Monday, September 28, 2015

The Armory Art Center: "The Human Body: from abstract expressionism to realism"

This article appeared today (9/28) in the Post (page E-3) about an exhibit at the Armory Art Center through October 24th:
     The Armory Art Center is presenting “2 + 3: The Artists’ Organization: The Human Image” in the Montgomery Hall Gallery. This exhibit will explore the varying ways that artists — of different cultural traditions — have represented the human body and imbued it with meaning.
     By combining a visual spectacle with insight, the artists provide an interconnecting theme of the human body, ranging from abstract expressionism to realism.
IF YOU GO:
When: Through Oct. 24. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday–Friday; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: FreeWhere: Armory Art Center, 1700 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach (561-832-1776 x33)
If you have news about an upcoming cultural event here is how you contact the Culture Editor at the Post:
Larry Aydlette: 561-820-4436; email; Twitter: @LarryAydlette

New book by John Huddle—"Locked In: My Imprisoned Years in a Destructive Cult"

I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Mr. Huddle earlier this year concerning an issue here in Lake Worth, FL. His insight and the reference material he directed me to was very valuable—especially concerning how vulnerable people (such as people in recovery) can be manipulated by a charismatic or engaging personality.

Recently on Twitter saw this:
Here is a link to Mr. Huddle's website and this is a description about the book soon to be released:
The memoir which I have labored over is very close to release. Locked in includes my story of joining Grace and Truth Fellowship in Greenville, S.C. and the subsequent membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) The body of the book has three parts. Part 1 covers the time period until December 2002. The section includes my thoughts when I first witnessed blasting prayer, the practices of the Greenville church and friendships which grew during those years.
     Part 2, Life Inside WOFF, covers deliverance prayer in depth, fund raising practices and pivotal services which I believe were landmarks along the journey. Part 3- Picks up the narrative again in late 2002 extending on through the life changing events of December 2004. This part also includes my exit in July 2008 and the events of December 2008.

Relax all you Dead Enders! The Super Moon didn't bring about the end of the world (coffee anyone?)

It's hard to believe but even the little City of Lake Worth has its own 'End Times' club.
It's OK, really. Take a deep breath and relax.
No, we're not in the End Times. Unless you're referring to the Dolphin's football season.

Historic JFK scrawl hits auction block TODAY (Monday, 9/28) | The Insider

Click title for link to a Palm Beach Daily News (aka Shiny Sheet) article about some original hand-written drafts of an important speech by John F. Kennedy. These were written at the Kennedy estate on North Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach. They were probably written in April 1959 around the time a formal meeting regarding his Presidential campaign committee took place there.

I've had the pleasure of visiting the former Kennedy estate and was tapped to consult on various historic preservation matters there by its most recent owner.

The papers go up for auction tomorrow (9/28).

Looking for a home in sunny south Florida? Lake Worth, FL is the place to be

There isn't a city in the country that's immune from political squabbles or poorly managed projects— Lake Worth, sorry to say, is not unique. But what's gone unnoticed by many is the City of Lake Worth has become hot news in the world of real estate. Many, including retirees and Millennials, are attracted to our coastal location next to Palm Beach (33480) and the Atlantic Ocean. The cities West Palm Beach is to the immediate north of us and Delray Beach is only a few minutes south. You couldn't find a more perfect city to settle down in.

The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach County's paper of record, has referenced NeighborhoodScout on several occasions so we can count on this data as verifiable and trustworthy.
And solid logic it is. The Palm Beach Post is the go-to source for news on real estate here in Palm Beach County.
Here is an excerpt about the real estate market in Lake Worth, FL from the good folks at NeighborhoodScout:
     Appreciation rates are so strong in Lake Worth that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Lake Worth real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Lake Worth appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 12.31%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 95.92% of the cities and towns in the nation. 
Please share this information with your friends and family up North considering purchasing a home or investing in Florida. Click here for more information about the City of Lake Worth.

Enjoy this video of our charming little historic City that recently celebrated our Centennial:

Have you ever wanted to be a pastor with your own church? Learn how in Lake Worth TODAY AT NOON

Note that lunch will not be served. 
Learn how to "Plant" a church. Have you been thinking of creating a new church, for example, let's say another gay-friendly church in Lake Worth? This would be a great opportunity to learn more about the process. And it's not easy. There are many pitfalls to the church planting process as you'll see in this short video below:
Below is a Tweet about a "recovery" church in Lake Worth that will begin having church services in one of our local bars soon:
Not exactly sure God would approve of a church in a bar. However, the theories and strategies in the field of recovery are constantly evolving. If you do attend the training session tomorrow please feel free to share your experiences.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

From the Lake Worth Municipal Pool building today. . .

Here are pictures of the state-of-the-art "gym" that is located in the southern part of the locker room building. The door was open today, so I guess it was open to the public.
Sign taped in interior side of door that you can see when the door is open.
Spacious and safe "gym" facilities.
If you're nice, you might be able to do a load of wash while you swim.

DON'T THROW GOPHER TORTOISES IN THE WATER! THEY CAN'T SWIM!

You can see the look of terror in the turtles eyes. At the end of the short video below the turtle gets tossed in the water and sinks like a rock. The original source for this news story is the blog called Heavy. Fortunately, the video ends right there.

Here is a gopher tortoise:
Once again: Gopher tortoises CAN'T SWIM.
You can learn more about these tortoises here and there are efforts to save the reptile and move them to safer areas—away from anyone trying to "save" them. 

"Charters Win Again: New Brow[ard] Students Abandon Traditional Schools"

Buddy Nevins at the Broward Beat has this blog post about the growth of charter schools in Broward County. I encourage you to read the entire post. Mr. Nevins isn't sold on charter schools but he does have his ideas on why they are so attractive to parents and students. Here is an excerpt:
     Broward parents continue to send their children to charter schools in droves.
     Charter school enrollment grew by 3,190 this school year [emphasis added], according to a memo from Superintendent Robert Runcie.
     The traditional public schools grew only by 205 students.
     Even worse is that Broward’s total enrollment since 2011 has increased from 258,803 to 268,836. But the traditional schools’ enrollment has actually declined in those years, which encompasses Runcie’s reign — from 229,314 to 225,554.

We need to open our eyes to rest of the world. Seems that Miami is. . .


Click here for information on the Miami New Construction Show, October 22nd through 25th. It's important to remember that all of Palm Beach County is in the same Metropolitan Statistical Area as Miami-Dade and Broward counties. That makes our south Florida area, a term referred to repeatedly in the video, the eighth largest metropolitan in the nation. Our metropolitan area lies between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta in terms of overall population.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

POINT OF VIEW: All Aboard Florida a link to better future for Delray Beach

Supportive Point of View article that appeared in The Palm Beach Post. It is written by Bruce Bastian, who is vice chairman of Human Powered Delray. He makes the point that it is important to remember All Aboard Florida will bring quiet zones to the FEC rail corridor, where they have been difficult to fund up until now. The biggest benefit eastern municipalities throughout south Florida will see is jumpstarting the Coastal Link. This will be the commuter railroad that will serve communities like Delray Beach, Lake Worth and Ft. Lauderdale, to name just a few.
Once again, there's been a resurgence of complaints about the added wait times for the AAF trains. The video below shows how long you can expect to wait for an AAF train at a crossing (NOTE: it's a very short video so don't bother looking for popcorn):
Below is a news segment from Brian Entin at NBC5/WPTV on the Coastal Link that is in the planning stage (the impression of a train horn by the 'train horn guy' illustrates quite well the need for quiet zones):

Kristopher Neild, expert on what's happening in Palm Beach/West Palm Beach on the best waterside dining

And, no big surprise, Benny's on the Beach is in the top 5. Here is an excerpt from the review:
     When it comes to ocean-front dining, one can't get much closer than Benny's on the Beach. With the restaurant sitting on the Lake Worth Pier, it's easy to be completely immersed in the nautical vibes. Sitting so close to the water means it's no surprise that seafood makes up the bulk of the menu. The lobster benedict and raspberry French toast are decadent splurges for the most important meal of the day. Stop in seven days a week for breakfast or lunch and then walk it off on the pier or sandy beaches. Benny's is also open for dinner Thursday–Sunday, just plan ahead to enjoy one of their creative cocktails. Call 561-582-9001.
You can follow Benny's on Twitter also:
Click on the "Follow" icon in the image above to follow Benny's on Twitter. You can read about one of recent dinners at Benny's here.

A sign of the times: Kolter's Alton Tract (formerly known as the Briger Forest) being developed without a golf course

Another sign that the Millennials are having a major impact on the real estate market here in south Florida. Just a few years ago it would have been unimaginable to see this land developed for housing in Palm Beach Gardens without a golf course. Here is an excerpt from an article by Jeff Ostrowski at the Post:
     At its new Alton development, Kolter Homes touts walking trails, parks and proximity to shopping and restaurants. [emphasis added]
     One feature that’s conspicuously absent from the community at Interstate 95 and Donald Ross Road: a golf course.
     Such an oversight once would have been unthinkable. For decades, links were a surefire way to sell homes in northern Palm Beach County, a world capital of golf.
     But amid waning participation in the sport and a glut of courses, developers have begun to shun golf courses.
     “A lot of buyers want to be in a community where they don’t have to be part of a golf club,” said Rick Covell, president of Kolter Homes.
     The shift away from golf courses began even before the Great Recession. Evergrene, a community just east of Alton on Donald Ross Road that was completed a decade ago, includes an expansive clubhouse and large pool but no greens, bunkers or links.
Here is a recent video produced by Kolter about their plans for the Alton Tract:
Does the Alton Tract and the Briger Forest sound familiar? They should—they're the same piece of land. That was the location for the incredulous "battery in the lake" episode where our dwindling number of Anarchists in Lake Worth (Everglades EarthFirst!) went to protest the development in that area which is east of I-95. Out of the thousands of ways to disable a vehicle during a protest one of them came up with the brilliant idea to take out the battery and throw it into a lake!

The image below gives you a good idea where the location of the new Kolter development is located (note: this piece of land is now called the Alton Tract):

Bamboo Room holding fundraiser for dog rescue efforts TODAY

The music starts at 6 p.m. at the Bamboo Room. Here is an excerpt from Kevin Thompson's short article in the Post:
     [T]he first annual Bark Back Benefit on Saturday to raise money for the Big Dog Ranch Rescue and Share-A-Pet.
     Four acts are scheduled to play: The Mark Telesca Band (6 p.m.);The Kinected (7 p.m.); The Copper Tones (9 p.m.) and Spred The Dub (10:30 p.m.).
     The night will feature adoptable dogs, prizes, and, of course, music.
     Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door.
Don't forget to try one of these (for those in recovery I'm sure they have a non-alcoholic alternative):
If you have more good news in the little City of Lake Worth, suburban Lake Worth, or Greenacres here is how you contact the reporter:
Kevin D. Thompson, beat reporter
Email: kthompson@pbpost.com
561-820-4573
Twitter: @kevindthompson1

Did you miss what former Lake Worth City Comm. JOANN GOLDEN SAID IN PUBLIC!?!?!!

[This is a re-post, by request, from a loyal blog reader. As always. . .Thank You for visiting my blog, Wes.]

Would suggest you sit down before watching this video of JoAnn Golden at the the city commission meeting on Tuesday 9/1. At the 1:20 mark she states that if refugees landed on the Lake Worth beach she thinks your response as a City resident would be to "probably take out guns and get rid of 'em". Not kidding.
Very charming, isn't it? And note in the video she makes reference to 'toning down the rhetoric' or something like that. Makes me wonder if she's looked in a mirror any time recently.

Jo-Ann Golden has become one of the biggest advocates, along with Commissioner Ryan Maier, for the homeless in our City parks. The taxpayers, families with children, and others who enjoy our parks have taken a back seat, or so it would appear. Is this what they envision for our City?
A 'birder' at the Snook Islands has to walk around the homeless passed out on the dock. Is this JoAnn Golden and Ryan Maier's vision for our City parks? 
Here is a homeless person who has taken up residence in our park. Is this your vision for the City of Lake Worth?
BONUS CONTENT: Here is a link to see Mrs. Katie McGiveron's take on the homeless. It's priceless! And there's more! Read why Mrs. McGiveron is upset with reporter John Dzenitis at ABC25/WPBF!
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