Another idea to save south Florida's birds from predation by feral and roaming cats

In order to get anything done in any significant way will probably be a grassroots effort of some sort. Here is an idea from our neighbors to the north, Canada:

Raise your voice! Download a letter to your municipality to encourage them to Keep Cats Safe & Save Bird Lives https://t.co/OzYUDDD62y

— SafeCatSafeBird (@SafeCatSafeBird) May 24, 2016

Stumbled on this yesterday on Twitter, do you remember Lisa Vaughn when she was at NBC5/WPTV? Well, she's back in Texas again and no, she hasn't "lost it." Cats can indeed be trained to walk on a leash:

Walking my cat on a leash. I've lost it. Help. pic.twitter.com/RQC896fQfa

— Lisa Vaughn (@LisaVaughnFox26) July 25, 2016

This is a complicated political problem and the County's Animal Care and Control (ACC) won't do anything much different from what's happening now: encourage more trapping, neutering, vaccination, and release (TNVR) of cats back into communities and neighborhoods. The program is a complete failure and that will be acknowledged in a decade or so after many more millions of birds have been slaughtered by cats.

The 'elephant in the room', so to speak, is that TNVR cats DO NOT lose their hunting instinct and no one wants to address that. If neutering was effective city's like Lake Worth wouldn't be dealing with this problem that only gets worse all the time, would they? And vaccination will keep cats cats healthy and hunting for a long time.

The natural world may offer some help in the form of coyotes (look in the right-hand column for "Can coyote save native birds from extinction?"), monitor lizards, or maybe a virus will come along that will cull the population. But as far as intervention by County government, environmentalists, and ACC that's not going to happen any time in the foreseeable future.

What a difference a city manager can make

"Michael Bornstein seems to be a happy soul and seems to be happy with the job," [Barbara Jean] Weber said. "I suspect his stamina has not yet been tested."

—Ms. Weber quoted by Willy Howard, Palm Beach Post article titled, "New City Manager Michael Bornstein makes welcome changes in Lake Worth", 6/3/2012.

Today marks 1,570 days since City Manager Michael Bornstein was hired on April 16, 2012. There is nothing significant about 1,570 days except as a matter of perspective. Consider this, the previous city manager, Susan Stanton was fired on December 6, 2011 after 953 days on the job. Stanton's tenure was marked by divisiveness and a lack of outreach to the greater community. To put it bluntly, Lake Worth did little but continue being a mess under the tenure of Susan Stanton.

Under Stanton, the relationship between the business community and the City was strained to non-existent. The relationship with the CRA was contentious, at best. Stanton caused such a rift with our neighboring cities that only until recently are they no longer wary of partnering on projects fearing Lake Worth would be too much trouble.

Under direction of then-sitting commissioners (Jennings, Golden, Mulvehill, and an assortment of do-nothing mayors), Stanton gutted the code department and sent neighborhoods already on the brink on a downward spiral for almost three years. A local blog at the time, referencing the coming Christmas holiday season and the firing of Stanton, wrote:

"In this joyous season, I am celebrating the potential for renewal in Lake Worth which began with a bold move to clean out city management from the top down."

[and. . .]

"Yes, I know there are those who are disappointed to see Stanton fired but dwelling on one side of her performance while ignoring the other side of the story… is delusional."

One of the least remembered and bungled efforts by Stanton was the "Fire Assessment". Here is an interview NBC5/WPTV did with Commissioner Andy Amoroso after Stanton's firing and he references the failed Fire Assessment initiative by Stanton.

Believe it or not, there are still some that try and resurrect Stanton's tenure with delusional logic and misinformation. The romantic notion of her Golden Haired era would be enough for some sort of clinical diagnosis. Here are some initiatives Stanton supported:

• "Day Labor" Center (succeeded)
• Gutted the Code Enforcement Department (succeeded)
• "Street Light" Assessment (failed)
• Red Light cameras (failed)
• Eliminate PBSO and restore the LWPD (failed)
• Regional Sewer billing fiasco

Without doubt the worst policy decision by Stanton was being an obstructionist to thwart the CRA's acquisition of NSP2 funds. Thankfully that effort failed. She along with commissioners Golden, Mulvehill and Jennings did not want the CRA to acquire the $23 million available. It was only action by the CRA to apply for the funds that allowed many blighted areas to be home to new residents and families. Since then the CRA, led by Joan Oliva, has received national recognition for their outstanding efforts.

Michael Bornstein with Mayor Pam Triolo receiving recognition for the City's municipal golf course.

In conclusion, the form of government we have in Lake Worth requires a confident and engaged city manager. We simply cannot solve our problems without such an individual in that position.

Email [excerpts] from JB Berkow, Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts, to Lake Worth's elected and City officials:*

Dear Madame Mayor, Esteemed City Commissioners and City Officials,

A lot of you have been intimately involved in the goings on at the Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts. However, some of you we have not seen yet. [emphasis added] We hope that next season you will all make some time to discover all the wonderful things that we are accomplishing at the old train depot!

Please take the time to check out some of our newly posted videos: "Marlene Rose Visits the Benzaiten Center," "Kid's Programing," and "Benzaiten Buildout".

[and. . .]

Thanks to a Grant that we received from the Cultural Council, our children's programming has already served 280 children. We have also received two Florida State Cultural Facilities Grants, totaling $270,000, which we will use to do some more major improvements to the building such as replace the roof, fix the rest of the bay doors, remove the asbestos, and complete the front entryway, etc. We have already put $1.25M into making the Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts a success, and we are looking forward towards doing so much more to help make Lake Worth become known, far and wide, as the City Where Art is Made! We are already attracting artists from as far north as Ft. Pierce and as far south as Miami, so this is not an outlandish statement.

We want you to be proud and pleased with the faith that you've placed in us and be more fully aware of all the many things that we are trying to accomplish.

JB Berkow, Founder
Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts
561-310-9371

*The Benzaiten is an excellent venue for panel discussions and meetings. The Palm Beach County Planning Congress held a panel discussion there on redevelopment and the arts last year. Lake Worth's Dir. of Community Sustainability, William Waters, gave a presentation and another one was by Sherryl Muriente, an Instructor at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University. A video of her presentation follows:

Hey you Pokémon Go users: Cemeteries are off limits. And a shout-out to reporter Michael Buczyner

Folks, if you have to be told that places like cemeteries are inappropriate places to play your silly games then something is wrong with you.

And CBS12/WPEC reporter Michael Buczyner does what's impossible for everyone at ABC25/WPBF: He accurately reports that the South Florida National Cemetery is not located in Lake Worth. There are veterans interred at our cemetery in Lake Worth; but that's the Pinecrest Cemetery.

Here is an excerpt from the text of Buczyner's TV news segment:

     It’s the final resting place for our nation’s heroes, but CBS12 just learned The South Florida National Cemetery in Suburban Lake Worth [emphasis added] is now a playground for gamers.
     It’s not easy for Lynda Sadoff to visit her brother Robert.
     The stones at the cemetery align for as far as the eye can see. It’s a national shrine to honor the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Lynda’s husband Barry served in the US Navy Reserves. “This is sacred grounds. This is for the military people who served,” he said.
     The final resting place for our nation’s hero’s is now a virtual battle ground for gamers, angering veterans and families. “Coming here to play a game is totally wrong,” Barry said.

If you happen to see any of those 'gamers' at Pinecrest Cemetery call PBSO immediately:

Drinking Water Warning in Lake Worth: Press release

FROM: Brian Shields, City of Lake Worth Water Utility Director
Subject: Drinking Water Warning
Date: July 22, 2016

City of Lake Worth Raw Water Well (#01) sample tests positive for E. coli

     One of our 13 raw water wells (#01) was sampled on July 21, 2016 and had a water sample test positive for fecal coliform (E. coli) bacteria on July 22, 2016. Raw water well (#01) was taken out of rotation on July 22, 2016 and is not being utilized. Public notification of the positive raw water well sample test is required by the Health Department. These bacteria can make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.
     Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.

[and. . .]

     Please share this information with all the other people whom drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).

Until noon today: Compass Community Yard Sale to benefit SMART Ride

Compass is located across Dixie Hwy. from our Downtown Publix. Look for this colorful utility box.

"Join us today, Saturday morning, from 8am–Noon for our Compass Community Yard Sale to benefit SMART Ride registered riders and assist their fundraising goals. Come shop around in some of the best closets in Palm Beach County. Also, there is a section of the famous vintage-inspired red lockers Compass is willing to part with that would look great organizing your clothes, books or storage items in your home!"

More information on last Monday's Parrot Cove Neighborhood meeting on sober homes

To learn more about Parrot Cove use this link.

The level of interest in this subject is tremendously high. For example, this is the notice I posted on the blog that very morning. Within a short time the blog traffic was off the charts and continued for the balance of the day.

I was unable to attend the meeting but received updates from citizen/reporters that the attendance was high and everyone was pleased with the information given out and the political backing to get solutions to the problem many neighborhoods face.

A view of the crowd. Speaking are State Sen. Clemens and Commissioner Shanon Materio.

Below are notes taken by Deb Null, the Secretary of Parrot Cove, unapproved minutes of the meeting. When these minutes become official will provide a link. Here are very important takeaways:

The sober home tip line by State Attorney Dave Aronberg is 844-324-5463. Neighbors should call tip line for advice and to report issues.

What can we do? If a sober home is a nuisance call PBSO. If anything is suspicious make the call. They have to follow the code and the law. Find out who the owner is and be a nuisance to that owner.

A grassroots effort is needed to inform parents that are sending their children here. Money and greed is the problem. Good operators want to be in the company of other good operators. Parents need to look for sober homes with good credentials.

Representative Bill Hager was unable to attend but will be rescheduled to speak at a later date. State Attorney David Aronberg, Senator Jeff Clemens, Congresswoman Lois Frankel, Commissioner Shanon Materio and Commissioner Andy Amoroso have all been working on this issue. State Attorney Aronberg has put together a task to work on legislation to monitor sober homes.

Sober homes cannot provide medical treatment. Insurance companies are not allowed to share information on a person in treatment. Congresswoman Frankel is working with the Dept. of Justice to change the rules. Sober homes and addicts come under the ADA. At this point hands are tied. The Dept. of Health cannot monitor sober homes.

Vans driving around are often these residents being driven to testing sites and treatment. If they test positive they can be thrown out of the sober home. The problem is they are often put out with little resources and families are not notified. Many are run just for profit. The "bad homes" will not try to get certified.

Attorneys representing sober homes and insurance companies are on the task force. The next meetings are August 8th and 9th at 2:00 pm at the West Palm Beach police station. Meetings are open to the public but you may not speak.

Property values made it very appealing to the sober home buyers as well as the number of treatments centers in the area. One of the appeals is the weather. WPB has 47 registered sober homes. Three or more unrelated people living in a home has to have a rental license. The problem is they don't tell the truth and if code is called consent is needed to enter.

Stay tuned for more information on what's being done to solve this problem.

It's vitally important to attend public meetings and also to get the word out on what is being done to solve the sober home problem. Please share this information with those in your community. Thank you Deb Null for the notes and to our good friends at Parrot Cove for all your hard work.

UPDATE: Mrs. McGiveron failed her challenge in spectacular fashion. And so did commissioners Maier and McVoy too.

Remember folks, clever motto's won't do anything to fix that pothole on your street. 

In the days since July 7th when Mrs. McGiveron accepted the challenge from Vice Mayor Maxwell and was supposed to be crafting her own ballot language, she instead spent her time crafting a silly motto for the Post's Lake Worth beat reporter:

" 'Where the Tropics Begin' was the old Lake Worth motto," she said. "Sit down, shut up and open your wallets is our new motto."

Pretty clever, huh? How long did it take her to come up with that one? Five minutes?

Continue reading the blog post below first published on July 8th and ask yourself these questions:

Why didn't Mrs. Giveron and commissioners Maier and McVoy take the time since July 7th to craft their own ballot language? Would it be because that would mean having to take a leadership role?

Mrs. McGiveron accepted the challenge (see below) from Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell. A citizen/reporter, Peggy Fisher, got it all on video. McGiveron, as of July 8th had 12 days to complete her assignment

For how this challenge came to be use this link to learn what occurred at the City's Workshop on July 7th. This meeting was held to decide how to proceed to fix the roads/potholes, which the public has demanded be done.

Following the meeting, in the hallway outside the Commission chambers, citizen/reporter Peggy Fisher took video of Vice Mayor Maxwell and Mrs. Katie McGiveron, who is Chair of the CAUT PAC. At the 6:35 mark Maxwell said to McGiveron:

"I challenge you. You give me a ballot initiative and I will present it to the commission. That was your offer, Katie. Give it to me. I would love to see it."

McGiveron then accepted the challenge. She along with commissioners Maier and McVoy are opposed to the City Commission majority (which includes Mayor Pam Triolo and Commissioner Andy Amoroso) moving forward with a ballot initiative so then it was up to McGiveron, Maier, and McVoy to craft one themselves. Here is what we learned at the Workshop:

• Since the "LW2020" bond failed in 2014 it will now cost $9 million more to fix the City's roads
• At a minimum the City will need $40–50 million
• More delays will drive up future costs

I even helped by providing this information:

• Ballot title not to exceed 15 words
• Ballot language not to exceed 75 words
• Following the ballot language is the choice "Yes" or "No", with "Yes" clearly in approval and "No" clearly opposed

Then I wrote, "Good luck."

Here is the video taken by citizen/reporter Peggy Fisher; proceed to the 6:10 mark to hear the challenge for yourself:

Tequesta resident responds to Frank Cerabino, the 'satirist' for Palm Beach Post, on letters about "hand-wringing" and "fear-mongering"

First, if you didn't know, the Lake Worth City Commission recently voted unanimously to support All Aboard Florida, Brightline's high-speed passenger rail and more freight trains too:

On the issues that really matter our City Commission can indeed work together. Commissioner Chris McVoy (far right) too.

And briefly, have you ever wanted to write a "Letter to the Editor" or wrote one and it wasn't published? Learn the trick using this link to greatly increase your chances of getting your letter in print. Now without any further ado, the "Point of View" by Mr. Dennis Myers titled, "Yes, Frank [Cerabino], it is all about freight!" that was in the print edition of the Post yesterday, July 19th:

     Recent weeks have seen letters to The Palm Beach Post voicing renewed outrage over the potential damage expanding the local railway system will bring to the quality of our lives. Sentiments range from exaggerated speculation countered by point-of-fact responses to earnest opposition laced with not too subtle fear-mongering. [emphasis added] For me, however, all the hand-wringing comments miss several key points in the argument.
     I think the potential for local economic impact of railway system expansion means two things: 1) Despite the assurances of local politicians’ shared concerns from north Palm Beach County through the Treasure Coast, there will be no common political will for intervention, only continued support from every branch of our state government; and 2) Yes, Frank Cerabino, despite the frequent official denials, since All Aboard Florida (AAF) is the vehicle for our local railway expansion, it surely is “All About Freight.”

[and. . .]

     First option is to mitigate and adapt. Mitigate by ensuring that our local officials plan and support the installation and maintenance of “quiet zones” at all the rail crossings where the onerous sounds of train horns 24/7 can be silenced to the benefit of all. Adapt our fire-rescue resources through the use of substations on either side of the rail corridor to ensure continued rapid emergency response capabilities.
     Second option is to move and adjust. Relocate to the west where we can trade the train horns and traffic waits at crossings for the car horns and traffic congestion at stoplights that plague the quality of life there.

Excellent points, Mr. Myers. A very well-written and thoughtful letter with perfect use of satire to hammer the point home. Thank you for taking the time and effort.

On the Parrot Cove Neighborhood Assoc. meeting last night addressing sober homes

Learn more about the Parrot Cove Neighborhood Assoc. using this link.

Stay tuned for more on this. Received reports from several citizen/reporters and will have more on this later today or tomorrow. State Sen. Jeff Clemens showed up highlighting the importance of this subject for so many people in Lake Worth. Reports are the meeting was very well attended and there were no disruptions by anyone from ROLO (aka, the "Hermit Kingdom").

An idea for those who don't think they can control themselves at tonight's City Commission meeting

Try a drum circle! 

Post reporter Christina Diabo who helped Lake Worth beat reporter Kevin Thompson with his recent article on the upcoming bond vote has this item that also appears in today's print edition:

     Dancing to the beat of the drums under a moon-lit sky might sound like an exotic getaway, but that scene is actually right in Palm Beach County backyards.
     Lake Worth will be holding it’s popular monthly drum circle Tuesday from 8 p.m. to midnight on the grass just north of Benny’s on the Beach. [link added]

More from the article, If you go:

Where: Lake Worth Casino Building and Beach Complex, 10 South Ocean Boulevard, Lake Worth (on the grass just north of the pier)
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m. to midnight
Parking: $2 per hour

Whatever you do DON'T GET ANGRY! That's exactly what she wants you to do (and also. . . how to behave at public meetings)

[Ahead of today's (Tuesday, 7/19) City Commission meeting please see below for rules and instructions on how to properly behave and act with civility at City Commission meetings.]

"The greater the controversy, the more you need manners." Quote by Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners.

So. How do you respond to someone who writes nasty things about volunteers serving the City? People who give their time and effort to help the City of Lake Worth. Do the opposite!

Act like Mr. Greg Rice did, Chair of the Planning/Zoning Board, when he was insulted and disparaged leading up to the elections last March. He simply laid out the facts and asked for an apology from the candidate challenging Commissioner Andy Amoroso.

Here is what you do: Just smile. Be polite. Then ask this one very simple 4-word question:

". . . have you volunteered yet?"

Now. . . for how to behave at City Commission meetings the simple rule to follow is: Don't act like Mrs. McGiveron. At the back of the Commission chambers upon your arrival are blue comment cards with instructions on the back. Some rules:

• No inappropriate outbursts or interruptions will be permitted from the public
• A warning may or may not be given
• The result from outbursts or interruptions will be removal by a Sheriff deputy

Please remember how you behave during breaks at Commission meetings is also important. For example is the video below. If you're short on time fast-forward to the 5:20 mark to see how Mrs. McGiveron treats Commissioner Andy Amoroso. Don't do stuff like that. It's disrespectful and not the least bit charming:

Where does the media get their news about Lake Okeechobee and water releases?

You can bypass the media spin, clever camera angles and filters, and go directly to the source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Each weekday there is a press release and here is the link to last Friday's (7/15). For example, below is a short excerpt from the Press Release on July 6th:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2016
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP'S DAILY UPDATE ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
In an effort to keep Floridians informed of the state’s efforts to protect the environment, wildlife and economies of the communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is issuing a Lake Okeechobee status update each weekday. These updates will help residents stay informed of the latest rainfall and lake level conditions, as well as the latest actions by the State of Florida and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  Lake Conditions (Update as of midnight 7/5/16):

Current Lake Level	14.94 feet
Historical Lake Level Average	13.50 feet
Total Inflow	5,430 cfs
Total Outflow (by structures operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)	4,360 cfs
Evapotranspiration/Rainfall over the Lake	-2,920 cfs
Net	-2,120 cfs
Lake level variation from a week ago	0.04 feet

Pharmaceutical News: Despondex is the first drug designed to treat the symptoms of excessive perkiness*

*I posted this video in December of last year and couldn't believe someone thought this was real. No, it's not. It's a parody.

Very important meeting on Sober Home Regulations hosted by Lake Worth's Parrot Cove neighborhood*

If you thought this news was also in today's (7/18) So Very Special Monday edition of the Post. . . you would be wrong. Will try to attend this evening but if I cannot will have a citizen/reporter take notes and send them to me. Stay tuned:

Parrot Cove meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

The Parrot Cove Neighborhood Assoc. meeting will be today (Monday, July 18th), at 7:00 at the usual location: The Beach Club at the Lake Worth Golf Course.

The topic of the meeting will be Sober Home Regulations and what has been taking place in government to address and balance the needs of those in recovery and neighborhoods in which many operators have been placing an ever-growing number of these facilitities.

West Palm Beach Commissioner Shanon Materio, also a Lake Worth business owner, has been appointed to a task force charged with working on solutions to this complex matter. She will be giving us an update on legislative efforts taking place, how the new voluntary regulation system is working, and more.

Many concerns have been voiced from members of our community regarding the impacts of so-called sober homes (or transitional living facilities) and these matters will be discussed.

*Note: State Representative Bill Hager was also to be part of the meeting, however, due to scheduling conflict he will be rescheduled to a later date.