From Post reporter Jan Tuckwood: “Lake Clarke Shores goes all out to celebrate 60th”.

Here in Central Palm Beach County it’s pleasant and compelling to read about other cities other than just see blaring headlines about crime, fires, vehicle crashes, and other unfortunate mayhem. Today in the Post (see link and excerpts below) is an excellent, must-read article about our neighboring Town of Lake Clarke Shores:

“Palm Beach County’s premier lakeside community since 1957.”

Unfortunately, too often though, newsworthy and important information from other cities here in Central Palm Beach County doesn’t make it into the print edition of the Post (e.g., from the City of Greenacres). But more about that a little later.

The small Town of Lake Clarke Shores is east of Palm Springs, west of City of Lake Worth and I-95, indicated by the yellow shading in this map:

The Great Walled City of Atlantis, by the way, is south of Palm Springs (shaded purple). Areas in white are “suburban Lake Worth” and census-designated, unincorporated area called the “Lake Worth Corridor”.

The City of Greenacres shares the same Post beat reporter with the City of Lake Worth but that city receives scant attention in that newspaper. For example, very important political news about Greenacres, “Requesting interest to serve as Councilperson in District IV”, was published in The Lake Worth Herald. The deadline to file is tomorrow for a seat on the Greenacres City Council (April 7th by 5:00).

Anyhow, to read the article by Jan Tuckwood about the Town of Lake Clarke Shores, that also appears in today’s (4/6) print edition, use this link. From the article:

Lake Clarke Shores knows how to throw a party.
     For its 60th birthday, the mayor cooked enough barbecue for almost all the town’s 3,500 residents.
     Mayor Robert Shalhoub and his son, Paul, who was just elected to the Town Council, started cooking Friday afternoon for the Sunday party.

And a “fun fact” about our neighboring town:

Lake named for John Clarke: In the early 1900s, John Clarke, son of Palm Beach pioneer Charles Clarke, planted pineapples and built a packinghouse on land south of the present Hillcrest Cemetery on Parker Avenue. He enjoyed fishing in the lake on the western edge of his land. He named the lake after himself.

And, of course, next Monday is another Lake Worth Very Very Special Monday Collector Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE):

One of these days maybe we’ll all be surprised when the Post begins to feature other cities and towns in the “B”, Local Section, other than just the same “Special Six” each and every week. Why can’t other cities and towns be special too?

City of Lake Worth Press Release: Chinese President Xi Jianping’s visit to Eau Palm Beach in Manalapan.

For more information or media inquiries contact Ben Kerr, the City’s Communications Specialist at 561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org

April 5, 2017

City of Lake Worth Beach

The City of Lake Worth does NOT plan to close or restrict access to the Lake Worth Beach or the Lake Worth Casino Complex during Chinese President Xi Jianping’s planned visit in Palm Beach County.
     Additional security measures as well as delays from road closures in the area may increase travel times to and from the Lake Worth Beach.

News from South Florida Water Management District: “Appeals Court Sides with SFWMD in Major Legal Victory”

The news below is from January 18th, a SFWMD press release 78 days ago.

Question: Have you seen this news reported anywhere else? It’s never been reported in The Palm Beach Post.

“Ruling frees taxpayers from costly permitting obstruction in the operation of South Florida’s water management system”


For the entire press release from January 18th, use this link. Here are the opening 3 paragraphs:

West Palm Beach, FL - In a decision that saves South Florida families potentially billions, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (New York) ruled that entities such as the South Florida Water Management District do not need costly federal permits to transfer water in operating water management systems: Trout Unlimited, Inc. et al, v. EPA et al, Docket No. 14-1823. The SFWMD intervened in this case supporting the EPA.
     “For decades, South Florida’s network of canals, pump stations and levees have successfully delivered flood protection while supplying water to millions of families, visitors and the environment,” said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O’Keefe. “In this critical ruling, the court has affirmed that SFWMD can continue its crucial work without the burdens of additional federal regulation.”
     The ruling that impacts water management on a national scale affirms SFWMD’s system, which serves 8.1 million people from Orlando to the Florida Keys, is consistent with the Clean Water Act. As such, SFWMD does not need National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to operate its system. Obtaining such permits is a complicated, litigious and costly endeavor.

Gulfstream Hotel: Just in case you may have missed this from yesterday. . .

A blog post titled, “Press Release from City of Lake Worth on the status of Gulfstream Hotel, District Court of Appeals Ruling”.

The photograph below was taken on January 1st, New Year’s Day, 2012. The Press Release follows below.

For more information and media inquiries contact Ben Kerr, the City’s Communications Specialist: 561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org

Lake Worth, FL* – Gulfstream Hotel, District Court of Appeals Ruling

On March 31st, 2017 the 4th District Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the previous court and confirmed that the City had acted legally in approving the Gulfstream Hotel annex to be built to 65′.
     The original suit and recent appeals claimed that the City had violated the City Charter in permitting a building plan that was over 45′. The City was represented by Carolyn Ansay of the Torcivia Law Firm.
     Throughout the process, both Carolyn and the City were confident that the approval of the Gulfstream Hotel Annex was legal. At this time the City is still considering whether or not to pursue court costs from the losing party.

“From the beginning of the process the City was confident that the law would support the rezoning and the two rulings have clarified this position. As a Lake Worth resident I look forward to the reopening of the historic hotel.”
—Carolyn Ansay, City Attorney.

Three more photographs from 2012:

A more recent photograph, 5 years later, in April, 2017:

*Located in central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the City by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.

New blog policy: What to do if you see or hear a false news report about the City of Lake Worth.

If you see a false news report about our City here is what you do, please forward that information to:

• Mr. Ben Kerr, the City’s Communication Specialist
• 561-586-1631
• Email: bkerr@lakeworth.org

Another option is to contact your City commissioner or even the mayor if this topic is a concern of yours. Not satisfied with the response or received no response at all? Then go up the chain of command and contact the City Manager, Michael Bornstein (please note: will continue to monitor media/press reports and forward those to the City when necessary).


City of Lake Worth and reporter errors: Crime, blazes, and “Toxic Tide”? Some in media/press try to tell our City’s story. . . but don’t know where our City is (for more examples and why this issue is important, use this link).
 

The areas in white are the Lake Worth Corridor (census-designated) and other areas west of the City are unincorporated Palm Beach County: Suburban Lake Worth.

Just one example, one of many:

“A 25-year-old Florida man is accused of setting fire to a suburban Lake Worth country club last week and posted videos on Snapchat during the blaze [and. . .] Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews found the Sherbrooke Estates clubhouse fully engulfed in flames early Feb. 11.” 
—Post reporter Olivia Hitchcock reported this news accurately; however, the initial report by Jim Hayward was false and drew this comment from a reader, “How is that considered Lake Worth?”

There are local breaking news reporters at the Post, e.g., Julius Whigham II and Hitchcock who understand the western municipal border of our City is rather confusing; however, for a reporter to find the actual location — if it’s in the City or outside the municipal border — takes only a minute or two to verify. Find out how below. A hint? The numbers “00” and “38” give the answer.

Below is a zoning map of the City of Lake Worth. The western border is the one that’s confusing for many in the media and press. That border is roughly Lake Osborne Drive along the County’s John Prince Park and the L-4 (Keller) Canal leading into the C-51 Canal:

The City of Lake Worth has two Zip Codes: 33460 and part of 33461. There’s a ‘Lake Worth’ Zip Code on the edge of the Everglades: 33467. Use this link to learn more about this.

John Prince Park is in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Interestingly, the City of Lake Worth still has a County “enclave”, a small unincorporated area within the City.

The items below (see bullet list) demonstrate the media’s confusion about the City of Lake Worth versus the vast unincorporated areas west not located within the City’s municipal limits. Those areas outside the City that confuse the media are Suburban Lake Worth, the census-designated Lake Worth Corridor, and “flyover County”*, none of which are located within the City’s municipal borders. Here are three examples of false media reports:

• “Toxic Tide” overflowing sewage story on January 25th.
• Sherbrooke Golf & Country Club which sadly burned to the ground on Feb. 11th.
• For reasons why you shouldn’t get your local TV news from either CBS12 (WPEC) or ABC25 (WPBF) use this link. Reporters at NBC5/WPTV are much more accurate, for the most part.

How are these mistakes made? It’s very simple: reporters relying on zip codes. But how do reporters such as WPTV’s Charlie Keegan and the Post’s Julius Whigham II always get it right? My guess is they take a few moments to type the news location address into the Palm Beach County Property Appraisers website and Voilà!

If the first 2 numbers of the Parcel Control Number are “38” that is the City of Lake Worth. If the first 2 numbers are “00” that is unincorporated Palm Beach County.

So why don’t all reporters take those few simple steps to find out this easily-found information? That folks is anyone’s guess.

*“Flyover County” is the unincorporated area between the City of Lake Worth and the Village of Wellington. Unless the news is about a crime or a vehicle crash many of these areas are regularly ignored by the press and media.

“What’s on Palm Beach County’s $50.4M ‘penny tax’ projects wish list?”

“$4 million toward a $6 million project to replace the pool complex at Lake Lytal Park”

—Information from this article in The Palm Beach Post, dated March 4th.

Just in case you’re interested, the City of Lake Worth has two County commissioners: Click on the following links to contact District 3 Commissioner Dave Kerner and District 7 Commissioner Mack Bernard.

Myth debunked: “Is the Gulfstream Hotel still sitting vacant because of Code Enforcement?”

The answer is “No. That’s complete nonsense.”  

Use this link to learn more about when the Post “backpedalled and fast” from a story about the Gulfstream Hotel last January. The theory in the Post today (see quote below in today’s print edition) that the elections last March put a whole new perspective on things is a valid one.

However, it’s also a valid theory that the Post reporting about the City of Lake Worth also changed significantly since the elections as well. For example. . .

“It’s very difficult dealing with code enforcement,” [Steven] Michael said, although the city gave Hudson Holdings all the key zoning approvals it needed to move forward. “There’s much room for improvement within the city departments. Not just for our project, but for the long term stability of Lake Worth.”
—Excerpt from The Palm Beach Post, dated January 17th, 2017.

“I’m a long-term investor and we want to be part of a city that is moving forward,” Michael told The Post at the time. “It’s not just about our investment, it’s important that investors follow us and I feel that Lake Worth isn’t promoting that.”
—Excerpt from The Palm Beach Post, dated today, April 5th, 2017.

Please note, highlights and emphasis added to the quotes above. 

The Lake Worth City Commission meeting last night.

Use this link to watch the City’s YouTube video of the meeting. Below is a Tweet the City sent out last night prior to the meeting:

Going live in 5 minutes tune in for the #LakeWorth Commission Meeting. https://t.co/DauCh76JrR pic.twitter.com/ucl4Hihwks

— Lake Worth (@LakeWorthPBC) April 4, 2017

Now that the City is putting meetings on YouTube, you can be directed to or find on your own, any particular discussion or debate.

It was quite the pleasure to sit near the back of the chambers and watch everything happen — just like it used to be — prior to Yours Truly taking up the task of videotaping City meetings and putting those videos on my own YouTube channel.

Some of those videos, you may recall, will be remembered for a very long time, for example, this one in particular from a meeting I was not able to attend, but videotaped off a TV screen playing the City’s video of the meeting the very next morning. Does that make sense?

Anyhow, here are some pics from last night:

Click on images to enlarge:

The view from my seat in the chambers last night.

Mayor Pam Triolo giving a City proclamation to our “water professionals”.

Our new City Commission in the New City of Lake Worth.

Attention Lake Worth: Don’t forget what happened last year and why our Annual Raft Race got cancelled.

UPDATE: We learned from Jon Faust, the president of the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council (NAPC), at the City Commission meeting last night this year’s July 4th Raft Race theme will be “Under the Big Top”:

Noun: A large tent at a circus under which the main attractions are featured. Used figuratively to refer to the location where a primary or major event, show, or attraction is held, often in the phrase “under the big top.”
Adjective: Featured as the primary or major event, attraction, show, etc.

The theme for last year’s Raft Race was, “Toys! Out of the box”.

Click on image below to see all the generous sponsors.

But the Raft Race was cancelled last year. Find out why below. Don’t ever let nonsense like this ever happen again in our little City.

If you’ve already read this blog post, Thank You for visiting today, and please scroll down.

And looking back wonder how much different things would have been if we had a City spokesperson like Ben Kerr, for example, sending out press releases to the community.

Last year leading up to July 4th was all a media frenzy about “news” that wasn’t news at all. It was all made up. But the City, the NAPC, and others were forced to react because not reacting and doing something would have been seen as irresponsible at the time. The City was on its heels and under tremendous pressure.

The news vans descended on us last year taking pictures, press news stories, and Live video from helicopters of algae that naturally occurs all the time when the sun comes up and the rays cause living matter, mixed with storm runoff, to change and turn green. The press all said it was “toxic” blue-green algae from Lake Okeechobee. It wasn’t.

A neighborhood ‘spokesperson’ — that wasn’t a spokesperson at all, that was made up too — released an unauthorized press release. And that was picked up by the local reporters, the County press and media. Then the frenzy was on.

A City commissioner at the time with a PhD, ostensibly an expert about such things as this, could have called a press conference and set all this right and get the facts to the public, the media and the press as well. But instead he did nothing and just sat back and watched it all happen.

Reporters like Mike Magnoli from CBS12/WPEC showed up and started asking questions like, “Is the algae toxic in Lake Worth?” Of course the answer was “No” as we later found out from the SFWMD. And reporters should be reporting the news, not raising open-ended questions. Remember back, did the suggestion and/or questions get you to change your July 4th holiday plans last year?

The Great American Raft Race then got cancelled and it didn’t have to be. But the City, the NAPC et al., had no choice. If they didn’t cancel the event they would have been hammered by the press and editors at The Palm Beach Post, naming names and maybe even demanding resignations.

Here is one example of the press coverage, the end of Magnoli’s news segment:

“For the past few weeks and until July 15th amateur photographers are flocking here --for the Lake Worth Lagoon photo contest. The winners will be featured in a 2017 calendar. Those trying to get winning snapshots shouldn’t get too close to the algae. It can cause health problems that range from itchy eyes to nausea.”

Click on image to enlarge:

Picture taken soon after Magnoli’s news segment of the C-51 Canal at Spillway Park in the City of Lake Worth. See any blue-green algae?

Interestingly, the day after the Great American Raft Race was cancelled there were kayakers and people in canoes in our Intracoastal off Bryant Park. But the news vans and press were all gone by then, racing north to the Indian River Lagoon. None of them talked about septic tanks leaking, it was all about the water releases from Lake Okeechobee.

Last year at the height of the blue-green algae kerfuffle, if you did happen to experience “itchy eyes to nausea” it might be you’ve been paying too much attention to people who don’t know what they’re talking about.

Take some time today and go to Spillway Park, the Lake Worth Lagoon, or the Snook Islands and try getting one of those winning photos for the 2018 Lake Worth Lagoon Photo Contest!

In other news from last year, Oystercatchers and other wildlife returned to Snook Islands. Do you see any blue-green algae blobs of slime in this photo?

Tonight. The Electric Utility Advisory Board (EUAB) meeting, the agenda follows:

Lake Worth City Hall, Conference Room
Wednesday, April 5th, 6:00

• Roll Call.
• Pledge of Allegiance.
• Agenda: Additions/deletions/reordering.
• Presentations.
• Public participation of non-agendaed items.
• Approval of minutes.
• Unfinished business.
• New business.
• Board comments.
• Board liaison reports and comments.
• Adjournment.

Note: One of more members of any board or commission member may attend and speak.

Letter to the Editor in The Palm Beach Post today: Local Florida produce “likely” or “may be” contaminated?

A Letter to the Editor in the Post print edition today (4/4, excerpts below) is titled, “ ‘Local grown’ may be contaminated”. However, in the online edition the title is this:

The definition of the words “may” (possibility) and “likely” (probably, apparently) are very different.

The Letter to the Editor today ends with this line:

I’ll pass on “Florida local grown.”

For those of you who have never written a Letter to the Editor at the Post, e.g., a farmer, have a business that relies on Florida produce, or are someone who doesn’t appreciate our produce in Florida being mentioned in the same sentence as “toxic water”, then learn how to write a Letter to the Editor today using this link for the instructions.

Below is another excerpt from the Letter to the Editor in the Post today:

A new study looking for the source of pollution plaguing the Indian River Lagoon found that Florida vegetable farmers are irrigating their fields with toxic water. [emphasis added]

And whilst on the subject of the Indian River Lagoon and “Send the Water South!”, there is an article as well on page B2, below the fold by Jim Turner at the News Service of Florida titled, “Future of reservoir appears murky”:

Senate President Joe Negron’s priority of creating a reservoir to protect rivers and estuaries east and west of Lake Okeechobee appears to have a murky future.

and. . .

     The fight over the reservoir comes as Senate budget proposals released this week included $22.6 million for state land-buying programs — something that has no matching money in the House proposal — and $275 million for ongoing Everglades restoration projects.
     The House is pitching $166 million for Everglades restoration projects.

Stay tuned, as they say. And get cracking on those letters to the editor at the Post!

At the City Commission tonight: The Whispering Palms Neighborhood Assoc.

“One time each year a neighborhood association in Lake Worth can come before the City Commission to present their work and achievements.
     Tonight (Tuesday, April 4th) is our first time doing this community event and want as many members as possible to be there and speak or just show support.
     The meeting is at 6:00 and Ericka will be there at 5:00 to review our order of presentation.
     Commission meetings are where the action is in town. Let’s take a big step forward.”

There’s BREAKING NEWS in The Palm Beach Post today from last Friday.

The fight you began in 2013 is finally over, Loretta. We won→https://t.co/FPYIesag52 pic.twitter.com/mp3Nmt18Kg

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) March 31, 2017

“Hmmm. Why doesn’t Lake Worth have a volunteer advisory board overseeing homelessness and make policy for the undocumented?”

The answer is easy. The City of Lake Worth cannot overstep the authority of the County, State, and Federal governments. And even if the City were permitted to tackle these issues, the money would not be there to enforce anything. The City is now moving forward addressing 30+ years of benign neglect of our infrastructure — such as in Districts 1 and 2 — some areas with a large minority population and undoubtedly many undocumented people as well.

The City is not picking and choosing whose lives to improve. The goal is to improve everyone’s quality of life: no matter if one is a U.S. citizen or not.

But there’s trouble looming and here’s why.

If a citizen approaches an elected or City official tomorrow and asks for a volunteer advisory board to be created to address “civil citations” for undocumented immigrants what can that City official say? If Consent Agenda Item 9I passes tonight (see below), well, the answer will have to be, “I’ll bring it up at the next Commission meeting”. And can the mayor and other commissioners say, “No”? That will be difficult if that agenda item passes tonight.

And then the City will have one more advisory board when it’s already hard enough to find volunteers anyhow. And more staff time will be needed. And more money too.

And all this because last November the City made a terrible mistake. They opened the door:

Click on image to enlarge. Consent Agenda item 9I tonight:

The City of Lake Worth has no jurisdiction over the C-51 Canal. Read more about this below.

“Commissioner, why doesn’t Lake Worth have an advisory committee about the undocumented? Because they don’t care?”

A little while back posed this: “A quick question and a short answer: Will the new Lake Worth City Commission and elected officials be thrown off focus from their stated goals? Yes. The Commission and City government is going to thrown off focus. It’s only a matter of time.”

Here’s an excerpt from that blog post:

On a local level, within municipal borders, it’s very important for a city’s elected leaders to voice concerns over any issue, especially one of great concern to the community or a neighborhood. But when trying to set a policy, or leading the public to believe one can set policy, is when things can go very wrong. Specifically, what an elected body can control and what they can’t.
     And more importantly — that the public along the way is educated about what a city can do, such as what our Lake Worth City Commission can regulate — and what they can’t regulate and do, e.g., overstep the authority of County, the State, and Federal governments.

The City Commission tonight can do what they want as an elected body. They can pass the Consent Agenda item without discussion or pull it from the agenda and talk about it.

This issue revolves around the project called the “Blueway Trail”: use this link to read about it. To say the jurisdiction for Blueway Trail is complicated is an understatement: there’s the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC), the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), County and State interests, etc. Local cities, businesses, and others have been part of the process and discussion as well.

In conclusion just have this: At the TCRPC meetings and the Blueway Trail Coalition meetings thus far, have there been any City of Lake Worth property owners in attendance — specifically any with property along the C-51 Canal — east of the Spillway structure?

And if one were truly interested in being engaged in the process, and wanted to provide input, wouldn’t these meetings be a good place to show that interest? Ask questions? Express concerns?

Click on image to enlarge:

The C-51 Canal between the cities of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. Property owners along the canal have what’s called an “easement”. Learn more about that using this link.

UPDATE. The Ribbon Cutting for Domino Park today was cancelled, to be rescheduled.

Because County funds are being used for Domino Park here in the City of Lake Worth there have been scheduling conflicts and the ribbon cutting today has been cancelled — this happens from time to time — stay tuned for another date and time to come some time shortly.

For questions and media inquiries contact Lake Worth’s Communications Specialist, Mr. Ben Kerr: 561-586-1631; email: bkerr@lakeworth.org (the original press release follows)

Ribbon Cutting – Lake Worth Domino Park (South G St. between 8th Ave. South and 9th Ave. South)

The City of Lake Worth is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for “Domino Park” that has been upgraded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to better accommodate residents.

Domino Park was an unimproved parcel of land in the City right-of-way that has been used as a community meeting place for years by residents in the area. Palm Beach County allowed the City to utilize un-expended CDBG funds to provide a more attractive venue and protection from the elements.

“We were able to complete some of our other CDBG projects on time and under budget, so the County graciously allowed us to put the remaining funds toward other locations – Domino Park and the upgrading of the Osborne Pavilion specifically. Residents in the area are always out here playing checkers and dominos, so it’s great we were able to clean it up and provide a permanent structure to this community meeting place.”
—Jamie Brown, Director of Public Services

Located in central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the City by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.