Part of my presentation last night...

...included information on the current City Hall building

c. mid 1960s - Notice the telephone booths and ample number of park benches

These are three images of the Lake Worth Municipal Auditorium. Since 1972, it has served as the administrative headquarters for city government.

 These are two images of the building, probably taken soon after its construction, in 1935.

Here is some information from the Division of Historic Resources, State Historic Preservation Office master site file on the building. Click image to read.

I would like to see the building returned to its original use as an auditorium some day and find a place for a new City Hall.

Florida Legislature urges Obama administration action on Keystone XL « Watchdog.org

Click title for link. From the article:

The measure expresses a consensus view by the Florida Legislature that President Obama should approve Keystone XL. By executive order, only the president can issue a permit for proposed oil pipelines that cross U.S. borders — the executive order came by way of George W. Bush.
“The Legislature is adding to the voice of others that have expressed the same view, including labor unions,” Robert Sanchez, policy director for the Tallahassee-based James Madison Institute, told Watchdog.org.
“The speculation is that the president is concerned about offending environmental activists — an important constituency — even though environmental studies have shown that the pipeline will cause minimal damage. In fact, more damage is caused by refusing to build the pipeline because it’s a more energy efficient way of transporting petroleum products than trucks and trains,” Sanchez said.

Deputy, “in fear of his life,” shoots suspect in Lake Worth... | www.palmbeachpost.com

This happened around 1:30 a.m. at 6th Avenue South and Dixie Hwy. Click title for link.

From last night's Lake Worth Museum's Open House Presentation...

I put a "then and now" presentation together from my Lake Worth postcard collection and other historical memorabilia. It took place in the former Commission Chambers that is in the City Hall Annex, which happens to be on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was open upstairs. Hours for the Museum are Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. Nice to see everyone who came out and the exchange of memories. Look for similar events coming up in the Fall.

Palm Beach County gets funding concessions it wanted from... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Looks like we got a seventh inning stretch here. The state legislature has made some changes to its "sports facilities incentive program" and better aligning financing with the realities of the real world. This was in response to Palm Beach County's lobbying efforts during this year's legislative session which ended. Of note, this article is by Christine Stapleton. Click title for link. Perhaps Mr. Ostrowski was sent to the bullpen for a bit. From the article:

Palm Beach County’s effort to build a new two-team baseball stadium got a boost Friday when Florida lawmakers approved a bill that sweetens financing options for building spring-training stadiums that the Legislature just created in 2013.
“We’ve been working on this for such a long time,” said County Commissioner Shelley Vana. “This is another step in the right direction.”
The county already has Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, but county officials have been in discussions with the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals about building a spring training facility that could house them both somewhere in the county. Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and John Prince Park west of Lake Worth have been some of the locations most recently discussed.

Remember to click here to support Spring baseball in Palm Beach County! 

Three snips from the monkey house...

Marriott Hotel to open in about a month near Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter’s Abacoa

This is an example of part of the positive economic spin-off from Spring baseball. Do you know of another community that could use some quality hotel rooms? I do. Click title for link.

Bike Valet | SunFest | April 30 – May 4, 2014

Click title for link to the Sunfest website. Check out this unique and FREE program:

Take advantage of Florida’s beautiful weather and the financial benefits that come along with riding your bicycle to SunFest. Ride your bike to SunFest and park it for free in a secure area near the festival gates! Valet bike parking is like a coat check for bicycles. Patrons are issued claim checks in exchange for their bikes and staff members guard them in a secure corral. When you are ready to leave, present your claim check to get your bike back. The bike valet service is located on North Clematis Street at Centennial Square and the fountain, near SunFest’s Clematis Street gate. The service is available Wednesday through Sunday during regular SunFest hours.

Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association - Up-coming Meeting

Greetings to friends and neighbors of Tropical Ridge Neighborhood Association,

We will be conducting our monthly meeting next Monday, May 5th, 7:00pm in the First Church of Nazarine hall on N. D street and 2nd Ave North.

Hope to see you all there.

Carolyn

Combination giant pothole and sinkhole...

Actually a retaining wall collapses in the Baltimore area this past Wednesday. Wait for the last 15 seconds.

How strong is our seawall? Just asking.

Delray Beach: City moves toward county beach-light law - The Coastal Star

I wonder if Lake Worth is opting in or creating its own ordinance. Interesting to note that this also affects the placement of beach furniture and having to remove it at night. In the morning, it needs to be replaced in the company of a turtle nest inspector to determine if any nests were made the previous night. Click title for link. From the article:

“We will work with them the best we can for a solution,” Biery said. “But lights can’t be visible from the beach either directly or indirectly by causing illumination.”
    Some violators may be given the opportunity to retrofit existing lighting fixtures by adding sheet metal shields so stray light doesn’t reach to the beach. Amber LED lightbulbs also may be substituted at some locations to reduce glare.
    The law also requires that all beach furniture be removed each night to make movement easier for sea turtles. A turtle surveyor must give approval each morning before the furniture can be returned to the municipal beach.
    Coastal municipalities have the option to either let the county enforce its turtle protection law on their beaches or to adopt a municipal law that is equally strict.
    Manalapan opted into the county law and Ocean Ridge is working to do the same. Boca Raton chose to adopt and enforce its own law.

Conservative group sues to strip manatee of "endangered" status - Sun Sentinel

Downgrading the species from "endangered" to "threatened" is largely symbolic, as the same protections would remain. Many do not want to see the change as it signals a longer term change of policy.  Manatee deaths were up last year from a number of causes, both natural and man made. Click title for link. From the article:

The California-based foundation said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's own study recommended the change in 2007 because of the manatee's improving prospects. This year, a single-day count found 4,834 manatees in Florida, well above the minimum stated by the federal government, the foundation said.
"It has been seven years since the federal government's own scientific review signaled that the manatee should be removed from 'endangered' status," said Christina M. Martin, an attorney in the foundation's Palm Beach Gardens office. "But no action has been taken. Everyone who values responsible environmental management should be concerned by this foot-dragging and failure to follow scientific findings."

Undocumented immigrants win big with in-state tuition, law... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

We'll hear of more laws being passed as today is the last day of session in the state legislature. This is a big one, that still needs some attention in the House since the Senate made some changes to it. Governor Scott campaigned with a hard line towards immigration and this is seen as his attempt to woo Hispanic voters this November. Click title for link.

“We’ve tried to get this bill passed because it’s something we truly believe in,” Thurston [House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston] said. “It’s not something that we’re doing because it’s politically expedient.”
The Senate voted 26-13 in favor of the tuition bill after an hour of impassioned speeches for and against the measure.
Speaking against the bill, Sen. Aaron Beach, R-Jacksonville, asked the same question he posed during earlier debates: “Does being an American matter any more?”

The Deadliest Animal in the World | Bill Gates

Forget about sharks - look at the lowly mosquito for being the animal causing the most human death over history. Click title for link to a graphic showing the lethal qualities of various species. You will be surprised. Check out this video too.

Henry David Thoreau

“If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”