Boating accident in Intracoastal

The Cat that flipped looked like this Liberator.  They can reach speeds exceeding 100 mph

Catamaran flips 3 times in Intracoastal

Three people were injured, including two trauma alerts, when their 25-foot catamaran flipped over several times and partially sank in the Intracoastal Waterway near Summa Beach Park in West Palm Beach, responding local agencies and a witness told WPBF.

A witness said that the boat was probably going about 70, 80 miles an hour.

All three patients were taken by ground to St. Mary's Medical Center

The boat, which launched from Phil Foster Park, was moved by Sea Tow to Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach then FWC's Jupiter location. A representative with the company told WPBF the boat was green and a 25-foot customized Liberator.

Read more...

Some people whine about anything

Neighbor upset over proposed dock at President's Mar-a-Lago resort on Palm Beach

There is always, without any doubt, someone who will be upset over something especially anything Trump. Whiners and Complainers are always there in the wings to express their discontent. This year they even complained about the Trump's Christmas card as well as the Whitehouse Christmas trees.

Now we have a neighbor who lives next door to Mar-A-Lago who is upset that the president wants to build a 75 foot dock that would allow docking space for Coast Guard and law enforcement vessels.

Read about the latest complaint...

Man jumps into Intracoastal Waterway and is rescued

Read about it...

A little bit of trivia--

Tom Ramiccio and Rodney Romano, as former mayors of Lake Worth, did that all of the time--Plunge Against the Grunge. They wanted to bring awareness to the decades of dirty rainwater runoff and sewage piped into the lagoon. It was quite an event every July 4th.

Waterfront Tower plan in West Palm Beach gets hearing

"Commissioner Shanon Materio and Commission President Cory Neering said they wanted city staff to explore and the commission to discuss other options to preserve the church and the waterfront...

Materio said Related’s plan amounted to “spot zoning” and she recommended another option: Have the city buy the church site for a public use other than a skyscraper, perhaps selling some of the land for a smaller development, to recoup the city’s money."

Read more... and what some West Palm Beach commissioners want to do to our skyline and waterfront all for the almighty buck.

I like Shanon Materio's option.

Steinhardt on the Consent Agenda

Well, this time the city actually outdid itself with 22 items on the Consent Agenda...4 short of a complete alphabet.

July 18 Agenda

One of the more interesting items on the Consent Agenda is the approval of the naming rights on the property known as the "Steinhardt property." No discussion on this--just pushing items forward in this "transparent" city environment.

A little background:
Originally leased to Marshall, owner of the Gulfstream Hotel back then, who flipped the lease to Milton Steinhardt--submerged land was leased from the City of Lake Worth in 1967 on a 99 year lease. He wanted to develop five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands at the southeast end of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge across from the Lake Worth beach. He also sought federal permits to build a boat marina at the site. The City applied for the permits on his behalf in order to bring some sort of clout to his requests and to possibly speed it along.

He was paying $6,000 a year to the City of Lake Worth and after Save the Waterfront and Town, chaired by Laurence McNamara along with other members, one of whom was the late Peter Timm,  went out on a petition in 2005, Steinhardt's dream was soon ended in spite of elected officials such as the then mayor, Rodney Romano, trying to keep it off the ballot. Eventually, the PAC got it on a March ballot and won at the ballot box on a Public Land/Public Vote Charter Amendment with 60% of the vote.

Betty Resch, former City of Lake Worth attorney represented the Steinhardts and came before the City Commission some years ago and asked for an extension of the Lease. On first vote, Romano, McKinnon and Burns voted FOR the extension. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, McKinnon brought it back on the Agenda and switched his vote to "no." Steinhardt lost again on a 3/2 vote.

The heirs eventually terminated the lease with the city and the city accepted (they owed a bunch of money to the City of Lake Worth) after their dream of development was shattered.

Read my blog of January 6, 2014. They don't deserve their name on this property as they never owned it.

Rick Scott declared Algae emergency

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"As bad as the massive algae bloom on the Treasure Coast is now, sometime in the coming days or weeks or months, it’s going to die. And when it does, the impact on flora and fauna will make the current disaster look like a tipped bait bucket by comparison."

Read about this disaster... by Eliot Kleinberg now in two counties.

Major changes to July 4 Festivities in Lake Worth

Statement from Mary Lindsey on our July 4 festivities.

Due to algae in the Intracoastal, following is the agenda:

A painful yet necessary decision about the Great American Raft Race festivities has been reached. The full official joint statement from the City of Lake Worth and the NAPC with all the details will be published on the front page of the Lake Worth Herald tomorrow. For now, Here's the scoop:

The part of the Raft Race where rafts and rafters actually go into the Intracoastal has been cancelled. Hang on, there's more . . .

The NAPC Presidents Cup Kayak Race has also been pulled from the Intracoastal at the Pre-raft race party at the Beach Club Friday evening. The pre-raft race party at the Beach Club on Friday is STILL ON. In fact, all the pre-raft race parties are still ON! Stay with me, there's more and the news gets a lot better from here on . . .

On Sunday, July 3rd, the City of Lake Worth and the NAPC are hosting a Splashtacular Great American Pool Party for all Raft Race Fans (that means EVERYBODY) at the pool located at the beautiful Beach and Casino. Admission is FREE and get this - Parking is FREE for all attendees. The Pool Party starts at 5pm. At 6:30pm, the lifeguards will blow their whistles and call all swimmers to the pool deck. All the lane markers will be rolled up, the Kayaks and their Captains will enter the pool and the race around the pool for the NAPC Presidents Cup Champion of 2016 will start. The baby pool will of course remain open for the little ones throughout the event. But what about the Raft Race and the Parade on the 4th of July you ask . . .

On Monday, July 4th the Raft Parade is still a GO, except the parade will take off at Noon! Line-up is still on J St and Lucerne Avenue. Line up is now at 11:30 am.Raft teams may or may not choose to parade with their rafts - but the Parade Goes On!! Rafters (with or without rafts will still parade through the downtown all the way to the BoatRamp at Bryant Park and that's where the celebration turns a little different this year.

Raft trucks and trailers from the parade (for those teams that choose to parade their rafts anyway) will still have preferred parking in the boat ramp lot. Judges will select the winner of the Best Decorated category based on rafts and or costumes. The On Shore performances will still go on, except they will be held on the bandshell stage. The dunk tank (which may or may not be filled with blue-green jello-like grunge) will still be set up only moved a little bit north to Bryant Park.

Judges will still choose "Best First Timer", "Best Performance" and the crowd will still choose "Crowd Pleaser" trophy winners. The NAPC will decide at their Council meeting this Saturday, what to do about the "Mighty Grunge Cup Trophy", ordinarily presented to the raft that comes in first. The "Run Aground Trophy" usually awarded for spectacular failure and the "Paddle" trophy usually awarded for less than neighborly sportsmanship, are awarded this year in absentia (and without naming names) to every agency responsible for mucking up our beautiful Lake Worth Lagoon!

30 Story Office Tower on Flagler Drive

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Developers have taken over Florida. This used to be a wonderful place 50 years ago before they found this beautiful place and proceeded to ruin our skyline and waterfront. Here's an example of more high rise development that could be on our waterfront in West Palm Beach. How sad.

Vote smart tomorrow. Vote for people who care.

Click here

A home, a dock, a bridge and a sneaky builder with a dream

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Some people have a hell of a nerve. 

Read about this sneaky "developer" who wants to fill 2.75 acres of the 4-acre parcel, and build a single-family residence, dock and 20-foot-wide bridge to connect it with A1A.

Having a swim in our Lake Worth Intracoastal

Thanks to a reader--
This is a Sea Turtle in back of her Lake Worth home

"a rare sighting"

Feeding on algae

Click here to follow the 6 turtles that were recently released back into the ocean and are being tracked by satellite.

Old Bridge Park Improvements Project

UPDATE: Good afternoon all, Please disregard the previous press release (below)--we were just advised by the county that the project has been put on delay and we will re issue a revised press release at a later time when the project will commence. Thank you in advance Suzanne M. Rosales Public Services Coordinator Public Service Administration City of Lake Worth 1749 3rd Ave, S Lake Worth Phone: 561-586-1720 Fax: 561-586-1750 srosales@lakeworth.org

PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
CITY OF LAKE WORTH
7 NORTH DIXIE HIGHWAY
LAKE WORTH, FL 33460
LAKEWORTH.ORG

March 10, 2015
Contact: Felipe Lofaso, Assistant Director of Public Services
Phone: 561.586.1720
Email: flofaso@lakeworth.org

The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Old Bridge Park Improvements project

In an effort to facilitate future shoreline stabilization work along the Intracoastal shoreline south of the Lake Worth Bridge on the west side of A1A, the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management plans to begin the exotic removal portion of the Old Bridge Park project the week of March 16th. The Old Bridge Park project will consist of the reconstruction of the deteriorated seawall and associated improvements to the parkon the north side of the bridge along with shoreline stabilization work on the south side of the bridge (exotics removal and replacement with hammock plantings, new pedestrian pathway, rock revetment, oyster reef, and informational kiosk).

The contractor will be working south of the bridge on Ocean Avenue along the water just across the street from the Casino. The attached map shows the exotic removal and replacement with hammock plantings areas in pink. The contractor plans to cut the exotics at ground level and treat to prevent re-growth. The County will have inspectors on-site during the project to ensure quality control. The work is estimated to take between 8 – 10 days. All mangroves, palms, and other native non-exotic species will remain intact.

The City is most appreciative of the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management for their active involvement in improving the City’s waterways and ensuring the long term survival of our marine assets.
Please direct any questions or comments to the City’s Public Services Department at 561-586-1720.

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

####

West Palm Beach Commission -Development is their vision

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As West Palm Beach commissioners have been in the news lately for wanting a convicted butchering murderer out on parole by slinging around their influence as elected officials, I wanted to again draw your attention to their decision, one of several, where they approved Rybovich in excess of 2 - 3 times the allowable density. Its negative impacts will damage the surrounding community. But they don't worry about that. They don't worry about the surrounding neighborhoods or any property owner who spoke against what they did and their abuse of power. They don't worry about our waterfront. What do they concern themselves with?  Campaign donations?  Wealthy contributors? More advalorem? It isn't Joe Citizen. It isn't our beautiful waterfront. They worship pavement.

Living Shoreline

The 1995 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act changed Florida’s mangrove protection statutes. The act repealed existing statutes that regulated the trimming of mangroves and replaced them with several new statutes that reduce the amount of permitting and paperwork required for that activity. Distinguishing between “trimming” and “altering” mangroves, the act allows trimming activity with or without a permit, depending on the location of the mangrove. On the other hand, altering a mangrove (removing or cutting the plant so much that it dies or is defoliated) is a prohibited activity, unless a permit was issued. The act does not require a permit for trimming on private lands. Similarly, certain public lands not set aside for preservation or conservation purposes do not need a trimming permit. Riparian property owners may trim mangroves on public lands fronting their property to a depth of 75 feet, measured waterward from the trunk of the most landward mangrove tree and in a direction perpendicular to the shoreline. Click here.

Commissioner McVoy as well as Lantana mayor, Dave Stewart, told our commission to be careful about cutting down mangroves.

Dave Stewart grew his beard back!

Visit to Lake Worth Golf Course

And now on an upbeat and positive note--

Folks, we have to be so lucky to have a beautiful 18 hole golf course on the Intracoastal Waterway. It was a lovely day having lunch at E.R. Bradley's and enjoying the fabulous view. What also was a treat-- all white Muscovies that have taken up residence there. This mother had 10 little ducklings, majority all white, and are rapidly growing up. Homozygous white are born all white with a black cap on their heads. The cap disappears at maturity.  Heterozygous white are born with no cap. These white ducks appeared to be a mixture of both. We also enjoyed a Great Egret hunting for its lunch as we sat out on the decking enjoying a perfect Florida day.

Lake Worth bridge jumper's body found

Click on the Palm Beach Post Update on man who jumped over the Lake Worth bridge. His body was recovered on Monday but authorities are not giving details or his name until family is notified. 

After hearing from the property owner where the body was found, he said, "He was discovered floating in the Intracoastal Waterway behind our property.  We are on the point of the Intracoastal and Palm Beach Canal.  The police received a report from a pest control man working next door who witnessed the body floating.  At approximately 9:00 a.m., the West Palm Beach Sheriff’s office retrieved him by boat and brought him to my dock where they removed him from the water, examined him by a forensic team, and had the coroner’s office take him away."

Panama Hatties- A beautiful spot on the Intracoastal on the chopping block

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Panama Hatties
North Palm Beach has this--

Now North Palm Beach is going to get something similar to this-- What a shame--Click here...

Thank God our golf course in Lake Worth is deed restricted I hear!

Lake Worth Chronicles - A Parody - Part II

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Our garbage could make us a wealthy city-

Now that's turning a negative into a positive!

Windy-Runt: Since the Lake Worthless Herald went belly up, there’s no way to get the latest gossip. Why don’t you start writing your blog again, Les?

Les Lackman: I don't have anything to write about since Andershine left town. Without Andershine, there is no blog.

Windy-Runt: Anyway, we’re stuck in Lake Worthless. I hate to admit it, but we all would have starved to death if it hadn’t been for Carrot Jennings and her boyfriend Pantyslokesxyzqrszzyxx starting the Lake Worthless Community Garden. After twenty years of Obummer the Dictator...

Les Lackman: ALL HAIL OBUMMER! Be careful about what you say. There might be some rogue drones left.

Windy-Runt and Les Lackman continue their aimless wanderings down Lake Worthless main Street. Uncollected garbage is piled up on both sides. They decide to go down to the fish house on the Intracoastal, run by Hermit Robertson. Suddenly, a pile of garbage near Windy-Runt starts to move! Windy-Runt: Oh my God! That’s not a pile of garbage! It’s Bark Eastmens, the ex-editor of the now defunct Lake Worthless Herald!

Les Lackman: He’s gone crazy and turned violent! Run!

Les Lackman and Windy-Runt run for their lives, but Bark Eastmens, fueled by insane rage, begins to overtake them. Out of nowhere, Glug Riceball and his Segway taxi swoops in and delivers Les Lackman and Windy-Runt from danger. Glug Riceball is one of the few remaining businessmen left in Lake Worthless. His Segway Taxi Service took off after gasoline became unaffordable for the average person and before the visionaries acted on Andershine's idea of turning all our garbage into fuel.

Glug Riceball:  Eastmens out of control. He used to be satisfied with chasing Pelicans down by the docks. Earlier today he took a bite out of some poor guy’s leg. I’m going to have to call Lake Worthless top cop, Rolaround Silver. Since Lake Worthless was awarded a national graffiti painting grant from the Andershine Foundation last month, Silver is going to be able to put more cops on the street.

Windy-Runt: He must be Lake Worthless' oldest cop by now.

Les Lackmen: And he’s still Lake Worthless' FINEST cop, if you know what I mean !

Public Rights-of-Way Lake Worth

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Harry F. Borders wanted this public right-of-way at 1501 North 'L' Street and paid $250.00 to the City of Lake Worth for a 20 year Revocable Permit for what he and apparently the city agrees is "an abandoned street." And when certain people want something, they usually get it. He spoke before the commission on March 4 and so did former commissioner, Nadine Burns, who never revealed her connection to the property, in support of Mr. Borders.

The property has an interesting history (particularly years 2005 and 2006 and 2012) that was not revealed at this public meeting:
AUG-2012* $89,000* 25431 / 0636* WARRANTY DEED* BORDERS HARRY F
FEB-2012* $10* 25158 / 1601* QUIT CLAIM* BURNS NADINE R
FEB-2006* $110,000* 19912 / 1954* WARRANTY DEED * PRIVEE DENNIS J JR
SEP-2005* $230,000* 19202 / 1708* WARRANTY DEED* BURNS NADINE R
JUN-2000* $89,000* 11867 / 0229* WARRANTY DEED* PENOVI A

Mr. Borders owns six properties in Palm Beach County and NONE of them are homesteaded. He said his son lives here (did anyone check this out?) and he wants extra parking and wants to plant a little vegetable garden. The City says he can only plant small shrubs with no deep root structure.  Mr. Borders is in real estate and property management and has lots of connections, one noted above in the history of this property. Andy Amoroso said that by giving Mr. Borders this property, it is a "win, win." How is giving public property away a "win?"

It pays to have friends in high places. The give-away of land owned by the resident taxpayers of this city is a form of corruption. It has happened for years and the city by its silence has allowed property owners to grab city owned land and use it as their own. The commissioners are voting on transferring legal rights to a private citizen on land that belongs to the people. It doesn't matter if the contract is for decades or permanently.

This right-of-way was taken over years ago and happening all over the city. This was originally put on Consent Agenda (mistake or just the city pushing something through once again?) but moved to New Business. It will be back in front of the commission on March 18 under Public Hearings. Every commissioner voted for it.

This could very likely put a damper on the Nancy Shepherd case that has been going on since November 2009 when the Shepherd's filed suit against the City of Lake Worth to "steal" the pocket park right-of-way next to their property.  This right-of-way-goes all the way up to the Intracoastal Waterway. The last docket entry was in October 2013 when the Shepherds served the City with a second request for admissions. No action by our city that likes to settle everything. Are they just allowing this case to die?
 

Shepherd case

Public Right-of-Way adjacent to 1902 Notre Dame Drive

Chapel By the Lake - Quotes of the Day

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Another part of our Florida waterfront skyline soon will be gone--zip, over, done.


The West Palm Beach Commission approved a 22 story condo to be built on the Chapel by the Sea property on the Intracoastal Waterway.  Last night, residents talked for two hours, mostly against it...no one on the commission heard. The Commission believes that it is private property and people can do what they want with it as long as it is within their zoning codes.  Why can't waterfront property be protected?  Why do commissions constantly give waiver after waiver so that developers can come in and do what they want with property within our State?  Why does a city like West Palm Beach or Lake Worth go around a vote all for their development aspirations?  They got rid of Lois Frankel years ago and look what happened to her--now a United States Congresswoman. Can it get any worse than that?  It is no wonder residents believe there is corruption.

Quotes from the meeting:

• Mayor Jeri Muoio:  "We all, we all, find it incredibly insulting that people suggest there's money being exchanged, there's corruption going on."

• Associate pastor of the First Baptist church, Kevin Mahoney:  "We're very pleased with the work of the city commission to accomplish this project for our city."  What he failed to say, 'We will make double digit millions to block the waterfront."

• Kilday Associates, Planners on behalf of the developer:  "Almost every recent major development in the city has received waivers."  Why do we have a Comprehensive Plan when waivers are dished out like M&M's to anyone who asks?

• Former jailbird West Palm Beach commissioner Jim Exline who spent 10 months in a Federal Prison:  "Developer's concessions make it palatable."

Submerged Land in Lake Worth - Proposed Nature Preserve

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The City of Lake Worth owns 13 acres of submerged land in the Intracoastal Waterway that has been referred to as the Steinhardt property although the Steinhardts never owned it.  They leased it from the City in 1967 and were given a 99 year lease in order to develop it.  Steinhardt wanted to build five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands. The city even applied for the permits on his behalf in order to push it along. And although the developer crowd still exists in Lake Worth today, this is one project that didn't get off the ground...errr, water. 

Nothing was done as they never could get the permits they desired.  There was a lot of hassle from government agencies. So, back in 2011, former commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill met with Palm Beach County officials to see about a grant-funded nature center. She put the bug in their ear and that's what's on the table today.

In June 2012, the corporation finally gave up its lease and said it wanted the property to be used as a conservation area. It was anticipated that Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management would restore and manage the property with us waiving all fees and keep it as a passive park. We will take care of Public Safety.  Before anything is restored or constructed on the property, the County will submit plans and get approval from the City. The property will be opened to the public and the city will be responsible for the opening and closing of the preserve. The $1 dollar a year, 99 year lease agreement provides that the upland area will be reserved for future public amenities, including parking. Nothing is said in the Lease about revenue that could be generated from parking (land is across from the beach property) or admission.

The most ridiculous request and made a part of this proposed lease is that the Steinhardt family wants the property acknowledged with their name.  They never owned it.
The suggestion is to call it Steinhardt Cove.

Now, on Tuesday night under New Business C, the city will present this latest scheme that has been obviously under discussion for quite some time. This has to be voted upon by the residents and the city/county has devised another plan by allowing this lease for the first ten years and then going out on a Referendum that they must do by City law for any lease of Public property that is more than 20 years. By that time, the citizenry will be used to the nature preserve and vote it in. Also, the voters might have more trust in the local government regarding  elections in general.

Previous blog on this submerged property