to the Cultural Plaza for the City of Lake Worth's Annual Festival of Trees from 9:00–4:00.*

Here is more information:

    “At the Festival of Trees, you can buy native trees and plants from local nurseries and get advice and information about proper plant placement and tree pruning,” said David McGrew, City of Lake Worth Horticulturalist and staff liaison to the board. “Nurseries and environmental organizations will offer information, advice, and much, much more. Come with your questions!”

And more about the City's Tree Board:

     The Tree Board is one of a number of advisory boards which assist the City Commission. Members of the public are encouraged to attend Tree Board meetings on the second Thursday of the month. Contact David McGrew at 561-586-1677 or email (copy and paste) at dmcgrew@lakeworth.org

Check out how cool and charming the little City of Lake Worth is this Saturday! 

*If you plan to spend the night and want a hotel room please contact Visit West Palm Beach or the West Palm Beach Visitor Center using this link. They can also be reached at (561) 659-8814 (open 7 days a week). And Thank You! for visiting Lake Worth. Please come back and visit us again some time.

In the Palm Beach Post today: Former Lake Worth commissioner on her vanity lawsuit to try and delay historic hotel restoration

First, there is a very important meeting at the Lake Worth Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) next week and we'll need another big community turnout to support the Gulfstream hotel project. Note that Joann Golden's vanity lawsuit, besides being a delay tactic, is also designed to derail enthusiasm for the project. Don't let her lawsuit bring you down! Stay excited and involved.

FYI, here is the result at the City Commission to move the Gulfstream hotel project forward:

Mayor Triolo, Vice Mayor Maxwell, and Commissioner Amoroso (The Three) are all up for re-election on March 15th.

It's also illustrative to note that Golden has contributed money from her war chest to the Anarchist (Ryan Hartman) who is challenging Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and also contributed money to another campaign that is challenging Mayor Pam Triolo.

Golden is quoted by the Post reporter Kevin Thompson with the same old litany from 2013. The good news is no one was surprised by Golden's lawsuit so any "shock and awe" she was expecting fell way short of that goal. Here is an excerpt from the article that's also on the front page of the B section, below the fold:

     “This is a project that needs to move forward to help revitalize downtown and to help our businesses,” Mayor Pam Triolo said. “It’s such an important project for the city and I hope the people who are developing the hotel don’t get disheartened by this action.”
     Added Commissioner Andy Amoroso: “We have someone who wants to invest in our city and open a hotel and there’s a group of people who just want to stop it. Unfortunately we now have to spend tax dollars to defend it.” [emphasis added]

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on the Gulfstream hotel project as it moves forward through the process of getting restored. And remember, Stay Excited!

Off topic and on a light-hearted note, on another continuing issue in Lake Worth, read what Mayor "Trillo", "Triollo" had to say about the Lake Worth Casino on CBS12/WPEC. Yes, that's right. A local TV news organization (the One to Turn Two) can't even get the mayor's last name right.

Former Commissioner Joann Golden when she was called out for her lawsuit against the city regarding the Gulfstream hotel (South Palm Park Candidate Forum 2/8/16).

Was a man shot by unknown suspects in Lake Worth last Sunday night? No. But ABC25/WPBF thinks it happened.

The man that was shot, if ABC25/WPBF is to be believed, has no life-threatening injuries. The only long-term damage to the community at large is WPBF and their false news reporting. If you're interested you can read my review of TV news reporting in central Palm Beach County (PBC) using this link.

The location of this shooting incident is well outside the city limits of the City of Lake Worth in what's called the Lake Worth Corridor which is in unincorporated PBC. A lot of reporters, especially of the TV news variety, have a difficult time wrapping their heads around the concept of "suburban Lake Worth". Here's what WPBF reported:

LAKE WORTH, Fla. —A man is hospitalized after being shot in Lake Worth Sunday night.
      Just after 8 p.m. deputies responded to shots fired in the 100 block of Fern Lane.
      When deputies arrived they found a male shot in the leg.

Here's how easy it is to find out where a property is located in PBC.

If public urination is "not that big a deal" then why not construct an open-air urinal in downtown Lake Worth?

The idea of an open-air urinal isn't going down too well, pardon the pun, in San Francisco. Watch this news segment from ABC7's Wayne Freedman:
And this open-air urinal isn't just for males only. There is new technology for females also. At the next City Commission meeting on February 16th maybe Commissioner Ryan Maier can raise the question of whether the City should build an open-air urinal. Remember what Maier said on January 19th:

As of today (Monday, February 8th), there are 37 days until election day (March 15th). If you haven't been paying attention to what is happening in Lake Worth politics it's about time you started. In the video below is Maier at the City Commission meeting on 1/19 that was all about the homeless and nothing about the neighborhoods that are in such need for services and funding (Maier speaks first and then Commissioner Amoroso responds):
So, it's OK for people to urinate on the front door of businesses as long as nobody sees it? Commissioner Andy Amoroso has a big problem with that and so should anyone who thinks that kind of behavior is acceptable in our downtown.

Fun at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool!

News from Jan Sjostrom, the Arts Editor at the Palm Beach Daily News (aka, the Shiny Sheet)

Below are two excerpts from this article in the Shiny Sheet about a very important Palm Beach County (PBC) County Commission meeting this Tuesday (2/9) concerning a one-cent sales tax increase to fund the arts, culture, schools, and other priorities:

     If passed, consumers could shell out more than $1.3 billion over 10 years to improve aging roads, bridges, schools and other publicly owned facilities, update school technology and finance the cultural building boom that’s on the horizon. The tax increase would end in 10 years or whenever the projects are paid for.
     The county commission will consider Tuesday joining the school district, cities and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County in asking voters for a one-cent hike. It also will look at other means of financing more than $712 million in projects deferred during the recession, including a solo half-cent increase or bond. The commission must approve county sales tax referendums before they’re put on the ballot.

[and. . .]

     According to a recent study commissioned by the council, cultural groups plan to add more than 700,000 square feet of facilities in the next 10 years. “They are bursting at the seams,” council chief Rena Blades said.
     The council is asking for nearly nearly $190 million for 26 cultural building projects, plus an additional $38 million for projects that might qualify in the future.

And in other arts news, do you know where the new Cultural Concierge for PBC is located? It's in downtown Lake Worth at the Cultural Council.

If passed, consumers could shell out more than $1.3 billion over 10 years to improve aging roads, bridges, schools and other publicly owned facilities, update school technology and finance the cultural building boom that’s on the horizon. The tax increase would end in 10 years or whenever the projects are paid for.
The county commission will consider Tuesday joining the school district, cities and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County in asking voters for a one-cent hike. It also will look at other means of financing more than $712 million in projects deferred during the recession, including a solo half-cent increase or bond. The commission must approve county sales tax referendums before they’re put on the ballot.