Aerial view of Lake Worth's Golf Course, 1973, and what this has to do with Tree Board meeting tonight (7/14)

Tree Board meetings are open to the public. See below for time and place of meeting.

Aerial view (to the southeast) of City's golf course.

The view above includes the roads North Palmway, North Lakeside and Golfview Drives. The foreground would be the area between 16th Ave to 13th Ave North. Notice the 90° turn south at 13th Ave North.

Interesting to note the Australian pines along the western shore of the Lake Worth Lagoon. These pines are not indigenous and, unfortunately, grow very quickly in this climate and soil. When they get too tall they're either topped-off, removed, or a strong storm will take care of the problem for the property owner. Hopefully without damage to the home, cars, or sending someone to the hospital. Or worse.

In a hurricane when the Australian pine top shears off it's likened to a 'spear'. When too close to power/communication lines and roads (for emergency vehicles) you can understand the concern.

The needles that fall create a dead zone around the tree that is poisonous to birds and Gopher tortoises to name a few native species. Last January a condo-dweller on the outskirts of the City tried to 'save' her Australian pine from being removed (the City cited public safety concerns), and the issue went before the City's Tree Board. Read all about that using this link:

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.

Have any recommendations been made to the City to clarify this public safety issue for the community?

The Tree Board meeting is at 5:30 and meets in the conference room at City Hall (next to the City Commission chambers).

CRA Press Release: New Lake Worth video showcases healthier living with creation of greenways and parks*

Below is more Lake Worth news that doesn't quite make the cut at The Palm Beach Post:

LAKE WORTH, FL—The Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and City of Lake Worth invites the public to view a new online video (below) which highlights greenways and parks in the City. Produced by Salud America!, and the University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center, this video showcases ways in which the City, CRA and School District of Palm Beach County are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of residents and children living in Lake Worth. The video also provides information regarding the proposed 5th Avenue South Bikeway which will be constructed in 2017.

Salud America! is a Latino childhood obesity prevention network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center.

For more information on the parks and greenways in the City of Lake Worth please contact the Lake Worth CRA office at 561-493-2550. *Erica Whitfield is featured in the video. She is a member of the Palm Beach County School Board and a Lake Worth resident.

Algae blooms, septic tanks, and two very interesting items in today's Post print edition (7/14)

Below is a very interesting and thoughtful Letter to the Editor. But first are two excerpts from Jennifer Sorentrue's article:

     Facing an environmental crisis over algae blooms that have turned some Treasure Coast waterways a bright green, Gov. Rick Scott said last week that he plans to seek state money to help curb what he calls a “major contributor” to the pollution problem — septic tanks. [emphasis added]
     While few experts argue against reducing the amount of untreated sewage leaching out of underground tanks across the Treasure Coast, many say the governor’s approach would not eliminate the recurrent problem of blue-green algae choking inland waters.

[and. . .]

     The governor announced on July 6 that he will set aside “additional funding” in his 2017-18 budget proposal to create a voluntary program that would encourage residents living near the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee River on the state’s west coast to ditch their septic tanks and connect to public sewer systems.

Now to that interesting Letter to the Editor from Newton Cook, the executive director of United Waterfowlers-Florida Inc., two excerpts:

Too many advocates with personal or group agendas have hijacked the appearance of blue-green algae in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, often making public statements that are at least misleading and sometimes false.
     Algae appear naturally in warm, freshwater systems. Lake Okeechobee is only one of several blooms during this year of record rain and warmth.

[and. . .]

     The misinformation most often heard is that the farmers in the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) south of Lake Okeechobee are somehow responsible for the bloom. The fact that most lake water comes from the watershed north of the lake and makes up much of the water going from the lake into C-44 to the St. Lucie River is too often ignored.
     Actually, most EAA water goes south into the large water conservation areas. No noted algae blooms have been reported in those marshes to date.

John Prince Park, Spring Training baseball, and a message from Atlantis Mayor David Kintz

In the June/July issue of "The Mayor's Corner" Atlantis Mayor Kintz wrote the following:

"At the April 2016 Council Meeting the council voted 4-1 supporting the concept of an Atlanta Braves Spring Training Facility in South Central Palm Beach County. There was a good deal of discussion from Council and comments from our residents prior to voting on this resolution. Since then, a few residents who didn't understand why we brought this resolution forward wanted to know why we supported the idea of a sports facility in our area. Central Palm Beach County has been in my opinion neglected by the County for many years. [emphasis added] The County has spent incredible amounts of money and resources supporting many projects in the north and south areas of the county: Roger Dean Stadium, the new Nationals/Astros facility and Scripps to name a few. These projects have brought many great things to the local areas surrounding them. Furthermore, the County will not be interested in negotiating with the Atlanta Braves if the local cities are not in support of a facility of this caliber. This is why we passed Resolution 16-08 to offer our support for the concept of the facility. Lake Worth, Greenacres and Lantana all have passed similar resolutions. The Atlanta Braves will be designing an extensive economic study of just how their new facility will have a positive impact on the local areas, and will present this to the County Commission in the near future. Once we have a chance to review all of the proposals, we will be in a position to either support a solid plan that benefits Central Palm Beach County or not, if the plan doesn’t make sense."

Video from the City Commission Work Session on the 2017 Budget (7/12/16)

There are four videos total. Click the "1/4" icon in the top left corner to switch between the different videos in the playlist:
The City's Finance Director Marie Elianor made the first presentation on the 2017 budget at last night's Commission work session. A summary of the overall proposed budget preceded presentations by Captain Todd Baer of PBSO, Director of Community Sustainability William Waters and Public Services Director Jamie Brown. Informative discussions ensued regarding public safety and crime, code enforcement adjustments and roadway maintenance issues.

Commissioner McVoy was absent for the entire meeting. Attendance at the meeting was light, with most of the people there being department heads and City staff. The assumption going forward is that the millage rate will stay the same, meaning that the City will gain about $700,000 additional monies due to the almost 12% increase in taxable property valuation. $200,000 of that increase will go to the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency.

Towards the end of the last video in the playlist, Mayor Triolo announced the passing of Peter Timm, long a fixture at all kinds of city meetings. There was a moment of silence. At the end, staff that was present introduced themselves and identified their position with the City.

The always popular. . . Anarchists stylin' in L-Dub. "Hey, who didn't empty the outhouse bucket!" And what does "L-Dub" mean?

Note sign: "PLEASE EMPTY OUTHOUSE BUCKET WHEN FILLED HALF WAY AND RINSE TO KEEP IT AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE".

So, what does L-Dub (or "LDub") mean? It's slang for 'Lake Worth', such as in the ever-dwindling Anarchist community here in the City. The 'L' is short for "Lake" and the 'Dub' is short for "double-'u' " as in the letter "W", hence the term L-Dub. Have to keep reminding myself there are a lot of new residents in the City who don't know this stuff. Welcome to L-Dub dude!

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on clean, affordable water and the "smoking gun" destroying the Indian River Lagoon

Below is a video from the Florida Chamber of Commerce:
The Florida Chamber of Commerce published an article on their website titled, "Septic Tank Pollution Threatening Indian River Lagoon [IRL]". Here is a short excerpt:

"Harbor Branch marine biologist Dr. Brian Lapointe describes sewage nitrogen as 'the smoking gun' threatening the lagoon."

This is nothing new to many people throughout Florida, including the former Mayor of Pahokee, JP Sasser. Below are some of the bullet points from the article published by the Florida Chamber of Commerce:

• An analysis by Florida Today found septic tanks contribute an estimated 2 million pounds of nitrogen in the lagoon per year.
• Nitrogen promotes the growth of algae, which suffocates seagrass needed to sustain lagoon life.
• Thousands of the septic tanks near the lagoon are located at homes built before 1983, the cutoff when state law increased septic tank setbacks from the water and the distance between drain fields and the water table.
• Many of the septic tanks are old and malfunctioning. State health officials estimate up to 10 percent of Florida’s 2.6 million septic tanks are failing.

Stay tuned, as they say.

Remember former "visionary" Lake Worth commissioners JoAnn Golden and Cara Jennings?

Because of "visionaries" like ex-commissioners JoAnn Golden and Cara Jennings the citizens of the little City of Lake Worth are paying for a capped, unused natural gas line: $64,000 each and every month. 

$64,000 each and every month for nothing. Zero, Nada, Zilch. Call it the "Gas Line to Nowhere". 

How many potholes would $64,000 each month fix? How many new code enforcement officers would that pay for?

July 12th: The Post officially signals their start of the political campaign season in the little City of Lake Worth

“If you’re looking at ($54,000) versus $65 million of infrastructure, ($54,000) is just a drop in the bucket,” [Comm. Andy] Amoroso said at last year’s commission meeting.
—From Post beat reporter Kevin Thompson's article about the City's hiring of a media specialist in the July 12th print edition (use this link for online edition).

Where to start? Remember the 'Curfew' in Lake Worth that wasn't a curfew? Well, now there's more to talk about at tomorrow's panel discussion on "The Future of Newspapers" being sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

A comment left on the Post website about the article sums it up nicely sans (without) the spin:

"The salaries in South Florida are very depressed from the rest of the country for top PR and Public Affairs Specialists. Ms. Tingo appears to be a highly qualified and experienced professional. The City, it appears, is fortunate to have someone with her excellent skill set for this salary level. Senior public affairs officers generally start at $80k/year.
Congratulations are in order for both Tingo who is passionate for her work and the City for getting someone as adept as Ms. Tingo for a bargain salary because she loves her city and career."

As of today (July 12th) the Post has indicated their official start of the political campaign season and Commissioner McVoy (who is almost always unavailable being in the Everglades so much of the time) is on speed dial apparently and Commissioner Amoroso is not. Let's examine the quote above; the quote used is:

• From last year! Why not get a current germane quote from Amoroso?
• Why add Laura Tingo's salary in the quote, "($54,000)" TWICE, when it was reported in a previous paragraphs?
• Tingo's salary is reported FOUR TIMES in the article. Isn't once enough?
• And. . . Why link Amoroso's quote to the $65 million bond vote in 2014?
• Is the reworked quote trying to suggest to readers that Amoroso thinks "$54,000" is inconsequential?
• And. . . Is this journalism?

The reality is Thompson is making a very strong case for the City needing a Communications Specialist.

Stay tuned: This feels like a leadup to another Post editorial. Remember the last one? Since we're on the subject. . . a reminder:

From a Post editorial leading up to the "LW2020" bond vote that failed in 2014. By just 25 votes. Remember, Commissioner McVoy was a member of one of those "previous commissions".

News from reporter Brian Bandell at the SFBJ you won't find in other Palm Beach County media

But will stand corrected if anyone sends me a link or information proving otherwise. If you don't follow the South Florida Business Journal (SFBJ) you should if business and real estate news are important topics to you. For example, it was Bandell that first reported Florida Window and Door was moving to Dixie Hwy in Lake Worth. After that the local media scrambled to find out what was going on.

I'll have more to say about this news later today or tomorrow. In the meantime note that this news about Congress Ave. is happening across the road from the Palm Beach State College campus and John Prince Park and if you happen to be aware of what is happening in many of those neighborhoods now. . .

Palm Springs could double density on Congress Ave from Lake Worth Rd to JFK hospital https://t.co/NrLDh9A865 @WesBlackman

— Brian Bandell (@SFBJRealEstate) July 11, 2016

As tourism and government leaders go about repairing the damage done by the media in Palm Beach County. . .

. . . Last week The Palm Beach Post article by Jennifer Sorentrue titled, "Tourism chief: Beaches free of algae" got pushed to the 'B' section, below the fold, in the least read paper of the week: Saturday. Why not have it in Sunday's print edition? Here is an excerpt:

     Jorge Pesquera, Discover’s president and CEO, appeared on several national television news shows over the Fourth of July weekend to reiterate the county’s beaches are opened and safe for swimmers.
     Meanwhile, the organization has launched a social media push, which includes links to several live beach webcams, to show potential visitors that the coastline is not coated in algae. Discover has asked local hoteliers and industry leaders to do the same.
     “There has to be high clarity and people need to have a sense of trust and confidence [emphasis added] that they are going to a destination where they are going to enjoy water activities in a safe environment,” Pesquera said.

On the subject of newspapers and "trust and confidence", below are some results from this July 7th article about "The Pew Research Center’s new survey on modern news consumption trends, conducted in partnership with the Knight Foundation":

— Print, as you might expect, continues its decline: Only 20 percent of people say they get their news from print newspapers, down from 27 percent three years ago. Only 26 percent of people who prefer to read the news prefer to do so via print newspapers.
— People who get their news online are more likely to have a negative opinion of the media. [and. . .] Young adults, in particular, are more negative about the media in general.
— News, overall, seems to have a trust problem: Only 20 percent of Americans trust the information they get from online and offline news organizations.

Also from the article: "Trust in news from social media is even lower, Pew found, echoing the findings of an April report from AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the American Press Institute."

This delves perfectly with a panel discussion hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches tomorrow (July 13th): "The Future of Newspapers".

I hope Jorge Pesquera shows up.

Beautiful blues! Sea and sky at the @LakeWorthPBC pier 🌎 pic.twitter.com/59xcsy01yZ

— Palm Beaches, FL (@PalmBeachesFL) July 2, 2016

Meanwhile, as 'homeless advocates' in Lake Worth try finding a way to force the City into a big, juicy lawsuit. . .

. . . elsewhere there is actual work going on to solve the problem.

If you were following the last election in Lake Worth you'll recall this charming missive from one of the candidates (who lost in a massive landslide).

In The Lake Worth Herald* last week (July 7th edition) is this news about what is happening in our neighboring city to the north:

WEST PALM BEACH — Residents and visitors to West Palm Beach can now help end homelessness with a swipe of their credit card or by dropping spare change into a bright orange meter. The Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County and the City of West Palm Beach has launched the Real Change Movement.
    The program will raise funds to provide homes for those who are experiencing homelessness in West Palm Beach.

[and. . .]

     The Real Change officially kicked off June 30 when West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio made the first donation at the bright orange meter located on the waterfront. The public can make direct donations to the cause at any of ten meters scattered around downtown West Palm Beach.

[and. . .]

     For more information on the Real Change Movement or to donate use this link.

*Subscribe to The Lake Worth Herald using this link or pick up the print edition at the City's newsstand located at 600 Lake Ave. in the Downtown.

The positive community outpouring for Garlic Fest coming to John Prince Park continues

Except for a few malcontents obsessed with Gopher tortoises, who wake up angry and then get more miserable as the day goes on, by far most of the community in Lake Worth is quite pleased with the news about Garlic Fest. For the press release from the festival organizers use this link.

Relocating Gopher tortoises from urban areas to safer, quieter, more peaceful places is quite common.

The latest on this is in the form of a Letter to the Editor (LTE) in The Palm Beach Post today by none other than former Lake Worth mayor Tom Ramiccio:

     "Although John Prince Park is just outside the city limits of Lake Worth proper, the festival will bring a lot of economic development to Lake Worth and visitors to our city.
     Festivals are a part of our culture and we are proud of our Street Painting Festival in February, Reggae Fest in April, Tropic Fest on July 4, and the Tropical Triathlon in September. We are proud of our diversity, as Lake Worth also hosts PrideFest in March.
     Come visit our downtown and explore our historic neighborhoods. Lake Worth welcomes you."

Have you ever thought about writing a LTE? Did you write a LTE and it was rejected or ignored? There's actually a trick to greatly increase your chances of having your LTE published. Learn the trick using this link. Hint: Always Follow Up!

What's the tally so far for false TV new reports of crime/incidents "in Lake Worth" that weren't in Lake Worth?

First, a little background: Prior to April 6th would highlight each individual false news report I found including ones that my blog readers sent to me. As you can imagine, this effort became quite tedious due to the high number of them: murders, rapes, fires, carjackings, robberies, drownings, car chases, all reported by the media occurring "in Lake Worth" that actually happened outside the City limits, sometimes even near the edge of the Everglades.

I came up with an idea. Why not just create a list? So that's what I did: Use this link to see it.

You're asking yourself, "Why is this important?" The answer is simple: Nothing hurts a City's image more than crime news and lumping our City in with all those western communities in the County, beyond being inaccurate, is just plain unfair. That leads to the next question: "What's the media doing wrong?" That answer is simple too: Reporters are not fact-checking, editors are not doing their job, and all of them don't understand how zip codes work. Learn about that using this link.

Trying to find each and every false news report is not possible, however, below is the tally thus far from the list. Note that from April 30th to May 28th was either an anomaly or the media just happened to be doing their jobs right during that stretch of time. Without further ado, drum roll please, false news reports by the numbers:

• CBS12/WPEC: 10
• ABC25/WPBF: 7
• NBC5/WPTV: 4

The reporters, by name and media outlet, that appear on the false news report:

• Gary Detman, CBS12, 3
• Sierra Darville, CBS12, 2
• Monica Magalhaes, NBC5, 2
• Ari Hait, ABC25, 1
• Austin Carter, NBC5, 1
• Victoria Price, CBS12, 1
• Chennel Ramos, ABC25, 1
• Lynda Figueredo, CBS12, 1
• Whitney Burbank, ABC25, 1
• Jillian Brynne, CBS12, 1

To keep updated on the list and see the latest false news reports look in the right-hand column of this blog for False media reports of crime/incidents 'in Lake Worth' continue or look for this image:

Another thing that confuses the media is unincorporated areas in the County, one of which is called the "Lake Worth corridor". Do you remember that plane crash last year? 

One of the first reporters on the scene, and the only one to get the actual location correct, was NBC5/WPTV's Charlie Keegan. Even The Palm Beach Post got the location wrong.

[UPDATE] Col. Jason Kirk on Lake Okeechobee and Herbert Hoover Dike sans the media spin

UPDATE: Almost in its entirety, the letter by Col. Kirk was published in today's print edition (7/11) of The Palm Beach Post editorial page as a "Point Of View". Below is a blog post from last Saturday:

Not sure what the word "sans" means? For the entire press release from July 8th titled, "Corps must remain vigilant in managing Lake O" use this link; below are three excerpts:

By Col. Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District

     Water—in south Florida, we either have too much or too little. For most of 2016, heavy rains fueled by El Nino mean we’ve had too much.
     The flood control system operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District has prevented loss of life and major widespread property damage so far this year.

[and. . .] 

     The Corps stands ready to respond should a breach scenario develop. However, part of our mitigation to prevent a breach includes managing the water level in the lake to keep it from rising too high. Unfortunately, this requires releasing water in quantities that, when combined with an equally large volume of basin runoff, upset the freshwater-saltwater mix in the estuaries. The change in that mix, coupled with hot weather, and excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in the system from a variety of sources, are all among the factors fueling the algae affecting the estuaries.

[and. . .]

     Eight million people in south Florida depend on the system to safeguard their lives and property. Flood protection is what Congress expected when they asked the Corps to develop flood control solutions, and I believe it’s ultimately what the citizens of our nation expect as well.

[To find out why the Herbert Hoover Dike was constructed use this link.]