A special Thank You to The Lake Worth Herald and editor Mark Easton.

The Herald had news last week about Yours Truly, Wes Blackman, giving a presentation tomorrow evening at Lake Worth City Hall. And there was news as well in the Herald about the painting “The Black Diamonds at Jewell” on display at the Historical Society of Lake Worth (see below) and there was more news too from Janet Serrano about the 2019 Cottages of Lake Worth Tour held on January 27th. The event was a huge success.

Find out more details below about the presentation tomorrow evening and the painting on display at the Historical Society of Lake Worth.

The Historical Society of Lake Worth is located at 15 North M Street (the Lake Worth Public Library) and the Lake Worth Historical Museum is a short walk east to the City Hall Annex on the 2nd floor. For hours or to schedule a tour by appointment call 561-533-7354.

These items published in last week’s paper all are about City of Lake Worth history, which may or may not become “City of Lake Worth Beach” history on March 12th, Election Day. On renaming this City it does not look good for passage of Question #1 on the ballot in just twenty days. For an example of what critics are saying this was published in yesterday’s print edition of The Palm Beach Post that, “[C]hanging the name of town the [sic] seem to only promote fear and confusion.”

Fear and confusion?

If you have been attending candidate forums and public meetings, reading The Lake Worth Herald and the latest from Pelican Pete you would understand there is a lot of passion, care, and a deep commitment to this City. But maybe some are misconstruing the passion in this City with terror and bewilderment which are entirely different emotions. Or maybe it’s that some people just aren’t accustomed to life in a quirky little town.


Have you seen Question #1 on the upcoming March 12th ballot? See that ballot language at the end of this blog post.


Have you noticed much “fear and confusion” in this City? Actually this Election Season has been very civilized and respectful compared to past elections. Most likely any ‘fear and confusion’ is coming from somewhere out west in suburban Lake Worth or in the City of Atlantis which should come as no surprise to anyone.

Now to the news in the Herald, an excerpt about the presentation tomorrow evening, 7:00, at Lake Worth City Hall:


Wes Blackman Speaks on LW Beach History

By Marion Cone

Join the Lake Worth Historical Society for an illustrated presentation “Lake Worth’s Reach for the Beach: A Historical Perspective” by Wes Blackman, AICP.

The presentation will focus on Lake Worth’s beach [“Beach” capitalized is also acceptable], the evolution of the barrier island itself and how it has been developed for almost a century as an early and continued use for recreation, including boxing matches and as a tourist attraction. It will focus on the changes in the form of the land, the history of some structures such as the casino [now the Lake Worth Beach and Casino Complex] and others, and the hurricane damage and rebuilding.

It will also include the impact of changes in transportation including the first way to reach the island which was originally by canoe, then ferries, and eventually a bridge. Early on it was said a tall man could cross the lagoon by walking. Also interesting is how the road on the island changed from time to time. You may be surprised about what was then, and what is now.

Now to the painting called, “The Black
Diamonds at Jewell”:

Jewell Painting Loaned to LW Museum

The Historical Society of Lake Worth presented a painting entitled “The Black Diamonds at Jewell” to Librarian Vickie Joslin of the Lake Worth Public Library. The acrylic on hardboard painting by Florida artist Adal Rodriguez is a depiction of first-settlers Fannie and Samuel James in front of their home on the waterfront. During those early years Fannie served as the postmistress for the Jewell Post Office, forerunner of Lake Worth. and ran the post office out of their home.

According to Rodriguez the painting is done in a Caribbean-Folk style, typical of the islands. The painting will be on display at the Lake Worth Historical Museum through October of this year.


Vickie Joslin, MLS, is the Lake Worth Library services supervisor. For more information contact Joslin by email: vjoslin@lakeworth.org

And in conclusion am very much looking forward to the presentation tomorrow at Lake Worth City Hall. Spent the last week or so going through archives of historic postcards and old photos and had a great time doing so and was reminded about early parts of Lake Worth history that continue to surprise and amaze me.

And in conclusion, as to that ‘fear and confusion’ it IS change that has defined us. The public has always been engaged and passionate in this City. And many in the past who have had trouble adjusting to life in this City did move out west somewhere behind walls and high hedges.

Whilst on that topic had a good laugh when someone was confronted by a critic who cited a “City of Lake Worth” water tower and Lake Worth City Hall. In response to that critic a person said that water tower needs to repainted anyhow and Lake Worth City Hall used to be the City’s municipal auditorium. The critic went silent.

The word “Beach” is only one more additional word space and five more letters. Definitely nothing to create “fear and confusion”.

Just vote the way you think is best on Election Day. Yes or No. And no one should complain or be bitter on the evening of March 12th, because the public hath spoken.

Here is Question #1 as it will appear on the March 12th ballot:

NAME CHANGE TO THE
CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH.

IN ORDER TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF FROM SURROUNDING UNINCORPORATED AREAS, SHALL ARTICLE I, SECTION 1 OF THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH CHARTER ENTITLED “CITY CREATED” BE AMENDED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE CITY FROM THE “CITY OF LAKE WORTH” TO THE “CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH?”

Tonight, 6:15, Recreation Advisory Board meeting at 501 Lake Ave. in Downtown Lake Worth. Attendees please be on time.

The agenda for tonight’s meeting is below.

And attendees this evening, always show proper respect to the Chair of this meeting and to the rules of order as well.

Worth noting is one or more members of any volunteer board or member of the City Commission can show up and speak at tonight’s meeting of the Recreation Advisory Board (RAB). This is a public meeting and all members of the public are encouraged to attend and speak at Public Comment if they wish.

PLEASE BE ADVISED.

On the agenda tonight will be a presentation
on proper meeting etiquette.

Everyone planning on attending this public meeting tonight of the RAB is advised to show up on time and watch the presentation on proper meeting etiquette at public meetings. No public comment will be taken on this agenda item. Everyone needs to be courteous and respectful to everyone else in attendance: the public, City staff, RAB board members and elected officials and former electeds as well.

Note that on January 31st — at a public meeting on 2019–2020 CDBG funding — proper meeting etiquette was not followed by some in attendance and this created unnecessary disruptions. Learn more about this topic below.

The staff liaison to the RAB is the inimitable Lauren Bennett, the director at the Dept. of Leisure Services. Bennett can be reached by email: lbennett@lakeworth.org

The RAB now meets bi-monthly. Tonight’s meeting will briefly address some topics from last December: Ethics training for board members, a new event called Archery Tag, Rec2Go, Rec Night Out and programs at Sunset Ridge Park.

To learn more about all these new, recurring and exciting programs the City has to offer click on this link for the Dept. of Leisure Services.

RAB agenda tonight.

City of Lake Worth Recreation Advisory Board meeting.

Leisure Services office at 501 Lake Ave.

Feb. 20th [TONIGHT] at 6:15.

• Roll Call.
• Agenda: Additions, deletions, reordering.
• Presentations (there is no public comment on presentation items): A) Meeting etiquette. B) Summer camp.
• Public participation of non-agendaed items.
• Approval of RAB minutes: Oct. 17th, 2018.
• New Business: A) Recreation survey. B) Ethics training. C) Mission and vision. D) Spring baseball. E) Sunset Ridge Park walking signs. F) Open play hours at Sunset Park. G) Adult soccer. H) Flag football. I) Jaguars call to help for board members. J) Archery Tag. K) Bryant Park playground. L) Youth running program. M) Public school packets.
• Unfinished business: Next meeting date, Wednesday, April 17th.
• Board member comments.
• Board liaison reports and comments.
• Adjournment.

Also Worth Noting:

On Thursday, Feb. 28th at 6:00 the City Commission will have a work session to discuss how to use proceeds from FY2019–2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. For background click on this link to learn more about the public meeting held on Jan. 30th at City Hall.

Pickleball!

News from The Lake Worth Herald:


The Village of Palm Springs now has Pickleball courts open for use by the public. The permanent Pickleball lines are located on the tennis courts at the Village Complex, 226 Cypress Lane.

Balls and paddles are also available for check out.


Worth Noting: If you happen to be a resident of the City of Lake Worth and you are upset about the recent crackdown on slumlords and are considering a move to the Village of Palm Springs, well, good luck with that!

Chalk Up! Street Painting Festival begins Saturday in Downtown Lake Worth.

And please remember to be grateful this weekend. Why?

Thank You City of Lake Worth and County CDBG: The 2019 Street Painting Festival and 2nd Ave. South!

This year’s Street Painting Festival will be one without a problem that has plagued the festival for 2½ decades: 2nd Avenue South.

It started a little early, but every year the Street Painting Festival season begins with the obligatory “airing of grievances” and this year 2nd Ave. South will not be one of them. The period for airing of grievances is normal and nothing to be concerned about, just the annual grumbling and complaints about parking in the Downtown neighborhoods begin.

In the not-so-distant future a new parking garage and other parking options will be coming to Downtown Lake Worth which was recent news in The Lake Worth Herald. But the airing of grievances will continue each and every Street Painting Festival but just about different stuff. It’s a tradition in L-Dub you see.

Briefly, for those unaware, the Festival Season in this City begins with the brief Festival of Trees in mid-February followed by the Street Painting Festival and then comes the Midnight Sun Festival the first weekend in March. Airing of grievances at the Midnight Sun Festival are strictly forbidden. The Finnish community will not allow it. Other small festivals follow until the Grand Finale: the Great American Raft Parade and Raft Race on July 4th where grievances are strongly encouraged.

Now back to 2nd Ave. South.

That roadway was in such terrible condition that Street Painting Festival organizers and visitors complained about it bitterly every single year. And so did the residents. And so did the boating community.

Plagued with potholes, broken sidewalks and terrible street lighting it was the bane of every Downtown event, especially so for large events like the Street Painting Festival.

But 2nd Ave. South has finally been fixed! Here is a Tweet by the City from last August:

Do you have lunch plans? Why not bring your lunch and enjoy watching the Mayor and Commission cut the ribbon for the 2nd Ave South roadway project. The ceremony will take place at the corner of S L St and 2nd Ave S at 1pm. All are invited! pic.twitter.com/W4clUmj7hs

— Lake Worth (@LakeWorthPBC) August 14, 2018

However, one thing this City will continue to be plagued with is unworthy news reporting and terrible headline editors at The Palm Beach Post.

Coming up to last year’s festival word got out that 2nd Ave. South was slated to be completely redone and then a beat reporter from the Post got the story mixed up.

Incomplete and confusing information published in the Post needed to be clarified by City Manager Michael Bornstein at a City Commission meeting. This was after receiving many public queries from confused residents and business owners in the Downtown who thought the streets were slated to be torn apart during the 2018 Street Painting Festival due to the Neighborhood Road Bond that passed in 2016.

Completely untrue.

The funding to fix 2nd Ave. South had nothing at all to do with the 2016 bond; it was a joint project by the City of Lake Worth and the County using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and would begin well after the Street Painting Festival last year.

Here is how all this nonsense began.

First came this headline in January 2018, another open-ended question that should always be avoided by headline writers:

“How will Lake Worth’s road repairs affect street painting festival?”

The festival in 2018 was not affected by any road repairs in the Downtown and the headline should have reflected the lead. And then in the follow-up this is what made the print edition:

“Lake Worth road project to cause ‘pain’ ”

“Pain”? It was because of nonsense like this that newspaper was put up For-Sale in October 2017 and in May 2018 it was bought by GateHouse Media.

The Post story and headlines last year prompted this clarification from City Manager Bornstein:


Just a point of clarification and I hope people understand, 2nd Avenue South is not part of the Neighborhood Road Program. It’s not part of the bond issue.


The 2nd Ave. South project was done using CDBG money. Not money from the Neighborhood Road Bond! And it was all coordinated to not interfere with the Street Painting Festival last year. But because of the Post once again the City was forced to scramble and get the facts out to the community.

Which delves nicely into this topic: Are you a subscriber to the City of Lake Worth’s email newsletter?

To see what you’re missing use this link for all the latest news. If you would like to become a subscriber to the “Worth Noting” newsletter click on this link.

Below is a press release from last year: the City of Lake Worth about the 2nd Ave. South project. 

The short quote above by Bornstein would have been all that was necessary in a story published in The Palm Beach Post last January. But instead the public was left scratching their heads because that Post story did not clearly explain the difference between the Neighborhood Road Bond and CDBG funds. They are two completely different sources of funding for infrastructure.

And one last thing. . .

Here is a verbatim quote by Lake Worth Commissioner Omari Hardy, his comments made at the City Commission meeting on January 16th, 2018 about the Neighborhood Road Bond that passed in 2016:


“You [Commissioner Hardy addressing Water Utility Dir. Brian Shields] and the rest of the team [Public Services Dir. Jamie Brown et al.] are doing a really fantastic job. There might have been some disconnects here and there but I think overall you guys are doing an amazing job and I’m really glad that you’re on board while we’re going through this.
     I want to thank the commissioners who have been sitting on this dais longer than I have for having the courage to go for this twice.* And I want to thank the voters who approved this. Because this is really going to transform our City.
     We talk about ‘curb appeal’ all the time. The street is the part that we have ownership of and we’re finally taking responsibility for that. So I appreciate everybody who was involved with the decision-making in this process and I appreciate all you doing such a great job in the execution of it.”


*This is in reference to the first Neighborhood Road Bond referendum in August 2014 that failed by just 25 votes. In November 2016 the second bond referendum passed “by a whopping 69%”.
     Commissioner Hardy is quoted above saying, “I want to thank the commissioners who have been sitting on this dais longer than I have. . .”.
     He is referring to Mayor Pam Triolo and two other members of the City Commission: District 1 Commissioner Scott Maxwell and District 3 Commissioner and now-Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso.

“I decry it as an evil thing, whipped up by the demagogues and carried on the hot and erratic winds of passion, prejudice, and hysteria.”

The quote above is from former Florida
Governor LeRoy Collins.

Leading up to the municipal elections here in Palm Beach County two years ago the editor(s) at the Post chose to publish this absurd letter with the unfortunate heading, “Ideological divide driving us to war?” Mind you, this open-ended question was published just two days prior to the run-off elections whilst the “hot and erratic winds” of politics were whirling in Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and Palm Beach Gardens. Here are two excerpts from that letter that somehow made it past the editorial board:

Our country is divided by deep-seated ideological beliefs.

and. . .

This divide is wide and growing wider. If a solution isn’t found, I fear we may be headed for another civil war.

Yes. Politics is very divided in our country. But America had a civil war once and the scars are still present everywhere. However. . .

Sixty-one years ago Florida was in full crisis.

A major one that could have sparked a second Civil War. It could have happened — but it didn’t — because of then-Florida Governor LeRoy Collins. In 1957 the Florida legislature wanted to declare the Brown v Board of Education decision “null and void”.

Gov. Collins stood up to the legislature’s ‘interposition’ which was “whipped up by the demagogues”. Gov. Collins did not agree with the decision by the Supreme Court but he rightfully saw the role of the court and each state’s responsibility under the Constitution.

Were it not for Gov. Collins would the history books have a chapter on America’s Civil War II? A frightening thought. But Gov. Collins did not cave in to the demagogues and we moved on as a society and most people can agree for the better.

Meet Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins:

Image from Wikipedia.

Here is an excerpt from the State of Florida archives, a quote by Gov. Collins*: 

“I feel that the U. S. Supreme Court has improperly usurped powers reserved to the states under the constitution. I have joined in protesting such and in seeking legal means of avoidance. But if this resolution declaring the decisions of the court to be ‘null and void’ is to be taken seriously, it is anarchy and rebellion against the nation which must remain ‘indivisible under God’ if it is to survive. Not only will I not condone ‘interposition’ as so many have sought me to do, I decry it as an evil thing, whipped up by the demagogues and carried on the hot and erratic winds of passion, prejudice, and hysteria. If history judges me right this day, I want it known that I did my best to avert this blot. If I am judged wrong, then here in my own handwriting and over my signature is the proof of guilt to support my conviction.

LeRoy Collins, Governor.

May 2, 1957.”

*From Florida Memory, State Library & Archives of Florida.

Everyone is talking about the Lake Worth Beach and the Gulfstream Hotel.

But what no one is talking about is that proposed new Dollar General store at 10th Ave. North and A Street.

Have you heard anything about that?

So. It’s your choice. What would you like to read about today? The proposed new Dollar General store or more information about the Lake Worth Beach and the Gulfstream Hotel?

If you would like to read about another Dollar General location here in the City of Lake Worth click on this link and then for further reference material read a sobering article by journalist Rachel Siegel at the Washington Post datelined February 18th.

You other choice today is to read about the Lake Worth Beach and the Gulfstream Hotel.

“I have to tell you, in 23 years I’ve never, ever seen so many people come out, leave their homes at dinner time to speak in favor of an application. It just doesn’t happen. People come to speak against, but people don’t come to speak in favor. So I am overwhelmed by the volume of people that have been here this evening.”

—Quote by a long-time and well-respected land use attorney in Palm Beach County at Lake Worth City Hall on January 5th, 2016.

You see, once upon a time a developer had their eyes on the Lake Worth Beach and the Gulfstream Hotel too:

To learn more about this topic and the quote above click on this link. To learn more about the mob that showed up at City Hall on February 7th in support of a new pool at the Beach use this link.

TONIGHT. CCRT meeting, 6:00: Community and neighborhood news published in The Lake Worth Herald.

Car Pool Alert.

To see the most recent
front page news click on this link.

Have community news about an upcoming event or want information about subscription rates? Then contact the editor at 561-585-9387 or send an email to: Editor@lwherald.com

Does your neighborhood have a persistent problem with blight and slum? Is there a community problem making life unbearable and miserable? Then please make plans to attend a public meeting this evening.

Here is the headline and story in the Herald:


Community Revitalization Team Public Meeting

Join the Countywide Community Revitalization Team (CCRT) for a public meeting hosted by the Office of Community Revitalization (OCR) on Tuesday, Feb.19 [TONIGHT], beginning at 6 p.m. [emphasis added]

The meeting at Vista Center, 2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm, will address: What is stopping the community from becoming healthy? Why should you care? What are some solutions?

Debra Tendrich will discuss programming options for children and workshop opportunities for parents, along with a Healthy Advocacy Workshop for community leaders. This public meeting will also be an opportunity to network with county agencies, OCR partners, and other community leaders.

For more information contact Houston Tate at 233-5303 or via email at htate@pbcgov.org

Deep Green Resistance (DGR) takes an alternate view on “Green” energy.

And surprisingly it looks as if the City of Lake Worth and the Lake Worth Electric Utility (LWEU) are also taking an ‘alternate view’ of Green energy as well, specifically solar energy and the Residential PACE (R-PACE) program. A Lake Worth City Commissioner said recently the LWEU needs to “stop the bleeding” from this well-intended but deeply flawed program.

And the director of LWEU agreed.

Note that LWEU and FP&L are two entirely separate entities. No doubt FP&L has very deep pockets and therefore is more able to deal with fluctuations and the problems encountered with energy programs promoting solar than the much smaller LWEU is.

Learn more about all this following the information about solar energy from Deep Green Resistance, a radical environmentalist organization with a network in South Florida that is fed up with the likes of the Loxahatchee Sierra Club and EarthFirst! too.

Please Note. The video below may be disturbing for some viewers. You’ve been warned.

And remember, the First Amendment isn’t
just for people you agree with.


Very important: The following blog post is not an endorsement for DGR or for tactics such as “Decisive Ecological Warfare”. But for many of the public in places like Palm Beach County searching for new ideas, disturbed by western sprawl, and disappointed with the leaderless and languishing environmentalist community in South Florida then DGR may be what you are looking for.

Click on this link to find out more about DGR. One of the more outspoken members of DGR is Lierre Keith and over the years she has drawn a tremendous amount of traffic to this blog. Why? Perhaps because within the “radical space” Keith is a most unwelcome voice.

Once again, some may find the
video below very disturbing.

Others may find it provocative. Draw your own conclusions. The video was first posted on this blog in 2014 and many times since. At the 54 second mark in the video a member of DGR says:


“Today we’re going to introduce you to some ideas that you’re probably familiar with as environmentalists. But we might also be talking about some things that are surprising or even shocking to some of you.”



Two members [Max Wilbert and Cameron Foley] of Deep Green Resistance talk about green energy alternatives that have created unintended consequences, for example, they mention 1.2 million Tibetans forced to work in Chinese mines, massive strip mining operations all over the planet, pollution, toxic runoff, and enormous amounts of greenhouse gases produced by heavy-duty hauling and digging equipment and the machinery used for mining in the search for rare earth metals, copper, and for the production of steel, and bird deaths at California’s Ivanpah concentrated solar field project. Mr. Wilbert says in the video below,

There is no way to produce industrial technology without industrial devastation. Green technology requires global trade, global exploitation, global destruction of the land, air and the water. You just can’t do it any other way. It’s impossible.

Wilbert and Foley take a sobering view of modern-day environmentalism and call out some groups by name, including the Sierra Club. Although they don’t mention the Anarchist community (EarthFirst!) here in the City of Lake Worth by name, they do talk about their failed pipeline protest in Texas at the 44:00 mark and question whether protesting is getting results or just draining money and resources from other environmental causes.

Once again, Max Wilbert from DGR says in the video:

“. . . we might also be talking about some things that are surprising or even shocking to some of you.”

End of discussion about DGR and solar energy. Very interesting is it not? Has it changed your view of solar energy? If not, then maybe the information that follows will.

Now to Residential PACE program and the City of Lake Worth.

In the YouTube below at the end of this blog post you will see and hear Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso talk about solar energy and R-PACE program. And then a little later in that video Lake Worth Electric Utility Dir. Ed Liberty responds. Liberty is very worried. At this point there are 70–80 properties using PACE in the LWEU service area which includes parts of the Village of Palm Springs and suburban areas as well.

At this point the LWEU is paying 3× more for this energy than can be purchased on the open market. This energy will have to be subsidized by all the other customers of LWEU. Going forward it’s completely unsustainable. An excellent deal for R-PACE program participants but not such a good deal for all their neighbors up and down the street.

Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake Worth Electric Utility (LWEU) the Lake Worth City Commission met on January 31st to discuss very important issues with LWEU Director Ed Liberty. Also in attendance were Asst. Dir. Walt Gill, Jason Bailey, Clyde Johnson and others from the staff and organization at LWEU.

In the video below Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso brings up the topic of R-PACE and then LWEU Dir. Ed Liberty responds.

This discussion lasts only a few minutes
but is very eye-opening:

Candidate forum tonight, Presidents’ Day evening in City of Lake Worth. Election Day is Tuesday, March 12th.

Three (3) more candidate forums are coming up.

Tonight at 7:00 is the Parrot Cove Neighborhood Assoc. candidate forum at The Beach Club bistro located at the City’s municipal golf course at #1 7th Ave. North. Please show up early for a good seat and show your support for The Beach Club and their staff who graciously welcome the community to this wonderful venue. Whether Yours Truly, Wes, will be there with my trusty video camera is debatable at tonight’s debate but will certainly try my best.

Next week, on Monday, Feb. 25th at 6:30 will be the Bryant Park Neighborhood Assoc. forum at The Beach Club.

And please as a public service: If anyone knows how to reach Mr. William Joseph please let him know about these upcoming candidate forums. Or maybe he has dropped out of the election to be held on March 12th? Either way Mr. Joseph’s name will appear on the ballot and he will be a factor on March 12th. There are four (4) candidates on the ballot this year in District 4.

In 2017 Joseph got 8% percent of the vote and that is more than enough votes to force a run-off election to be held on March 26th.*

Following the Parrot Cove candidate forum. . .

Small business community in the City of Lake Worth. Save the date: Thursday, March 7th at 7:00.

A special forum just five days prior to Election Day
at the Lake Worth Beach & Casino Complex.

To our LOCAL small business community:

Bring your questions and listen to the candidates.

Recent business news from Palm Beach Post journalist Jeff Ostrowski underscores how crucial regional and LOCAL cooperation is to our future. To learn more about this topic click on this link.

*For some perspective Mr. Drew Martin from the Loxahatchee Sierra Club received nearly 3½ times more percentage of the vote in 2018 than Mr. Joseph did in 2017. And worth noting, two years ago in Palm Beach County only a Riviera Beach councilwoman under an ethics probe received less a percentage of the vote than Drew Martin did. So what that all means exactly you will have to form your own opinion.

To learn more about that and a recap of the upcoming elections to be held on March 12th click on this link.

And as always, Thank You for visiting once again today.

Reason #48. Why a brand new pool at the Lake Worth Beach is a stupid idea.

Question: Do you know where the water would come from to fill it and then maintain the water level?

The answer is below courtesy of WPTV. And get ready. The answer will surprise you.


The “Save Our Pool Noodle Platoon” came out recently at Lake Worth City Hall but it wasn’t enough. In fact they lost ground on some major points which will be discussed at a later time. And the Noodle Platoon claims to have eight hundred signatures in support but how many of those are actually from the City of Lake Worth? That is a major point.

And the Save Our Pool Noodle Platoon goes to great length to talk about the proud history of a municipal pool at the Beach but neglects to mention when “colored youths” and “Negroes” were denied access in the 1960s. This history cannot be ignored. This issue was a major one for former Commissioner Jo-Ann Golden but she was ignored in 2010 and to this day public access to the pool remains a major problem.

About the public Work Session on February 7th.

This was a Commission Work Session to discuss education issues and remaining proceeds from the County ¢1 sales tax increase that voters approved in Nov. 2016. Much thanks to School Board member Erica Whitfield for showing up and her contribution will be a topic all its own in a later blog post.

And just as predicted, the “Noodle Platoon” tried to hijack this Commission work session and make it all about their one and only issue. But alas, members of the anti-Pool Squad showed up and made sure that did not happen! See the YouTube video below.

Click on image to enlarge.

Bright pool noodles are the oft-used props by the Noodle Platoon. The anti-Noodle Squad did not need noodles. They came armed with facts.

There will be more about the Noodle Platoon later on. And later in this blog post is a video from that public meeting, a candidate in the District 4 race on March 12th.

However, one little tiny piece of information was left out of the presentation and at public comment by members of the Noodle Platoon. This is information which makes District 4 candidate Tom Copeland look like a genius.

Question:

Where does the water come from to fill a pool
at the Lake Worth Beach?

That information, just by coincidence that very same night, comes courtesy of reporter Wanda Moore at WPTV (NBC5) in a news report titled, “Following West Palm Beach drinking water from source to tap”.

Here are the first two paragraphs:


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — West Palm Beach has a unique drinking water system compared to other municipalities because the city uses surface water.

The two main sources are Lake Okeechobee and Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve.

You see!

The water to fill a pool at the Lake Worth Beach comes from water lines in the Town of Palm Beach. Where does the Town of Palm Beach get their water from? Palm Beach gets their water from West Palm Beach which does not have a beach. So the water to fill a pool at the Lake Worth Beach comes from Lake Okeechobee!

So doesn’t this make the case for constructing a new pool somewhere else in the City of Lake Worth and using water from OUR Lake Worth Water Utility!

The water to fill a pool at Lake Worth Beach WOULD NOT come from Lake Worth Water Utilities! Lake Worth Water Utility water is from wells and a reverse osmosis plant and is considered some of the best public water in South Florida!

The question really comes down to: How safe is water from Lake Okeechobee? Can you trust that water as much as Lake Worth water?

And please tell me: How resilient and sustainable is a pool at the Lake Worth Beach getting its water from West Palm?

Lesson #48 today is another reason why a pool at the Lake Worth Beach is stupid. And not sustainable either.

Now listen for yourself to District 4 candidate Tom Copeland.




Stay tuned for Reasons #49–#68 shortly.

And, as always, Thank You for visiting once again today.

News this week from citizen reporter Janet Serrano, “Special to the Herald”.

The story is headlined,

Cottages Tour A Success,
Even with the Rain

The rain could not dampen the spirits of the almost 500 attendees at The Cottages of Lake Worth tour, held Sunday, Jan. 27. This year’s tour featured thirteen homes in the Eden Place and Mango Groves neighborhoods, with three trolleys circulating the route. A local historian was on board each trolley to entertain and educate the riders on Lake Worth and cottage history. The Beach Club served up food and drink early and late in the day. This is the third successful tour, exposing 1,300 plus people to charming cottages and unique Lake Worth. It is believed this exposure is important in preserving the 1000 plus cottages in the City. That is the mission of the non-profit organization that sponsors the tour, The Cottages of Lake Worth, Inc., founded in 2013 by a local group of volunteers.


Let’s pause here briefly, the news from Janet Serrano continues following this brief message.

For even more LOCAL information weekly
check out The Lake Worth Herald:

For subscription rates or other questions contact the editor at 561-585-9387 or by email: Editor@lwherald.com

Now back to the news in the Herald this week.

The cottages on the tour were constructed from the mid twenties to the late forties with most being around 1000 square feet in size. Different architectural styles, garden layouts, and interior décors were represented. The histories of their previous lives are fascinating. Pre-renovation, one had a tree growing up in the middle of the kitchen, another revealed original documents in the attic of the city’s early layout, one had the original cook-out grill for the City’s early fishing club, two were moved from different locations (one from the City golf course), and one was built from a Sears mail order kit.

Several owners used reclaimed products in their décor, always a good idea in cottage renovation for aesthetic, historical, and financial reasons. One owner drove to Georgia and returned with enough hardwood flooring, salvaged from an old mill, to cover three rooms. Another has salvaged flooring in the kitchen from a boat. And a third used an antique chest for the vanity in the bath. It’s a good idea to think outside the box with cottages. The use of repurposed items, bold color choices, period furnishings, and intimate gardens are a few of the things that set the cottages apart and define their charm. Most all have well landscaped back yards with decks that offer the best of Florida outdoor living. The creative spirit evident in the cottages reflects the vibrant artistic scene that defines Lake Worth.

The Cottages of Lake Worth Board extends a huge thank you all the owners on this year’s tour who so graciously opened their homes for viewing. The time and effort you have put into your homes, maintaining original architectural elements and renovating with an eye toward period design, is very much appreciated. Thanks are also in order to the many volunteers who make this tour possible, giving freely of their time. And thank you attendees whose appreciation for the cottages helps further the mission of educating the public about them.

The Cottages of Lake Worth, Living Large in Small Spaces book is in its second printing and is available online or at local venues (The Book Cellar and Maria Paz Art Studio among others). Any information you might need is on the website www.cottagesoflakeworth.com

Hope to see you on the January 2021 tour!


And check back early next week for more news in the Herald, news about the Historical Society of Lake Worth and a painting donated to the Lake Worth Public Library that will be on display through October.

Palm Beach County election news from publisher Gatehouse Media and today’s endorsements in the Post.

Gatehouse Media, as of May 2018, is the owner and publisher of The Palm Beach Post. Gatehouse calls itself,

The Biggest Oldest Newest Most Local National Media Brand in America

Before we get to County election news from Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link there is a local election development today in the City of Lake Worth (see today’s Post endorsements below).

And also below is terrible news. Due to a ruling by Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Laura Johnson there may be a relapse in the sober home epidemic wiping out much of the progress that has been made by State Attorney Dave Aronberg and our local officials such as Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso.

And on that topic many will be scratching their heads today wondering why the editor(s) at the Post published their Lake Worth endorsements over three weeks before Election Day and in the Sunday print edition too.

Why the Sunday print edition? The most important paper of the week?

For example, many in the public policy, public health and law enforcement professions here in Palm Beach County will undoubtedly question the editorial decision today on p. A22 above the fold.

The last two editorials published in the Post this week were about Parkland and “We still need more than thoughts and prayers” and the other editorial was, “Judge’s ruling threatens Aronberg’s war on opioid abuses”; an excerpt from that editorial:


Too much is at stake here. After years of lives lost and neighborhoods damaged, our communities — like Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Lake Worth — can’t afford a relapse. [emphasis added]


Both of the editorials above are worthy of being published in the Sunday print edition, especially so the one about sober homes and State Attorney Dave Aronberg. But why not?

It just doesn’t make sense until you understand this: this City does not need the Post. But the Post relies on the City of Lake Worth to promote their newspaper. The fact is this City is the most interesting municipality in all of Palm Beach County and of that there is no doubt. And proof is every single Monday in the print edition — for the last three years — this City has been featured in the ‘LOCAL’ section of the paper. But unfortunately, this has come at the expense of other municipalities like the City of Greenacres to our west.

What will the Post endorsements be tomorrow? In what municipality? Frankly, no one cares because the Post is horrid at making political endorsements anyhow. Like for example what happened in the recently past November General Election. Do you remember Gwen Graham? She is who the Post endorsed for governor of Florida. Oooops.

And worth noting, before we proceed, tomorrow is another scheduled candidate forum at The Beach Club bistro located at the City’s municipal golf course (#1 7th Ave. North). The Parrot Cove neighborhood will sponsor this event which will begin at 7:00.

Also yesterday was breaking news about City Manager Michael Bornstein. Learn more about what happened later in this blog post.


Without further ado. . .

UPDATE: No surprise!

The Palm Beach Post editorial board which works for the conglomerate Gatehouse Media, made their endorsements for the March 12th elections in the City of Lake Worth, and once again they made a crucial error of omission. The editor(s) at the Post endorsed the incumbent Commissioner Omari Hardy in District 2 and endorsed Mr. Tom Copeland who is challenging incumbent Commissioner Herman Robinson in the District 4 race.

But what has gone completely unreported in the Post is this crucial factor: whomever is elected on March 12th will serve a three-year term. So either the editor(s) at the Post forgot about the referendum that passed in March 2017 or they just don’t care.

Our elected leadership going from a two-year term to a three-year term is a very significant factor the voters need to consider. In the endorsement today in the Post the editor(s) note that Commissioner Hardy is “still learning on the job” and also referred to a “rookie error” Hardy made recently.

Increasing terms for elected officials — along with increasing the compensation for our electeds — was the brainchild of Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein. The reasoning is with so much to learn as a City Commissioner, including being on the board of directors of the Lake Worth Electric Utility, there is simply too much to learn in just two years.

For the latest news about Bornstein click on this link.

A two-year term is a choice by voters. A three-year term is a commitment.

So when you as a voter on Election Day go to the polls keep this in mind. Commissioners Hardy and Herman Robinson and Cathy Turk and Mr. Copeland are all good choices on March 12th. And in your selection carefully consider who will make the best use and the best decisions with three years as your commissioner in Districts 2 and 4.

Moving on to County-wide election news this week.

Also on the blog this week is the latest about journalist Charles Elmore who has been oft-cited on this blog for many years. But sadly, as of January Mr. Elmore no longer works at The Palm Beach Post. Learn more about this latest development below.

Now to more news from Gatehouse Media, very important information is below from Wendy Sartory Link, Supervisor of Elections (SOE) in Palm Beach County:

PUBLIC INSPECCTION [sic] OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THE MARCH 12, 2019 UNIFORM MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Here are two excerpts from the Public Notice published in last Wednesday’s print edition of The Palm Beach Post on p. B9 in the Business Section (column 1 above the fold):


The sealed Vote by Mail ballots received prior to Monday, February 25, for the March 12, 2019 Uniform Municipal Elections, will be available for public inspection from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 25, at the Supervisor of Elections Service Center, 7835 Central Industrial Drive, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Immediately afterwards, the Supervisor of Elections staff will commence the opening and processing of those Vote by Mail ballots. However, those ballots will not be tabulated. Any person wishing to inspect any unopened Vote by Mail ballots must make a timely request to do so, and be readily available to promptly make such an inspection.

and. . .

Please be advised that you are entering a building which is equipped with security cameras which will record your activities while visiting. Entry into this building constitutes your agreement to be so recorded.

Wendy Sartory Link
Supervisor of Elections
Palm Beach County, Florida
240 South Military Trail, [suburban] West Palm Beach, FL 33415
561-656-6220
FAX: 561-656-6220


Once again, to read this entire Public Notice refer to Gatehouse Media in Wednesday’s print edition of The Palm Beach Post: Either pick up the actual print edition (Feb. 13th) or refer to the online print edition, call 561-820-4663, or send an email to: subscriberservices@gatehousemedia.com

Too bad there was not a better ‘INSPECCTION’ of this pubic notice this week. Computers will never replace the well-trained eye of a newspaper editor. So apparently no one from Gatehouse Media or the Post took a quick glance at p. B9 on Wednesday. And also just want to point out the main office of the PBC SOE is actually not in West Palm Beach — it is outside the municipal limits in suburban West Palm Beach — a municipality which actually does not have a beach.

But anyhow. . .

As of May 1st, 2018, Gatehouse Media is the publisher of the Post. Read more about that development from journalist Charles Elmore who left the Post last month. However, what has not changed is the Sun Sentinel in Broward County remains the publisher of the actual print edition of the Post.

Worth noting about Charles Elmore is he was a topic of discussion, albeit briefly and not cited by name, at a Lake Worth City Commission meeting last week. On the old and tired topic of banning plastic straws there was discussion of things that this City can actually do to improve the environment. And per the news from Elmore that would be supporting a company in the Glades region called Tellus Products. Banning plastic straws has become a cliché, just a silly slogan. But Tellus Products is actually doing something to make this County eco-friendly and 100% natural making products from sugarcane fiber.

If you were a loyal reader of Mr. Elmore’s work click on this link for his Twitter page and send him a brief message if you wish.

And in conclusion, for more about SOE Wendy Sartory Link, the firing of former SOE Susan Bucher and the subsequent protest march that was cancelled, and about that ‘plague’ of the word “plague” at the Post editorial board and much more information please click on this link.

“The future has a way of arriving unannounced.”—George Will.

The Greater South County Road Association: John Ellis Bush (Jeb) at the Mar-a-Lago speaker’s podium, November 1997.

Please Note: What you are about to read is not about national politics or a political statement. The blog post below is about a very special place in American History: Mar-a-Lago. From a collection of boxes left unopened for many years I — Yours Truly, Wes Blackman — am looking back at my decade plus years (1993–2003*) working as Director of Projects at Mar-a-Lago for a man I called, “Mr. Trump”.

In November 2016 that very same man became President Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States.

Let’s take a look at what happened 21 years earlier
at Mar-a-Lago, in November 1997:

“GSCRA RETURNS TO
MAR-a-LAGO”

“And our host this year is C. Wesley Blackman. . .”

The “GSCRA” is the Greater South County Road Association, Inc., and this organization remains very active in the Town of Palm Beach:


The Greater South County Road Association is an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the businesses, merchants, and professionals located in the South County Road business corridor in the Town of Palm Beach.
     Our organization holds regular monthly meetings featuring a wide variety of guest speakers and topics that help promote and benefit our members, South County Road businesses and the community as a whole.

From the GSCRA newsletter dated “21 November 1997”, the 42nd Issue, Vol. IV, No. 6:

Front page (partial image).

(Photograph below was taken by Beall Turecamo,

a self-portrait and more photos are below.)

Click on all images to enlarge.

“And our host this year is C. Wesley Blackman, A.I.C.P. (American Institute of Certified Planners), and project director of the Mar-a-Lago Club. . . .

“In September 1993 he was asked by Mr. Trump to convert one of the world’s most historically sensitive homes to a private club . . . including hiring the architects, engineers, and contractors. In April 1995 the certificate of occupancy validated 18 months of incredible effort. As such, Wes holds the distinction of being the Club’s first employee.”

A quote from the GSCRA “President’s Page” referring to John Ellis Bush, a speaker at
Mar-a-Lago in 1997:

“While an original is always hard to find, he is easy to recognize.”†

Page 7 (partial image of page).

“Descendant of a prominent family, Jeb still goes
his own way . . . and may someday be
Governor of Florida.”

Back page.

“BEALL TURECAMO ON ASSIGNMENT.”

“MAR-a-LAGO ENCORE.
It keeps getting better.”

A most proper quote to end this blog post:

“The future has a way
of arriving unannounced.”

*Other recent blog posts that may interest you:

• Click on this link for, “The Mar-a-Lago Club, 1994–1998: From the ‘King of Clubs’ to the legendary crooner Tony Bennett.”
• Brochure from Christie’s dated March 1995, auction of items in New York City: “Property from Mar-A-Lago”.
• March / April / May 2003 edition of the much-anticipated magazine in Palm Beach: “The Mar-a-Lago Club, L.C.”

†This quote originates from John L. Mason (1832–1902). An American inventor who patented the metal screw top salt shaker and, among many other inventions, another item you may be familiar with, “the metal screw-on lid for antique fruit jars that have come to be known as Mason jars.”

Congratulations, Mr. Tom Copeland!

Mr. Copeland recently received the endorsement of the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Palm Beach County Local 2928 which is significant and today Copeland received the endorsement of The Palm Beach Post which is less significant but can definitely be a factor in the four-man race in Lake Worth’s District 4 race this year.

But after the election on March 12th — when the two highest vote-getters face off in the run-off election two weeks later on March 26th, likely Copeland and incumbent Commissioner Herman Robinson — beyond that is when all the fun and excitement ends and the hard work begins.

However, after being elected and before getting down to the hard work of governing is a brief period of time called “The Adoration” when everyone still loves you.

For example, let’s examine the case of former District 4 Commissioner Ryan Maier in June 2015. . .

. . . when shortly thereafter the adoration ended.


And then later Commissioner Maier opted not to run for re-election in 2017.

A lesson for everyone on the ballot this year.

The Adoration period is a short one.

Gatehouse Media podcast. The latest “Inside Florida Politics” with George Bennett, John Kennedy, Zac Anderson.

This week’s edition of “Inside Florida Politics” is out.

The link to this episode is at the end of this blog post if you wish to begin listening right off today.

For new and recently-new readers of
“Lake Worth City Limits”.

It is worth noting this blog you are reading now focuses mostly on the six square mile City of Lake Worth and suburban (unincorporated) areas out west in Central Palm Beach County.

Just to the east of this City lies the Town of Palm Beach across the scenic Intracoastal waterway (aka, the Lake Worth Lagoon).

Our municipal elections are coming up on March 12th and this City tries very hard to keep our elections nonpartisan. However, President Trump is at the Winter White House in Palm Beach for the long Presidents’ Day weekend and just so happens what is happening in Venezuela right now is very significant and a topic of much discussion.

But as hard as our elected leaders in this City of Lake Worth try to stay nonpartisan and keep out of foreign affairs that can be difficult sometimes when one of our former elected officials declared his support for Nicolas Maduro several years ago. Prior to that the former editor at The Palm Beach Post, Mr. Randy Schultz, had about enough when Cara Jennings, another former commissioner in Lake Worth, called for a resolution to end the Iraq War. The pull quote from Schultz was quite clever:

Commission ‘solved’ Iraq, passed buck.

This City is very supportive of FREE SPEECH but our elected leaders have more than enough LOCAL issues to deal with at City Hall. So please keep that in mind if you have any plans to protest this long holiday weekend. Please head on over to Palm Beach for the day. Thank You.

Now back to Inside Florida Politics, this week’s podcast.

Political journalist George Bennett is the expert on all things presidential in South Florida and about the first lady too. This week Bennett solved not one but two issues: Is next Monday Presidents Day, President’s Day, or Presidents’ Day? And the other issue is the president of Venezuela: Is that dictator Nicolas Maduro or Nicolás Maduro with an accent?

Both of those questions are answered by George Bennett this week:


PALM BEACH — With the threat of another partial government shutdown averted, President Donald Trump is expected to arrive Friday evening [the president did arrive last evening] to spend the long Presidents’ Day weekend at Mar-a-Lago, with a side trip to Miami on Monday to deliver a speech on Venezuela underscoring his opposition to the socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro.


This coming Monday, a federal holiday, is Presidents’ Day. And as for Nicolas Maduro the AP style is optional on using the acute accent; here is a recent excerpt from the AP:


The president of Colombia says China’s role in Latin America would be stronger if the Asian country recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president instead of backing President Nicolas Maduro.

Now that is settled!

This latest podcast is a very interesting one and just over thirty-three minutes. These podcasts from Gatehouse Media are posted every Thursday around noon. So stay tuned for another episode next week.

A question:

For long-time readers of The Palm Beach Post does the name John Kennedy sound familiar?

Briefly, how we got here. Gatehouse Media took over at The Palm Beach Post in May 2018. The Post had been on the market since November 2017 after a series of just terrible decisions by the editorial board. For example, there was the dragging-of-feet coming to realize the full extent of the sober home crisis, then no endorsement for President of the United States in Nov. 2016 and then in Dec. 2016 the editor at the Post unceremoniously shut down the Post’s Tallahassee News Bureau which was manned by long-time political correspondent John Kennedy.

Now John Kennedy is the State Capital Bureau Chief for Gatehouse Media which owns The Palm Beach Post. On Kennedy’s Twitter feed it says he, “Enjoys fine irony.” Very apropos one could say.

Welcome back, Mr. Kennedy!

To the podcast this week.

With host political journalist George Bennett of The Palm Beach Post, Sarasota Herald-Tribune politics editor Zac Anderson and Gatehouse State Capital Bureau Chief John Kennedy these political journalists talk about,


Parkland disconnect between polls and politicians, plus Roger Stone on 'process crimes' and PBJs.


PBJs? And what are the special numbers this week? The funky FREE music? Well, you are just going to have to listen to this week’s episode to find out.

Hope you enjoy this week’s Inside Florida Politics.