SmartyPlants has new Owner

SmartyPlants founders are retiring, but the beloved nursery is expanding

"New owner Ryan Boylston is buying both the Lake Worth Beach business and land; founders will say farewell to customers on Saturday.

FOR NEARLY 16 years, Amelia’s SmartyPlants has been an urban oasis, a Dixie Highway garden center with tranquil music, bubbling fountains and a panorama of colorful plants.

Now, the beloved Lake Worth Beach nursery is about to blossom even more.

Marta Edwards and Paul Harding, who founded the 2-acre nursery in 2010, are retiring. They will say goodbye to the community from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at 1515 N. Dixie Highway."

Read about it...

Tracking trash in Lake Worth Lagoon

If you see this purple card floating in the water, here’s what to do

How ‘citizen scientists’ can help track trash with the latest Lake Worth Lagoon Drift Card Study.

Calling all visitors to Palm Beach County’s waterways: Be on the lookout for hundreds of floating purple cards.

If you find one, you’ve stumbled onto a research mission involving citizen scientists and a study of how debris moves through inland waterways and accumulates on the coastline.

The 15th Lake Worth Lagoon Drift Card Study kicked off May 1 when volunteers deployed 320 bright purple cards made of thin biodegradable wood at eight different sites in Palm Beach County — from Burt Reynolds Park in Jupiter to Silver Palms Park in Boca Raton.

Read article by Joe Capozzi

Democrats and their "Walk of Love" for Illegals

SINGING PROTEST SONGS and holding signs, about 100 people marched through downtown Lake Worth Beach on Saturday in a festive call for immigration policy reforms.

“We cannot remain silent and do nothing while our immigrant neighbors (aka, illegals)…are hauled away to detention camps, deported systematically and relentlessly, (with) family and children left suffering from that separation,’’ said organizer Barbara Eriv, head of the Palm Beach County Indivisibles Immigration Coalition.

“These are family-minded people. They are hardworking people. They are part of our community. These are not the criminals (illegals are all criminals) (ICE agents) should be going after,’’ she said.

The “Walk in Love” march kicked off at 11 a.m. at a symbolic starting point, outside the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation. It ended less than a mile to the east with a rally at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Saturday’s marchers and rally participants included one elected leader, Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Chris McVoy, who has been the commission’s lone vocal critic of federal immigration policies.

Read about Lake Worth liberals wanting to defy federal law

My emphasis in red.

Lake Worth Beach Commission censures Commissioner McVoy

Summary-
At the October 21, 2025 meeting, Commissioner McVoy shouted out to a member of our public during public commentary that she was a Liar. She didn't lie about anything.

In an earlier commission meeting, he accused the rest of the commission of taking bribes--no proof but repeated something he had heard in the community he said.

His behavior was reprehensible and unprofessional for an elected official. As Commissioner Segrich said, public commentary is sacred. And a charge of pay-to-play was shocking based on ridiculous political rumors.

At the 4:34:41 mark, Commissioner Segrich made a motion to censure Commissioner McVoy.

A public censure is a public condemnation that involves the censured individual having to stand and listen as the resolution is read aloud, which is intended to be a source of embarrassment and shame. He had no shame and never apologized. The vote was 4/1 with McVoy dissenting.

Read Joe Capozzi's article

Oak Tree at Dave's Last Resort will die on chopping block

Big shade tree faces chopping block in downtown Lake Worth Beach

The thriving oak outside Dave's Last Resort is coming down Oct. 14 because its root system has created a public safety hazard, city officials say.

A large shade tree in the heart of downtown Lake Worth Beach is destined for the chopping block early next week.

The mature live oak has been thriving on the sidewalk at the northeast corner of Lake Avenue and K Street since the Florida Department of Transportation planted it there in the mid-1990s. But in recent years, it’s been outgrowing its home.

The tree’s expanding root system is buckling pavers on the sidewalk and spreading beneath Dave’s Last Resort & Raw Bar at 632 Lake Ave., creating a safety hazard for pedestrians and threatening the building’s plumbing, city officials say.

Read about it...

League of Cities has new Executive Director

🫡 New boss at League of Cities

The Palm Beach County League of Cities has selected Amelia Jadoo, an attorney with the Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Ansay law firm, as its new executive director.

Why it matters: The league advocates for the county's 39 municipalities by promoting home rule, addressing shared legislative issues and fostering cooperation among local governments. It serves as a unified voice on issues including growth management, taxation and transportation, playing a big role in the recent effort to initiate a countywide transportation master plan.

And she is with the city of Lake Worth's law firm and our Mayor, Betty Resch, is the city's liaison to the League of Cities.

Read more about the league and its new director at StetNews.org

— Joe Capozzi

City Commission would like to promote Jamie Brown to permanent City Manager

LWB commissioners back interim city manager for permanent job, even if he won’t interview for it

It seems that four commissioners want Jamie Brown (my absolute favorite employee) as permanent city manager without an interview as he has held the Interim City Manager position for two years.

But commissioner Anthony Segrich said he was troubled by Brown’s refusal to interview for the full-time post, which has other duties beyond what’s expected from an interim manager.

Other commissioners, however, said it makes no sense to spend money on a search firm when they already have a qualified candidate with whom they are happy. Some criticized Segrich for insisting that Brown apply.

“It’s a bit of an insult, actually,’’ Resch said. And I agree with our Mayor.

Read more of the article by Joe Capozzi...

Jamie was a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science 1996 - 2000.

Licenses & certifications:

Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc. (ASFPM)
Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
American Public Works Association (APWA) Past State President - Florida Chapter, Past Chair - Palm Beach County - Past State President - Florida Chapter
American Society of Civil Engineers

Developers still want to screw up our beach and golf course

Developers will take every square inch of undeveloped property if you allow it

"An investment group pitching a massive overhaul of Lake Worth Beach’s oceanfront and public golf course is conducting an outreach campaign this summer to drum up public support for the multimillion-dollar project. Hosting the Horizon presentations is a familiar face: former city lobbyist Richard Pinsky."

Can't help but Remember him...now instead of representing the city and lobbying in Tallahassee for grants, he is representing developers for the almighty buck--much more lucrative than the small retainer he received from the City.

As a reminder, Richard Pinsky, our former lobbyist in Tallahassee, is considered a "super lobbyist" and one of his specialties--development project approvals before local governments. He is also the former husband of Kimberly Mitchell who was a West Palm Beach commissioner for 13 years.

"Pinsky stopped representing the city in May, after more than 10 years, when he quit his job with the Akerman law firm, one of the city’s two lobbying firms. He formed Pinsky and Associates with his wife, Jessica, and accepted an offer to represent the investment group: Copperline Partners, golf legend Jack Nicklaus, Hyatt World International, Fortress Investment and Stiles Construction.

Among the highlights of a development plan Copperline said will create a vibrant tourism-based economy for Lake Worth Beach:

• A $105 million, 250-room oceanfront Hyatt at the south end of the beach, just west of the existing traffic circle.

• An attraction (a seaquarium has been mentioned), a 5-acre park and a 900-space parking garage all at the beach.

• A public launch for kayaks and a water taxi on the west side of Ocean Boulevard just south of the Lake Worth Bridge, creating a dedicated water transportation link between the barrier island and the mainland.

• A $95 million, 150-room Hyatt on the south end of a newly designed Jack Nicklaus golf course. (Nicklaus toured the existing city course in November.)

• A new public swimming pool on the mainland, potentially at the city’s Northwest Park. The city’s municipal pool at the beach, shuttered since 2016, would be razed.

• No changes to the existing casino building and the Lake Worth Pier."

Read more of the article

On America's Birthday, Democrats inject Politics into the celebration

Leonard Bryant Photography

How Susan B. Anthony crashed the Great American Raft Race in Lake Worth Beach

HOURS BEFORE FIREWORKS lit up the sky, two Lake Worth Beach activists sparked a Fourth of July kerfuffle on water.

With thousands watching the start of the annual Great American Raft Race, a banner unfurled from the end of a Bryant Park pier above the Lake Worth Lagoon: “NO SELF RESPECTING WOMAN SHOULD WISH OR WORK FOR THE SUCCESS OF A PARTY THAT IGNORS HER SUCCESS – Susan B. Anthony 1872 and 1894.”

It was a sign of the times, past and present, a message especially worth sharing on Independence Day, said the bed-sheet banner’s creators, activist Carole Fields and artist AnnaMarie Windisch-Hunt, a Democrat.

“We had our backs to the people, cheering the races on. We weren't yelling things out. We just had the banner dropped,’’ Fields said. She refused to remove the banner when the police arrived and asked her to take it down.

Some people were not amused.

Jeff Clemens even piped in about First Amendment Rights after Craig Frost, head of the Association Presidents Council said it was very sad that they were there to make a political statement as it was not the time nor the place.

Read the rest of Joe Capozzi's article

In actuality, the Republican Party is the only party advocating for women's rights...as an example, banning men participating in women's sports. I am only guessing that the banner creators were talking about the right of abortion or killing babies in the womb.

And the irony of all of this is that Susan B. Anthony was a Republican and came to prominence for women's suffrage--their right to vote. The Republican Party pioneered the right of women to vote and was consistent in its support throughout the long campaign for acceptance. "It was the first major party to advocate equal rights for women and the principle of equal pay for equal work."

Set me straight, Annamaria!

Oceanwalk Restaurant at the Lake Worth Casino

Benny’s on the Beach seeking $50,000 rent waiver from LWB during Oceanwalk renovation closure

BENNY’S ON THE BEACH is planning about $400,000 in renovations to its Oceanwalk restaurant at the Lake Worth Beach Casino complex, work that will close the restaurant from Labor Day until mid to late October, interim City Manager Jamie Brown said.

The restaurant is asking city officials to waive two months of Oceanwalk’s lease payments, roughly $50,000, “since they will be closed and have no revenue coming in,’’ he said.

When Brown mentioned the rent-waiver request at a pre-agenda work session June 27, a majority of city commissioners voiced support for approving it:

• “Benny’s brings so much. They're like our big attraction. I would allow that to happen as a courtesy,’’ Mayor Betty Resch said.
• “This business is a good city partner,’’ said Vice Mayor Sarah Malega. “They have a good track record. I think that’s a good return on investment.’’
• Commissioner Chris McVoy indicated he would vote against the request when it’s formally presented to the commission later this summer.
• Commissioner Mimi May said she would support the request if it’s limited to a specific timeframe.

Although there was no quote from Commissioner Anthony Segrich, Commissioner McVoy confirmed that he was the only one who voted "no."

Read Joe Capozzi's article

Another downtown Lake Worth Beach Restaurant closes

Lula's on Lake Avenue closed

AFTER JUST SEVEN months, celebrity chef Todd English has closed his downtown Lake Worth Beach restaurant, the latest Lake Avenue eatery to shutter.

Read about it...

"This is a real David and Goliath situation"

Not all of Lake Worth Beach loves WMODA

Developer spends $6,000 to counter opposition's 'disinformation campaign'

"SINCE ITS PUBLIC unveiling in February 2024, the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts proposal for a mixed-use “cultural arts campus” in the heart of downtown Lake Worth Beach has basked in a virtual love fest from a camp of ardent supporters.

Made up of many of the same influential residents, power brokers and elected officials who supported the Gulfstream Hotel renovation and other pro-business city projects, they want WMODA NOW — a rallying cry amplified online, at public meetings, and on yard and shop window signs.

But over the past two months, a much less enthusiastic message has slowly gained traction, a rallying cry sounding an urgent alarm: STOP WMODA.

Made up of many of the same residents known for raising questions about how city leaders spend public money, the STOP WMODA movement is dubious of Brooklyn-based developer Arthur Wiener’s promise of a 33,000-square-foot “world class” museum on Lake Avenue, with a rear “arts alley” connecting a 110-unit apartment building and 265-space public parking garage.

The WMODA development team has spent about $1.1 million so far on architects, attorneys and consultants to usher the project through the city’s planning review process, said project representative Renee Miller.

Separate from that, WMODA spent about $6,000 earlier this year to hire two marketing consultants to counter what Miller described as “a professional disinformation campaign” being waged by the STOP movement.

Read article by Joe Capozzi

Development Crowd Striking Again

The "FOR" Development crowd

Not all of Lake Worth Beach loves WMODA: Developer spends $6,000 to counter opposition's 'disinformation campaign'

Excerpt from Joe Capozzi's article

"Though WMODA’s rebuttals have been endorsed by the city, project opponents insist their concerns are backed by information in the development agreement, the public private partnership agreement and other public records.

Opponents say they’re just trying to protect taxpayers and promote a better quality of downtown development.

“This is a real David and Goliath situation,’’ said Kim Stokes, who lost a city commission reelection bid in 2024 to Commissioner Mimi May, a WMODA supporter.

“We don't have the money, we don't have the marketing, we don't have the professionals,’’ Stokes said. “We are up against an established professional large-scale development group with access to lots of funds who is willing to attack anyone who expresses concern.’’

Those attacks have extended to the dais where opponents say Mayor Betty Resch and Commissioner Sarah Malega have sought to silence Commissioner Chris McVoy, a vocal WMODA critic, at times leading to tense public clashes.

McVoy has been the loudest, and for the past month, the only voice of WMODA dissent on the commission. A majority — Resch, Malega and May — has embraced the project and its promises of long-term economic benefits, including $7 million in taxes paid by the museum and apartments over the first 10 years and millions in revenue from downtown visitors.

The CRA donated to WMODA 1.78 acres of prime downtown land worth $3.3 million (an amount opponents say is higher).

Read Joe's article

Our city has always been prime for developers and we, once again, have a city commission that loves development--parking garage, this project,  and there are even eyes on our golf course. They can't even find the money to clean our sidewalks or repair garbage trucks.

Journalist gets four First Place Awards

Florida Press Club honors ByJoeCapozzi.com with four first-place journalism awards

BYJOECAPOZZI.COM won four first-place awards in the 75th annual Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism competition.

The Lake Worth Beach-based independent news website took first place in the Class B and C categories for Government News and Sports Features and in the Class C category for Community News and Light Features.

Honored stories include a series of articles about a political action committee that influenced the Lake Worth Beach municipal elections and shark attack survivor who opened a shark-themed vacation rental.

Read about all his articles that won first-place honors:

Click here

Proposal by Developers to take over our Beach Park and Golf Course

Developers want their hands on our beach park property

Well, of course they do; thay always have...nothing new

but this proposal is massive and involved some heavy and famous hiters.

On Jan. 16 a private investment group led by Copperline Partners and golf legend Jack Nicklaus submitted a public-private proposal for $200 million for two Hyatt hotels, one each on the ocean and city golf course, and $155.6 million for other projects including a renovated golf course, beach parking garage and new public swimming pool in the city’s Northwest Park.

City officials are still trying to determine the multiple changes to the city’s charter, comprehensive plan and code that would be required to accommodate it, assuming they want to proceed at all.

Based on their initial review, city officials said at a public meeting Jan. 21, the proposal could trigger at least five charter changes, each requiring voter approval.

Read all that they want to do in article by Joe Capozzi

The Proposal

Palm Beach halts plan to drive trucks down Lake Worth's beach

Palm Beach postpones plan to drive trucks down Lake Worth Beach’s public beach

"THERE WON’T BE any trucks driving down Lake Worth Beach’s public beach this winter, spring or summer, but it’s an idea Palm Beach officials might consider again in the fall.

After an internal meeting Jan. 16 between city and town officials, Palm Beach officials told their Lake Worth Beach counterparts that the town will postpone a beach renourishment project for a year, interim city manager Jamie Brown announced at the Jan. 21 City Commission meeting.

The town was expected to complete a sand dredging operation this week and stockpile the sand at Phipps Ocean Park in Palm Beach for the next 10 months or so before considering the project in the fall.

By then, city officials said they hope the town finds an alternative to its plan to transport the sand along a 10-foot-wide strip of town-incorporated land along Lake Worth Beach’s public beach."

Read the rest of article by Joe Capozzi

Lake Worth Beach to Demolish north Water Tower

Tanks for the memories: LWB’s north water tower is coming down after 78 years

"A LONGTIME LANDMARK on the north end of Lake Worth Beach is about to disappear.

The old water tower rising 110 feet above the southeast corner of 22nd Avenue North and North D Street will be dismantled on Jan. 6, ending a 78-year run of providing both water and a reference point for residents.

Built in 1946 and topped with a 300,000 gallon tank, the tower has been out of commission since August 2023 because of adverse effects on water quality, said Vaughn Baker, the city's water utilities director. Corrosion is causing the tank’s wind rods to fall apart, she said.

The city has no plans to use it again and can rely on its other water tower, built in 1991 next to Interstate 95 near Sixth Avenue South.

To save on maintenance costs and eliminate a potential safety hazard, officials decided to remove the north tower and make the footprint space available for other public uses. The land is part of the city’s Northwest Park."

Read more about it...

Will Lake Worth Beach Save our beach?

Will protesters try to block trucks from using LWB’s public beach?

City commissioners raise possibility to Palm Beach in latest sand fight

"IF THE TOWN of Palm Beach tries to drive truckloads of sand down the middle of Lake Worth Beach’s popular public beach in January, don’t be surprised if throngs of protesters form a human barrier block the convoy.

That was the stark warning issued to town officials Tuesday night from city commissioners reacting to emails from angry city residents opposed to the town’s latest strategy to use the city’s public beach for a beach renourishment project.

On Dec. 3, city commissioners voted 4-1 to allow the town to access the south end of the city beach because they weren’t aware of the 2009 prohibition, which was never codified in the city charter when voters passed the referendum. When reminded of the charter violation nine days later by former city commissioner Cara Jennings, the city attorney said the Dec. 3 vote was moot.

When the city told Palm Beach officials they could not grant access to town trucks, the town countered by citing the 1935 state law, setting up a tense discussion Tuesday night at City Hall between city commissioners and Strayer. Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore also attended the meeting."

Read Joe Capozzi's article...

Palm Beach is determined to run trucks down and back through our beach to deliver sand in the month of January before turtle season. Our residents spoke out last night--and one was former commissioner Cara Jennings who originally brought forth the 2009 vote of the residents disallowing this.

Residents last night were furious about it, and rightfully so. Some speaking were environmentalist Jill Karlin and dive expert Dan volker indicating SEVERE DESTRUCTION OF THE MARINE LIFE OF HORSESHOE REEF could/will be destroyed by this action. Others condemned our own commission for voting for this on December 3 and pointed out that Commissioner McVoy was the only one voting "no" and looking after our interests.

The beach discussion started about one hour into this very long meeting-

You're not going to believe this!

LWB cancels controversial sand agreement with Palm Beach because it violates city charter

"LAKE WORTH BEACH city officials are canceling an agreement, approved eight days ago, that would have let the town of Palm Beach use the city’s public beach as a staging area for a town beach re-nourishment project.

When the City Commission voted 4-1 on Dec. 3 to grant the town access to the city beach, they did so illegally because they violated — unknowingly apparently — a city charter provision, approved by voters in 2009, prohibiting the pumping of sand onto Lake Worth Beach from off-shore borrow sites. The provision also prohibits the beach from being used as a staging area for dredge and fill projects.

Town dump trucks were supposed to start dumping sand on the south end of the city beach on Jan. 1, a project that would have lasted up to 45 days. But that’s not going to happen, Lake Worth Beach’s city attorneys said Dec. 11."

Read more about it...

Now don't you think the Commission would have had the city lawyer check this all out BEFORE they agreed to allowing this beach sand re-nourishment project?

"What happened? The 2009 charter change was never codified into the city charter, an apparent error by the city clerk at the time.

And when commissioners considered the agreement with Palm Beach on Dec. 3, no one at City Hall remembered the 2009 referendum, which was approved by 70 percent of the voters.

Commissioner Chris McVoy, who cast the lone “no” vote on Dec. 3, forwarded Jennings’ letter to the city attorneys, who confirmed the interlocal agreement violates the city charter and has to be canceled." So all of you who like to call McVoy a disrupter, get off his back...and the Lake Worth Herald should give him some credit.

And Cara Jennings is still on top of it!

25 feet of beach re-nourishment -- will be tied up for 45 days from 8 to 5

Palm Beachers don’t want the hassle, so LWB’s public beach will accept trucks for town sand project

THE SOUTH END of Lake Worth Beach’s popular public beach is about to be invaded by a fleet of dump trucks for a Palm Beach town renourishment project.

Starting Jan. 1, the sand-hauling trucks will access a 25-foot section in the busy city beach’s southern boundary for up to 45 days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The town requested the new access spot on their neighboring municipality’s turf because Palm Beach condo owners don’t want to deal with the truck noise, congestion and vibrations.

In return, the town will donate $80,000 to Lake Worth Beach, money the city plans to spend on beach improvements, including repairs to wooden stairs to the beach north and south of the Lake Worth pier.

The project starts in the heart of tourist season, when the beaches are busiest, a necessary time-frame, officials said, because work is prohibited during sea turtle nesting season, which usually starts in March and lasts through October. Most of the beach south of the pier, closest to the access site, will remain open to the public.

It passed on a 4/1 vote with Christopher McVoy voting "no." “There’s a fleeting feeling like, geez, if your own community doesn't want to deal with it, why on earth should we get bought off for $80,000?’’

Read the article