“Worth Noting” once again.

In The Palm Beach Post — in just eleven (11) days — the City of Lake Worth went from ‘inching forward’ to LEAPING FORWARD!

How did this happen?

It all started less than 2 weeks before the municipal elections held on Tuesday, March 13th.

On March 1st the beat reporter from the Post, Kevin Thompson, wrote that the City of Lake Worth was “inching forward” right after the byline in the print edition,

LAKE WORTH — Lake Worth, still a city inching forward. . .

Then on Monday, March 12th, the very day prior to Election Day, just eleven days after the beat reporter wrote that that City was ‘inching forward’ there were 4 stories in the print edition demonstrating this City was actually LEAPING FORWARD!

• News the City is beefing up Code Enforcement hiring two more officers, another staff employee, and everything they need to do the job (vehicles, office space, additional training, etc.).
• Another major contributing Downtown building is being rehabilitated on Lake Ave.
• Big news about the long-awaited Boutwell Rd. improvements in the Park of Commerce.
• And there was very good news about a new bakery and other wonderful news too in the print edition . . . all this happening just 11 days since being reported the City was ‘inching forward’. 

How did we get from ‘inching forward’ to making great leaps in just 1½ weeks?

The answer is this: The City of Lake Worth was never ‘inching’ along in the first place.

This City has been making great strides for well over 4 years now following all the many little strides that began in 2011–2014 and when City Manager Michael Bornstein was hired in 2012.

The editor at the Post acknowledged all that hard work two years ago in the endorsements for re-election of Mayor Pam Triolo, District 1 Commissioner Scott Maxwell, and District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso.

Here are the Post endorsements from March 2016.

District 3 Commissioner Andy Amoroso was unopposed this year. Mayor Pam Triolo and District 1 Commissioner Scott Maxwell were both re-elected to the City Commission.

So. In conclusion. . .

Our City hasn’t been ‘inching’ along for a long time. We’ve been LEAPING FORWARD all along. It just took a while for the editors at the Post to notice.

Just in case you may have missed this blog post yesterday. . .

Following the drama at the Lake Worth City Commission last
Tuesday night. . .

It was a very interesting and informative City Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 17th, starting off with a legislative update from State Senator Lori Berman, several proclamations and updates, and then the proverbial ‘train went off the tracks’ about an hour into this Commission meeting (see video below).

One of the special highlights at the

City Commission last night:

Leading off this meeting was a legislative update from State Senator Lori Berman, who along with County Commissioner Dave Kerner and School Board member Erica Whitfield, are the three most frequent visitors to the City Commission.

So “the train went off the tracks” at the 1 hour 10 minute mark at the City Commission and then at the 2 hour 17 minute mark everything got back on track again when Electric Utility Director Ed Liberty approached the podium to explain the power outage that occurred last week on Monday evening, April 9th, until the following morning at approximately 6:30 when all power was restored.

By the way, Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo took a well-deserved absence Tuesday night and left the City Commission in the very competent hands of Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso. Two items pulled from the Consent Agenda for public hearing — which could have easily tied this meeting up in knots all night long, referred to as an “all-nighter” — were dispensed with in about one hour and seven minutes. An excellent job by the City’s Vice Mayor.

The video below is from last night’s Commission meeting when Electric Utility Dir. Liberty explains step-by-step why the power outage happened last week and the steps taken to restore power. 
 
A special treat! Listen to what Vice Mayor Amoroso says at the 2 hour 41 minute mark, Dir. Liberty responds to the Vice Mayor, and then Amoroso says a few moments later, “Are you listening, Kevin Thompson? That’s a quote!” referring to the beat reporter from the Post and the comments made by Mr. Ed Liberty.

To learn more about the “praise” for PBSO during last week’s power outage and the ever-present “misery” at The Palm Beach Post click on this link.

Enjoy this video, one of the very special highlights from the City Commission meeting last Tuesday night.

Stabbing on Sunday, April 8th in downtown West Palm Beach: Suspect is still on the loose.

UPDATE: The most recent news about this knife attack in broad daylight is below. The Palm Beach Post is relying now on multimedia specialist Andrew Lofholm at NBC5/WPTV to keep the public informed about this crime that remains unsolved for eleven days now.

To follow Andrew Lofholm on Twitter click on this link. Here are two short excerpts in the Post online edition today (4/18):


WEST PALM BEACH — WPTV NewsChannel 5, The Post’s news partner, spoke this week to the victim in the April 8 stabbing at the Royal Park Bridge.
     The victim, a 60-year-old woman whom WPTV did not identify by name, told the TV station that man’s face was expressionless before he attacked her.

and. . . 

     The victim told WPTV that she was stabbed in the chest and that the knife “reached” her heart. She was released from St. Mary’s Medical Center on Saturday [April 14th].

Do you have a tip?

Find out who to contact below.

From Palm Beach Post reporter Julius Whigham is this news datelined Tuesday, April 10th: 


WEST PALM BEACH — City police released a video Tuesday of a man they want to speak to regarding a stabbing that occurred Sunday morning under the Royal Park Bridge in West Palm Beach.
     A woman riding a bicycle on the bridge underpass was injured in the stabbing, which took place at about 11 a.m. Sunday [April 8th].

and. . .

     The man is described as being in his 20s to 30s, 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 inches with a thin build. The man has facial hair and a small twist in his hair.


If you have any information regarding this crime call the West Palm Beach Police Department at 561-822-1900 or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers, 800-458-8477.

Just one small tip can solve this crime.

To learn more about CrimeStoppers click on this link.

Stay anonymous. Collect a reward.
No fear of retribution.

On sale now: Lake Worth Beach parking decals for permanent and seasonal residents.

The City of Lake Worth is selling “Beach Decals for Permanent and Seasonal Residents” for the upcoming year. Decals are good from May 1st, 2017–April 30th, 2018.

Decals are only available for Lake Worth residents: Zip codes 33460 and a limited area in 33461.* You may have a Lake Worth mailing address (as assigned by a U.S. Post Office) — but if your home is not located within the municipal borders of the City of Lake Worth — you are not eligible for a Beach decal(s).

The Beach Parking Decal Program was created for residents, both permanent & seasonal, of the City of Lake Worth.

For the application and documentation needed, use this link to download that information.

There are 50 designated parking spaces at the Lake Worth Beach for decal holders. Cost is $42.80 for year-round residents and $64.20 for Snowbirds. Purchase decals at:

• Cashier’s office, located at City Utilities’ Customer Service Department, 414 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
• Business hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Exception: On Thursday when office opens at 9:00.

Remember! Use the parking spaces designated for resident parking ONLY with your Beach decal to prevent being issued a parking citation.


*To better understand the issue of municipal boundaries use this link for a recent blog post by Yours Truly. After reading this post you’ll better understand our City borders more than most reporters in the press and media do.

The Blueway Trail and the City of Lake Worth’s all-volunteer C-51 Canal Advisory Committee.

Would you like to learn more about the status of the C-51 Canal and the Blueway Trail project?

One way is to ask your elected leaders to schedule a meeting of the City’s C-51 Canal Advisory Committee (CAC) some time in the near future. Click on this link to contact the mayor and commissioners for Districts 1–4.

The lead reporter covering this project in Palm Beach County is Skyler Swisher* at the Sun Sentinel. Recently Swisher published this article titled, “Nonprofit forms to link Palm Beach County’s lakes to the ocean”. Occasionally there is news about the Blueway Trail project in the Post but the reporting is spotty at best.

District 2 Commissioner Omari Hardy is a big supporter of the Blueway Trail. Hardy’s district is west of Dixie Hwy. along the south side of the C-51 Canal within sight of the West Palm Beach golf course and Winn-Dixie plaza.

For more background click on this link to learn more about the Blueway Trail and a CAC meeting held on August 9th last year.

Click on image to enlarge:

At the August 2017 meeting Lake Clarke Shores Mayor Hal Shalhoub was present along with Kim DeLaney, PhD, from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, as well as other experts, engineers, and electeds in Central PBC.

Below is the City of Lake Worth’s: “Resolution 50-2017 supporting the C-51 boat lift”.

“Linking Our Waterways Creating Access For All”

Would you like more information about the Blueway Trail? To contact the Dir. of Strategic Development and Policy at the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council click on this link.

Many of you have heard this project referred to as the “Blueway Trail project” on the C-51 Canal that separates the cities of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. This is very significant for several reasons:

• Most importantly, it shows a willingness to work together with our neighboring cities, towns, and villages here in Central Palm Beach County.
• The County and many other municipalities have already passed “Resolutions in Support”.
• Although by most estimates this project’s start is 2–4 years away, it gives the City of Lake Worth a place at the table going forward. As one City commissioner is fond of saying, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
• Taking into account current and future budgetary headwinds, e.g., this year’s State referendum on another housing deduction (likely to pass; disproportionately affecting budgets of small cities such as the City of Lake Worth), taking advantage of a previously underutilized asset — the C-51 Canal — will help fill gaps in future City budgets.

Please note that “Resolution 50-2017 supporting the C-51 boat lift” passed unanimously at the Lake Worth City Commission, 5-0. So without further ado. . .

Agenda Date: October 3rd, 2017.
Department: City Manager.

Summary:

The Palm Beach County League of Cities in partnership with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) Palm Beach County desires to develop recreational opportunities, encourage economic development, and create new jobs within our regional area while enhancing the environmental attributes of the C-51 canal.

Background and Justification:

• Direct, two-way connectivity between the Chain of Lakes, Lake Worth Lagoon, Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Restoration and preservation of wildlife habitats.
• Improvements to existing fishing piers.
• Economic driver for the entire region. [emphasis added]
• Increased property values.
• Increased commerce and job opportunities.
• Potential for additional forms of ecotourism by linking our Greenways and Blueways.
• More people enjoying our waterways.
• Better quality of life.

Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, "authorizes local governments to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities that will harmonize geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.” TCRPC created The Intracoastal Waterway Plan for Palm Beach County: Charting a Course for the Future (’09 Charrette) for the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) published in January 2009; and the '09 Charrette participants identified six core public themes including increasing public access to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), protecting natural resources, expanding all forms of water based transportation, and promoting sustainable economics.

Motion:

I move to approve/not approve Resolution 50-2017 supporting the C-51 boat lift.

Resolution No. 50-2017 of the City of Lake Worth, Florida. . .

Providing for supporting and encouraging efforts by the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Inc. and neighboring municipalities to proceed with improvement to the Chain of Lakes, the Ocean to Lake Trails Initiative and development of a boat lift at the C51 Canal S155 Control Structure providing for severability; providing for the repeal of conflicting resolutions or parts of resolutions; and providing an effective date.

WHEREAS, Section 163.01, Florida Statutes, known as the “Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969,” authorizes local governments to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities that will harmonize geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Worth desires to develop recreational opportunities, encourage economic development, and create new jobs within our regional area while enhancing the environmental attributes of the City of Lake Worth; and
WHEREAS, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) created The Intracoastal Waterway Plan for Palm Beach County: Charting a Course for the Future (2009 Charrette) for the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) published in January 2009.
WHEREAS, the 2009 Charrette participants identified six core public themes including increasing public access to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), protecting natural resources, expanding all forms of water based transportation, and promoting sustainable economics; and
WHEREAS, the MPO requested the ’09 Charrette be updated by TCRPC and their report was published in January 2015 which documented that a connection to the ICW at the S155 Control Structure on the C51 Canal would have significant economic and recreational benefit; and
WHEREAS, the C51 Canal is connected to a 26 mile chain of freshwater lakes (Pine Lake, Lake Clarke, Lake Osborne, Lake Eden and Lake Ida) and navigable canals within our regional area; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Worth supports improvements to the C51 Canal that would enhance the recreational uses of the ICW, C51 Canal, and the Chain of Lakes and provides for new economic opportunities and job creation; and
WHEREAS, a connection between the ICW and the C51 Canal at the S155 Control Structure would provide for economic development, job creation and recreational enhancement. The connection has been referred to as the “Boat Lift” and is estimated to provide significant economic benefit to the regional area; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Worth recognizes a significant environmental resource in the canals and lakes that must be protected and improved; and
WHEREAS, the Boat Lift provides for environmental enhancement to the waterways, safe and effective portage opportunities for non-motorized recreational watercraft, and small motorized boats to access the ICW; and
WHEREAS, the Ocean to Lake Trails Committee of the PBC League of Cities has identified the Boat Lift and the associated improvements to the ICW and the C-51 as vital to that Ocean to Lake Trails initiative; and
WHEREAS, in recognizing these facts, the City of Lake Worth desires to join with our regional area neighboring municipalities in their joint efforts to create a regional focus on the Eastern C- 51 Canal

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA, that:

SECTION 1:

The City of Lake Worth fully acknowledges and supports the following:

A. Recreational opportunities, economic development and environmental enhancement which occur within the regional area are beneficial to the City of Lake Worth and, therefore, are supported by the City of Lake Worth; and
B. The City of Lake Worth will independently encourage the development of the Chain of Lakes, the Ocean to Lake Trails initiative, and the Boat Lift consistent with the recitals above; and
C. Regular communications shall be maintained between the regional area municipalities to ensure cooperation and support for one another in any and all efforts to advance the Chain of Lakes, the Ocean to Lake Trails initiative, and the Boat Lift.

SECTION 2:

The City of Lake Worth agrees that this resolution may be used to market the Chain of Lakes, the Ocean to Lake Trails initiative, and to solicit funds from other sources for the planning, design, permitting and construction of the Chain of Lakes and the Boat Lift, and discuss this project with others as a single regional voice.

The passage of this resolution was moved by __________, seconded by __________, and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows [the vote, remember, was unanimous]:

Mayor Pam Triolo
Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell
Commissioner Omari Hardy
Commissioner Andy Amoroso
Commissioner Herman Robinson

The Mayor thereupon declared this resolution duly passed and adopted this 3rd day of October, 2017.

Enjoy the video:

*To “Connect with the reporter” click on this link.
     “Skyler Swisher is a reporter covering Palm Beach County government. Before joining the Sun Sentinel, he wrote about health care for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A native of Memphis, he is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.”

“Journalists are easily bored . . . Especially by good news.”

And. . .

. . . [T]his is the No. 1 issue — anonymous sources. Readers believe that anonymous sources are one of two things — it’s either something that’s been made up or someone that’s manipulating the reporter. [emphasis added] And certainly the latter is often the case.”
—Daniel Okrent, former public editor of The New York Times.


Continue reading about the ‘Fourth Estate’ and why it’s “pretty damn low — humiliatingly low”.


“I think one of the greatest casualties of the high metabolism of the news business is complexity. That’s a big loss.”
—Quote by Bill Keller, journalist and former editor at The New York Times.

“We see it all the time. That is why most of the time, when local media does something on someone on food stamps, it’s a black woman, and she’s got a bunch of kids, and she’s obese. That is not accidental. You’re just living out your own stereotypes. This is the bias that reporters bring to their job.”
—Soledad O’Brien, journalist, former CNN anchor.


Below are more quotes and excerpts from a very long article published in New York magazine. The view these reporters and editors have — many former, having left the profession of the ‘news business’ — is not a pretty one. Another quote from the article . . . editors, reporters and journalists need to:

“[C]onfront, out in the open, the possibility that their work might not be any of the things they imagined it was — objective, rigorous, informative. Instead, we found we often looked partisan, mendacious, lazy, sloppy, and shrill.”


From the lead-in to the article published in New York, a sobering view of journalism and news reporting:

“For decades, the pollsters at Gallup have been asking Americans if they trust their media. In 1974, the year Woodward and Bernstein brought an end to Richard Nixon’s presidency, 69 percent of them did. In a poll released last year, that number was at a historic low. Today, the only institutions Americans have less faith in than television news (21 percent) and newspapers (20 percent) are Congress and ‘big business.’ That’s pretty damn low — humiliatingly low, especially for a group of people who fancy themselves members of ‘the Fourth Estate.’ ”


Below are just 10 of the 53 points made in the New York article about “the Fourth Estate”:

Is desperate to be respected, which produces blindness.

Journalists are easily bored …

. . . Especially by good news.

Unfortunately, so are readers, who are hard-wired for panic.

Which editors, producers, and publishers know.

Journalists are deluded …

More cynical than their readers …

Rush their work …

Believe popular opinion is all that matters …

. . . And are completely comfortable cutting deals.

Yesterday’s seminar “Automation in Transportation” with Dr. Tim Schwanen, University of Oxford.

This fascinating seminar was held on the 6th floor boardroom at the Port of Palm Beach.

Check back later on today and tomorrow for more about this seminar held yesterday and there are YouTube videos as well.

One of the things that stood out yesterday was Dr. Schwanen discuss the “Heightened Disappointment Cycle” related to the introduction of innovations, e.g., autonomous vehicles for people and freight. This seminar was: 


Presented by FAU’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions in cooperation with the Palm Beach County Planning Congress with generous support from FAU’s Freight Mobility Research Institute.


I was graciously allowed by officials at the port and seminar organizers to bring my camera to take photos and some video as well which are ‘cooking’ on YouTube right now and will be ready later on today.

Meet Dr. Tim Schwanen:

From the program: “Tim Schwanen is Director of the Transport Studies Unit and Associate Professor of Transport Studies at the University of Oxford. . . . [R]esearch concentrates on the geographical and social dimensions of the everyday mobilities of people, goods, and information.”

A view from the 6th floor:

Looking at the top deck of a cruise ship from the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.

A Tweet from yesterday:

At @PortofPalmBeach today for seminar "Automation in Transportation" by @TimSchwanen and @fau_cues in cooperation with Palm Beach County Planning Congress.

Was generously allowed to take video of presentation. Check my YouTube channel tomorrow: https://t.co/8vVbXE1XEG pic.twitter.com/oUSEYTLurQ

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) April 16, 2018

A view inside the boardroom:

Learned yesterday that the Port of Palm Beach is a “taxing district” but has not levied taxes in 39 years. Why? Because it hasn’t needed to.

Another view:

And yes. The many benefits of Brightline were
also discussed as well.

Once again, stay tuned for more
information to come.

The aftermath: 1928 Hurricane from the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Below is rare footage that will give everyone an idea how much damage a direct strike by a powerful hurricane can do (more historical background is below):



The video begins as the storm diminished in strength enough for the cameraman to walk around and take this film footage. You will see a lot of the Breakers Hotel which was only three years old at the time. Its Circle Dining Room was under construction. You will see the initial recovery efforts and then the film jumps to four days, then a month, and then a year after the storm.

Also prominently featured is the former Royal Poinciana Hotel which was Henry Flagler’s grand wooden hotel. You get the sense of its enormity. Unfortunately, it was torn down in the 1930s, but you can get glimpses of it here in all its past glory.

The storm itself is referred to as the Okeechobee Hurricane due in large part to the death toll it caused around the southern part of Lake Okeechobee. This hurricane was prior to them being given names. It remains the second deadliest hurricane to hit the United States.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE ALL! ATTENTION EVERYONE IN THIS LITTLE CITY OF LAKE WORTH.

You have to be on your best behavior next Tuesday at the Lake Worth City Commission.

We have a visitor:

Our State Senator-elect
Lori Berman!

On the agenda next Tuesday is Item 5B: “Legislative Update by Senator-elect Lori Berman”. And below is a special treat, a video of then-State Representative Berman.

When soon-to-be State Senator Lori Berman was State House Rep. Berman she — like School Board Member Erica Whitfield and County Commissioner (and former State Rep.) Dave Kerner — were and remain the three most frequent and highly visible elected leaders to visit the Lake Worth City Commission on a regular basis.

By the way, in the video below are two former Lake Worth commissioners. One is the former commissioner for District 2, Chris McVoy, PhD (wearing blue shirt, ruffled hair) and the other is former District 4 Commissioner Ryan Maier (dark suit jacket, dark shirt and wearing a tie).

Hope you enjoy this look back to when then-State Rep. Lori Berman visited the City Commission back in
May 2015 to give a legislative update:

Who is representing Districts 2 and 4 in this City of Lake Worth now?

Posted on Facebook last month

by District 2 Commissioner Hardy.

Click on image to enlarge:

Commissioner Herman C. Robinson represents the City’s District 4.

City of Lake Worth Commissioner Hardy and Commissioner Robinson are both running for re-election. Election Day is March 12th next year.

So. Are you considering running for a seat on the Lake Worth City Commission in 2019?

The two-week Qualifying Period begins on November 27th this year and ends on December 11th. But you can get your name on the ballot any time prior to November. Just stop by and visit the City Clerk on Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. or call 561-586-1662 and ask what you need to do to get your name on the ballot.

If you think you can do a better job than commissioners Hardy and Robinson, don’t be just another one of those ‘new’ voices that always seem to show up at the last minute. Be an involved voice and start learning more about this City NOW and start getting involved NOW. Attend Commission meetings, become a volunteer for a City board, start attending Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings, learn more about the Lake Worth Electric Utility and the City’s Water Utility, get involved with the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council (NAPC) and the League of Cities, call up Cpt. Baer and say you’re thinking of running next year and you would like a ride-along with a deputy some day in a neighborhood with crime problems, do some neighborhood cleanups, go to the Grey Mockingbird Garden and ask about community gardens, learn more about the role of County Commissioner Dave Kerner and State Rep. David Silvers and where the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) fits into all this and learn more about the impact of County Impact Fees, visit businesses and ask them what they need to be more successful and what the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County does and why the ‘bed tax’ is so important for small towns like the City of Lake Worth and try to understand what the Future Land Use Map is and the City Charter and zoning and variances and. . .

Pretty much do what Messrs. Omari Hardy and Herman C Robinson did to get elected.

And lastly, below is the YouTube video from March 17th, 2017, when then-Messrs. Omari Hardy and Herman C. Robinson were both Sworn In to represent the City of Lake Worth on the City Commission:

Then Messrs. Hardy and Robinson in 2016–2017, now commissioners Hardy and Robinson, “hit the ground running” last year when they were both elected.

They weren’t ‘new voices’ to the community.

Just saying. Enjoy the video:

Will next Wesnesday be the new story, “RAB Redux”? Or the same old story, “RAB Prolix”? You demanded RAB be there for you. Will you be there for RAB?

At both City Commission meetings last month City Commissioner Herman C. Robinson made it quite clear to the public that IF NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOW UP NEXT WEEK at City Hall the City’s Recreation Advisory Board (RAB) will be eliminated for good. Kaput.

Were you one of those who wanted to save RAB? Next week, on Wednesday, April 18th, is your FINAL CHANCE.

Meet at City Hall, 6:00, and do your part
to help save the RAB.

Why does this matter?

Because RAB will be “Sunset” for lack of public interest. The word ‘sunset’ is a nice way of saying:

Eliminated, erased, expunged, wiped out, disposed of, gotten rid of, liquidated, exterminated, bumped off, set aside, stamped out, ousted, eradicated, and/or taken out for all time.


So if your desire was to save the RAB because it was in the public interest to resurrect the RAB, show up next week, or if you cannot attend this meeting contact Commissioner Robinson as quickly as possible, or “ASAP” as they say. Like really really quick. And ask Herman what you can do to help save RAB.

Call Commissioner Robinson at 561-586-1734 or send an email to: hrobinson@lakeworth.org

“For The Love of Lake Worth!“

Prior to being elected in March 2017, here is one
of then-Mr. Herman C. Robinson’s campaign flyers,
“For The Love of Lake Worth!”

“Let’s work Together”!

Help Commissioner Robinson:
Volunteer and help Save The RAB!

Join Sharon Koskoff for a walking tour (no trolleys!) this Saturday morning in Downtown Lake Worth.

This coming Saturday morning, April 14th, is Sharon Koskoff’s Landmarks of Lake Worth (details below).

And this Saturday also happens to be the final day of the American Association of Architect’s “National Architectural Week” as well. What better way to observe and extol this week than to take a tour with Sharon Koskoff:

“A Walking Tour” examining and learning about the City of Lake Worth’s Art Deco architecture.

Sharon Koskoff is one of those rare people that brings everything to the table. She is knowledgeable about her field of study, passionate, engaging, and makes the time listening enjoyable and yes, entertaining as well.

I’ve attended many events hosted by Koskoff over the years. Last year I was fortunate enough to be able to attend her event in our Downtown. Those who showed up were a “Who’s Who” in the fields of history, preservation, and architecture here in Palm Beach County.

I still remember well when several years ago Koskoff returned from a trip to Cuba and gave a slide-show presentation at the Stonzek about the state of Art Deco architecture in that country. This was when Fidel Castro was still firmly in control.

While much of Koskoff’s event last year was about Lake Worth’s unique architectural character it was also much about the characteristics of the Art Deco style. She talked about how the style morphed from Art Nouveau and became a product of the machine age with straight lines and geometric qualities.

Without further ado, the details about the upcoming event.

Landmarks of Lake Worth —
“A Walking Tour” — Saturday morning, April 14th.

Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse,
713 Lake Ave. The tour will begin promptly
at 10:00 sharp.*

The tour will be led by Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches (ADSPB) president Sharon Koskoff and she advises everyone:

“Wear your walking shoes, sun tan lotion, and a hat!
     Visit the Lake Worth Playhouse, the Cultural Council Art Gallery, the Museum of the City of Lake Worth, public murals and art galleries.
     Refreshments will be served. Learn about the history of Art Deco and see the Streamline Moderne Buildings of Lake Worth.”


Tickets are $24 per person or $18 in advance. For ADSPB members the cost is $15. Call 561-699-7899 for more information or visit the ADCPB website.


*Optional at 1:00: End the tour with Koskoff at Brogue Downunder located at 621 Lake Ave. and buy your own lunch and enjoy more talk about Art Deco architecture in the City of Lake Worth.

Just in case you may have missed this from yesterday. . .

About the trolley tour and history talk last Sunday: An event planned and organized by the Historical Society of Lake Worth.

Last Sunday (April 8th) the Historical Society of Lake Worth (HSLW) held an event which included two trolley tours, an opening of the Lake Worth History Museum in the City Hall Annex building and two history talks as well by Ted Brownstein and Yours Truly (Wes Blackman).

This entire event was planned and organized by the Historical Society of Lake Worth — including the trolley tour — and Mr. Brownstein and myself were both invited by HSLW to give talks about the history of the “Town of Lake Worth” prior to and after the town was first established in 1913.

If you have any comments or suggestions about Sunday’s tour please contact the Historical Society of Lake Worth by clicking on this link or send an email to: historicalsocietylw@hotmail.com


Mr. Brownstein and myself took no part of the trolley tour as we were tasked with giving two talks inside the City Hall Annex: one to the group waiting for the trolley to return and another talk later on for those returning from the first trolley tour.

Brownstein talked about the pre-history of the City of Lake Worth, starting with the indigenous peoples that inhabited the area up until the time of the City’s incorporation in 1913. His presentation was based upon research related to the creation of his book, Pioneers of Jewell published in 2013. I then continued with a talk about the physical development of this City from Henry Flagler’s railroad to the present day with special emphasis on the era between 1913 and World War II. That was the period when most of the Lake Worth cottages were built and featured in the book, The Cottages of Lake Worth — Living Large in Small Spaces (published in 2016, reprinted in 2017).

Prior to Sunday’s event the board of the Cottages of Lake Worth, Inc., a 501c3, voted last week to donate four Cottages of Lake Worth books to the City of Lake Worth Library and one to the Lake Worth Historical Museum for their permanent collections.

If you would like to arrange for a presentation for your group, club, or association to which you belong that is interested in the history and the physical development of the City of Lake Worth and how the Cottages of Lake Worth miraculously survived the 20th Century, please feel free to contact me by email: WesBlackman@gmail.com

Presentations can be adapted to the time available and even a particular topic of interest. It was a real pleasure working with Mr. Brownstein and it was even suggested after the event that Brownstein and I “take the show on the road” which is actually a very good idea given there is so much interest these days about this little six square mile City of Lake Worth that “is truly the place ‘where the tropics begin’ and the fun never ends.”

Last night’s power outage explained by the Sun Sentinel, news report from early morning hours.

What a coincidence!

Just yesterday signed up for the Sun Sentinel’s digital paper and already that newspaper is making an impact!

Here is the news in the Sentinel headlined, “More than 25,000 customers affected by Lake Worth power outage”:

Power outages reported overnight affected more than 25,000 customers of Lake Work utilities and restoration efforts were continuing Tuesday.
     In a Twitter posting the city said there was a problem with the Hypoluxo Station and that — to help restore power until repairs are completed — the Lake Worth Power Plant was being brought online.
     Before dawn, Lake Worth crews were joined by crews from Florida Power & Light in making repairs at the power plant near Interstate 95 and Hypoluxo Road where debris from a blown transformer could be seen on the ground.

Once again, as a public service, public meetings scheduled today through Thursday in City of Lake Worth.

The following public meetings are “Open to the Public” and anyone from the public can attend: CRA, HRPB, and Tree Board (please see bullet list below).

THIS IS THE BIG NEWS: After a huge public outcry, the Recreation Advisory Board (RAB) is meeting later this month after years of inactivity!

Find out more about the RAB at the end of this blog post. For a list of all the volunteer advisory boards in the City of Lake Worth click on this link. Thinking about becoming a volunteer board member? Use this link or contact Olivia Brown, the Volunteer Coordinator by email at: obrown@lakeworth.org

Anyhow, the meetings scheduled this week are:

• CANCELLED. TONIGHT (Tuesday, April 10th) the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meets at The HATCH at 1121 Lucerne Ave. at 6:00.
• Then tomorrow (Wednesday) the Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) meets at City Hall in the Commission chambers at 6:00.
• The following day, on Thursday, April 12th, the Tree Board meets in the City Hall conference room at 5:30. And. . .

Then next month a whole bunch of people will show up at City Hall at a City Commission meeting all upset and saying the City Commission is not being transparent. People will say things like, “Nobody told me about an urgent care facility on N. Dixie Hwy near City Hall. You can never trust elected officials in Lake Worth. They’re always trying to sneak things past the public.”

On Tuesday, April 17th is the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Lake Worth City Commission. And it’s here that our elected officials have to hear those same old gripes over and over and over again.

A view of the dais at the City Commission earlier this week, on Tuesday, April 3rd.

From left to right: Vice Mayor Pro Tem Scott Maxwell, Commissioner Omari Hardy, Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso, Commissioner Herman Robinson and City Attorney Glen Torcivia.

A view of the Commission chambers last Tuesday night:

At the far end of the dais is City Manager Michael Bornstein, the wall of commissions past and the present City Commission.

A wider view:

Lots of people are excited the Recreation Advisory Board may be coming back to life after a long hiatus. People stopped going because they stopped caring. How many of the public do you think will show up on Wednesday, April 18th, 6:00, at City Hall? More likely than not, not enough for a quorum.

Former Lake Worth commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy, PhD, were both opposed to Brightline. Right?

Well. Actually. . .
That’s not true at all.

In the photo below, on the far right, is the former commissioner for the City’s District 2, Chris McVoy (2010–2017). To McVoy’s side is former Commissioner Ryan Maier who once represented District 4 (2015–2017).

The Lake Worth City Commission following

the March elections in 2015.

Just last month Mayor Pam Triolo, Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Vice Mayor Pro Tem Andy Amoroso were all re-elected to three year terms. For the current City Commission click on this link.

FYI. The election results from last March:

By the way, are you looking for a home out west in PBC? Like maybe a new “agrihood” between the Florida Everglades and Village of Wellington? Please click on this link. Learn why you might want to reconsider and take another look at coastal cities like this little City of Lake Worth.

Now back to February 2016. . .

Here in the City of Lake Worth two years ago the vote at the City Commission was unanimously in support of a passenger rail service then called All Aboard Florida (and the future Coastal Link too!) which was officially launched to wide acclaim.

So one would think former City of Lake Worth commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy. . .

Who both frequently cautioned ‘the people’ about almost all and any development would oppose this project. Right?

Wrong.

On the issue of passenger rail service here in South Florida, after hearing the facts, both Maier and McVoy, PhD, came out in support of Brightline and passenger rail service here in South Florida.

And they both supported the idea of
a “Coastal Link” as well.

What’s the Coastal Link? Learn more about the below. Here’s an excerpt from this blog dated February 7th, 2016:

On the discussion that followed at the City Commission about Brightline (formerly All Aboard Florida) the vote taken was 5-0 to support rail transit going forward.

Note that another topic up for discussion in February 2016 was something called the “Coastal Link”:

Click on image to enlarge.

This is the future “Coastal Link”:

The Coastal Link will follow Brightline service and link all of the coastal downtown’s together
in Palm Beach County.

For example, you’ll be able to take the Coastal Link from Lake Worth to Jupiter’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Or you could take the Coastal Link to West Palm Beach and then take Brightline to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and to Orlando as well  in the near future.

By the way. I still remember that meeting back in early 2016. And remember how refreshing it was to see the entire City Commission working together, albeit very briefly. Two years ago though nearly every important vote at the City Commission was a 3-2 split with the ‘2’, Maier and McVoy opposed to nearly everything.

But on the topic of Brightline? It was unanimous. You see, back then, even Maier and McVoy saw how important Brightline was for the future of this City and for all of South Florida.